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The Second Disc is proud to announce the first Second Disc Records/Real Gone Music release of 2021 - and it's one that's been years in the making!
Michael Nesmith has always travelled to the beat of a "Different Drum"-whether as the writer of that classic hit for Linda Ronstadt and The Stone Poneys, the wool hat-clad member of The Monkees, or one of the earliest progenitors of the country-rock genre. In recent years, Nesmith has penned the critically acclaimed autobiography Infinite Tuesday, reformed the First National Band to sold-out audiences, and both recorded and performed live to fans young and old with The Monkees. Now, Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music are proud to present a major deep dive into the Nez archives.
Different Drum: The Lost RCA Victor Recordings features 22 tracks on CD drawn from the RCA Victor vaults, every one of which is previously unreleased in any physical format. These songs were originally released to digital platforms in 2018 as bonus tracks to Nesmith's RCA six albums - solo and with The First and Second National Bands. Over the course of those LPs released between 1970 and 1973, Nesmith blossomed as a singer, songwriter, bandleader, and producer under the aegis of RCA Nashville legends Chet Atkins and Felton Jarvis. With bandmates including legendary pedal steel guitarist O.J. "Red" Rhodes, John Ware, and John London, Nesmith pioneered country-rock with a spiritual and searching style all his own.
Different Drum premieres on CD some of his most remarkable musical explorations from this vivid period including cosmic reimaginings of Monkees-era favorites such as "Tapioca Tundra," "Magnolia Simms," "Circle Sky," and "Listen to the Band;" unheard outtakes like "American Airman" and "Six Days on the Road;" vastly different alternate takes of "Different Drum," "Dedicated Friend," and "Tengo Amore;" and even an early version of "Marie's Theme" from his cult classic multimedia project The Prison.
The mind-altering music on Different Drum has been mixed from the original multitracks by The Monkees' longtime associate Andrew Sandoval, author of the upcoming revised edition of The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story, and mastered by Vic Anesini at Sony's Battery Studios. Another longtime collaborator of The Monkees and Nesmith, John Sellards, has designed the deluxe, full-color 24-page booklet. Papa Nez himself has shared insightful new commentary to the extensive liner notes by The Second Disc's Joe Marchese, while rare photos by renowned photographer Henry Diltz and previously unseen images from the Sony Music Archives round out this landmark package.
Different Drum is a freewheeling, widescreen journey through the world of one of rock's greatest iconoclasts. Don't take our word for it. As Michael Nesmith observes in the liner notes, "[There's] something else which pins it all down...the songs themselves, and the way they begin to tell the story of their own times and their own poetries. They became real easy to sing except for those times I break into tears. Because I wrote them from my own heart. It's hard to just do it, but if I can, it's paydirt. We all come to a place that we know very well." Now you can get to know these fascinating recordings very well, too.
Different Drum: The Lost RCA Victor Recordings is due from Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music on April 30. You'll find pre-order links and the track listing below. Interested in having this CD signed by Nez? Head over to Videoranch now to reserve your autographed copy!
Michael Nesmith, Different Drum: The Lost RCA Victor Recordings (Second Disc Records/Real Gone Music RGM-1044, 2021) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music)
Outtakes and Alternates
- Different Drum (Alternate Version)
- American Airman
- Bye, Bye, Bye (Alternate Version)
- Dedicated Friend (Alternate Version)
- Tengo Amore (Alternate Instrumental)
- Texas Morning (Alternate Take)
- Rene (Uncut Version)
- Six Days on the Road
- Circle Sky
- Listen to the Band (Alternate Version)
- Some of Shelly's Blues (Alternate Version)
- Keep On (Alternate Version)
- Roll with the Flow (Alternate Version)
- Marie's Theme (Alternate Version)
More Instrumentals
- Magnolia Simms (Instrumental)
- Born to Love You (Instrumental)
- Hollywood (Alternate Backing Track)
- Tapioca Tundra (Instrumental)
- Roses Are Blooming - Come Back to Me Darling? (Instrumental)
- Tan My Hide (Instrumental)
- You Are My One (Instrumental)
- Loose Salute - Radio Spots
All tracks previously unreleased on CD
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Very excited about this! I have these tracks digitally but will be thrilled to get them on CD (a nice companion to the Songs box) - with new liner notes to match! Great cover art, too!
Thanks so much!
I'm hoping 6 days is a better version and more toward the traditional version. It wasn't a fave of mine the way he released it.
Cover art is a knockout....as I'm sure the collection of tunes will be, as well. Pre-ordering today!
Thanks, Sean! Can't wait for you to hear it!
Mr. Sellards is very good at what he does.
I'll pass along your kind comment, Pat. He's the best, and we're very grateful to have him on board our Second Disc Records releases.
GREAT NEWS! I've been long-hoping for a physical release of this stuff (I NEVER buy downloads). I've always felt Papa Nez was at this absolute best during his RCA years, with the First and Second National Bands, featuring the late, great Red Rhodes!
