Missing Links Volume Three

Missing Links Volume Three
Compilation album by The Monkees
Released	March 26, 1996
Recorded	1966-1969
Genre	Rock
Length	51:58
Label	Rhino
Producer	Various
The Monkees chronology
Barrelful of Monkees: Monkees Songs for Kids! (1996) Missing Links Volume Three (1996) Justus (1996)

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

While many of the tracks had been featured in the Monkees' television series, only six of the tracks had ever been issued commercially: "Steam Engine" and "Love to Love" had first appeared on the Australian compilation Monkeemania (40 Timeless Hits) in 1979; "Tema Dei Monkees" and "She Hangs Out" had been issued as singles (in Italy and Canada, respectively) and had been collected on the compilation Monkee Business in 1982; the alternate mix of "Circle Sky" had first appeared on the compilation Monkee Flips in 1984; and "Tear the Top Right Off My Head" had first appeared on the Listen to the Band box set in 1991.

The release marks the first time the television edit of the series' opening theme song was made available (not counting the TeeVee Tunes 1987 release, Television's Greatest Hits Volume II, where the theme appeared as track 25 on the CD version). All previous releases of the theme song featured the album version, which is twice as long but lacks the television version's final verse.

"Little Red Rider" and "Hollywood" were re-recorded by Michael Nesmith for his solo album Magnetic South.

Originally issued only on CD, a vinyl version was released in 2021 from Friday Music for Record Store Day.

Track listing[]

No.	Title	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"(Theme From) The Monkees (TV version)" (Tommy Boyce / Bobby Hart)	Micky Dolenz	0:51
2.	"Kellogg's Jingle" (unknown)	Micky Dolenz	0:13
3.	"We'll Be Back in a Minute #1" (Micky Dolenz)	Micky Dolenz	0:22
4.	"Through the Looking Glass (previously unissued alternate version)" (Tommy Boyce / Bobby Hart / Red Baldwin)	Micky Dolenz	2:36
5.	"Propinquity (I've Just Begun to Care)" (Michael Nesmith)	Michael Nesmith	3:21
6.	"Penny Music" (Michael Leonard / Bobby Weinstein / Jon Stroll)	Davy Jones	2:40
7.	"Tear the Top Right Off My Head" (Peter Tork)	Peter Tork	2:06
8.	"Little Red Rider" (Michael Nesmith)	Michael Nesmith	3:18
9.	"You're So Good" (Robert Stone)	Micky Dolenz	2:43
10.	"Look Down" (Carole King / Toni Stern)	Davy Jones	2:52
11.	"Hollywood" (Michael Nesmith)	Michael Nesmith	2:17
12.	"Midnight Train (demo version)" (Micky Dolenz)	Micky Dolenz, Coco Dolenz	2:29
13.	"She Hangs Out (single version)" (Jeff Barry / Ellie Greenwich)	Davy Jones	2:36
14.	"Shake 'Em Up (And Let 'Em Roll)" (Jerry Leiber / Mike Stoller)	Micky Dolenz	2:11
15.	"Circle Sky (alternate mix)" (Michael Nesmith)	Michael Nesmith	2:32
16.	"Steam Engine (previously unissued alternate mix)" (Chip Douglas)	Micky Dolenz	2:25
17.	"Love to Love (previously unissued alternate mix)" (Neil Diamond)	Davy Jones	2:30
18.	"She'll Be There" (Sharon Sheeley / Raul Abeyta)	Micky & Coco Dolenz	2:35
19.	"How Insensitive" (Antonio Carlos Jobim / Vinicus DeMoraes / Norman Gimbel)	Michael Nesmith	2:33
20.	"Merry Go Round" (Peter Tork / Diane Hildebrand)	Peter Tork	1:44
21.	"Angel Band" (Jefferson Hascall, William Bradbury)	Michael Nesmith	3:26
22.	"Zor and Zam (TV version)" (Bill Chadwick / John Chadwick)	Micky Dolenz	2:08
23.	"We'll Be Back in a Minute #2" (Micky Dolenz)	Micky Dolenz	0:23
24.	"Tema Dei Monkees" (Tommy Boyce / Bobby Hart / Carlo Nistri)	Micky Dolenz	1:10

Session information[]

"(Theme From) The Monkees" (TV version)

• Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Backing vocal: Micky Dolenz
• Guitar: Wayne Erwin and Gerry McGee
• Bass: Larry Taylor
• Drums: Billy Lewis
• Tambourine: Gene Estes
• Finger Snaps: Unknown
• Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, CA, August 6, 1966, during the sessions for More of the Monkees

"Kellogg's Jingle"

• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Backing vocal: Tommy Boyce
• Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, and Louie Shelton
• Bass: Larry Taylor
• Drums: Billy Lewis
• A commercial jingle sung by Micky, with the instrumental backing track borrowing riffs from the theme song
• Recorded in Hollywood, 1966, during the sessions for The Monkees

"We'll Be Back in a Minute"

• Written by Micky Dolenz
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Backing vocal: Micky Dolenz
• Acoustic Guitar: Micky Dolenz
• Banjo: Henry Diltz
• Bass: Chip Douglas
• Kazoo: Micky Dolenz
• Produced by Brendan Cahill and Micky Dolenz
• Engineered by: Bill Lazerus
• Recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, July 1, 1969, during the sessions for The Monkees Present

"Through the Looking Glass" (previously unissued alternate version) (a.k.a. first recorded version)

• Written by Red Baldwin, Tommy Boyce, and Bobby Hart
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, and Ron Hicklin
• Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, and Louie Shelton
• Acoustic Guitar: Tommy Boyce
• Bass: Larry Taylor
• Drums: Billy Lewis
• Piano: Michel Rubini
• Tambourine: Alan Estes
• Timpani: Alan Estes
• Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, September 10, 1966, during the sessions for More of the Monkees. It was later re-cut for The Birds, The Bees & the Monkees and released on Instant Replay.

"Propinquity (I've Just Begun to Care)"

• Written by Michael Nesmith
• Lead vocal by Michael Nesmith
• Harmony vocal: Michael Nesmith
• Guitar: Felton Jarvis
• Acoustic Guitar: Wayne Moss
• Steel Guitar: Lloyd Green
• Banjo: Sonny Osborne
• Bass: Norbert Putnam
• Drums: Kenny Buttrey
• Organ: David Briggs
• Produced by Michael Nesmith and Felton Jarvis
• Engineered by: Al Pachucki
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Nashville, May 28, 1968, during the sessions for Head
• One of the songs that Michael Nesmith had written before he became a member of the Monkees

"Penny Music"

• Written by Michael Leonard, Jon Stroll, and Bobby Weinstein
• Lead vocal by Davy Jones
• Backing vocals: Bill Chadwick and Davy Jones
• Guitar: Unknown
• Bass: Unknown
• Drums: Unknown
• Piano: Unknown
• Harpsichord: Unknown
• Brass: Unknown
• Produced by Bill Chadwick and Davy Jones
• Engineered by: Pete Abbott
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, May 1 and July 11, 1969, during the sessions for The Monkees Present

"Tear the Top Right off My Head"

• Written by Peter Tork
• Lead vocal by Peter Tork
• Backing vocal: Micky Dolenz
• Electric Guitar: Peter Tork
• Fuzz Guitar: Peter Tork
• Acoustic Guitar: Lance Wakely
• Bass: Ron Brown
• Drums: Dewey Martin
• Harmonica: Lance Wakely
• Produced by The Monkees
• Recorded at Western Recorders, February 5, 6, and 8, and RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, February 12, 1968, during the sessions for The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees
• First released on the 1991 Rhino CD box set Listen to the Band

"Little Red Rider"

• Written by Michael Nesmith
• Lead vocal by Michael Nesmith
• Backing vocal: Michael Nesmith
• Guitar: Al Casey and Louie Shelton
• Bass: Max Bennett and Joe Osborn
• Drums: Hal Blaine
• Piano: Larry Knechtel
• Tenor Saxophone: Clifford Solomon
• Trumpet: Mack Johnson
• Trombone: Lester Robertson
• Cowbell: Unknown
• Produced by Michael Nesmith
• Engineered by: Pete Abbott
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, May 28 and June 17 and 26, 1969, during the sessions for The Monkees Present

"You're So Good"

• Written by Robert Stone
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Guitar: James Burton and Louie Shelton
• Electric Guitar: Unknown
• Bass: Bob West
• Drums: Earl Palmer
• Cowbell: Earl Palmer
• Piano: Michel Rubini
• Tenor Saxophone: Clifford Solomon
• Trumpet: Mack Johnson
• Trombone: Lester Robertson
• Horn: John Williams
• Produced by Michael Nesmith
• Engineered by: Pete Abbott
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, May 27 and June 26, 1969, during the sessions for The Monkees Present
• Unique in the Monkees' canon, as it was produced by Michael Nesmith, sung by Micky Dolenz and written by an outsider, Robert Stone. It also features Sam & The Goodtimers on the backing track.
• The similarly titled "You're So Good to Me" was recorded the following year and released on Changes. Although only Jeff Barry and Bobby Bloom received credit for writing "You're So Good to Me", several sources claim Robert Stone to be a third composer of the song.

