(Theme From) The Monkees

The Monkees (Theme from) The Monkees Theme From The Monkees cover.jpg single the Monkees The Monkees Mary, Mary February 1967 July 5 and 19, 1966 RCA Victor (Hollywood, California)http://monkeessessionography.tripod.com/debut.html The Monkees Monkeessessionography.tripod.com 2016-10-01 Pop rock 2:21 Colgems Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart and Jack Keller "(Theme from) The Monkees" is a 1966 pop rock song, written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart as the signature tune for the TV series The Monkees.(Theme From) The Monkees https://www.allmusic.com/song/theme-from-the-monkees-mt0002699999 Planer, L. Allmusic 2012-08-02 Two versions were recorded – one for their first album The Monkees and a second shorter rendition designed to open the television show. Both feature vocals by Micky Dolenz. Background and composition Boyce and Hart were inspired by The Dave Clark Five's 1965 hit single "Catch Us If You Can" in writing the song; both tracks feature similar musical structures,Beviglia Jim 4 April 2025 "Catch Us if You Can": The Title Song to an Odd Movie Starring The Dave Clark Five https://americansongwriter.com/catch-us-if-you-can-the-title-song-to-an-odd-movie-starring-the-dave-clark-five/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250815034731/https://americansongwriter.com/catch-us-if-you-can-the-title-song-to-an-odd-movie-starring-the-dave-clark-five/ 15 August 2025 13 November 2025 American Songwriter and in a retrospective interview, Hart was quoted as saying that the drum roll from "Catch Us If You Can" would "take us into the chorus 'Hey, hey, we're the Monkees'".Anon. September 14, 2025 Bobby Hart, Who Co-Wrote Monkees Smashes, the 'Days of Our Lives' Theme and His Own Hit as a Member of Boyce and Hart, Dies at 86 https://variety.com/2025/music/obituaries-people-news/bobby-hart-dead-songwriter-monkees-1236517972/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250920190506/https://variety.com/2025/music/obituaries-people-news/bobby-hart-dead-songwriter-monkees-1236517972/ September 20, 2025 November 14, 2025 Variety A few years after the release of either song, drummer Dave Clark received a letter from Boyce and Hart in which they admitted to having plagiarized "(Theme from) The Monkees" from "Catch Us If You Can".Ryan Gary 20 January 2020 Does Rock 'N' Roll Kill Braincells?! – Dave Clark, The Dave Clark Five https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/does-rock-n-roll-kill-braincells-dave-clark-the-dave-clark-five-2598535 live https://web.archive.org/web/20250119131955/https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/does-rock-n-roll-kill-braincells-dave-clark-the-dave-clark-five-2598535 19 January 2025 14 November 2025 NME Recording The album version of "(Theme From) The Monkees" was produced by Boyce, Hart, and Jack Keller. According to Hart, music supervisor Don Kirshner advised him and Boyce to bring on Keller to help them produce the recording as he had "more experience". The song's backing track was recorded on July 5, 1966 at RCA Studio A in Hollywood, California.Sandoval 2005 40 On July 19, work continued on the song. Andrew Sandoval suggests the vocals may have been recorded at a session later that day.Sandoval 2005 43-44 Release The full-length version was released as a single in several countries. It was a no. 1 hit on Norway's Verdens Gang"Topp 20 Single 1967-25". Verdens Gang. Accessed 7 July 2025. and Japan's Cash BoxMcCutcheon, J. D. "Japan: RCA Singles". Monkee45s.net. Accessed 18 June 2025. singles charts, and reached the top 10 in AustraliaGo-Set National Top 40 http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1967/19670927.html September 27, 1967 Go-Set 2012-08-27 https://web.archive.org/web/20120614152501/http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1967/19670927.html June 14, 2012 dead and Mexico.Hits of the World Billboard Magazine 52 December 16, 1967 An Italian version of the song, "Tema Dei Monkees", was released as a single in Italy.Sandoval 2005 100 Boyce and Hart recorded a demo of the song for an early pre-broadcast version of The Monkees pilot episode, which was released as a bonus feature on the series' Season 1 DVD box set.https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/51778/monkees-season-1/ The Monkees: Season 1 : DVD Talk Review of the DVD Video DVD Talk September 27, 2011 July 25, 2017 Other versions Ray Stevens did his take of the theme on his 1985 album He Thinks He's Ray Stevens featuring a male German group of singers, Wolfgang and Fritzy, that are arguing during the refrain of the song. ("Hey Hey Bist Du Monkees".) The song is featured in the trailer for the 1994 film Monkey Trouble, and it is used on the Minions film soundtrack. The song is referenced in the 2003 song by The Thrills, "Big Sur." Personnel Credits adapted from 2021 Rhino LP.The Monkees Sandoval Andrew Andrew Sandoval The Monkees Rhino Records LP liner notes 2021 ROGV-126 Micky Dolenz – lead vocals Additional musicians 25em Tommy Boyce – backing vocals Wayne Erwin – guitar, backing vocals Gene Estes – tambourine Bobby Hart – organ, backing vocals Ron Hicklin – backing vocals Billy Lewis – drums Gerry McGee – guitar Louie Shelton – guitar Larry Taylor – bass guitar References Sources Sandoval Andrew Andrew Sandoval The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the 60s TV Pop Sensation 2005 Thunder Bay Press 1-59223-372-4 Category:1966 songs Category:Songs written by Bobby Hart Category:Songs written by Tommy Boyce Category:The Monkees songs Category:Comedy television theme songs Category:Music television series theme songs Category:Song recordings produced by Tommy Boyce Category:Song recordings produced by Bobby Hart Category:1967 singles