The Monkees: 1 of Their Most Popular Songs Was Never Released as a U.S. Single
The four men who made up The Monkees may not have initially been hired in the entertainment industry as musicians, but as their popularity escalated as performers on the television show of the same name, demand for them to perform music grew. While all had musical talent, Micky Dolenz, Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork, and Davy Jones were cast as actors portraying a musical group on television. However, in two years, The Monkees would break Billboard records and score a smash hit with a popular song, which ironically was never released in the United States.
Which song was a huge hit for the band but never released as a single in the U.S.?
“Mary, Mary” was featured on the album More of the Monkees wrote Billboard. The song was penned by Mike Nesmith.
However, the song was a hit in other countries, making its mark as a Top 5 single in Australia.
Yet, U.S. fans never had the opportunity to purchase the song as a single unless they were lucky enough to buy a Post Cereal box with a cardboard 45 attached to the back. Post sponsored series The Monkees, and three kinds of cereal were part of this unique ad campaign: Rice Krinkles, Alpha-Bits, and Honey Comb.
According to a Blogspot post, three sets of records each contained four individual songs, making a total of 12 Monkees cereal box records available for purchase/
The Monkees set a Billboard Record that still stands today
The band set a chart that still stands today. In 1967, they became the first and only act to have four No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 in a calendar year, reported Billboard.
Their first album titled The Monkees was atop the Billboard chart at the close of 1966 and for the first five weeks of 1967. This feat was followed in Feb. by their second release, More of the Monkees, which placed number one for 18 weeks.
The band’s third album, Headquarters, spent only one week at the No. 1 position before sliding down a notch to No. 2 behind The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. In December 1967, The Monkees were back on top with their fourth release, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd.
Subsequently, The Monkees topped a record set by The Beatles. The Fab Four had three albums in one calendar year, and Elvis Presley, who scored two.
The Monkees television show made its small-screen debut in 1966
On the air from 1966 through 1968, The Monkees shared the adventures of a fledgling band. Nesmith, Tork, Dolenz, and Jones had personalities and looks that appeared to mesh on camera. Ultimately, Nesmith played lead guitar, Tork took over bass, Dolenz played drums, and Jones handled lead and backing vocals.
The Monkees ran for a total of 58 episodes. However, the group’s indelible mark on their fans would remain long beyond the airing of their final episode.
