(BIG NOTE: I did NOT write this. I don't know Michael, etc, etc. But until now, I didn't know that he wrote "I Fall to Pieces"!)

MICHAEL NESMITH GOES FROM THE MONKEES TO COUNTRY ROCK PIONEER

Even while he was with the Monkees, Michael Nesmith was experimenting with fusing country and rock. In 1966, Nesmith wrote "Sweet Young Thing," a song that featured the unlikely combination of fiddle and fuzz guitar. Nesmith continued to contribute country-flavored songs, like "Don't Wait for Me" and "While I Cry," but unfortunately, because everything the Monkees did was dismissed as bubblegum, the world at large paid no attention at the time. Nesmith left the band in 1969 and released three albums with his new group, the First National Band. The albums, Magnetic South, Nevada Fighter, and Loose Salute, featured some pioneering music. He sang new songs like "Joanne," which was a
minor country hit in 1970; new versions of songs he sang with the Monkees, like "Listen to the Band"; songs he wrote for other singers, like "Different Drum," which was Linda Ronstadt's first hit; and country classics, like Patsy Cline's "I Fall to Pieces." But again, because of his Monkees' affiliation, the songs were dismissed by the public and critics alike. However, musicians were paying attention. When Gram Parsons recorded his seminal album GP, he used some of Nesmith's band mates. Other early '70s country rock bands like the Flying Burrito Brothers, Poco, and the Eagles also owe a large debt to Nesmith's music. In 1977, he scored his biggest hit with the Latin-flavored "Rio." His conceptual film of the song is considered to be one of the first music videos.

[This message was edited by Jim Cohen on 17 October 2000 at 11:26 AM.]

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I FALL TO PIECES Written by Harlan Howard and Hank Cochran (As recorded by Jim Reeves, November 21, 1961)

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Check out "And the hits just keep on coming".

Just Mike and the velvet hammer, Red Rhodes, doing Mike's songs (including a great version of "Different Drum").

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Orville J. Rhodes was born on December 30, 1930 in East Alston, Illinois

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As usual there's no real mention of his founding the Countryside label, which was formed to record West Coast talent and others in a progressive country setting. David Geffen shut the label down with some wheeling and dealing, so it only lasted from 1972 to 1973.

Each album he cut is pretty cool, but a personal fave of mine is the one Nez cut with Red, yep..just guitar and pedal steel.

'And The Hits Just Keep On Comin' (1972)