Missing Links (album)

Missing Links
Compilation album by the Monkees
Released	June 1987
Recorded	1966-1969
Genre	Rock
Length	41:56
Label	Rhino
The Monkees chronology
Live 1967 (1987) Missing Links (1987) Pool It! (1987)

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Allmusic	[1]

Missing Links is a compilation album of rare and previously unreleased songs by the Monkees, issued by Rhino Records in 1987. It is the first volume of a three-volume set, followed by Missing Links Volume Two in 1990 and Missing Links Volume Three in 1996.

While "Apples, Peaches, Bananas and Pears" and "If You Have the Time" had both been featured in the reruns of their 1960s television series,^[2] none of the tracks had ever been issued commercially. "All of Your Toys", written by Bill Martin, was the first Monkees recording to feature all four members performing on the track, and was initially intended to become their third single. A publishing issue prevented the song from being released, with Neil Diamond's "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" chosen instead.

Michael Nesmith later re-recorded "Nine Times Blue" for his Magnetic South album and "Carlisle Wheeling" (as "Conversations") for his Loose Salute album.

The bulk of the material on this album comes from The Birds, The Bees and The Monkees sessions, which were self-produced.

The original 1987 vinyl and cassette releases in the U.S. did not contain tracks 7, 8, 15 and 16. The compact disc was released in the U.S. and U.K. in December 1988. A vinyl version was released in 2021 from Friday Music for Record Store Day, with no tracks omitted.

Track listing[]

No.	Title	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Apples, Peaches, Bananas and Pears" (Tommy Boyce / Bobby Hart)	Micky Dolenz	2:16
2.	"If You Have the Time" (David Jones / Bill Chadwick)	Davy Jones	2:09
3.	"I Don't Think You Know Me" (Gerry Goffin / Carole King)	Michael Nesmith	2:15
4.	"Party" (David Jones / Steve Pitts)	Davy Jones	2:46
5.	"Carlisle Wheeling" (Michael Nesmith)	Michael Nesmith	3:20
6.	"(My) Storybook of You" (Tommy Boyce / Bobby Hart)	Davy Jones	2:53
7.	"Rosemarie" (Micky Dolenz)	Micky Dolenz	2:29
8.	"My Share of the Sidewalk" (Michael Nesmith)	Davy Jones	3:07
9.	"All of Your Toys" (Bill Martin)	Micky Dolenz	3:09
10.	"Nine Times Blue" (Michael Nesmith)	Michael Nesmith	2:10
11.	"So Goes Love" (Gerry Goffin / Carole King)	Davy Jones	3:08
12.	"Kicking Stones (aka Teeny Tiny Gnome)" (Lynn Castle / Wayne Erwin)	Micky Dolenz	2:28
13.	"Of You" (Bill Chadwick / John Chadwick)	Michael Nesmith	1:58
14.	"War Games" (David Jones / Steve Pitts)	Davy Jones	2:34
15.	"Lady's Baby" (Peter Tork)	Peter Tork	2:27
16.	"Time and Time Again" (David Jones / Bill Chadwick)	Davy Jones	2:50

Session information[]

"Apples, Peaches, Bananas and Pears"

• Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Backing vocals: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Ron Hicklin
• Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
• Bass: Larry Taylor
• Drums: Billy Lewis
• Percussion: Gene Estes
• Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, October 28, 1966, during sessions for More of the Monkees

"If You Have the Time"

• Written by Bill Chadwick and David Jones
• Lead vocal by Davy Jones
• Backing vocals: Davy Jones, Bill Chadwick and others
• Guitar: Unknown
• Electric Guitar: Louie Shelton
• Bass: Joe Osborn
• Drums: John Guerin
• Piano: Michel Rubini
• Moog Synthesizer: Paul Beaver
• Produced by Bill Chadwick and Davy Jones
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, May 1, 1969, during sessions for The Monkees Present

"I Don't Think You Know Me" (First Recorded Version)

• Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King
• Arranged by Don Peake
• Lead vocal by Michael Nesmith
• Harmony vocals: Micky Dolenz
• Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz
• Guitar: James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey
• Organ: Larry Knechtel
• Drums: Hal Blaine, Jim Gordon
• Produced by Michael Nesmith
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, June 25, 1966 (7:30 pm– 12:15 am), during sessions for The Monkees
• Two mixes were made of this song. The first featured Micky on vocals and was mixed by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart. Michael Nesmith recorded his own vocals later that year.

