Shades of Gray (song)

"Shades of Gray" is a song which was written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and recorded by The Monkees for their 1967 album Headquarters. Lead vocals were shared by Davy Jones and Peter Tork,[1] and this is the only track on the album featuring instruments performed by session musicians instead of the band members (and producer Chip Douglas) themselves (French horn and cello).

This article is about the Monkees song. For other songs, see Shades of gray (disambiguation) § Music.
"Shades of Gray"
Song by The Monkees
from the album Headquarters
ReleasedMay 22, 1967 (1967-05-22)
RecordedMarch 16 and 22, 1967
StudioRCA Victor Studio C
Hollywood, California
GenrePop rock
Length3:20
LabelColgems
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Chip Douglas

The song had been recorded previously by a folk-rock trio, the Will-O-Bees, and released in 1967 on the Date Records label (Date 45 #1543).[2] Although the Will-O-Bees' version was accorded "Chart Spotlights – Predicted to reach the HOT 100" status in Billboard Magazine's issue of December 31, 1966, the record is little known today.[3]

"Shades of Gray" has been included on several compilation albums by the Monkees, including Barrel Full of Monkees,[4] Re-Focus,[5] and The Best of The Monkees[6]

Sons of Champlin recorded the song at about the same time, but the Headquarters version was released first. The album Fat City,[7] released in 2015 by The Thick Boys, finally featured the Sons of Champlin version of the song, named "Shades of Thickness" (whereas the original Monkees release was titled "Shades of Gray").

Sandy Posey covered the song on her 1968 album Looking At You.

Another version was recorded in 2016 by P.K. Limited (Screen Gems/Columbia Music songwriters Dan Peyton and Marty Kaniger); it was featured in the film Getting Straight.

A cover of "Shades of Gray" by Mind Venertion appears on the album, Through the Looking Glass - Indie Pop Plays The Monkees.[8]

Personnel

Credits from Andrew Sandoval.[9]

  • Lead vocals by Davy Jones and Peter Tork
  • Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Peter Tork
  • Steel Guitar: Michael Nesmith
  • Bass: Jerry Yester
  • Drums: Micky Dolenz
  • Tambourine: Davy Jones
  • Piano: Peter Tork
  • Maracas: Davy Jones

Session musicians and production staff
  • Cello: Frederick Seykora
  • French Horn: Vincent DeRosa
  • Engineered by: Hank Cicalo

In the 1986 film Soul Man, C. Thomas Howell's character Mark attempts to impress a girl, so he says, "Today there is no black or white, only shades of gray," a direct quote from the song.

References
  1. "Show 44 - Revolt of the Fat Angel: Some samples of the Los Angeles sound. [Part 4]". UNT Digital Library.
  2. "Shades of Gray" video. YouTube. Retrieved on December 17, 2016.
  3. "Chart Spotlight – Predicted to reach the HOT 100". Billboard. December 31, 1966.
  4. "The Monkees - Barrel Full Of Monkees (1971, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1971.
  5. "The Monkees – Re-Focus (1972, Vinyl)". Discogs. 1972.
  6. Shades of Gray at AllMusic
  7. "The Sons of Champlin - Fat City". Amazon.com. 1999.
  8. "Various - Through The Looking Glass: Indie Pop Plays The Monkees". Discogs.com. October 2000.
  9. Sandoval, Andrew (2005). The Monkees : the day-by-day story of the '60s TV pop sensation. Internet Archive. San Diego : Thunder Bay Press. pp. 114-115297. ISBN 978-1-59223-372-4.


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