Maps of Music

Justus (1996)

Where the lyrics of Justus take you, and where it was really made.

All four Monkees returned to the album, but Nesmith produced and mixed it while the other three were touring.

Key places

Recorded at NRG Recording Studios (1996)

Recording site NRG Recording Studios (Hollywood) — The album's recording studio is listed as NRG Recording Studios in North Hollywood. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Justus: the eleventh studio album by the American rock band the Monkees
• Released 15 October 1996 by Rhino Records
• Recorded to celebrate the group's 30th anniversary
• Marks the return of Michael Nesmith to the group
• First Monkees album since Head (1968) to feature all four members
• First album written, performed and produced exclusively by the four members

Background

• Preliminary work began using songs from various writers
• After Nesmith agreed to join the production, all songs were written only by the four members
• Nesmith sang lead on a remake of “Circle Sky” and wrote “Admiral Mike”, sung by Micky Dolenz
• Nesmith provided background vocals on all tracks
• All four members receive producer credit, but Nesmith ultimately produced and mixed the project while the other three toured
• “Circle Sky” remakes a song from the Monkees' film Head, with new lyrics from Nesmith
• “You and I” is a different song from the 1969 album Instant Replay track of the same name
• Demo versions of “You and I”, “It's Not Too Late” and “What a Night” appear on Davy Jones's solo anthology Just for the Record, Vol. 4
• Justus was the final studio album to feature contemporary recordings of Jones before his death in 2012

Recording

• Credits list Mike McDonald as engineer, mixer and mastering engineer
• Bob Bullock and several second engineers are also credited
• The studio is listed as NRG Recording Studios in North Hollywood

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• The Monkees were an American pop rock band formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1960s.
• The group was conceived in 1965 by television producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the NBC sitcom of the same name, which aired from 1966 to 1968.
• Casting drew 437 applicants; Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork, and Micky Dolenz were chosen.

Members

• Micky Dolenz: lead and backing vocals, drums, guitar, keyboards.
• Davy Jones: lead and backing vocals, percussion, bass; died in 2012.
• Michael Nesmith: lead and rhythm guitars, keyboards, vocals; died in 2021.
• Peter Tork: bass, guitars, keyboards, banjo, vocals; died in 2019.

Career

• Early music was largely performed by session musicians such as the Wrecking Crew under Don Kirshner's supervision.
• The band had four consecutive No. 1 albums in 1966–1967: The Monkees, More of the Monkees, Headquarters, and Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.
• They had three No. 1 singles: "Last Train to Clarksville", "I'm a Believer", and "Daydream Believer".
• The members gained control over their recordings in 1967 after a conflict with Kirshner.
• The film Head (1968) was a commercial failure; the group broke up in the early 1970s.
• A revival in 1986 led to intermittent reunions, new albums, and tours until 2021.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Released in October 1996, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the band's debut album
• Rhino Entertainment released a VHS tape of the same name at the same time, with music videos, interviews and backstage footage
• “Circle Sky”, “You and I” and “Regional Girl” were promoted with music videos in the 1997 television special Hey, Hey, It's the Monkees
• “Oh, What a Night” was performed alongside those songs during the 30th anniversary reunion tour

Records

• 28 May 2013: Friday Music reissued the album on CD
• The 2013 reissue included a DVD of the original Justus special

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The title can be pronounced “Justice” or “Just Us”, the latter implying that only the four Monkees perform on the album.
• Nesmith produced and mixed the project while the other three Monkees toured.
• “Admiral Mike” was written by Nesmith and sung by Micky Dolenz.
• “Circle Sky” is a remake of a song from the film Head, with new lyrics from Nesmith.
• Demo versions of “You and I”, “It's Not Too Late” and “What a Night” appear on Davy Jones's solo anthology Just for the Record, Vol. 4.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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