Robert Michael Nesmith, better known as Mike Nesmith, was an American musician, songwriter, and actor. He was best known as a member of the pop rock band the Monkees and co-star of their TV series of the same (1966–1968). His songwriting credits with the Monkees include "Mary, Mary", "The Girl I Knew Somewhere", "Tapioca Tundra", "Circle Sky" and "Listen to the Band". Additionally, his song "Different Drum" became a hit for Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Poneys.
The Monkees is the debut studio album by the American band the Monkees. It was released on October 10, 1966 by Colgems Records in the United States and RCA Victor in the rest of the world. It was the first of four consecutive U.S. number one albums for the group, taking the top spot on the Billboard 200 for 13 weeks, after which it was displaced by the band's second album. It also topped the UK charts in 1967. The Monkees has been certified quintuple platinum by the RIAA, with sales of over five million copies.
Loose Salute is the second solo album by American singer-songwriter Michael Nesmith released during his post-Monkees career. Issued by RCA Records in 1970 and dedicated to Tony Richland, it peaked at No. 159 on the Billboard Pop Albums charts.
Nevada Fighter is the third solo album by American singer-songwriter Michael Nesmith during his post-Monkees career. The album is also the third and final album with Nesmith backed by the First National Band. Released by RCA Records in 1971, the LP failed to chart in the top 200 but bubbled under at #218. The lead off single "Nevada Fighter" peaked at No. 70 on the Billboard charts and No. 67 in Canada.
Tantamount to Treason Volume 1 is Michael Nesmith's fourth solo album during his post-Monkees career. Released in 1972, Tantamount to Treason is the only album Michael Nesmith recorded and released with the Second National Band. An assumed sequel was said to have been recorded but was never released. Even so, Nesmith has personally stated that a follow-up 'never happened and all rumors are false'.
Magnetic South is the first solo album by American singer-songwriter Michael Nesmith during his post-Monkees career. Released by RCA Records in 1970, the album peaked at Number 143 on the Billboard Pop Albums charts and Number 49 in Canada. Magnetic South is considered a pioneering example of country rock. "Joanne" backed with "One Rose" was issued as a single from the album, reaching Number 21 on the Billboard singles charts and Number 6 on the Adult Contemporary charts, #5 on the Australian chart, and #4 in Canada. "Joanne" was the highest charting single of Nesmith's entire solo career.
And the Hits Just Keep on Comin' is an album by Michael Nesmith. Recorded for RCA Records, it was his fifth solo album after leaving The Monkees. The album was recorded and released in 1972; all ten tracks had been composed by Nesmith prior to and during his time as a member of The Monkees.
Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch Stash is American singer-songwriter Michael Nesmith's sixth album of his post-Monkees career. Released in September 1973, it was his final album for RCA Records and did not chart.
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.
The Prison - A Book with a Soundtrack is Michael Nesmith's seventh solo album of his post-Monkees career and his first to be released under his own record label, Pacific Arts. It includes a novella meant to be read while listening to the album as its "soundtrack". Nesmith recorded a companion novella/album entitled The Garden, released in 1994. According to Nesmith's website (Videoranch), a third installment titled The Ocean has been released and completes the Infinitia trilogy
The Wichita Train Whistle Sings is the de facto first solo album by Michael Nesmith, although the artist credited on the initial release is actually "The Wichita Train Whistle". It was recorded while Nesmith was still a member of the Monkees, and it peaked at No. 144 on the Billboard Pop Albums charts.
Orville J. Rhodes, better known as Red Rhodes or O. J. Rhodes, was an American pedal steel guitarist.
The First National Band or Michael Nesmith and The First National Band was a short-lived American collaborative band, led by Michael Nesmith after his departure from The Monkees. During the two active years, The First National Band released three albums in the country rock genre in 1970 and 1971.
Live at the Palais is a live album by American singer-songwriter Michael Nesmith, originally released in 1978. It was recorded in 1977 at the Palais Theatre in Melbourne.
Tropical Campfires, originally known as Tropical Campfire's, is an album by Michael Nesmith released in 1992 after Nesmith's 13-year hiatus from making studio albums. It is the 9th and final Nesmith album to feature guitarist Red Rhodes, who died in 1995.
"Joanne" is a song written and performed by Michael Nesmith, his only Top 40 hit song as a solo artist. The single was issued by RCA Records in mid 1970, from the album Magnetic South, the first album released by Nesmith and The First National Band after he left The Monkees. In the United States, the song peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Top 100 on 3 October 1970. It went to No. 4 in Canada, No. 3 in Australia, and No. 1 in New Zealand. In the U.S., it was the most successful solo chart hit for any member of The Monkees.
Silver Moon was the third single Michael Nesmith recorded as a solo artist and the second to reach the Billboard Hot 100. Silver Moon was released in 1970 from Nesmith's second solo album, Loose Salute. Nesmith recorded the song with The First National Band and the song reached number 42 on the Top 100 and number seven on the Adult Contemporary charts. The track features a pedal steel guitar solo played by O.J. "Red" Rhodes. The song also went to number 13 in Canada and number seven in the Netherlands.
The Amazing Zig Zag Concert was a rock concert held at The Roundhouse on April 28, 1974 to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Zig Zag Magazine. Described as "one of the gigs of the decade", the concert "has taken on legendary proportions over the years" and featured Michael Nesmith with Red Rhodes, John Stewart, Help Yourself, Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers and Starry Eyed and Laughing. The concert was recorded, but was not issued until 2010, when it was released as a 5-CD boxed set.
Movies of the Mind is a live album from Michael Nesmith. The album documents Nesmith's 2013 2-month tour of the United States.
The Monkees Live: The Mike and Micky Show is a 2020 live album by The Monkees, recorded in March and June 2019, during the band's successful tour. The concerts marked the first time that surviving Monkees Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith toured as a duo. The album is the first Monkees release following the death of Peter Tork in February 2019, and the final release to feature Nesmith prior to his December 2021 death.
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