The Hidden Hands of Their Music. Meet the session players who secretly powered the band’s early hits.
The Monkees were initially created as a manufactured band for the 1966 TV show of the same name, but the four members—Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork—eventually fought for and gained more control over their music.
However, in the early years, most of the instrumental tracks were performed by seasoned session musicians from the famous Wrecking Crew, a group of top L.A. studio musicians.
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Here are some of the key session players behind the Monkees' early recordings:
Glen Campbell – Guitar
James Burton – Guitar
Hal Blaine – Drums
Earl Palmer – Drums
Joe Osborn – Bass
Larry Knechtel – Keyboards
Louis Shelton – Guitar (notably played the solo on "Last Train to Clarksville")
Carol Kaye – Bass (though some debate her contributions)
Initially, the Monkees themselves only provided vocals, but by the time of their third album, Headquarters (1967), they insisted on playing their own instruments. Afterward, they had more creative control, with Michael Nesmith (a skilled guitarist and songwriter) and Peter Tork (a multi-instrumentalist) particularly contributing to their later work.
A celebration of the musical work of a group of session musicians known as "The Wrecking Crew", a band that provided back-up instrumentals to such legendary recording artists as Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys and Bing Crosby. Watch The Wrecking Crew Documentary | Blog Network free and uninterrupted.