Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. is the fourth album by the Monkees, released on November 6, 1967, when the Monkees were exerting more control over their music and had started to play many of the instruments themselves, something their record company had previously forbidden.
The group did employ studio musicians to a greater extent than their previous album, Headquarters, on which the four musicians played almost entirely on their own. Guitarist Michael Nesmith is heard vocally on this album more than ever before, singing lead on five cuts; conversely, Micky Dolenz sings lead on only three tracks after dominating the group's first three albums. The album's single, "Pleasant Valley Sunday"/"Words", was a double-sided hit.
The album was among the earliest to make use of the Moog synthesizer, which Dolenz introduced to the group and played in the studio; he owned one of the first twenty ever sold. Along with the Doors' September 1967 album Strange Days, Their Satanic Majesties Request by the Rolling Stones in December, and the Byrds' January 1968 album The Notorious Byrd Brothers, Pisces was one of the first commercial recordings featuring the Moog to reach a wide audience. Dolenz plays the synthesizer on "Daily Nightly" and "Love Is Only Sleeping" (as seen in season 2) while electronic musician Paul Beaver plays the Moog on "Star Collector."
Two additional songs, which eventually became the single "Daydream Believer"/"Goin' Down", were recorded during the album sessions. Released in October 1967 as a prelude to the Pisces album, it would be the group's last #1 single.
The album's title stems from each band member's respective astrological sign (Dolenz is Pisces, Peter Tork is Aquarius, and both Nesmith and Davy Jones are Capricorn). However, since Nesmith and Jones share the same sign and birthday (December 30), Jones' last name was placed at the end of the title to avoid confusion. Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. sold more than three million copies.
The album's cover features a drawing by Bernard Yezsin of the four Monkees, their facial features blank, standing in a field of flowers with the group's guitar logo half-buried. The drawing was based on a photo of the group Yezsin had taken.
In 2007, Rhino issued a two-disc deluxe edition of the album. The CD set featured original album artwork (including replicas of the original Colgems vinyl labels on each disc), as well as a booklet of essays and session information by Monkees historian Andrew Sandoval. The discs contain both the stereo and mono mixes of the album, remastered, as well as alternate mixes and outtakes.
"Love is Only Sleeping" / "Daydream Believer"
The original single to precede the album was canceled due to fears that the title of the A-side might be too risqué. "Daydream Believer" was chosen instead as the A side with "Goin' Down" (which had no risqué connotations in 1967) placed on the B side.
Side 1
Side 2
Tracks 1–13: Original album in stereo
- Special Announcement – 0:36
- "Goin' Down" (Micky Dolenz, Jones, Tork, Diane Hilderbrand, Nesmith) (Alternate mix) – 4:46
- "Salesman" (Smith) (Alternate mix) – 2:37
- "The Door into Summer" (Douglas, Martin) (Alternate mix) – 2:52
- "Love Is Only Sleeping" (Mann, Weil) (Alternate mix) – 2:32
- "Daily Nightly" (Nesmith) (Alternate mix) – 2:31
- "Star Collector" (Goffin, King) (Alternate mix) – 4:52
Side 1 bonus tracks:
"The Door into Summer" (Alternate mix) (Douglas, Martin)
"Love is Only Sleeping" (Alternate mix) (Mann, Weil)
Side 2 bonus tracks:
"Daily Nightly" (Alternate mix) (Nesmith)
"Goin' Down" (Alternate mix) (Dolenz, Tork, Hilderbrand, Jones, Nesmith)
Blue colored LP contains bonus track at the end of Side 1 only: "Goin' Down" (Prev. unissued alternate mix)
No bonus track on Side 2
Disc One
Tracks 1–13: Original Album in Stereo
- "Goin' Down" (Stereo Mix) (Dolenz, Tork, Hilderbrand, Jones, Nesmith) – 4:28
- "Salesman" (Alternate Stereo Mix) (Smith) – 3:08
- "She Hangs Out" (Alternate Stereo Mix) (Barry) – 3:36
- "Love is Only Sleeping" (Alternate Mix) (Mann, Weill) – 2:52
- "What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?" (Alternate Mix) (Murphey, Castleman) – 3:21
- "Star Collector" (Alternate Stereo Mix) (Goffin, King) – 5:03
- "Riu Chiu" (TV Version) (Traditional) – 1:32
Disc Two
Tracks 1–13: Original Album in Mono
- Special Announcement – 0:39
- "Salesman" (Alternate Mono Mix) (Smith) – 2:35
- "Cuddly Toy" (Alternate Mix) (Nilsson) 3:02
- "Goin' Down" (Mono Single Version) (Dolenz, Tork, Hilderbrand, Jones, Nesmith) – 4:25
- "The Door into Summer" (2007 Remastered Alternate Mix) (Douglas, Martin) – 2:54
- "Daily Nightly" (Alternate Mix) (Nesmith) – 2:31
- "Star Collector" (Alternate Mix) (Goffin, King) – 4:47
The original track lineup for the album, compiled on October 9, 1967, included the following songs:
Side 1
- "Special Announcement"
- "She Hangs Out"
- "Salesman"
- "Cuddly Toy"
- "Words"
- "Don't Call on Me"
- "Goin' Down"
Side 2
- "The Door Into Summer"
- "Hard to Believe"
- "What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?"
