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.
"Cotton Fields (The Cotton Song)" (also known as In Them Old Cotton Fields Back Home) is a song written by American blues musician Huddie Ledbetter, better known as Lead Belly, who made the first recording of the song in 1940.
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.
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.
"Teach Your Children" is a song written by Graham Nash in 1968 when he was a member of the Hollies. Although it was never recorded by that group in a studio, the Hollies did record it live in 1983. After the song was initially recorded for the album Crosby, Stills & Nash in 1969, a much more enhanced version of the song was recorded for the album Déjà Vu by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, released in 1970. As a single, the song peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts that year. On the Easy Listening chart, it peaked at No. 28. In Canada, "Teach Your Children" reached No. 8. Reviewing the song, Cash Box commented on the "incredible soft harmony luster" and "delicately composed material." Billboard called it "a smooth country-flavored ballad that should prove an even bigger hit on the charts [than 'Woodstock']." Stephen Stills gave the song its "country swing", replacing the "Henry VIII" style of Nash's original demo.
"Middle of the Road" is a song by the Pretenders, released as the third single from the album Learning to Crawl. The single was released in the US in November 1983, then in the UK in February 1984.
Orville J. Rhodes, better known as Red Rhodes or O. J. Rhodes, was an American pedal steel guitarist.
"Make Believe It's Your First Time" is a song written by Bob Morrison and Johnny Wilson. Originally recorded by Bobby Vinton, the song was twice recorded by Karen Carpenter, both as a solo act and as a member of the Carpenters.
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 Britt Festival is a live album by Michael Nesmith, released in 1999. It was recorded live at the Britt Festival in Jacksonville, Oregon, on June 19, 1992. To prepare for the concert, Nesmith conducted a limited U.S. tour which featured a similar set list as the Britt Festival.
Complete First National Band Recordings is a compilation album by Michael Nesmith, released in 1993. It contains the three albums Nesmith recorded with the First National Band in 1970 and 1971 on a two-CD set. Magnetic South and Loose Salute are on the first CD, while Nevada Fighter is on the second CD.
"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.
"Street Singer" is a song written by Roy Nichols, and performed by American country music band The Strangers. It was released in April 1970 as the first single from their album Introducing My Friends The Strangers. The B-side was "Mexican Rose," written by Roy Nichols and Norm Hamlet. The lineup of The Strangers during this time was Roy Nichols on lead guitar, Norm Hamlet on pedal steel guitar, Bobby Wayne on rhythm guitar, Dennis Hromek on bass, and Biff Adam on drums. "Street Singer" peaked at number nine on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and peaked at number twenty four on the Bubbling Under Hot 100. It reached number-one on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks in June 1970.
Solitaire is the thirty-first studio album by American pop singer Andy Williams, released in the fall of 1973 by Columbia Records and was an attempt to move away from his formulaic series of recent releases that relied heavily on songs that other artists had made popular.
Let's Love While We Can is the thirty-seventh studio album by American pop singer Andy Williams, released in the U.K. in 1980 by CBS Records. For this project Williams eschews covering well-known pop hits and standards and relies mostly on original or lesser-known country songs.
"Listen to the Band" is a song by American pop rock band the Monkees, released on Colgems single 5004 on April 26, 1969. Written by Michael Nesmith, it is the first time Nesmith sang lead vocals on a Monkees single A-side.
Movies of the Mind is a live album from Michael Nesmith. The album documents Nesmith's 2013 2-month tour of the United States.
Country Boy & Country Girl is a studio album by American country music artists Jimmy Dean and Dottie West. It was released in November 1970 on RCA Victor Records and was produced by Jerry Bradley. The project was a collection duet recordings between both artists. It was Dean's first collaborative album and West's second. The album spawned one single entitled "Slowly", which would be released in 1971. Country Boy & Country Girl would also reach peak positions on national music publication charts following its release.
