Good Times!

The project was initiated by Rhino executives John Hughes and Mark Pinkus, who wanted the Monkees to record a new album for the band's 50th anniversary.{{cite web |last=Greene |first=Andy |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-monkees-plot-50th-anniversary-tour-new-lp-good-times-20160205 |title=The Monkees Plot 50th Anniversary Tour, New LP 'Good Times!' |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=2016-02-05 |access-date=2016-05-21}} The album, the band's first since Justus (1996), was produced by Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne and features surviving Monkees Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork.{{cite web |url=https://www.spin.com/2016/02/the-monkees-50th-anniversary-tour-good-times-lp/ |title=The Monkees Plan 50th Anniversary Tour, Will Release New LP, 'Good Times!' |publisher=Spin |date=2016-02-05 |access-date=2016-05-21}}

The album features one composition or co-write from each Monkee, as well as older material penned by writers long associated with the band (Harry Nilsson, Neil Diamond, Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart, Gerry Goffin & Carole King and Jeff Barry & Joey Levine), alongside new songs by Schlesinger, Andy Partridge, Rivers Cuomo, Ben Gibbard, Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/good-times!-mw0002916562 |title=Good Times! – The Monkees – Songs, Reviews, Credits |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |website=AllMusic}} Schlesinger had asked his Fountains of Wayne bandmate Jody Porter to write a song for the album, but it was not used because it was too similar to the title track.{{cite web |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/jody-porter-premieres-new-song-pick-yer-poison |title=Jody Porter Premieres New Song, "Pick Yer Poison" |last=Fanelli |first=Damien |publisher=Guitar World |date=2016-11-01 |access-date=2019-01-05}}

The title track is a composition by Nilsson, first attempted in a session in January 1968, and the album version features new vocals by Dolenz singing a posthumous "duet" with Nilsson,{{cite AV media notes |title=Good Times! |author=The Monkees |author-link=The Monkees |type=CD liner notes |date=2016 |publisher=Rhino Records |id=R2 553592}} who had performed a guide vocal in the original session.{{cite web |url=https://www.nederlanderconcerts.com/events/detail/the-monkees-good-times-the-50th-anniversary-tour-1 |title=The Monkees – Good Times: The 50th Anniversary Tour |website=Nederlander Concerts |access-date=2024-08-22}} Monkee Davy Jones is represented posthumously by the Diamond-penned track "Love to Love", which was recorded in 1967 in a Don Kirshner-supervised session while the group was trying to gain musical independence from Kirshner.{{cite AV media notes |title=Headquarters (Deluxe Edition) |last=Sandoval |first=Andrew |author-link=Andrew Sandoval |others=The Monkees |date=2007 |type=CD liner notes |publisher=Rhino Records |id=R2 72153}} In August 1969, Brendan Cahill supervised a new double-tracked lead vocal by Jones, but the song remained unfinished and did not see an official release until a poor quality copy was issued on the 1979 compilation album Monkeemania. The 1969 version appears on Good Times!, with new backing vocals by Dolenz and Tork.

Dolenz was uncomfortable with some of Cuomo's original lyrics in "She Makes Me Laugh", and Cuomo "added in new lyrics about Scrabble and a canoe trip when Dolenz felt the original draft was geared towards a man much younger than his 71 years."{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/how-the-monkees-got-their-1960s-groove-back-20160524?page=2 |title=How the Monkees Got Their 1960s Groove Back |last=Greene |first=Andy |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=2016-05-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527052749/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/how-the-monkees-got-their-1960s-groove-back-20160524?page=2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 27, 2016 |access-date=2016-07-07}} The lyric "directing traffic in the mall" was improvised by Dolenz.{{cite AV media |url=https://zilchmonkeescast.blogspot.com/2016/05/zilch-56-adam-schlesinger-john-hughes.html |title=Zilch No. 56 Adam Schlesinger & John Hughes talk GOOD TIMES! |publisher=Zilch! |date=2016-05-04 |access-date=2016-07-07}}

In addition to Monkees band members Dolenz (vocals, drums), Nesmith (vocals, guitar) and Tork (vocals, keyboards, banjo), guest musicians include Fountains of Wayne members Schlesinger (guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, percussion), Porter (guitar) and Brian Young (drums, percussion), as well as Mike Viola (guitar, bass, background vocals).

