Is there any doubt that 2016 truly is The Year of The Monkees?

Following its acclaimed releases earlier this year of Micky Dolenz's "Chance of a Lifetime" single and An Evening with Peter Noone and Micky Dolenz, 7a Records is continuing its relationship with Monkee Micky for a new vinyl release.  Micky has teamed with his bandmate Michael's son Christian Nesmith and Christian's partner in music and life, Circe Link, for a brand-new EP!

On June 24, 7a will release a translucent, purple-colored vinyl EP with four tracks recorded by the trio of Dolenz, Nesmith and Link last year.  New recordings of two Monkees classics - Carole King and Gerry Goffin's "Porpoise Song" and Dolenz's own "Randy Scouse Git" - are joined by King and Howard Greenfield's Everly Brothers staple "Crying in the Rain," as well as by The Beatles' "Good Morning, Good Morning."  This release, mixed and mastered by Nesmith, is strictly limited to 500 copies.

Christian Nesmith and Circe Link have both toured with The Monkees, and these acoustic performances came about when Dolenz joined them on their live streaming show.  "We were blown away when we heard these recordings.  The vocal performances and the musicianship is phenomenal," the label notes.  "We felt the recordings deserved to be released in a physical format, and are happy that they agreed to let us license them.  And how cool is it to hear a Monkee sing a Beatles tune?"  Indeed!  It's also no coincidence that Dolenz is once more paying tribute here to Carole King, whose work he celebrated on his 2010 solo release King for a Day; that release also featured an interpretation of "Crying in the Rain."  Christian Nesmith comments, "Micky is a blast to work with, and has one of those great iconic voices that has stood the test of time and that certainly shows here."

Indeed, anyone familiar with The Monkees' best-selling new album Good Times! can confirm that Dolenz's robust voice has hardly diminished over the decades.  Here, his voice joins in a beguiling new blend with Link's on the plaintively beautiful "Crying in the Rain," while the rollicking "Randy Scouse Git" crackles with raw energy thanks to the stripped-down setting.  The medley of "Porpoise Song" and "Good Morning, Good Morning" is both warmly ethereal and appropriately hazy with the three singer-musicians intimately in tune with one another.

Though the Dolenz/Nesmith/Link EP is a U.K. release it can be ordered worldwide, like all of 7a's titles.  It's available for pre-order at Deep Discount, and also at Amazon.com at the links below.  As of now, there are no plans for this material to be released on CD or digitally, so fans should snap this vinyl EP up now.  Monkees fans should also be on the lookout as the band continues to add dates to its hugely successful current tour; 7a also has plans for more Monkee-related releases for the future...and we know you won't want to miss any of 'em!

Micky Dolenz, Christian Nesmith and Circe Link EP (7a Records 7A006, 2016) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Deep Discount)

Side One

1. Porpoise Song/Good Morning, Good Morning (5:51)

Side Two

2. Crying in the Rain (3:42)
3. Randy Scouse Git (2:40)