- "Daily Nightly"
- "Peter Percival Patterson's Pet Pig Porky"
- "Pleasant Valley Sunday"
- "Star Collector"
"Salesman"
Written by Craig Vincent Smith
Lead vocal by Michael Nesmith
Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Chip Douglas
Electric guitar: Michael Nesmith
Bass: Chip Douglas
Nylon-string guitar: Chip Douglas
Acoustic guitar: Peter Tork
Drums: Eddie Hoh
Shaker: Michael Nesmith
Craig Vincent Smith was a friend of Nesmith's who later appeared in the band Penny Arkade, which Nesmith produced
Featured on the TV show in the episode "The Devil and Peter Tork" and caused controversy when NBC objected to the episode, citing the song and its veiled drug reference in the third verse. The song refers to the adventure of a travelling salesman.
Recorded at RCA Victor Studio A, Hollywood, June 14, 1967
"She Hangs Out"
Written by Jeff Barry
Lead vocal by Davy Jones
Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Chip Douglas
Electric guitar: Michael Nesmith, and Unknown
Bass: Chip Douglas
Drums: Eddie Hoh
Organ: Peter Tork
Percussion: Unknown
Trumpet: Pete Candoli, Robert Helfer, Al Porcino, Manuel Stevens
Bass Trombone: Richard Leith, Philip Teele
Trombone: Richard Noel
Arrangement: Shorty Rogers
Used on episode #41 ("The Card Carrying Red Shoes"), without the horns (the hornless master remains lost, but available on Remastered, Deluxe Edition – "Alternate Stereo Mix")
This was a remake of the January 1967 cut that Don Kirshner released without authorization in Canada; the release helped lead to Kirshner's firing from Colgems records.
The original mono mix features a longer fade than on the stereo mix.
Used in the episodes "Card Carrying Red Shoes" and "Some Like It Lukewarm"
While Jeff Barry is officially credited as the writer of the song, several sites and sources claim Ellie Greenwich to have co-written the track.
Recorded at RCA Victor Studio B, New York City, July 21, 1967
"The Door into Summer"
Written by Chip Douglas and Bill Martin
Lead vocal by Michael Nesmith
Harmony vocals: Micky Dolenz
Guitar: Chip Douglas
Bass: Chip Douglas
Drums: Micky Dolenz, Eddie Hoh
Percussion: Davy Jones
Keyboards: Peter Tork
Banjo: Douglas Dillard
Unknown: Bill Martin, Harry Nilsson
The title is from a novel by sci-fi author Robert Heinlein
Eddie Hoh is credited with drumming, but some evidence exists that the first take featured Micky on drums. Close listening to the finished recording reveals that there are two separate drum tracks. The right channel features a restrained drummer (Micky Dolenz) which continues through the entire track. At the start of the second verse, another less-restrained drummer (Eddie Hoh) begins in the left channel and continues through the rest of the song.
Used in the episodes "Monkees on the Wheel" and "Some Like It Lukewarm"
The song was officially written by Bill Martin and Chip Douglas, though the latter denies any writing contribution.