The first single from the album was the Cuomo-penned "She Makes Me Laugh", released on April 28, 2016, along with a lyric video.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/monkees-rivers-cuomo-she-makes-me-laugh-single-7350129/ |title=Hear The Monkees' New Rivers Cuomo-Penned Single 'She Makes Me Laugh' |last=Melendez |first=Monique |magazine=Billboard |date=2016-04-28 |access-date=2024-08-22}} The second single was Partridge's composition "You Bring the Summer", released on May 2.{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2016/05/02/monkees-you-bring-summer-xtc/ |title=The Monkees release You Bring The Summer |last=Robinson |first=Will |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=2016-05-02 |access-date=2024-08-22}} The third and final single was Gibbard's "Me & Magdalena", released on May 19.{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2016/05/19/478417461/song-premiere-the-monkees-me-magdalena |title=Song Premiere: The Monkees, 'Me & Magdalena' |last=Thompson |first=Stephen |website=NPR |date=2016-05-19 |access-date=2024-08-22}} Dolenz and Tork embarked on a 50th anniversary tour to promote the album, including nearly 50 dates in North America.

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = The Independent

| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last=Gill |first=Andy |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/the-monkees-good-times-album-review-probably-the-band-s-best-album-after-their-hits-compilation-a7048376.html |title=The Monkees, Good Times!, album review: 'Probably the band's best album, after their hits compilation' |work=The Independent |date=26 May 2016 |access-date=2016-05-26}}

| rev2 = The New York Times

| rev2score = {{cite news |last=Pareles |first=John |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/26/arts/music/the-monkees-good-times-review.html |title=Review: Hey, Hey, the Monkees are Busy Singing Again! |newspaper=The New York Times |date=25 May 2016 |access-date=2016-05-25}}

| rev3 = Herald Standard

| rev3score = {{cite web |last=Rhodes |first=Clint |url=https://www.heraldstandard.com/entertainment/music/clints_music_review/music-review-the-monkees---good-times/article_02b28a43-f77c-5a74-a1bc-4a85caee6e9f.html |title=Music review: The Monkees – 'Good Times!' |publisher=The Herald-Standard |access-date=2016-06-09}}

| rev4 = AllMusic

| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0002916562}}

| rev5 = Mojo Magazine

| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last=Wilson |first=Lois |url=https://www.mojo4music.com/24170/the-monkees-good-times/ |title=Album Of The Week |publisher=Mojo |access-date=2016-06-10}}

| rev6 = Record Collector

| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last=Rathbone |first=Oregano |url=https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/good-times |title=Delivering the goods |publisher=Record Collector |access-date=2016-07-01}}

| rev7 = Rolling Stone

| rev7score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/the-monkees-good-times-20160520 |title=The Monkees's New Album: Good Times! |date=20 May 2016 |publisher=Rolling Stone |access-date=2016-05-21}}

| rev8 = Rolling Stone Australia

| rev8score = {{Rating|4|4}}{{cite web |last=Divola |first=Barry |url=http://rollingstoneaus.com/reviews/post/the-monkees-good-times/4004 |title=The Monkees's New Album: Good Times! |publisher=Rolling Stone Australia |access-date=2016-06-01}}

| rev9 = Ultimate Classic Rock

| rev9score = {{cite web |last=Swanson |first=John |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/monkees-good-times |title=The Monkees, 'Good Times!': Album Review! |publisher=Ultimate Classic Rock |access-date=2016-05-28}}

| rev10 = RTÉ

| rev10score = {{cite web |last=Corr |first=Alan |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2016/0603/793185-album-review-the-monkees-swing-back-into-action/ |title=Album review: The Monkees swing back into action |date=3 June 2016 |publisher=RTÉ |access-date=2016-06-03}}

| rev11 = ABC News

| rev11score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last=Raible |first=Allan |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/monkees-beth-orton-kristin-kontrol-music-reviews/story?id=39510633#1 |title=The Monkees, Beth Orton and Kristin Kontrol and More Music Reviews |work=ABC News |access-date=2016-06-01}}

| rev12 = The Times

| rev12score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite news |last=Hodgkinson |first=Will |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/pop-the-monkees-good-times-vq2crfmm8 |title=Pop: The Monkees: Good Times! |newspaper=The Times |access-date=2016-05-27}}