"Look Down"

• Written by Carole King and Toni Stern
• Lead vocal by Davy Jones
• Backing vocal: Carole King
• Guitar: Dennis Budimir, Al Casey, and Tommy Tedesco
• Bass: Larry Knechtel
• Drums: Hal Blaine
• Tambourine: Kenneth Watson
• Bells: Kenneth Watson
• Piano: Michel Rubini
• Saxophone: Jim Horn and Jay Migliori
• Trumpet: Jules Chaikin and Tony Terran
• Trombone: Lew McCreary
• Horn: Shorty Rogers
• Produced by The Monkees
• Recorded at T.T.G Studios, Hollywood, April 6, 1968, during the sessions for Head. It was considered for, but rejected from, Changes.

"Hollywood"

• Written by Michael Nesmith
• Lead vocal by Michael Nesmith
• Guitar: Michael Nesmith, Harold Bradley, and Felton Jarvis
• Steel Guitar: Lloyd Green
• Banjo: Bobby Thompson
• Bass: Norbert Putnam
• Drums: Kenny Buttrey
• Piano: David Briggs
• Harmonica: Charlie McCoy
• Violin: Buddy Spicher
• Produced by Michael Nesmith and Felton Jarvis
• Engineered by: Al Pachucki and Bill Vandevort
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Nashville, May 29 and 31, 1968, during the sessions for Head

"Midnight Train" (demo version)

• Written by Micky Dolenz
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Harmony vocal: Coco Dolenz (Micky's sister)
• Acoustic Guitar: Micky Dolenz
• Produced by Chip Douglas
• Engineered by: Hank Cicalo
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, February 24, 1967, during the sessions for Headquarters. It was later re-cut during the sessions for The Monkees Present and released on Changes.
• While Micky Dolenz is officially credited as the writer of the song, several sites and sources claim Chris McCarty, Kenny Lee Lewis and Steve Miller to have co-written the track.^[1] These findings are incorrect, as the song co-written by McCarty, Lewis and Miller is a completely different song from the one written by Dolenz.

"She Hangs Out" (single version)

• Written by Jeff Barry
• Lead vocal by Davy Jones
• Backing vocal: Davy Jones and Unknown
• Guitars: Al Gorgoni, Don Thomas, and Hugh McCracken
• Bass: Louis Mauro and James Tyrell
• Drums: Herb Lovelle
• Piano: Stan Free
• Organ: Arthur Butler
• Tambourine: Thomas Cerone
• Produced and Arranged By: Jeff Barry
• Engineered By: Ray Hall
• Recorded at RCA Studio B, New York City, January 21 (11:00 A.M. - 7:00 P.M.) and 24, and February 4 and 5, 1967, during the sessions for Headquarters. It was later re-cut for Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd..
• While Jeff Barry is officially credited as the writer of the song, several sites and sources claim Ellie Greenwich to have co-written the track.^[2]
• First released on the 1982 Rhino compilation album Monkee Business^[3]

"Shake 'Em Up (And Let 'Em Roll)"

• Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz and Coco Dolenz
• Electric Guitar: Keith Allison
• Acoustic Guitar: Bill Chadwick
• Bass: Chip Douglas
• Drums: Eddie Hoh
• Clarinet: Henry Diltz
• Produced by The Monkees
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, February 24, 1968, during the sessions for The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees. It was considered for, but rejected from, Changes.
• Micky's "Mr. Henry Diltz on clarinet" interjection refers to the fact that Henry Diltz plays clarinet on the song.

"Circle Sky" (alternate mix)

• Written by Michael Nesmith
• Lead vocal by Michael Nesmith
• Guitar: Michael Nesmith, Keith Allison, and Bill Chadwick
• Bass: Richard Dey, and John Gross
• Drums: Eddie Hoh
• Organ: Michael Nesmith
• Percussion: Michael Nesmith, and Eddie Hoh
• Produced by The Monkees
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, December 9 and 17, 1967 and January 6 and 8, 1968, during the sessions for The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees
• This "vocals up" mix was done in the spring of 1969 and was going to be released on Colgems single 1038 (an export single released in April of 1969) as the B-side to "Porpoise Song". It was later decided to use the original soundtrack mix.
• This alternate "vocals up" mix was first released on the 1984 Rhino compilation album Monkee Flips^[4]

"Steam Engine" (previously unissued alternate mix)

• Written by Chip Douglas
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Chip Douglas, Clydie King, Jerry Yester, and Unknown
• Guitar: Clarence White
• Steel Guitar: Orville "Red" Rhodes
• Bass: Lyle Ritz
• Drums: Jim Gordon
• Tambourine: Eddie Hoh
• Organ: Bill Martin
• Reed: Bill Green and Bob Hardaway
• Trumpet: Bill Peterson, Sanford Skinner, and Tony Terran
• Trombone: Bobby Knight and Lew McCreary
• Produced by Chip Douglas
• Engineered by: Eddie Brackett
• Recorded at Western Recorders, May 12, and RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, July 8, 1969, during the sessions for The Monkees Present. It was originally considered for, but rejected from, Changes.
• This mix of the song is a previously unreleased vintage mix from the late '60s, different from the mixes released on Monkeemania (40 Timeless Hits), Monkee Business and Listen to the Band.^[4]

