Missing Links Volume Two is the second of three rarity albums by the Monkees (Missing Links Volume 1 and Missing Links Volume 3). It was released in 1990. The album contains several tracks that had been featured in the television series but had never before been available commercially.
As this compilation was released on both vinyl and CD, tracks 7, 11, 14 and 15 do not appear on the original vinyl album version.
- "All the King's Horses" (Nesmith)
- "Valleri" (TV version) (Boyce & Hart)
- "St. Matthew" (Nesmith)
- "Words" (TV version) (Boyce & Hart)
- "Some of Shelley's Blues" (Nesmith)
- "I Wanna Be Free" (TV version) (Boyce & Hart)
- "If I Ever Get to Saginaw Again" (Jack Keller & Bob Russell)
- "Come on In" (Jo Mapes)
- "I'll Be Back Up on My Feet" (Mono TV version) (Sandy Linzer & Denny Randell)
- "Down the Highway (Michigan Blackhawk)" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King and Toni Stern)
- "Hold on Girl" (Help is on its Way) (First recorded version) (Jack Keller, Ben Raleigh, & Billy Carr)
- "The Crippled Lion" (Nesmith)
- "Changes" (Pitts & Jones)
- "Mr. Webster" (First recorded version) (Boyce & Hart)
- "You Just May Be the One" (TV version) (Nesmith)
- (I Prithee) "Do Not Ask for Love" (First recorded version) (Michael Murphy)
- "Circle Sky" (Live version from "Head") (Nesmith)
- "Seeger's Theme" (Second recorded version) (Seeger)
- "Riu Chiu" (Studio version with Chip Douglas filling in for Davy Jones on vocals) (Traditional)
"All the King's Horses"
Written by Michael Nesmith
Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz
Harmony vocals: Michael Nesmith
Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork
Guitar: James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey
Bass: Larry Knechtel, Bob West
Drums: Hal Blaine
Percussion: Gary Coleman, Jim Gordon
Recorded during sessions for The Monkees at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; June 25, 1966 (7:30 pm–12:15 am)
Produced by Michael Nesmith
"Valleri" (first recorded version)
Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
Lead vocal: Davy Jones
Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Tommy Boyce, Wayne Erwin, Bobby Hart, Ron Hicklin
Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
Bass: Larry Taylor
Drums: Billy Lewis
Percussion: Gene Estes
Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
Recorded during sessions for More of the Monkees; re-recorded for The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees
Recorded at RCA Victor Studio A, Hollywood, California; August 6, 1966
"St. Matthew"
Written by Michael Nesmith
Lead vocal: Michael Nesmith
Electric guitar: Michael Nesmith
Guitar: Harold Bradley, Wayne Moss
Steel guitar: Lloyd Green
Bass: Norbert Putnam
Banjo: Bobby Thompson
Drums: Jerry Carrigan
Percussion/Organ: Unknown
Piano: David Briggs
Violin: Buddy Spicher
Produced by Michael Nesmith
Recorded during sessions for Head at RCA Victor Studios, Nashville, Tennessee; June 2, 1968
"Words" (first recorded version)
Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
Lead vocals: Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork
Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, Tommy Boyce, Wayne Erwin, Bobby Hart, Ron Hicklin
Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
Bass: Larry Taylor
Drums: Billy Lewis
Percussion: Norm Jeffries
Flute: Ethmer Roten
Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
Recorded in October 1966
Recorded during sessions for More of the Monkees; re-recorded for Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.
"Some of Shelly’s Blues"
Written by Michael Nesmith
Lead vocal: Michael Nesmith
Acoustic guitar: Billy Sanford
Steel guitar: Lloyd Green
Banjo: Sonny Osborne
Bass: Bobby Dyson
Drums: Willie Ackerman
Organ: Larry Butler
Harmonica: Charlie McCoy
Produced by Michael Nesmith and Felton Jarvis
Recorded during sessions for Head at RCA Victor Studios, Nashville, Tennessee; May 29, 1968
"I Wanna Be Free" (fast version)
Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
Lead vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones
Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
Bass: Larry Taylor
Drums: Billy Lewis
Tambourine: Gene Estes
Organ: Michel Rubini
Recorded during sessions for The Monkees at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; July 19, 1966 (2–7:30 PM)
Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
"If I Ever Get to Saginaw Again"
Written by Jack Keller and Bob Russell
Lead vocal: Michael Nesmith
Guitar: Del Kacher
Electric Guitar: Louie Shelton
Acoustic Guitar: Dennis Budimir, Al Casey, Mike Deasy
Bass: Max Bennett
Drums: Earl Palmer
Tambourine/Vibes: Milt Holland, Stan Levey
Harpsichord: Michael Melvoin
Violin: Jack Gootkin, Bob Jung, George Poole, Heimann Weinstine, William Weiss
Viola: Garry Nuttycombe
Cello: Douglas Davis
Produced by The Monkees
Recorded during sessions for The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; February 1968
"Come On In"
Written by Jo Mapes
Lead vocal: Peter Tork
Electric guitar: Stephen Stills, Lance Wakely
Bass: Peter Tork
Drums: Dewey Martin
Tack piano: Peter Tork
Produced by The Monkees
Recorded during sessions for The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees at Western Recorders, Hollywood, California; February 8, 1968
Mistakenly credited to Steven Dubof and Neil Levonsen
"I'll Be Back Up On My Feet" (mono television version)
Written by Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell
Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz
Backing vocal: Unknown
Guitars: Al Casey, Carol Kaye
Bass: Ray Pohlman
Drums: Hal Blaine
Percussion: Frank Capp, Julius Wechter
Piano: Don Randi and Michel Rubini
Produced by Jeff Barry
Recorded on October 26, 1966
Recorded during sessions for More of the Monkees; re-recorded for The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees
"Michigan Blackhawk" (a.k.a. Down The Highway)
Written by Gerry Goffin, Carole King and Toni Stern
Lead vocal: Michael Nesmith
Guitars: Al Casey, Louie Shelton
Bass: Max Bennett
Drums: Hal Blaine
Piano: Larry Knechtel
Produced by Michael Nesmith
Recorded during sessions for "The Monkees Present" in June 1969,; several sources erroneously document the song recorded in June 1968.