| rev13 = The Evening Standard

| rev13score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last=Aizlewood |first=John |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/stayingin/music/the-monkees-good-times-review-let-down-by-flat-production-a3268576.html |title=The Monkees – Good Times!, review: 'let down by flat production' |date=10 June 2016 |publisher=The Evening Standard |access-date=2016-06-10}}

| rev14 = The Irish Times

| rev14score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite news |last=Clayton-Lea |first=Tony |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/pop-the-monkees-good-times-vq2crfmm8 |title=The Monkees: Good Times album review – just trying, and failing, to be friendly |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=2016-06-01}}

}}

The Independent gave the album a 4 out of 5 review, declaring that Good Times! was "probably The Monkees' best album, after their hits compilation", while The New York Times summed up the release with "Fifty years later, the Monkees are still endearing." The Herald-Standard concluded that "If indeed this latest album serves as the group's swan song, then it is a joyous finale." Mojo gave the album four stars and declared it their album of the week, while Record Collector stated "to everyone's considerable relief and delight, they've pulled it off. They really have," and gave the album four stars.

The album was awarded 3.5 out of 5 by Rolling Stone, who concluded, "Monkees freaks have waited far too long for this album. But it was worth it." The magazine's Australian edition gave it full marks and noted "Producer Adam Schlesinger of Fountains Of Wayne knows a thing or five about classic pop, and although Good Times! is a Frankenstein's monster of something old, something new and something in between, he manages to orchestrate the whole thing into something beyond an embarrassing heritage act."

Ultimate Classic Rock declared that "The fact that there is a new Monkees album in 2016 is miraculous enough, but that said album, Good Times!, is nothing short of a masterpiece is astounding." RTÉ stated, "keeping it analogue and raw, Good Times! is a joy. This is one band reunion that doesn't besmirch the legacy and even offers something new and fresh." However, it bemoaned the fact that "Noel Gallagher teams up with Paul Weller to dash off 'Birth Of An Accidental Hipster', another droll sub-Kinks ditty but it sounds bloated compared to the effervescence of what's gone before." ABC News concluded that "This is mandatory listening for any Monkees fan." Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, stating the album is "a joyous revival of the cheerful jangle that characterized the group's big '60s hits."

Will Hodgkinson of The Times gave the album 3 out of 5, and the Evening Standard gave the album three stars, declaring that the album "doesn't quite work as it's let down by a flat production and the lack of anything approaching their more magical moments. For all that, though, it's no disgrace".

Tony Clayton-Lea of The Irish Times noted that "Songs by Death Cab for Cutie songwriter Ben Gibbard ("Me & Magdalena"), XTC's Andy Partridge ("You Bring The Summer"), and Noel Gallagher/Paul Weller ("Birth of an Accidental Hipster") brilliantly reference the band's 1960s glory days, but as a cohesive project it's more unpleasant valley Sunday than anything else."

At Metacritic, the album has a metascore of 79, indicating generally favorable reviews. Its user score is 8.7, indicating universal acclaim.{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/good-times!/the-monkees |title=Good Times! by The Monkees |website=Metacritic}}

The album is the highest charting Monkees album in the US since The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees in 1968 and the highest charting in the UK since Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. in 1967.

