Where's That Sound Coming From Presents: Questions But No Answers with Brian Marchese Where's That Sound Coming From?

Overcome with the need to keep my audience engaged I realized that there are a few episodes of my old podcast that I could re-post, which deal with songs that most Nezheads should know well. Without bias, I still say that the Second National Band version is the best version of this heartbreaking song. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't check out all the other versions featured here! Listening to this episode ten years later was a little mindblowing. I was bracing myself for some cringey moments, but I was mostly pleasantly surprised. I am a bit forceful in possibly trying to push Gram Parsons down a peg while waving my Nez freak flag and I've since mellowed in that regard. I hadn't yet become his friend and employee. I'm a Parsons fan too and fully recognize his amazing talent and hate that he couldn't get his life together and deliver on all he promised and live to see how much people still love and are influenced by his work. I think my agenda was to level the playing field and give Nez his due props in country-rock history. I've learned first hand that it's easy to love Parsons while Nez is a more acquired taste. But right around this time, due to his triumphant return to the public eye, there seemed to be a positive re-evaluation of Nez's musical achievements and he always seemed taken aback in the many interviews he gave in his final decade, to hear his work praised after assuming he'd been largely forgotten. This is why the First National Band Redux shows were so triumphant and beautiful. Who knew in 2014 what was going to happen? Crikey, that's a loaded question. Anyway, enjoy!. 

I decided to sneak one more in before my summer break! It's short, like the episodes were supposed to be when I started this series.....What a perfect little power folk pop song this is,  and the first song on the legendary Headquarters album (Nez thought up that title, ya know).  The four Monkees, plus Chip Douglas, jangleburst their way through the door into real band-ness, saying "here we come, but FOR REAL this time!!". More Beatles talk on this episode, and if you know this song, you might be able to guess why. Plus I'll play and discuss the wacky Wichita Train verson and live versions recorded four decades apart. Unless I get inspired to to a summer episode or two (you never know with me), see you this fall! 

A song described as “A Breezy Little Pop Tune” by its author, Michael Nesmith, “The Girl I Knew Somewhere” was too poppy for Jon Herald, too sloppy for Don Kirshner, but just exactly perfect to be the world’s first taste of The Monkees performing as a real band when it was released on March 8, 1967, as the B-side to “A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You”. The A-side represented the past, the B-side, the future (at least the very near future).  Did it change all the haters’ and skeptics’ opinions? I mean, shoot, this is a well written song, super catchy, with some literate lyrics and clever changes and played real well by Mike, Peter, Micky and Davy (with Nez pal John London on bass). That’s the proverbial real deal right there. How’s about some respect? Well, maybe your average critic or hippie turned their nose up, but some key members of rock royalty knew a good song when they heard it. In the second half of this lengthy episode I talk about all sorts of stuff with the super cool host of the super cool podcast, RANKING THE BEATLES, Mr. Jonathan Pretus. Our conversation goes to some wild places so hold on to your wool hats, cats and kitties (to quote Ben Fong Torres). Also, this might be the start of a summer hiatus, but I’m not positive. I might need to focus on some other stuff for a bit. But you’ll be hearing from me one way or another and in the meantime I’ll be scripting out the next few episodes. 

Where is Mary going to? Is she safe from the persistent creepo who won't leave her alone? Is this the same Mary as in "Walkin' the Dog"? Was Michael Blessing much more of a manufactured image than Monkee Mike? Is Bloomfield's guitar solo the best part of the Butterfield version? Why isn't Micky ready? How great of a live band were The Monkees on the 1968 fall tour? When is the only time that Nez seriously pissed off your host, Brian? Did Nez try to make "Mary, Mary>Circle Sky", The Monkees' version of "China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider"?  And finally, WHY YA BUGGIN'????

Q: What happens when the most stubbornly independent Monkee is forced by a man he dislikes to do something he dislikes, such as co-write a song with strangers who happen to be one of the most successful songwriting teams of the century? A: We get a great song with a lot of versions to hear and discuss. What we don't get is a lot of facts, so this episode, while guest-free, does have some voice-acting and creative nonfiction. I try, semi seriously, to suss out who wrote what in the song. This episode also features lots of good music and two eye-opening interview clips. I hope you dig. 

"Papa Gene's Blues" is one of Michael Nesmith's most endearing and enduring songs. I didn't set out to make this a 90 minute episode, but it's an important song with a lot of history; plus I had two guests and they were both full of so much insight. Firstly there's Lynda Wiles of Cornwall (UK), a Nezhead since the BBC debuted the Monkees television series on New Years Eve 1966. She runs multiple Nez-related web destinations that everyone should check out. Then there's Ryan Quinn, a Massachusetts-based singer songwriter and band leader (Salvation Alley), who gives some professorial insight into the nuts and bolts of "Papa Gene's Blues" as a musical composition. Along the way we'll listen to six or seven different versions of the song, from 1966 to 2018. Enjoy!