Song of the Day one day late-Little Red Rider (Happy Belated Birthday to Mike Nesmith!)

I was planning on posting this yesterday, and the day got away from me. Mike Nesmith of the Monkees turned 69 yesterday. Happy Birthday Mike!

Mike left the Monkees in 1970 after he bought out his contract, allegedly with money he received as an inheritance from his mother who was one of the inventors of Liquid Paper. Mike invested well which is a good  thing because, have you bought any Liquid Paper recently? He spends his days in comfortable semi-seclusion in Carmel, California. Google him and you will read about him hanging out with conservative humorist PJ O'Rourke (though my politics are progressive I have always loved PJ's writing) and going hunting with Mr. Sarah Palin. I have the feeling that Mike and I would disagree on most things politically. He also is a legendary curmudgeon, something that was not bestowed upon him by age, but seemingly is a lifelong personality trait.

Mike did get out and play one show this past year in Los Angeles and has confessed to getting the performance bug again, though he eschews all offers to join his former bandmates. Davy Jones says that Mike looks like "a German banker" and he can't imagine him being a Monkee again!

Mike was, and is, my favorite Monkee. He was clearly the most talented musician, songwriter and, while you don't hear his lead vocals on the Monkees biggest hits, his Texas twang was a highlight on all the Monkees records. Never a duff track with Mike. After leaving the Monkees he formed the First National Band and in August 1970 released "Magnetic South." When you talk about the first country rock pioneers, Mike usually gets overlooked when names like Gram Parsons and Poco are bandied about. Important figures in country rock but Mike's contributions are criminally ignored. Mike's solo catalog is very strong. Apparently toward the end of the Monkees, Mike saved his songs up for a future solo career.

The pick here is "Little Red Rider" written by Mike, though "Joanne" was the hit. The band swings effortlessly with that old "country-honk" feel. You can see why Mike's contributions to his former band didn't usually sound like the Monkees or fit in very well!