{{Track listing

|extra_column = Lead vocalist

|title1 = Good Times

|note1 = with Harry Nilsson

|writer1 = Harry Nilsson

|extra1 = Micky Dolenz and Harry Nilsson

|length1 = 2:46

|title2 = You Bring the Summer

|writer2 = Andy Partridge

|extra2 = Dolenz

|length2 = 3:00

|title3 = She Makes Me Laugh

|writer3 = Rivers Cuomo

|extra3 = Dolenz

|length3 = 3:00

|title4 = Our Own World

|writer4 = Adam Schlesinger

|extra4 = Dolenz

|length4 = 2:45

|title5 = Gotta Give It Time

|writer5 = Jeff Barry, Joey Levine

|extra5 = Dolenz

|length5 = 2:17

|title6 = Me & Magdalena

|writer6 = Ben Gibbard

|extra6 = Michael Nesmith with Dolenz

|length6 = 3:33

|title7 = Whatever's Right

|writer7 = Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart

|extra7 = Dolenz

|length7 = 2:00

|title8 = Love to Love

|writer8 = Neil Diamond

|extra8 = Davy Jones

|length8 = 2:29

|title9 = Little Girl

|writer9 = Peter Tork

|extra9 = Tork

|length9 = 2:42

|title10 = Birth of an Accidental Hipster

|writer10 = Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller

|extra10 = Nesmith and Dolenz

|length10 = 3:31

|title11 = Wasn't Born to Follow

|writer11 = Gerry Goffin, Carole King

|extra11 = Tork

|length11 = 2:53

|title12 = I Know What I Know

|writer12 = Michael Nesmith

|extra12 = Nesmith

|length12 = 3:30

|title13 = I Was There (And I'm Told I Had a Good Time)

|writer13 = Micky Dolenz, Schlesinger

|extra13 = Dolenz

|length13 = 2:15

}}

Four bonus tracks were included in part on different retail versions of the album :

• "Me & Magdalena (Version 2)" (Benjamin Gibbard)
• "Terrifying" (Zach Rogue)
• "Love's What I Want" (Andy Partridge)
• "A Better World" (Nick Thorkelson)

All four bonus tracks were issued in a 2016 Record Day exclusive ten inch EP entitled Good Times! Plus!.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/9398906-The-Monkees-Good-Times-Plus/|title=Good Times! Plus! Discogs|access-date=2025-05-13}}

Credits adapted from CD liner notes.

The Monkees

• Micky Dolenz – lead vocal (2–5, 7, 13), harmony vocals (6), backing vocals (8), co-lead vocals (1, 10), drums (13)
• Davy Jones – lead vocal (8)
• Michael Nesmith – backing vocals (2–5, 7), guitar (1–3), lead vocal (6, 12), co-lead vocals (10)
• Peter Tork – backing vocals (2–4, 8), organ (2), banjo (3, 11), keyboards (4, 7), lead vocal (9, 11), acoustic guitar (9)

Additional musicians

{{div col|colwidth=25em}}

• Harry Nilsson – co-lead vocal (1), piano (1)
• Adam Schlesinger – guitar (1, 4, 12), bass guitar (2–4, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13), keyboards (2, 4), piano (6, 10, 12, 13), drums (6), percussion (10), Chamberlin (12)
• Rick Dey – bass guitar (1)
• Eddie Hoh – drums (1)
• Mike Viola – guitar (2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13), bass guitar (6), backing vocals (9)
• Pete Min – guitar (2)
• Jody Porter – guitar (2, 6)
• Brian Young – drums (2–4, 7, 9, 10), percussion (2–4)
• Al Gorgoni – guitar (5, 8)
• Don Thomas – guitar (5, 8)
• Hugh McCracken – guitar (5, 8)
• Lou Mauro – bass guitar (5, 8)
• Artie Butler – organ (5, 8)
• Herb Lovelle – drums (5, 8)
• Tom Cerone – tambourine (5, 8)
• Coco Dolenz – backing vocals (7, 10)
• Bobby Hart – backing vocals (7), organ (7)
• Stan Free – clavinet (8)
• Mike Deasy – guitar (11)
• Dennis Budimir – guitar (11)
• Al Casey – guitar (11)
• Max Bennett – bass guitar (11)
• Michael Melvoin – harpsichord (11)
• Earl Palmer – drums (11)
• Stan Levey – percussion (11)
• Milt Holland – vibes (11)

{{div col end}}

Technical

• Adam Schlesinger – producer, mixing, engineer
• Pete Min – engineer
• Dan Piscina – additional engineering
• Christian Nesmith – additional engineering
• The Monkees – producers (1, 11)
• Pete Abbott – engineer (1, 11)
• Jeff Barry – producer (5, 8), arrangements (5, 8)
• Ray Hall – engineer (5, 8)
• Ryan Smith – mastering
• Rory Wilson – art direction, design
• Jonathan Lane – cover art
• Henry Diltz – photos
• Andrew Sandoval – Davy Jones photo

{{Reflist|30em}}

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Category:2016 albums

Category:The Monkees albums

Category:Rhino Entertainment albums

Category:Albums produced by Adam Schlesinger

Category:Albums produced by Andrew Sandoval