Agreed, and "Fast Eddie" Hoh deserves a nod for playing those "galloping drums" so well.

If producer Chip Douglas had never done another thing in this life, he should be hailed forever for coming up with that guitar opening to "Pleasant Valley Sunday."

I think the song is straightforward enough. But, yeah, I think I had kind of a dual response to it when I was twelve and it was all over the radio. I loved the safety and security and routine, recurring pleasures of the suburban neighborhood I grew up in. And I loved complaining about what a drag it all was.

Credit for this info goes to Andrew Sandoval for his breathtakingly researched book, "The Monkees: The Day-By-Day Story of the 60s TV Pop Sensation." Sandoval also manages the Monkees and has helped them with several tours and with putting the new CD together. Amazing guy.

Nice article, but unfortunately it dredges up an old myth — Don Kirshner never brought the Monkees "Sugar, Sugar," which according to co-composer Jeff Barry wasn't written until late 1968, long after Kirshner's ties to the Monkees had been severed. What Kirshner actually brought them was a demo of a song called…