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, May 29 and August 23, 1967
"Love Is Only Sleeping"
Written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
Lead vocal by Michael Nesmith
Harmony vocals: Micky Dolenz
Backing vocals: Davy Jones, Chip Douglas
Electric guitar: Michael Nesmith
Acoustic guitar: Chip Douglas
Bass: Chip Douglas
Drums: Eddie Hoh
Organ: Peter Tork
Percussion: Davy Jones
Sound Effects: Bill Chadwick
Unknown: Bill Martin, Harry Nilsson
Not originally intended to be included on Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. as the song was to be issued as a single instead
After a manufacturing error caused some delays, Colgems rethought the strategy and released the more commercial "Daydream Believer" as the single instead, with "Goin' Down" as its B-side
The song was featured on three episodes of the TV show—"Everywhere a Sheik, Sheik", "I Was A 99-pound Weakling", and "The Monkees In Paris." The Paris episode feature's the song's released mix while the first two episodes feature a more stripped-down version derived from the song's original four-track mix before it was transferred to eight-track magnetic tape for additional mixing.This song was the first song by Nesmith after his surgery in 1967.
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, June 19 and August 1967
"Cuddly Toy"
Written by Harry Nilsson
Lead vocal by Davy Jones
Harmony vocals: Micky Dolenz
Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, Chip Douglas
Acoustic guitar: Michael Nesmith
Bass: Chip Douglas
Drums: Micky Dolenz
Tambourine: Davy Jones
Piano: Peter Tork
Electric Piano: Peter Tork
Cello: Edgar Lustgarten
Horns: Ted Nash, Tom Scott, Bud Shank
Wind: Ted Nash, Tom Scott, Bud Shank
This song and "The Door Into Summer" are the only songs featuring Micky behind the drums on the album
Demo was under the name "By Any Boy"
Selected by the band after Nilsson auditioned several songs for the group
Some have interpreted the lyrics as being about a gang bang. In the liner notes to the CD's 1995 release it is stated that producer Lester Sill was angered to discover this.
Used in the episodes "Everywhere a Sheik, Sheik", and "Monkees on the Wheel"
The version presented here does not have a fade, while appearances on compilation albums do.
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, April 26, 1967
"Words"
Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
Lead vocals by Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork
Backing vocals: Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, Chip Douglas
Electric guitar: Michael Nesmith
Bass: Chip Douglas
Drums: Eddie Hoh
Percussion: Michael Nesmith
Chimes: Davy Jones
Tree: Davy Jones
(Hammond B-3) Organ: Peter Tork
Originally recorded for More of The Monkees in August 1966, but re-recorded for this album under the group's direction
In the music video, Tork plays the guitar, Nesmith plays the bass, Jones plays the drums and Dolenz sings and plays the tambourine. The band said that this lineup is what The Monkees should have been, as these instrument choices best represented the individual members' strengths (Nesmith believed Tork was a better guitarist than him, while Nesmith himself was particularly accomplished as a bass guitarist. Jones was the only member of The Monkees who already knew how to play the drums). But, Nesmith played the guitar and Tork played the bass and organ, Jones played the chimes and "Fast" Eddie Hoh played the drums.
Reached number 11 on the pop charts
This version used in summer 1967 rebroadcast of the episodes "Monkees in a Ghost Town" and "Monkees Chow Mein"; then used in the second season episodes "Monkees in Texas" and "Monkees' Paw" while the original version was used in the episode "Monkees in Manhattan"
The single version is not the album version. Dolenz says "ah" twice on the single version.
Recorded at RCA Victor Studio A, Hollywood, June 14, 1967
"Hard To Believe"
Written by David Jones, Kim Capli, Eddie Brick and Charlie Rockett
Lead vocal by Davy Jones
Guitar: Kim Capli
Bass: Kim Capli
Drums: Kim Capli
Percussion: Kim Capli
Piano: Kim Capli
Violin: Leonard Atkins, Arnold Belnick, Nathan Kaproff, Wilbert Nuttycombe, Jerome Reisler, Darrel Terwilliger
Flugelhorn: Oliver Mitchell, Anthony Terran
French horn: Vincent DeRosa
Baritone saxophone: Jim Horn
Bass trombone: Robert Knight
Shaker: Kim Capli
Claves: Kim Capli
Cowbell: Kim Capli
Orchestrator: George Tipton
Arrangement: Roger Farris
This was the last new composition to be recorded that would make the album. It is also the only track to feature a single Monkee, and the only track that only features session musicians on instruments.