"Party"

• Written by David Jones and Steve Pitts
• Lead vocal by Davy Jones
• Guitar: Al Casey, Mike Deasey, Howard Roberts
• Bass: Lyle Ritz
• Drums: Hal Blaine
• Organ: Don Randi
• Marimba/Percussion/Tambourine: Gary Coleman, Gene Estes
• Trombone: Milt Bernhart, Richard Leith, Lew McCreary, Frank Rosolino
• Trumpet: Buddy Childers, and Clyde Reasinger, Jack Sheldon, Anthony Terran
• Saxophone/Woodwind: John Lowe
• Violin: Nathan Kaproff, George Kast, Marvin Limonick, Alex Murray, Erno Neufeld, Ambrose Russo
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, February 15, 1968, during sessions for The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees
• Musically similar to another Jones/Pitts song, "I'm Gonna Try", which was recorded the same day

"Carlisle Wheeling" (First Recorded Version)

• Written by Michael Nesmith
• Lead vocal by Michael Nesmith
• Acoustic Guitar: Michael Nesmith
• Banjo: Peter Tork
• Drums: Eddie Hoh
• Organ: Michael Nesmith
• Percussion: Michael Nesmith
• Produced by Michael Nesmith
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, November 18 and 19, 1967, during sessions for The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees
• A second version was later released as a bonus track on the 1995 Rhino remaster of Instant Replay.
• This first version would later be included on the Rhino Music Box box set in 2001

"(My) Storybook of You"

• Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Lead vocal by Davy Jones
• Backing vocals: Davy Jones, Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart
• Electric Guitar: Unknown
• Acoustic Guitar: Louie Shelton
• Bass: Joe Osborn
• Drums: Hal Blaine, Billy Lewis
• Piano: John Gallie
• Tack Piano: Larry Knechtel
• Violin: Bill Kursach, Jerome Reisler, Ralph Schaeffer, Sidney Sharp, Shari Zippert
• Cello: Jesse Ehrlich
• Saxophone: Jay Migliori
• Trumpet: Jules Chaikin, Oliver Mitchell
• Trombone: Dick Nash
• Unknown: William Pening
• Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, May 30 and 31, 1969, during sessions for The Monkees Present
• This song is mislabeled, as the correct title is "My Storybook Of You", as per the 2016 Rhino Super Deluxe box set of The Monkees Present

"Rosemarie"

• Written by Micky Dolenz
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Electric Guitar: Keith Allison
• Acoustic Guitar: Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork
• Bass: Chip Douglas
• Drums: Jim Gordon
• Tambourine: Larry Bunker
• Piano: Michel Rubini
• Saxophone: Bill Hood
• Trumpet: Buddy Childers, Carroll Lewis, Oliver Mitchell, Stu Williamson
• Trombone: Lou Blackburn, Herbie Harper, Lew McCreary
• Produced by the Monkees
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, March 1, 14 and June 7, 1968, during sessions for The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees and Head, respectively
• A second version was later released as a bonus track on the 1995 Rhino remaster of Instant Replay

"My Share of the Sidewalk"

• Written by Michael Nesmith
• Lead vocal by Davy Jones
• Guitar: Michael Nesmith
• Bass: Rick Dey
• Drums: Eddie Hoh
• Piano: Michael Nesmith
• Cello: Justin DiTullio, Ray Kramer, Emmet Sargeant, Eleanor Slatkin
• Trumpet: Pete Candoli, Buddy Childers, Anthony Terran
• Trombone: Dick Leith, Lew McCreary
• Produced by the Monkees
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, CA, January 9, 1968, during sessions for The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees
• An early run-through of the song, with Mike on lead vocals, was later released on the 2010 Rhino Deluxe Edition of The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees
• The recording date on the CD label is incorrect. The date (January 1969) refers to Nesmith's re-recording of the song during the sessions for Instant Replay. This re-recording was released on the Super Deluxe box set of Instant Replay in 2011.
• Colgems labelmates P.K. Limited recorded a version of this song in 1969.

"All of Your Toys"

• Written by Bill Martin
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork
• Electric 12-String Guitar: Michael Nesmith
• Bass: John London
• Drums: Micky Dolenz
• Tambourine: Davy Jones
• Harpsichord: Peter Tork
• Recorded at Goldstar Studios, Hollywood, January 16 (10:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.), and RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, January 19, 23, 24, 1967, and 26 (8:00 - 11:00 P.M.), 28 (2:00 - 6:00 P.M.), 30 (10:00 - 12:00 A.M.), 31 (2:00 P.M. - 12:00 A.M.), and February 2 (8:00 - 10:00 P.M.), during sessions for Headquarters
• The song was intended to be a single A-side, but was not controlled by the Monkees' publishing company, Screen Gems, with the publisher, Tickson Music, refusing to sell copyright
• Included as a bonus track on the 1995 and 2006 Rhino remasters of Headquarters in a slightly different mono mix, as well as the Listen to the Band and Music Box sets in a slightly different stereo mix. Also available on Monkeemania (The Very Best of the Monkees) in the same stereo mix found here.

