#wichita train whistle sings

[nezarchive]

photo credit: Nurit Wilde 

Michael Nesmith pictured with engineer Hank Cicalo during sessions for The Wichita Train Whistle Sings, which were held the weekend of the 18th and 19th of November, 1967. The sessions employed some of the top players in L.A. at the time, among them Hal Blaine, Tommy Tedesco, James Burton, Doug Dillard, Don Randi, Frank Capp, Earl Palmer, and future musical collaborator Red Rhodes. This date marks Rhodes and Nesmith’s first time recording in the studio together. 

The recordings consisted of big band arrangements of songs that Michael had written for the Monkees, a collaboration with arranger Shorty Rogers. Originally, the output of the sessions were not slated for commercial release, but eventually were released by Dot Records in July 1968 as The Wichita Train Whistle Sings. The album was not commercially successful, peaking at number 144 on the Billboard Pop Albums Chart.

“...I recorded it with my own money. It cost fifty or sixty thousand dollars, a stupid sum of money. The album was not only to put together a different picture of the tunes I’d written for the Monkees and give them vent in my own way, rather than have them so highly manipulated, but also to have a record that would document the coalescence of the finest session men in L.A. at the time.” - Interview with John Tobler and Pete Frame, Zigzag Magazine, 1974.

“Everybody wanted to be on the session... Finally I asked Michael why he had called for such a costly session. He explained that Uncle Sam was about to remove 50 grand from his pocket and, instead of paying the taxes, he decided to spend it on a racuous write-off. The Nesmith dates came off without a hitch. It was the greatest party I’ve ever been invited to. Two days of Chasen’s food, and more music than you can expect in a lifetime." - Hal Blaine, Hal Blaine and the Wrecking Crew, 1990.

“Wichita Train Whistle isn’t a roaring success, someone pointed out to me the other day. My exact words were something to the effect of “too bad.” People think I can’t take setbacks for some reason. Well, that’s not the case...I like recording music that I know is not commercial. It’s my thing. It’s catharic for me and often times it’s what I get out of it that counts in the long run.” - Tiger Beat, November 1968. 

#michael nesmith #wichita train whistle sings #nurit wilde #1967 #60s

[ninetimesbluedemo]

goodbye normal music. i'm only listening to the wichita train whistle sings from now on.

#the wichita train whistle sings #wichita train whistle sings #mike nesmith #michael nesmith #the wrecking crew #the monkees

[mickgaydolenz]

highlights from mike's commentary on monkees blow their minds:

he says by this point they'd all sort of gone crazy, and had decided to stop the show. mike says they then decided to use what was left of the show to their own ends by inviting on guests etc

mike is very amused talking about frank zappa appearing on the show. he says when he reached out to frank to appear on the show frank agreed but only if he could play mike. so mike said sure i’m fine with that as long as i can play you, and so that's how that bit was born 😂. mike also says they had to rig the car with pyrotechnics in the end because it was a lot harder to destroy than they thought

mike says that by season two they had 2 monkee mobiles

during the summer tour mike realized he was not made for touring/live performances. he thought it was the most arduous and difficult summer

mike says monte landis was bob's way of telling the guys they couldn't carry the show anymore -> mike says bob was right to bring monte on because the four of them didn't really do a lot by that point 💀

mike brings up micky's hair again near the beginning of the episode. he says it was about the time micky decided to let his hair frizz out and then says wait you'll see. when micky shows up later in the episode he says see micky's hair is all pushed back. he explains that micky was kind of expected to have the beatle look and so kept his hair straight (he also compares his hair to micky’s saying mike’s hair just grew however etc). cue the audio of mike saying micky had to shmewth his hair out and put on a net, but then by the second season he stopped doing that and wore it natural and he looked a lot better that way 💖😔

mike never got the offer to direct, but he says they were right not to offer it to him because he didn't know a lot and didn't care (which we know is not truuuuee). he says instead he was always fighting for power in the recording area (which i think this is the first time i've ever heard mike admit that?) he says it was so contentious that it really was a struggle. mike says by the time the second season came around all he was really doing was showing up to work…..