"Love to Love" (previously unissued alternate mix)

• Written by Neil Diamond
• Lead vocal by Davy Jones
• Guitars: Al Gorgoni, Don Thomas, and Hugh McCracken
• Bass: Louis Mauro and James Tyrell
• Drums: Herb Lovelle
• Piano: Stan Free
• Organ: Arthur Butler
• Tambourine: Thomas Cerone
• Produced and Arranged By: Jeff Barry
• Engineered By: Ray Hall
• Recorded at RCA Studio B, New York City, January 21 (11:00 A.M. - 7:00 P.M.) and 24, and February 4 and 5, 1967, and August 5, 1969, during the sessions for Headquarters, with the vocal being re-recorded during the sessions for The Monkees Present.
• This mix is a previously unreleased true stereo mix, different from the mixes released on Monkeemania (40 Timeless Hits), Monkee Business and Listen to the Band.^[4]
• This 1969 version was later re-released on the 2016 album Good Times!, featuring new backing vocals from Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork.

"She'll Be There"

• Written by Sharon Sheeley and Raul Abeyta
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Harmony vocal: Coco Dolenz
• Acoustic Guitar: Micky Dolenz
• Produced by Douglas Farthing-Hatlelid
• Engineered by: Hank Cicalo
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, February, 1967, during the sessions for Headquarters
• Micky and his sister Coco were responsible for the arrangement of this song. However, the identity of the composer was unknown at the time of this release and, as a result, no official writer's credit was included.

"How Insensitive"

• Written by Vinicus DeMaraes, Norman Gimbel and Antonio Carlos Jobim
• Lead vocal by Michael Nesmith
• Guitar: Michael Nesmith, Harold Bradley, and Felton Jarvis
• Steel Guitar: Lloyd Green
• Banjo: Bobby Thompson
• Bass: Norbert Putnam
• Drums: Kenny Buttrey
• Piano: David Briggs
• Violin: Buddy Spicher
• Produced by The Monkees
• Engineered by: Al Pachucki
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Nashville, May 31, 1968, during the sessions for Head

"Merry Go Round"

• Written by Diane Hildebrand and Peter Tork
• Lead vocal by Peter Tork
• Bass: Peter Tork
• Organ: Peter Tork
• Piano: Peter Tork
• Unknown: Lance Wakely
• Produced by The Monkees
• Engineered by: Pete Abbott
• Recorded at Western Recorders, January 20, and RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, January 22 and 31, 1968, during the sessions for The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees

"Angel Band"

• Traditional, arr. William Bradbury, Jefferson Hascall, and Michael Nesmith
• Lead vocal by Michael Nesmith
• Backing vocal: Michael Nesmith and Unknown
• Acoustic Guitar: Al Casey and Louie Shelton
• Drums: Hal Blaine
• Double Bass: Max Bennett
• Harmonium: Michel Rubini
• Produced by Michael Nesmith
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, June 9, 1969, during the sessions for The Monkees Present
• "Angel Band" is in the public domain. The writing credit shown for Michael Nesmith is for the song's arrangement.

"Zor and Zam" (TV version) (a.k.a. first recorded version)

• Written by Bill Chadwick and John Chadwick
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Backing vocal: Unknown
• Guitar - Keith Allison, and Bill Chadwick
• Bass: Richard Dey
• Drums: Eddie Hoh
• Percussion: Unknown
• Piano: Unknown
• Unknown: Henry Diltz
• Produced by The Monkees
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, January 7, 13 and 18, and February 14, 1968, during the sessions for The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees. The album version was completed later that month.

"We'll Be Back in a Minute" #2

• Written by Micky Dolenz
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Guitar: Micky Dolenz
• Banjo: Henry Diltz
• Bass: Chip Douglas
• Kazoo: Micky Dolenz
• Produced by Brendan Cahill and Micky Dolenz
• Engineered by: Bill Lazerus
• Recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, July 1, 1969

"Tema Dei Monkees"

• Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, with Carlo Nistri
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Harmony vocals by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Backing vocal: Micky Dolenz
• Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, and Louie Shelton
• Bass: Larry Taylor
• Drums: Billy Lewis
• Tambourine: Gene Estes
• Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, July 19, 1966 during the sessions for The Monkees. Other session info unknown.
• First released on Monkee Business^[3]
• An Italian language version of "(Theme From) The Monkees", this version is in a lower key than the English language version

References[]