"Nine Times Blue"

• Written by Michael Nesmith
• Lead vocal by Michael Nesmith
• Guitar: Michael Nesmith
• Pedal Steel Guitar: Orville "Red" Rhodes
• Bass: Chip Douglas
• Produced by Michael Nesmith
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, November 18 and 19, 1967, and February 2 and April 5, 1968, during sessions for The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees
• A demo version was recorded during the Headquarters sessions and later released as a bonus track on the 1995 and 2006 Rhino remasters of Headquarters, as well as the 2000 Rhino Handmade set The Headquarters Sessions

"So Goes Love" (Second Recorded Version)

• Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King
• Arranged by Don Peake
• Lead vocal by Davy Jones
• Backing vocals: Davy Jones
• Guitar: Peter Tork, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, Jim Helms
• Bass: Bill Pittman
• Drums: Hal Blaine
• Electric Piano: Billy Preston
• Percussion: Gary Coleman, Jim Gordon
• Produced by Michael Nesmith
• Recorded between July 7 and 25, 1966, during sessions for The Monkees

"Kicking Stones" (AKA Teeny Tiny Gnome)

• Written by Lynn Castle and Wayne Erwin
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Backing vocals: Tommy Boyce, Wayne Erwin, Bobby Hart, Ron Hicklin
• Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
• Bass: Larry Taylor
• Drums: Billy Lewis
• Piano: Bobby Hart
• Organ: Paul Suter
• Trumpet: Steve Huffsteter
• Trombone: Gilbert Falco, Dick Hyde
• Horn: Bob Jung, Don McGinnis
• Flute: Paul Suter
• Vibes: Emil Richards
• Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studio B, Hollywood, August 23, 1966, during sessions for More of the Monkees
• This song is mislabeled, as the correct title is "Kicking Stones", as per the 2006 Rhino remaster of More of the Monkees

"Of You"

• Written by Bill and John Chadwick
• Lead vocal by Michael Nesmith
• Harmony vocal: Micky Dolenz
• Guitar: Peter Tork, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, Mike Deasey
• Bass: Bob West
• Drums: Hal Blaine
• Percussion: Gary Coleman, Jim Gordon
• Piano: Michael Cohen, Larry Knechtel
• Produced by Michael Nesmith
• Recorded at Western Recorders, Hollywood, July 25, 1966, during sessions for The Monkees

"War Games"

• Written by David Jones and Steve Pitts
• Lead vocal by Davy Jones
• Guitar: Mike Deasey, Al Hendrickson, Gerry McGee
• Bass: Max Bennett
• Drums: Earl Palmer, and Unknown
• Tambourine: Unknown
• Harpsichord: Don Randi
• Violin: Sam Freed, Nathan Kaproff, George Kast, Marvin Limonick, Alex Murray, Erno Neufeld
• Cello: Marie Fera, Edgar Lustgarten, Jacqueline Lustgarten, Frederick Seykora
• Trumpet: Buddy Childers, Jack Sheldon
• French Horn: John Cave, David Duke, Arthur Maebe
• Trombone: George Roberts
• Produced by the Monkees
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, January 23, 1968, during sessions for The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees

"Lady's Baby"

• Written by Peter Tork
• Lead vocal by Peter Tork
• Backing vocal: Karen Harvey Hammer
• Guitar: Peter Tork
• Electric Guitar: Stephen Stills
• Bass: Lance Wakely
• Drums: Dewey Martin
• Sound Effects: Justin Hammer
• Produced by Peter Tork
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, December 1, 17, 21, 1967, and January 14, 19, 24, 1968 and Western Recorders, Hollywood, February 2 and 7, 1968, during sessions for The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees. It was originally intended for the album, but constant production changes and re-recordings by Tork caused the song to not be finished in time for release.

"Time and Time Again"

• Written by Bill Chadwick and David Jones
• Lead vocal by Davy Jones
• Backing vocals: Davy Jones, Bill Chadwick
• Electric Guitar: Louie Shelton, and Unknown
• Bass: Joe Osborn
• Drums: John Guerin
• Moog Synthesizer: Paul Beaver
• Calliope: Michel Rubini
• Produced by Bill Chadwick and Davy Jones
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, August 14, November 11, 1969, during sessions for The Monkees Present
• The version presented here has studio chatter at the beginning and end of the song. When the song was released as a bonus track on the 1994 Rhino remaster of Changes, the opening and closing dialogue was removed, and the song fades out at the end, whereas the version presented here does not fade. The Moog does not appear in the 1994 version until the instrumental bridge, whereas the Moog can be heard throughout the version presented here.

References[]