mike says for the '97 special they actually tried to find original items from the pad, but they couldn't get anything so instead they tried their best to study the old episodes and stage it similarly

mike wasn't a fan of valleri

he says they had all gotten very good at insult and sarcasm, but by season two they were so disconnected from each other it just became mean 😢

mike talks about the wichita train whistle sings record. he does actually say he could essentially record whatever he wanted by that point, but he says he doesn’t actually like how the record came out. he was going for a big band sound (which he implies was kind of insane of him) but the people arranging the songs just didn’t seem to get what he was going for and so the end product wasn’t the best

mike says he spun out and was trying to find other places to work but he couldn't find anything because people only saw him as a member of the monkees

mike talks about liberace saying he was a wonderful guy and that his sense of glamour and crazy camp was probably an early iteration of glitter rock -> he started to really like liberace after he appeared on the show

mike says they weren't very good improvisors......

out of fucking nowhere mike brings up micky's fucking gyrocopter. and it is YET AGAIN another completely different story surrounding it. mike claims that micky was building it in his BASEMENT and mike asked him how he was going to get it out of there and micky told him he was just going to wall it up and leave it in the house when he sold it 💀

"i said hey mick let's take the synthesizer in and we can put weep worps over the song and you can sing daily nightly"

#asia talks monkees commentary #mike nesmith #the monkees

[mediumlargedarkpizza]

Hey so I've been a Monkees fan for most of my life, but I've never delved much into Mike's solo stuff. Recommendations for where to start? Personal faves? Thanks!

HELLO sorry in advance this got longer than I expected grab a juice get comfortable

I'm a typical start from the start bitch so if...I'm right he started first national band stuff first then second national band then did solo stuff

I feel like watching some music videos is a good start cause he has great ones!

I was gonna recommend one but really the whole first national band trilogy release between 1970-71 slaps so you've got magnetic south, loose salute, and Nevada fighter

Second national band I have not listened to as much 👀

My fave albums from solo are infinite rider on the big dogma (figures lol) and pretty much your standard ranch stash. Infinite is a bit more rock and most of his stuff is more typically country. I haven't listened to from a radio engine to the photon wing and tropical campfires as much tbh

And he released rays in 2005 which was inspired by vaporware??? I believe and it's absolutely wild hahah pls listen to Boomcar it's the best song

He did a bunch of like...write a book with accompanying soundtrack thing which I admittedly haven't checked out lmao so that's the garden, the prison, the ocean

And he did a soundtrack for a movie called timerider in the 80s and it..sure is a movie soundtrack all right and also his first album was technically The Wichita Train Whistle Sings which was him organising an orchestra to play Monkees songs

I'm sorry I feel like I'm so bad at stuff like this maybe @seconddoubt @head1968 @lugosis @csny @columbosunday @lesbianmikenesmith @lesbianpetertork or someone else they know can (if they feel like it) be a better guide or submit their personal input or correct any details in here I may have messed up which I'm sure I probably did djsbdjd (sorry I forgot everyone's url and can't keep track I'm pretty sure they would be fountains of knowledge SORRY IF NOT I honestly had to look up mike/Michael on my blog and be like YEAH THESE PEOPLE LOL)

He also did tv stuff lugosis uploaded elephant parts

Thank U have a nice day enjoy your mike journey

[muirneach]

if you're looking for big band music (or similar vibes), mike nesmith did an album where he did his tunes in big band style! it's the wichita train whistle sings :) if you've heard it already feel free to ignore but its a suggestion

awesomeeee thank you that is perfect for me

#despite all my mike posting i have not actually heard all of his albums yet im working my way through them but its slow going #i think ive heard five? maybe? albums of his #so i was gonna get to that at some point hit i assumed it was more country rock slay but i didnt know he dabbled in big band that’s awesome #thanky i will move that to top of the to listen of mike list #asks #anon #the monkees #music #will gladly take more big band recs btw

[csny]

come on guys let’s to hrt to the wichita train whistle sings

[ive-just-begun-to-care]

27. for Mike’s 75th:

The Wichita Train Whistle Sings:

I actually haven’t listened to the full album yet- just a few select songs on YouTube.  But I love them!  This man is amazing, and terribly underappreciated.  This record should have been much more popular, and he should have had a chance to do more orchestral work.  He’s fantastic.