This the only song from the original album not to be used on the TV show.
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, August 23, 1967
"What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?"
Written under the pseudonyms Travis Lewis and Boomer Clark, but actually the work of Michael Martin Murphey and Owens Castleman
Lead vocal by Michael Nesmith
Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Chip Douglas
Electric guitar: Michael Nesmith
Bass: Chip Douglas
Drums: Eddie Hoh
Electric banjo: Douglas Dillard
Chosen by Nesmith for the country feel it gave off; Murphy was an old friend of Nesmith
The released mix features group vocals, but an early mix featured only a double-tracked vocal by Nesmith.
Used in the episodes "It's a Nice Place To Visit...", "Monkees Marooned", and "The Monkees Race Again". The version included in "Monkees Marooned" had a slightly longer run time, owing to the song's chorus being repeated four times after the last verse, instead of three times.
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, June 20, 1967
"Peter Percival Patterson's Pet Pig Porky"
Written by Peter Tork
Spoken words by Peter Tork
Taught to Peter by Judy Mayhan, whom he was managing at the time.
Peter admits that it was public domain, but when Screen Gems asked who wrote it he gave his name (which he could do, as 'arranger' of the piece)
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, June 10, 1967
"Pleasant Valley Sunday"
Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King
Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
Backing vocals: Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith
Electric guitar: Michael Nesmith
Acoustic guitar: Bill Chadwick
Bass: Chip Douglas
Drums: Eddie Hoh
Percussion: Davy Jones
Piano: Peter Tork
Released as a single before the album on July 10, 1967
Reached number 3 on the pop charts
Micky Dolenz was the only member of The Monkees to not contribute to this track instrumentally
The stereo album version differs from the version released as a single, also heard on the mono album.
The stereo and mono mixes feature slightly different vocals by Micky on the opening verse.
The fade on both released mixes is deliberately drowned in reverb and noise, but a karaoke mix released in 2004 features a conventional fade.
First used in summer 1967 rebroadcast of the episodes "Case Of The Missing Monkee" and "Captain Crocodile," then in the second season episodes "The Picture Frame" and "Monkee Mayor."
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, June 10 and 11, 1967 after their Hollywood Bowl performance.
"Daily Nightly"
Written by Michael Nesmith
Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
Electric guitar: Michael Nesmith
Bass: Chip Douglas
Drums: Eddie Hoh
Moog synthesizer: Micky Dolenz
Organ: Peter Tork
Percussion: Davy Jones
Nesmith's inspiration for this song stemmed from the infamous Sunset Strip riots and the misinformation that the media reported about the event; the event was first discussed by the boys in the epilogue interview segment of the episode "Find The Monkees."
The mono and stereo versions have slightly different Moog parts.
Used in the episodes "Fairy Tale" and "The Monkees Blow Their Minds"
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, June 19 and August 1967
"Don't Call on Me"
Written by Michael Nesmith and John London
Lead vocal by Michael Nesmith
Spoken words: Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones
Electric guitar: Michael Nesmith
Acoustic guitar: Chip Douglas
Bass: Chip Douglas
Drums: Eddie Hoh
Claves: Eddie Hoh
Piano: Robert Rafelson
Organ: Peter Tork
A reworked version of a pre-Monkees Nesmith song
Recorded during two Hollywood sessions, not from "the elegant Pump Room of the magnificent Palmer House, high over Chicago", which could not be possible anyway. The Pump Room Restaurant and Palmer House Hotel are two separate businesses located in two different areas of Chicago. The song begins with the sounds of a live audience in a lounge with dialogue between the boys, working into a jazzy, slow tune.
Show producer Robert Rafelson played piano heard in the song's intro.
