Hey! Hey! It’s the Monkees (again) with more ‘Good Times!’
The Monkees, Good Times! The ’60s TV pop group’s Micky Dolenz, Peter York and Michael Nesmith return with new material and a tour for their 50th anniversary.
The fun Good Times! earns that title exclamation point with some bouncy pop/rock tunes that would have fit fine on More of the Monkees. Includes some songs written for them in 1967 and ’68 by Neil Diamond (Love to Love), Gerry Goffin-Carole King (Wasn’t Born to Follow) and Harry Nilsson (title track) that are now newly revisited. Love to Love includes the late Davy Jones’ original lead vocal. You Bring the Summer, written by XTC’s Andy Partridge, is just right for the season.
Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne, America) produces. Digital and CD out May 27; vinyl version on Aug. 12.
Eric Clapton, I Still Do. Blues guitarist reunites with producer Glyn Johns, who helped shape the sound of Clapton’s late-’70s favorites Slowhand and Backless. Sir Peter Blake, who co-designed the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and The Who’s Face Dances LP covers painted Clapton for the art on this new album.
Fifth Harmony, 7/27.
Flume, Skin.
Catfish and the Bottlemen, The Ride.
Ro James, Eldorado.
Thrice, To Be Everywhere is to Be Nowhere.
Lacuna Coil, Delirium.
Ethan Hulse, Ethan Hulse.
The Wiggles, The Best Of.
Death Angel, The Evil Divide.
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This story was originally published May 22, 2016 at 12:35 AM with the headline "Hey! Hey! It’s the Monkees (again) with more ‘Good Times!’."