Before I had ever heard of the Beatles, I already knew who The Monkees were.  The band was formed in 1966 originally as a fake TV band (a la Partridge Family) and they came into my living room every Saturday morning singing their poppy, can’t get them out of your head, tunes. 

I wanted to be a Monkee.  I wanted to drive around in the spectacular Monkeemobile.   Even in fourth grade I wanted to impress girls without having to talk to them by playing music like the Monkees.  I wanted to be Micky Dolenz, the drummer.  I wanted a drum set but never got one.  Sadly only Micky Dolenz is alive today.

The Saturday morning Monkees shows were repeats, of course, of the two seasons (1966 and 1967) that were originally shown at night on NBC.  The Saturday Morning showings were on CBS from 1969 to 1972, the years we were living in St. Louis. 

Dad had just purchased our first color TV, a huge console set in a dark wood cabinet.  It occupied its own corner of the living room and perched on top was an antenna console with  two telescoping antenna flayed out in a large V.  Our evenings were spent tuning in to one of three channels – ABC, NBC, CBS – and watching intently.  It was about this time when the parents invested in a set of T.V. dinner trays.  

On Saturday morning, while the parents were still asleep, I would get myself a bowl of cereal and plop down on the floor in front of the TV and take in, what no longer exists today, four hours of cartoon and children’s programing aimed to sell you the latest toy or cereal.  It was glorious.

I can recall watching another of my favorite Saturday morning shows at the time, The Banana Splits Adventure Hour.  The Banana Splits were another “fake” band but they were live action costumed animal characters.  I loved Fleegle, Drooper, Bingo and Snort.  I was a Bingo fan.  I loved the songs.  Tra La La, La La La La.  I loved the goofiness of the show and the additional segments of Danger Island.  If you watched the show you will never forget “Uh Oh Chongo!“.  

The Monkees would follow with their 30 minutes of music and mayhem.  When that initial line of the theme song was sung, you couldn’t help but pay attention.  

“Here we come… walking down the street… we get the funniest looks from… Everyone we meet…Hey, Hey, We’re the Monkees.” 

So many wonderful memories of those Saturday mornings.  It is sad that we no longer have that ritual for our kids or grandkids.

The album “Hey Hey It’s the Monkees 20 Smash Hits” was released in 1985.   Of the 20 “hits”, most people would likely only recognize seven of them (three for sure).  So its a bit of a stretch to say “20 smash Hits”.  Regardless, it is a good album to listen to and think back to those Saturday mornings.

So, for bringing back Saturday Morning memories in St. Louis I chose “Hey Hey It’s the Monkees 20 Smash Hits” by The Monkees for this months Vinyl of the Month.