Used in the episode "The Monkees in Paris"
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, June 20 and October 9, 1967, and RCA Victor Nashville Sound Studio, Nashville, August 1967
"Star Collector"
Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King
Lead vocal by Davy Jones
Harmony vocals: Micky Dolenz
Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Chip Douglas, and Unknown
Spoken words: Micky Dolenz
Electric guitar: Michael Nesmith
Bass: Chip Douglas
Drums: Eddie Hoh
Organ: Peter Tork
Moog synthesizer: Paul Beaver
Moog used on the album for a second time, this time played by Paul Beaver
Song was about the growing phenomenon of groupies
An alternate mix without Paul Beaver's Moog riffing was used on the TV show in the biker-themed episode "The Wild Monkees." A different version of this Moog-less mix is featured on Rhino Records' 2007 two-disc re-release of the album.
Used in the episodes "The Wild Monkees", "Hitting the High Seas", "Monkees Watch Their Feet", "The Monkees in Paris", and "Monkees Mind Their Manor".
The song features Micky Dolenz singing "bye bye" during the moog riff after the final verse, and again during the end.
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, June 22, 1967 and American Recorder, Studio City, October 4, 1967
"Special Announcement"
Originally intended to be the kick-off to the album, it is a parody of the tape-alignment instructions for RCA studios.
Spoken words by Peter Tork
Sound effects: Steve Pitts, and Robert Rafelson
The track features a dog barking at the end
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, October 9, 1967
"Goin' Down" (Extended Mono Mix)
Written by Diane Hilderbrand, Peter Tork, Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz and David Jones
Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
Electric guitar: Michael Nesmith
Bass: Peter Tork
Drums: Eddie Hoh
Percussion: Davy Jones
Trumpet: Bud Brisbois, Virgil Evans, Uan Rasey, Thomas Scott
Trombone: Louis Blackburn, Richard Leith, Richard Nash, Philip Teelee
Saxophone: William Collette, William Hood, Plas Johnson, John Lowe
Arrangement: Shorty Rogers
B-side of "Daydream Believer"
Intended to be on the album, but cut after including "Love Is Only Sleeping" on the album
Inspired by Mose Allison and his song "Parchman Farm." It began as a free-form jam and then Michael decided it should be recorded as an original track.
The version presented here does not have a genuine fade-out, while appearances on compilations, and the 07' release do.
The version presented here is in mono, the jazzy riff and background hiss is more restrained, the trumpet wailing is less restrained, and a dialog is included at the end.
The tempo in this version is a couple of seconds faster than in the single.
Used in the series episodes "The Wild Monkees" "A Coffin Too Frequent" "The Monkees in Texas" "The Monstrous Monkee Mash" "The Monkees Paw" and "The Monkees in Paris". "The Wild Monkees" and "The Monkees in Texas" feature Micky singing live over the instrumental, while "The Monkees Paw" uses clips of just the instrumental track."
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, June 20, July 5 and September 15, 1967
Salesman (Alternate Mono Mix)
Spoken words: Michael Nesmith
Features a sales pitch by Nesmith over the fade.
"The Door Into Summer" (Alternate Mono Mix)
Features a different background vocal arrangement with a more prominent vocal by Micky, and an altered lead vocal by Mike. The drumming is also more restrained in this version.
"Love is Only Sleeping" (Early Mix)
This is the original four-track mix before the song was transferred to eight-track tape for further overdubs; the four-track mix lacks the released version's extensive echo effects and also features alternate organ parts, particularly on the ending.
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, June 19, 1967
"Daily Nightly" (Early Mix)
Lacks Dolenz's synthesizer part
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, June 19, 1967
"Star Collector" (Extended Mix)
Features a longer Moog solo and an altered beginning and ending.
Is featured on Rhino Records' 2007 re-release of the album in both the longer Moog mix and also a Moog-less mix that features extensive backing vocals during the prolonged outro and fade.
Drums: Eddie Hoh, Micky Dolenz ("Cuddly Toy" & "The Door Into Summer"), Kim Capli ("Hard to Believe")
Guitars: Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork
Piano, Organ, and Clavinet: Peter Tork, Chip Douglas, Bill Martin
Bass: Chip Douglas, Peter Tork
Percussion: Davy Jones
Banjo: Douglas Dillard
Moog Synthesizer: Micky Dolenz, Paul Beaver
Vocals, Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork
The album also reached #5 in the UK best-sellers, as of 2015 this is their final top ten album there.
