A Monkee and a Hermit walk into a bar...
Well, actually it was a theatre, The Monkee was Micky Dolenz, and the Hermit was none other than Herman himself, Peter Noone. Just last month, sixties survivors and music legends Dolenz and Noone shared a stage together for three intimate evenings of candid conversation. Those lucky enough to attend one of the talks (including yours truly) won't soon forget the pair's easy camaraderie and seemingly endless well of riotous and revealing recollections. Now, thanks to 7a Records, those who didn't make An Evening with Peter Noone and Micky Dolenz can take two of the chats home in one deluxe 2-CD, 2+-hour package due on March 7 in the U.K. and shortly thereafter elsewhere in the world! (And those who were there will certainly be up for this nifty souvenir!)
7a, which made quite a splash last year with the vinyl release of Dolenz's The MGM Singles Collection and the CD premiere of the sleek and soulful First Bobby Hart Solo Album, is making An Evening with Peter Noone and Micky Dolenz its first release of 2016. The first CD in this splendid new package presents the conversation from January 7 recorded at Westbury, New York's The Space at Westbury; the second has the pair's evening at Montclair, New Jersey's Memorial Auditorium recorded on January 9. Each off-the-cuff conversation features different showbiz tales from the engaging pair, peppered with memories of their famous friends. The release also contains brand-new liner notes and exclusive photos of the events.
"When we heard that these shows were being put together by the promoter, we thought it an opportunity too good to miss. It was a unique chance to catch the guys doing something they had never done before," 7a explains. "We are absolutely thrilled to release these very special performances, as they offer a unique insight into the lives of the two stars, both on and off stage." 7a clues listeners in as to what to expect: "Well, any fans expecting to hear the same old stories are in for a surprise. There are many new revelations that we can guarantee you won't have heard before, and some extremely funny moments. The chemistry between Micky and Peter is great and they are talking to each other as a pair of old friends, nothing gets watered down or left out. As Peter says, 'Like the rest of the inquisitive audience I enjoyed sitting chatting and having fun with my fellow entertainer and friend Micky Dolenz.'
The label continues, "What's interesting is that because this was so new to them, these highly experienced performers were a little nervous about doing something out of their comfort zone! Micky told us, 'I must admit that I was a bit apprehensive about drifting into uncharted waters with my 'Conversations with Peter Noone' but Peter is such a wonderful host and I was as fascinated by his stories as I hope he was by mine.'"
7a has many exciting plans for the months ahead, including more music from Micky (a 7-inch vinyl release of his previously unreleased songs "Chance of a Lifetime" and "Livin' on Lies" as well as an expanded CD version of the acclaimed MGM Singles Collection!) and some releases from the other half of Boyce and Hart, the late Tommy Boyce. In the meantime, the 2-CD set An Evening with Peter Noone and Micky Dolenz arrives on March 7 from the fine folks at 7a Records. You can pre-order at the Amazon U.K. link below and we will update with U.S. and Canada links as soon as they are active!
An Evening with Peter Noone and Micky Dolenz (7a Records 7A004, 2016) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada TBD)
CD 1: Recorded Thursday, 7th January 2016, The Space At Westbury, Westbury, NY
- Three Minutes to Tell Our Life Stories
- My Mom Was a Huge Fan of Yours
- The Bee Gees' Dad
- Don't Get Me Drunk, Pissed Off and Armed
- Ah! Mr. Sinatra!
- A Herrin' On The Griddle-O
- The Greatest Bull in All of Mexico!
- It Was The Beginning Of Weed
- Micky And The One Nighters
- Weeing My Pants
- There Was A War
- Randy Scouse Git
- Tell Me About Brian Jones
- I Met Elvis, Who Did You Meet?
- I Have So Many Regrets
- Not Many People Have Been Beaten Up By John Lennon
CD 2: Recorded Saturday, 9th January 2016, The Memorial Auditorium, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
- Deja Voodoo
- Little Richard, Chuck Berry and Johnny Mathis
- That Sounds Rude!
- I'd Never Been...to a Brothel
- Let's Go and Meet Those Monkee Guys
- The Beatles Came Second
- Walla Walla Bing Bang
- The Cavern Didn't Have Booze
- I Was The Total Freak
- Pleasant Valley
- Monkee Meets Beatle
- I Met Johnny Cash
- Brian Wilson Is Coming Over
- I Got To Hang With John Lennon
- The Odd Couple
- I've Forgotten The Lyrics to Clarksville
- Second Verse, Same as the First
Jeff says
Cool - thanks Joe! Will check this release out!
What is desperately needed is Peter's wonderful 70s solo singles collected.
The b-sides are as fun as the "A"s. The "biggest" was of course, his first - the cover of Bowie's "Oh! You Pretty Things" which I have to be honest - is a rare cover I like more than the original! And "All Sing Together" - remarkable b-side. One of my wife's favorite songs actually. "(Blame it on) The Pony Express", "Meet Me on the Corner Down a Joe's Cafe" - those were on Casablanca - all wonderful.
"Something Old, Something New" would be a pretty good title for a collection I think - and it's a great A-side on Casablanca!
Any interest there? Please email me if you'd like my rough and dirty vinyl transfers of these rare singles!
Also, Peter's wonderful cult-favorite, "One of the Glory Boys" LP remains unreleased on CD. That's a tragedy - and something I would think Cherry Red would have put out when they released The Tremblers album. "One of the Glory Boys" is a far better album, IMO and a great potential for re-release...
Thanks for your great work Joe (and updates) - I'm glad this one of the few blogs I signed up for.
Mark Schlesinger says
I would like to hear no ones 45s.
Jeffrey McGRaw says
I've scrolled the entire page and missed where I can order this. Will look harder.
Joe Marchese says
Hi Jeffrey, just click on the album cover or the link right at top of the track listing! Thanks for reading!