The Monkees, despite their enduring popularity the past 50 plus years, have never garnered the notice and respect they need to get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.Former producer Chip Douglas says it’s time for that to change.
Douglas, who produced The Monkees’ third and fourth albums Headquarters and Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. -- where they actually played their own instruments -- says they deserve consideration.
Douglas says, "It is sad. I don't know what that happened. You hear their records all the time. So why aren't they in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? I don't know. Maybe they're just looked upon as... a real band, I suppose. That may have something to do with it. You know, in the beginning, they didn't play their own instruments."
Douglas also cites Davy Jones, who'd primarily been an actor and singer, and later worked hard to raise his skills as a musician. By the time The Monkees career waned at the end of the '60s, Dave had become a noted guitarist and was writing his own material.
Douglas also says when he took over producing The Monkees, they were playing as well as singing:
"On the Headquarters album, they did [play] and then later on, they mixed in with some other people on the second album I did with them. So, maybe for that reason, they don't get recognized in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame -- although, The Beatles didn't play on all of their songs, either. They had other people that came in and played... Billy Preston and Jim Keltner and other drummers and other... you know... Yeah, it's sad. Maybe, someday it will change and someone will say, hey, 'What about The Monkees?'"
Rock Hall president and CEO Joel Peresman has said the nominations process for the Class of 2021 begins later this month, with the ballot being released by April and the inductions expected this November.
[courtesy of Classic Hits Today]