"Michigan Blackhawk" is mistitled; the song included here is a Goffin/King/Stern song tiutled "Down The Highway"; recorded on June 5, 1969; the mistitling comes from the use of the title "Michigan Blackhawk" on an unfinished Nesmith track recorded on June 10, 1969.
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; June 5, 1969.
"Hold On Girl" (first recorded version)
Written by Jack Keller, Ben Raleigh, Billy Carr
Lead vocal: Davy Jones
Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Ron Hicklin
Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
Bass: Larry Taylor
Drums: Billy Lewis
Percussion: Alan Estes
Oboe: Norman Benno
Harpsichord: Michel Rubini
Produced by Jeff Barry and Jack Keller
Recorded for More of the Monkees at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; September 10, 1966
"The Crippled Lion"
Written by Michael Nesmith
Lead vocal: Michael Nesmith
Acoustic guitar: Harold Bradley
Steel guitar: Lloyd Green
Banjo: Sonny Osborne
Bass: Bobby Dyson
Drums: Jerry Carrigan
Organ: David Briggs
Produced by Michael Nesmith and Felton Jarvis
Recorded during sessions for Head at RCA Victor Studios, Nashville, Tennessee; May 29, 1968
"Changes"
Written by David Jones and Steve Pitts
Lead vocal: Davy Jones
Guitar: Mike Deasy, Al Hendrickson, Gerry McGee
Bass: Max Bennett
Drums: Earl Palmer
Percussion: Milt Holland, Jerry Williams
Piano: Don Randi
Violin: Sam Freed, Nathan Kaproff, George Kast, Marvin Limonick, Alex Murray, Erno Neufeld
Cello: Marie Fera, Jacqueline Lustgarten, Edgar Lustgarten, Frederick Seykora
Trumpet: Buddy Childers, Jack Sheldon
French Horn: John Cave, David Duke, Arthur Maebe
Trombone: George Roberts
Produced by The Monkees
Recorded during sessions for The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees at Western Recorders, Studio 2, Hollywood, California; February 6, 1968
"Mr. Webster" (first recorded version)
Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
Lead/backing vocals: Micky Dolenz
Acoustic guitars: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
Bass: Larry Taylor
Harpsichord: Michel Rubini
Percussion: Alan Estes
Oboe: Norman Benno
Cello: Maggie Aue
Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
Recorded during sessions for More of the Monkees; re-recorded for Headquarters
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; September 10, 1966
"You Just May Be The One" (first recorded version)
Written by Michael Nesmith
Lead vocals: Michael Nesmith
Harmony vocals: Micky Dolenz
Guitar/Dano bass: Peter Tork, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, Mike Deasey
Bass: Robert West
Drums: Hal Blaine, Jim Gordon
Percussion: Gene Estes, DeVito
Piano: Larry Knechtel
Produced by Michael Nesmith
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; July 18, 1966 (8:00 P.M.-12:00 A.M.)
Recorded during sessions for The Monkees; re-recorded for Headquarters
Featured doubling of regular bass with Danelectro bass. The doubling of bass proved difficult to master as some 35 takes were needed before the backing track was completed.
"(I Prithee) Do Not Ask For Love" (first recorded version)
Written by Michael Martin Murphy
Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz
Guitar: Peter Tork, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, Mike Deasey
Bass: Bob West
Drums: Hal Blaine
Percussion: Gary Coleman, Jim Gordon
Piano: Michael Cohen, Larry Knechtel
Produced by Michael Nesmith
Recorded on November 17, 1966
Two sessions for Micky's vocals were made. The second was recorded in October 1966 and was the basis for the song's 1990 release. A different vocal by Micky was recorded earlier that summer.
Recorded during sessions for More of the Monkees
"Circle Sky" (live version)
Written by Michael Nesmith
Lead vocal: Michael Nesmith
Electric guitar: Michael Nesmith
Bass: Peter Tork
Drums: Micky Dolenz
Percussion/Organ: Davy Jones
Produced by The Monkees
Recorded live at Valley Auditorium and Lagoon Park Amusement Center, Salt Lake City, Utah; May 21, 1968; performance featured in the film Head
"Seeger’s Theme" (second recorded version)
Written by Pete Seeger
Whistling: Peter Tork
Guitars: Peter Tork, Lance Wakely
Banjo/bass: Peter Tork
Drums: Buddy Miles
Produced by The Monkees
Originally recorded during sessions for Headquarters; released in 2000 on The Headquarters Sessions
Recorded during sessions for The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; January 20, 1968
"Ríu Chíu" (studio version)
Lead vocals: Chip Douglas, Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork
Produced by Chip Douglas
Recorded during sessions for Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. on August 21, 1967
Douglas substitutes for Davy Jones on lead vocals
"You Just May Be the One," "Hold On Girl," "If I Ever Get to Saginaw Again," and "Mr. Webster" are CD Only Tracks
The television version of "Words" includes a backwards tape segment not included in episode the track appeared in ("Monkees Manhattan Style")
