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Both solo and with The Monkees – and various permutations thereof – Davy Jones spent decades on the road sharing the music he loved all over the world.  While a Monkees setlist would be painstakingly constructed, the solo Jones was far more freewheeling, incorporating new and old songs and crossing genre lines with abandon.  Now, on September 11, 7A Records celebrates the late singer’s legacy with a new live compendium.

Let Me Entertain You: On the Road with Davy boasts two dozen concert recordings spanning 1979-2003 from venues in the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan.  Entertainment was in David’s bones: the Manchester native had been entertaining audiences since his youth.  As a teenager in Great Britain, he’d appeared on the radio as well as on such television programs as Coronation Street and Z-Cars.  Then he landed the plum role of the Artful Dodger in Lionel Bart’s musical Oliver! at London’s New Theatre (today known as the Noel Coward Theatre) and Broadway – and a Tony Award nomination – came calling.  His role in the NBC television sitcom The Monkees soon changed the trajectory of Jones’ life as he joined Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork in bursting from the TV screen to the concert stage and recording studio to become a “real” band.

On the Road with Davy captures Jones playing to appreciative audiences in venues large and small.  The set features his live interpretations of Monkees songs both expected (“Daydream Believer,” “I Wanna Be Free,” “Valleri,” “A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You”) and somewhat less expected (“Papa Gene’s Blues,” “Listen to the Band,” “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone”) as well as solo classics (The Brady Bunch favorite “Girl,” Peter Skellern’s “You’re a Lady”), a ballad from the Dolenz, Jones, Boyce, and Hart years (“You and I”) and plenty of covers.  These include songs by Harry Nilsson (“Nobody Cares About the Railroads Anymore”), Van Morrison (“Bright Side of the Road”), Chris DeBurgh (“Lady in Red”), Robbie Williams (the title track “Let Me Entertain You”) and even Ian Dury and The Blockheads (“Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick”).  Jones also showcased his country side, with songs from John Anderson (“Somebody Slap Me”) and Holly Dunn (“As Long as You Belong to Me”).  Further rarities on this set include “Take Back What You Say,” penned by Davy’s guitarist Rory Gordon, and future hitmaker Paul Young’s quirky “Toast,” after which Davy named one iteration of his touring group.

This deluxe collection includes a 24-page full-color booklet with liner notes by TSD’s own Joe Marchese, drawing on archival quotes from Jones as well as a new interview with his longtime band member Aviva Maloney.  Many of these recordings appear officially for the very first time, making for a historic travelogue through Davy Jones’ live journey.  This set is due from 7A on September 11, and it can be pre-ordered at the links below.  (As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.)

Davy Jones, Let Me Entertain You: On the Road with Davy (7A Records 7A075-1, 2026)

U.S. Customers: ImportCDs.com(opens in new tab) (Recommended)
U.K. Customers: Amazon U.K.(opens in new tab)

1. Let Me Entertain You (Live at Sweet Basil 139, Tokyo, 1999)
2. Daydream Believer (Live in Tokyo, 1981)
3. A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You (Live 1986)
4. Valleri (Live in Las Vegas, 2001)
5. Girl (Live 1992)
6. (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone (Live in Tokyo, 1981)
7. Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow) (Live 1986)
8. Every Step Of The Way (Live in Pittsburgh, 1994)
9. I Wanna Be Free (Live in Tokyo, 1981)
10. Somebody Slap Me (Live at Sweet Basil 139, Tokyo, 1999)
11. Papa Gene’s Blues (Live at Mohegan Sun, 2003)
12. As Long As You Belong To Me (Live at Sweet Basil 139, Tokyo, 1999)
13. Toast (Live at Kip’s South, Toledo, Ohio, 1979)
14. Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick (Live at Kip’s South, Toledo, Ohio, 1979)
15. You And I (Live at Kip’s South, Toledo, Ohio, 1979)
16. Hangin’ By A Thread (Live at Six Flags Great Adventure, 1994)
17. You’re A Lady (Live in Tokyo, 1981)
18. Nobody Cares About The Railroads Anymore (Live at Sweet Basil 139, Tokyo, 1999)
19. Bright Side Of The Road (Live at Mohegan Sun, 2003)
20. It’s Nice To Be With You (Live c. early 2000s)

Bonus Tracks

21. Lady In Red (Live in Las Vegas, 1993)
22. Take Back What You Say (Live at Six Flags Great Adventure, 1994)
23. Yes I Will (Live at Cambridge Corn Exchange, UK, 1999)
24. Listen To The Band (Live at Mohegan Sun, 2003)

All tracks recorded between 1979-2003