Pool It!
| Pool It! | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by The Monkees | ||||
| Released | August 1987 | |||
| Recorded | May-July 1987, Cherokee Studios, Hollywood [1] | |||
| Genre | Rock, pop rock | |||
| Length | 41:44 | |||
| Label | Rhino Records | |||
| Producer | Roger Bechirian | |||
| The Monkees chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [2] |
Pool It!, issued in 1987 by Rhino Records, is the tenth studio release by The Monkees. It was the first "reunion album" by the band after their 1986 rebirth, and it marked the return of Peter Tork along with Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones. Michael Nesmith did not participate.
Much like the group's early work, the playing and writing of the album was handled in large part by session musicians, with the Monkees themselves contributing lead vocals and some instrumentation, namely Peter Tork on his own song "Gettin' In".
The album was not a particular commercial or critical success; it only reached No. 72 on the Billboard 200. Only one single from the album, "Heart and Soul," managed to make Billboard's Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 87. The follow-up single, a remixed version of "Every Step of the Way", failed to chart.
The book The Monkees Tale by Eric Lefcowitz claims Pool It! and the two singles relating to it were recorded by "Dolenz, Tork & Jones" vs. "the Monkees".[3] However, the billing on the LP itself is "Peter, Micky, Davy — The Monkees".
A deluxe version of this album was released on April 24, 2012 by Friday Music. Along with the original tracks, this version included a live cut of Peter Tork's "MGBGT" (the B-side to "Heart and Soul") and the remixed single track of "Every Step of the Way". On a separate disk, Friday Music included a DVD of the "Heart & Soul" Videography, featuring the videos for "Heart & Soul" and "Every Step of the Way", along with interviews and more.
The album cover was featured in Pitchfork Media's list of "The Worst Record Covers of All Time".[4]
Music videos
Two promotional music videos were produced for Pool It! The first was for "Heart and Soul". The video begins in an ice factory in 1967 with the song "Last Train to Clarksville" playing in the background. Inside the ice factory, Davy, Micky and Peter are found frozen in blocks of ice and wearing their outfits from the Monkees television show. The video fast-forwards to 1987 where the three Monkees are thawed and learn how much has changed since the late 1960s. They try to land work as musicians, but end up washing dishes.
The second video produced was for "Every Step of the Way".
Track listing
- Side 1
| No. | Title | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Heart and Soul" (Simon Byrne, Andrew Howell) | Micky Dolenz | 3:55 |
| 2. | "(I'd Go The) Whole Wide World" (Eric Goulden) | Micky Dolenz | 2:56 |
| 3. | "Long Way Home" (Dick Eastman, Bobby Hart) | Davy Jones | 3:50 |
| 4. | "Secret Heart" (Brian Fairweather, Martin Page) | Micky Dolenz | 3:46 |
| 5. | "Gettin' In" (Peter Tork) | Peter Tork | 3:03 |
| 6. | "(I'll) Love You Forever" (David Jones) | Davy Jones | 3:22 |
- Side 2
| No. | Title | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Every Step of the Way" (Mark Clarke, Ian Hunter) | Davy Jones † | 3:21 |
| 2. | "Don't Bring Me Down" (Bill Teeley, Glenn Wyka) | Micky Dolenz | 3:39 |
| 3. | "Midnight" (David) | Micky Dolenz | 4:28 |
| 4. | "She's Movin' in with Rico" (Andrew Howell) | Davy Jones | 3:21 |
| 5. | "Since You Went Away" (Michael Levine) | Peter Tork | 2:36 |
| 6. | "Counting on You" (Alan Green) | Davy Jones | 5:46 |
†Alternate version with Jones extra vocal interlude included on the 1991 Listen to the Band box set.
Musicians
- Mark Christian - guitar
- Davey Faragher, George Hawkins - bass
- Curly Smith - drums
- Mike Egizi - keyboards
- Craig Ostbo, Roger Bechirian - percussion
- Matt Harris - background vocals
- Andy Cahan - keyboards
References
- ↑ http://monkeessessionography.tripod.com/86_89.html
- ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r74931
- ↑ Lefcowitz, Eric. The Monkees Tale - Revised Edition. Last Gasp, 1989, p. 103.
- ↑ http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/6194-the-worst-record-covers-of-all-time/
