Circle Sky
| "Circle Sky" | |
|---|---|
| Song by The Monkees from the album Head | |
| Released | December 1, 1968 |
| Genre | Hard rock |
| Label | Colgems |
| Writer(s) | Michael Nesmith |
"Circle Sky" is a song written by Michael Nesmith of The Monkees, which appeared on their sixth album, the Head soundtrack, and also in the film Head as a live concert performance.
The song is written and performed in a Bo Diddley style, staying mostly on a single chord (A Major), while strumming barre chords (from B Major to E Major) down a guitar neck for the intro, outro, and breaks, and from B minor to D minor for the bridge. The lyrics are impressions of sights and sounds on a Monkees tour, while "Hamilton's smiling down" refers to a Hamilton music stand, used for rehearsals and recording.
While the movie included the song performed live by the Monkees in Salt Lake City, Utah (on May 17, 1968, during a free show at the Valley Auditorium), the original soundtrack album instead substituted a studio recording, made by Nesmith and session musicians (an unexplained decision that became a major source of tension in the group). The movie version intercut Vietnam War footage, and several mirrored shots of the band onstage.
A lo-fi transcription of the concert version was included on an Australian Monkees compilation in the early 1980s, Monkeemania: 40 Timeless Hits From The Monkees,[1] while an alternate studio take appeared on a Rhino Records album, Monkee Flips, in 1984.
A stereo recording of the concert version finally appeared on Missing Links, Volume II, in 1990. This version on the Apple iTunes Store is incorrect, but Amazon's MP3 matches.
A reworked version of the song opened the Monkees's 1996 reunion album, Justus, featuring a rare Davy Jones guitar performance. This version is harder rocking than the original but is otherwise identical musically. The lyrics, however, have been changed in several spots.
Personnel (studio version):
- Michael Nesmith - lead vocal, guitar, organ, percussion
- Keith Allison - guitar
- Bill Chadwick - guitar
- Eddie Hoh - drums, percussion
Personnel (concert version of 5/17/68):
- Michael Nesmith - lead vocal, guitar
- Davy Jones - percussion, organ
- Peter Tork - bass
- Micky Dolenz - drums, percussion
Personnel (Justus version):
- Michael Nesmith - lead vocal, guitar
- Davy Jones - guitar
- Peter Tork - bass
- Micky Dolenz - drums
References
- ↑ "'Monkeemania: 40 Timeless Hits From The Monkees' LP". The Monkee Live Almanac. 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2015-01-14.
