How Happy I Can Be: 7a Records Releases Rare Davy Jones On New Live Single
Attention all daydream believers! The diehard Monkeephiles at 7a Records have an upcoming release that’s sure to cheer up sleepy Jean. Oh what can it mean? On February 24, the 7a team will unveil the label’s latest limited-edition vinyl single, and its first from the late, great Davy Jones. Daydream Believer/I Wanna Be Free captures Jones’ performances of the two all-time Monkees classics recorded on his 1981 tour of Japan. This 7-inch single, strictly limited to 500 copies pressed on translucent yellow vinyl, marks the first official archival release from the artist since Jones’ untimely death in 2012.
The screams of appreciative fans punctuate the rousing rendition of John Stewart’s “Daydream Believer,” originally recorded and released by The Monkees in 1967 and subsequently included on 1968’s The Birds, The Bees and The Monkees. (7a Records’ name comes from the studio chatter from the “Daydream” sessions, referring to the take number.) Jones’ sweetly charming lilt had hardly changed since the song’s premiere, and the audience eats up the bouncy, sing-along chorus, proving that music truly is the universal language. Though the crowd is equally vocal, Jones is wonderfully intimate and sensitive on the gentle, lovely Tommy Boyce/Bobby Hart ballad “I Wanna Be Free,” from The Monkees’ ’67 debut album.
Both of these live recordings remind listeners of Jones’ pristine, sweet voice, versatile and capable of a great emotional connection. These were taken from the concert soundboard audio, as newly and painstakingly remastered by 7a. Davy’s estate has been fully supportive of this release. Iain Lee of 7a Records comments, “We have been working on this single for a long time. 7a Records is for the moment all about The Monkees, so to finally be able to release something with Davy’s name on is just a huge thrill for us. We are such huge fans, that to be allowed to release a new Davy Jones single is a dream come true. Our only regret is that Davy isn’t here to see it himself. We at 7a really hope we can do the Manchester Cowboy proud.”
Daydream Believer/I Wanna Be Free is beautifully packaged up to the label’s usual high standard, and is designed after an authentic Japanese-style release (see the cover, above). It will be available on February 24 in the United Kingdom and the week after in the United States. Watch this space for news of further 7a releases, which are planned to include more from Davy, the label’s first title from Michael Nesmith, and a Monkees tribute album! You can pre-order Davy’s yellow vinyl single, limited to 500 copies, at the links below!
Davy Jones, Daydream Believer/I Wanna Be Free (7a Records, 2017)
Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Deep Discount
- Daydream Believer
- I Wanna Be Free
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Great article!! Thank You Joe Marchese, and Thank You 7a Records!! I’m really looking forward to this release! I was a Fan Club President of Davy’s back in 1981 when all of this was happening – so I remember it well!! Monkeemania hit Japan all over again, because Davy’s “Daydream Believer” was used in a Kodak TV commercial! I was getting “hundreds” of letters a day from Japan in 1981, wanting to join Davy’s Fan Club!! And I always wondered why “I Wanna Be Free” was never released as a single in the US! I’m so glad to see that it finally will be!! It was Davy’s personal favorite Monkee song!