Been a Papa Nes fan for over 40 years.Cant wait to hear these songs from the RCA years
This is great. I’m hoping we eventually get a vinyl release for the cover photo alone.
We're working very hard to make that happen, Jim. Fingers crossed.
I definitely would buy it.
Pre ordered! Looks awesome.
Thanks! Hope you enjoy it! 🙂
This is terrific news (Announced elsewhere last week, wondered when Second Disc would post this), and I will buy this, but I have questions:
1.) Why a release of just the bonus tracks from the digital only 2018 Sony remasters? Why not the original albums?
2.) As others have noted here, many of us still prefer physical media. If this sells well, any chance of Real Gone/Second Disc reissuing the six albums Nez originally did for RCA?
3.) Are these tracks the same (Excellent) remasters as the Sony digital releases?
It’s true that Nez’s RCA stuff has been reissued several times over. But they have NEVER sounded as good as those Sony remaster (Were the original masters, long though lost, found?). Shame Sony didn’t see fit to put the albums out on CD, but here’s a great opportunity to fix that, RG/SD. Whaddya say?
I would preferred seeing each of the albums reissued with bonus tracks added to each album, just as Sony did them, but whatever. Just seems a shame the albums have never sounded this good before, but not in a physical format.
Should this ever happen, this leads to my last question:
4.) What about other bonus tracks for album reissues?
There’s a long version of “Silver Moon” that doesn’t fade out (It’s on You Tube) for one. So is a version of “Listen to the Band” (The Loose Salute version) that doesn’t have that annoyingly long fade-in (Also on You Tube, I believe). These two need a legitimate release.
Likewise, if the above track listing is correct, it seems there’s a few missing songs here (From the digital releases. “Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That Cigarette,” “1st National Dance,” and “Canata and Fugue in C&W” all appear to be missing (Compared to the digital releases)?
Those would all be fine choices should Real Gone/Second Disc see about getting these Sony remastered albums on CD, as they deserve to be. Make it happen, guys.
For now though, thanks for making this release a reality. Looking forward to it!
Hey there...lots to unpack here! 🙂
Often, Amazon "leaks" info before we're ready to "officially" announce which is what happened here, but it's all good. I'm happy when folks find out about our releases anyway, anywhere, anyhow!
In answer to your questions:
1) All of the Nesmith RCA material is currently available and/or in print in various configurations: the Edsel "Songs" box, Sony U.K.'s "Original Album Classics" set, Sundazed's vinyl reissues, Nez's own VideoRanch FNB collection, etc. As much as I'd like to see individual expanded editions as a fan, it's not possible or even feasible at this point. That's why we opted to create what I hope is a kick-ass "bonus disc" to those prior releases.
2) Just to reiterate, I'd love to see that happen should the situation change. Anything's possible.
3) Yes, the amazing Vic Anesini mastered those digital editions and also mastered our release.
4) No other previously unreleased material was available to us. "Smoke, Smoke, Smoke," "First National Dance," and "Cantata and Fugue in C&W" have all been previously issued on CD, hence their omission from this set which runs at *just* under eighty minutes' length.
I hope you enjoy the CD. It was a thrill to put together and especially to have Nez so generously answer all of my questions about each and every track. All the best!
Oh... And I’ve seen the track listing/album cover for the upcoming Dolenz Sings Nesmith album too. Looks great!
Good time to be a Nez fan!
I really don't think you can improve on Tapioca Tundra unless there is a polar shift.
I have to say I miss Mike in his iconic green stocking hat. It is his real persona.
So happy this cd is going to happen, I would love all of his early stuff even under the Michael Blessing titles.
The more you experance his vision, the more you want. Atta Cowboy, lay it on us, don't be shy. As most of us nez followers are aging right along with him. It would be a shame not to hear it all. Looking forward to a concert this year if fate blesses us all. Taking even one song to the other side would be missed.
Tripping to the lights fantastic!!!!
Will this be available to order in UK/Europe ? Can't do it through Amazon.com . There are a lot of Nez fans over here !
SO excited for this release! And on CD! Does not get much better than that!
To be truly authentic in the manner of those early RCA LP's, this CD simply must be Dynaflex! 😉
Really looking forward to this.
Cheers!
Thanks, David! I think you'll enjoy a little "Easter Egg" in the design...We didn't forget Dynaflex! 😉
Great stuff!!
mikes music way soo ahead of the curve, its a real shame rca did nothing at the time get get him more exposure. just like gene clark they both stood their ground and created a huge catalog of music. most of the mass public is not aware of what these guys were creating. the real sound of country rock started with them and rick nelson.
Nice to see that he was a Cowboys fan !
Pro Tip: Order directly rom Real Gone and you will have it in hand far ahead of the scheduled release date. I got mine on April 11th.