It's often been said that if you remember the 1960s, you weren't really there. Well, Micky Dolenz has incontrovertible proof that he was there, and as he says, I'm Told I Had a Good Time. That's the title of the remarkable new tome from Beatland Books which chronicles the singer-drummer-actor's life from 1945-1978 via previously unpublished photographs, artwork, scripts, lyrics, and assorted miscellany.
I'm Told I Had a Good Time, now available for pre-order with a December 6 ship date, follows Beatland's 2021 publication of Andrew Sandoval's definitive The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story. Like that release, this one is a limited edition coming in various formats to cater to every taste and budget. This 500-page, 12x12" deep dive into Micky's archive is generously illustrated with over 1,200 images - among them nearly 500 photos of Dolenz, over 200 of Davy Jones, and more than 150 of Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork, respectively. Micky has provided all-new captions and commentary culled from 20 hours of exclusive interviews conducted by Sandoval between February 2022 and June 2023.
Micky's archive adds up to a history of California music and beyond, and the book promises to include his previously unpublished '60s photos of The Jimi Hendrix Experience and The Buffalo Springfield as well as The Rolling Stones' Brian Jones and Ronnie Wood, David Crosby, "Mama" Cass Elliot, Otis Redding, Little Richard, Eric Clapton, Fats Domino, Jack Nicholson, and Harry Nilsson. In the following decade, Dolenz captured such friends as Keith Moon, Alice Cooper, Albert Brooks, Ringo Starr, and his post-Monkees group Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart with Davy Jones, Tommy Boyce, and Bobby Hart.
The press release for I'm Told I Had a Good Time quotes Micky: "I honestly don't know why I started keeping this stuff! I just always kept things since I was a child. My mom did too. But I never had any intention of doing anything with it. I certainly did not keep it with any intent to produce anything. It just became a habit; I would just literally throw stuff into boxes. Maybe in the back of my mind I thought that someday I might stick everything into some sort of scrapbook. As far as the photos and films, I never thought I would do anything with them either, except maybe show them to the grandkids. The editors of this book found stuff at the bottom of boxes that I had no idea still existed. No one has been more surprised than myself with the rediscovery."
2023 is shaping up to be another busy year for the last Monkee standing; not only does Micky have more tour dates coming up (including some performances of The Monkees Celebrated by Micky Dolenz, at which he performs The Monkees' third album, Headquarters) but he's releasing a new EP. Dolenz Sings R.E.M. is arriving on November 3 from the U.K.'s 7a Records (and available from Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada). Produced by Christian Nesmith (who also plays guitar, bass, keyboards, and percussion, and sings background vocals) and featuring Christopher Allis, Circe Link, and Coco Dolenz, Dolenz Sings R.E.M. reinvents the Athens, Georgia band's "Shiny Happy People," "Man in the Moon," "Radio Free Europe," and "Leaving New York" as only Micky can. The music video for "Shiny Happy People" is streaming now.
I'm Told I Had a Good Time is available from Beatland Books only; it will not be sold at general retail or digitally. Pre-orders are now open in three unique formats. Descriptions below have been provided by the publisher. All editions of this extraordinary trip into the Micky Dolenz archive are due to ship on December 6.
SUPER DELUXE EDITION:
Featuring the lowest-numbered hardback books from #1-1000, each book signature panel was hand-autographed by Micky Dolenz in late August 2023. Delivered in a black, cloth-covered clamshell case with magnetic lid, the inner panel contains five unique 8" x 10" prints. The book itself is 12" x 12" hardbound with 500 pages (including six, 8-page foldouts) printed on 128gsm OJI matte art paper. Once this edition sells out, it will never again be available in this form. This edition will be shipped in a decorative, brown cardboard outer box and shipped in a secondary box to protect the contents.
PREORDER PRICE: $300 (once preorder period ends, books will be $325)
DELUXE EDITION:
Featuring a hand-signed, hand-numbered hardback book numbered between #1001-1500. Each book signature panel was hand-autographed by Micky Dolenz in late August 2023. Delivered in a distinctive, glossy slipcover, the hardbound 12" x 12" book is 500 pages (including six, 8-page foldouts) printed on 128gsm OJI matte art paper. Once this edition sells out, it will never again be available in this form. This edition will be shipped in a decorative, brown cardboard outer box and shipped in a secondary box to protect the contents.
PREORDER PRICE: $200 (once preorder period ends, books will be $225)
FLEXIBOUND OPEN EDITION:
A 12" x 12" softbound edition of the book, is not signed and not numbered and not strictly limited. This book is 500 pages (including six, 8-page foldouts) printed on 128gsm OJI matte art paper. An art-level quality book, each copy features sturdy sewn binding and can be opened to be fully flat, revealing the totality of each of the book's 1200 rare images.
PREORDER PRICE: $75 (once preorder period ends, books will be $100)
Linda Murphy says
I think Mickey Dolenz was the funniest one of the Monkees .
Tom Mouzis says
Mr Marchese, my name is Tom Mouzis retired television producer/director for Lakers Basketball broadcasts for local Los Angeles channel 9 (KCAL/KHJ). I saw The Monkeys in 1967 from the first row box seats at the Hollywood Bowl. I was 11. My dad worked for juggernaut 93/KHJ Boss Radio and got the tickets. I have a great story from that night and want to reach Mr. Dolenz any which way. Agent, Agency,Manager ,Manager's Office. Please point me in the right direction. Thank You
mackdaddyg says
You might try his Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100044344303295
Or his website:
https://mickydolenz.com/
Edwina says
I would like to meet Micky Dolenz I’m going to his concert in LA I like to Binion
Ann Sudderth says
Man, this would come at the time when I had to help my daughter, and everyone else I know. Otherwise, I could, and absolutely WOULD, order it this minute. To me, it's a bargain, worth a million times more than the asking price. I'm going to have to figure something out.