#mike nesmith #Wichita train whistle

[rustyginger]

Recently acquired from Discogs seller, Dereksee for $3. Caveat Emptor lesson. This is an instrumental album of marching band music versions of his songs. Oh well. It’s an oddity and I’ll shelve it with my other Nesmith albums. 

#miek nesmith #the wichita train whistle sings #dot records #the monkees #discogs #dereksee #marching band #vinyl collection

[psychojello]

An ad from Billboard Magazine for Mike Nesmith's album The Wichita Train Whistle Sings

#Mike Nesmith #Wichita Train Whistle Sings #psycho jello #ad

[ninetimesbluedemo]

omg monkees questions: 8 (fave solo work), 10 (fave lyrics), 29 (fave running gag)? also secret bonus question fav peter moment :3

8: Favourite solo work?

ouggghhhhh i think... well.... it might even be Wichita Train Whistle Sings. if you can believe it. but i am in love with the peter tork and james lee stanley albums if those count as solo.

10: Favourite lyrics?

"Silhouettes and figures stay Close to what he had to say And one more time, the faded dream Is saddened by the news It cannot be a part of me For now it's part of you" from Tapioca Tundra

29: Favourite running gag?

fourth wall breaks: looking at the camera, breaking character, pulling out the script, making reference to the fact they're in a tv show...

secret bonus question fav peter moment?

in the show: rainbow room daydream believer when davy is sitting with peter on the bench and peter looks like he couldn't possibly be happier.

irl: the mtv tork-touch method how to play the five-string banjo <3

#THANK YOU FOR THE ASK LEILA!! <3333 #the monkees #peter tork

[ninetimesbluedemo]

drafting a monkees shirt sewing pattern while listening to the wichita train whistle sings..... this is the life 😌✌️

#the monkees

[ninetimesbluedemo]

11, 12, 30

11. Is there an “odd man out” record in your collection (it doesn’t fit in with the styles/genres of the rest of your collection)? If so, what is it?

i have a pretty eclectic record collection, but the soundtrack to the broadway show The Magic Show (1974) is the only show tunes sort of record i own

12. Record you listen to the most?

far and away it's The Wichita Train Whistle Sings by Michael Nesmith

30. Record(s) that you want to buy next?

i don't really have a record want-list but i'd love to find Tape From California by Phil Ochs and The Prison by Michael Nesmith

#vinyl #records #mike nesmith #michael nesmith #phil ochs #the magic show (1974)

[rustyginger]

Recently acquired. I found a seller on Discogs, Dereksee, selling the Phil Ochs Broadside Tapes record and offering fee shipping with 5 or more items. Don’t mind if I do! $15 for Phil, $4-$6 for the rest. The Bert Jansch was $4, because of the quality, but no skips is my lie bar. The scratch and pop adds charm (especially if i I can get and expensive record for cheap!)

#the supremes #we remember sam cooke #The Byrds #In The Beginning (The First Sessions - 1964) #motown records #tamla records #rhino records #Mike nesmith #the wichita train whistle sings #dot records #paramount entertainment #tom verlaine #cover #warner brothers records #virgin records #phil ochs #the broadside tapes 1 #smithsonian folkways #the teardrop explodes #wilder #Mercury Records #polygram records #blondie #autoamerican #chrysalis records #bert jansch #lucky thirteen #vanguard records #bruce springsteen #be true