Words (The Monkees song)

"Words" is a song written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart and released by the Monkees. An early version by the Leaves appeared on their 1966 album Hey Joe.[1] The Monkees first recorded the song for their second album, More of The Monkees, in August 1966 under the supervision of Boyce and Hart. While this version went unreleased until the 1990 compilation Missing Links Volume Two, it was featured in the 10 April 1967 episode of The Monkees "Monkees, Manhattan Style". A new version of the song was made to be the B-side of "Pleasant Valley Sunday" in 1967, now produced by Chip Douglas.[2]

"Words"
Single by The Monkees
from the album Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.
A-side"Pleasant Valley Sunday"
ReleasedJuly 10, 1967
RecordedAugust 15, 27, 1966 (first version)
June 14, 1967 (second version)
StudioRCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California
GenrePsychedelic pop
LabelColgems
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Boyce and Hart (first version)
Chip Douglas (second version)
The Monkees singles chronology
"A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You"
(1967)		 "Words"
(1967)		 "Daydream Believer"
(1967)

Micky Dolenz shared lead vocals with Peter Tork on both versions of the song.[2][3] The B-side peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the highest-charting single with Tork's lead.[4]

The single version was included on the album Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd., while the first version was later put on the 1990 compilation album Missing Links Volume Two.

Background

On Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.'s liner notes, co-writer Tommy Boyce recalled that the song’s inspiration was a letter that he and Bobby Hart had received from a lonely girl that they invited to a hayride after an appearance on American Bandstand two weeks before. The letter stated "Tommy and Bobby, WORDS can never express how nice you two were to me at the hayride".[5]

In contrast with the thankful tone of the letter, the song tells about the imminent break-up between the narrator and his girlfriend after discovering that she was a liar, that had always told him "words with lies inside".[6]

Recording

First version
In the episode "Monkees in Manhattan", drummer Micky Dolenz, singer Davy Jones, guitarist Michael Nesmith and bassist Peter Tork's roles are swapped to perform "Words". L-R: Dolenz, Tork, Jones and Nesmith

The first version was recorded in the More of The Monkees sessions. At this time, the Monkees were merely actors adding their vocals to songs with backing tracks played by session musicians to The Monkees TV show. Monkee Micky Dolenz, had already sung lead in "Last Train to Clarksville" and most of their eponymous debut album, served as lead vocalist again in this song, accompanied by fellow member Peter Tork on the verses. The backing vocals were recorded by Dolenz, Tork, Davy Jones, Boyce, Hart and others.[2]

Boyce and Hart were their producers and songwriters at the time and arranged a number of session musicians to play on the record, including Wayne Erwin on guitar (who also did backing vocals), Larry Taylor on bass and Billy Lewis on drums, also featuring a flute solo made by Ethmer Roten.

This version was aired during an episode of the first season of the series, "Monkees in Manhattan". In an episode part that shows a musical performance of the group, it features Jones (frontman) on drums, Tork (bassist) playing lead guitar, Michael Nesmith (guitarist) on bass and Dolenz (drummer) fronting the group.[7]

Second version

After they achieved their independence to record their own music, the Monkees re-recorded the song, now with the involvement of Monkees guitarist Nesmith and produced by Chip Douglas. The group now played on the record, with only the help of Douglas on bass and Eddie Hoh on drums.

There are few differences between the first and the second version, with the best noted being Peter Tork's Hammond organ's solo in place of Ethmer Roten's flute.[8]

Release

The song was released as the B-side of "Pleasant Valley Sunday" in 1967, that peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. "Words" also charted on its own right, peaking at No. 11 in September 2. The single (second) version was used in rebroadcast of the episodes "Monkees in a Ghost Town" and "Monkees Chow Mein" in the first season of the Monkees TV show; then used in the second season episodes "Monkees in Texas" and "Monkees' Paw" while the original version was used in the episode "Monkees in Manhattan".

The single version was included on the album Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd., while the first version was later put on the 1990 compilation album Missing Links Volume Two.

Chart performance
Chart (1967-68) Peak

position

Canadian RPM Top Singles[9] 57
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[10] 11
U.S. Cash Box Top 100 Singles[11] 5
U.S. Record World Singles Chart[11] 14
Venezuela[12] 7


Personnel

First version

Second version

References
  1. "The Leaves ‒ Hey Joe". Discogs. 1966. Retrieved 2021-08-20.
  2. "Song of the Day: Micky & Peter share lead vocals on "Words"". The Monkees Live Almanac. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  3. "Listen to the Band: REBEAT's Top 50 Monkees Songs". www.rebeatmag.com. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  4. "The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  5. "Pisces, Aquarius". albumlinernotes. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  6. "Words by The Monkees". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  7. The Monkees - The Monkees In Manhattan (a.k.a. The Monkees Manhattan Style), retrieved 2021-04-23
  8. "The Monkees - Words - 1967". rec.music.rock-pop-r-b.1960s.narkive.com. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  9. "Canadian Singles". www.collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2014-12-30.
  10. "The Monkees Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
  11. Whitburn, Joel (2015). The Comparison Book, 1954-1982. Ann Arbor, MI: Sheridan Books, Inc. p. 351.
  12. "Billboard (1/6/68)" (PDF).
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