(Theme From) The Monkees


" The Monkees" is a 1966 pop rock song, written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart as the signature tune for the TV series The Monkees. Two versions were recorded – one for their first album The Monkees and a second shorter rendition designed to open the television show. Both feature vocals by Micky Dolenz.
Boyce and Hart were inspired by The Dave Clark Five's 1965 hit single "Catch Us If You Can" in writing the song; both tracks feature similar musical structures, and in a retrospective interview, Hart was quoted as saying that the drum roll from "Catch Us If You Can" would "take us into the chorus 'Hey, hey, we’re the Monkees'". A few years after the release of either song, drummer Dave Clark received a letter from Boyce and Hart in which they admitted to having plagiarized " The Monkees" from "Catch Us If You Can".
The full-length version was released as a single in several countries. It was a no. 1 hit on Norway's Verdens Gang and Japan's Cash Box singles charts, and reached the top 10 in Australia and Mexico. An Italian version of the song was released as a single and featured on a Monkees compilation album.
A slower version – sung by Boyce and Hart – was recorded for an early production of the pilot episode. This can be found on the Special Features section of the Monkees season 1 DVD box set.
Ray Stevens did his take of the theme on his 1985 album He Thinks He's Ray Stevens featuring a male German group of singers, Wolfgang and Fritzy, that are arguing during the refrain of the song.
The song is featured in the trailer for the 1994 film Monkey Trouble, and it is used on the Minions film soundtrack.
The song is referenced in the 2003 song by The Thrills, "Big Sur."

Personnel

Credits adapted from 2021 Rhino LP.
Additional musicians