Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.

1967 studio album by The Monkees

Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. is the fourth album by the Monkees. It was released on November 6, 1967, during a period when the band exerted more control over their music and performed many of the instruments themselves (previously forbidden by Colgems). However, although the group had complete artistic control over the proceedings, they invited more outside contributions than on their previous album, Headquarters, and used session musicians to complement their sound. The album also featured one of the first uses of the Moog synthesizer in popular music. Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. sold over three million copies. It was the band`s fourth consecutive album to reach No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200.

History

The group employed studio musicians to a greater extent than their previous album, Headquarters. The greater reliance on studio musicians resulted from the band`s busy filming schedule for their popular sitcom. The album`s single, "Pleasant Valley Sunday" b/w "Words", was a hit, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The album was among the earliest to make use of the Moog synthesizer, which Micky Dolenz introduced to the group and played in the studio; he owned one of the first twenty ever sold.[6] Along with the Doors` September 1967 album Strange Days 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 played the synthesizer on "Daily Nightly", while electronic musician Paul Beaver played it on "Star Collector".

Two additional songs, "Daydream Believer" and "Goin` Down", were recorded during the album sessions. Released on 7-inch vinyl in October 1967, it was the group`s last No. 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.

The album`s cover features a drawing of the four Monkees by Bernard Yeszin, their facial features blank, standing in a field of flowers, with the group`s guitar logo half-buried.

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 remastered mixes of the album`s stereo and mono releases, as well as alternate mixes and outtakes.

Track listing

Aborted track listing

The original track lineup for the album, compiled on October 9, 1967, included the following songs:[7]

1. "Special Announcment"
2. "She Hangs Out"
3. "Salesman"
4. "Cuddly Toy"
5. "Words"
6. "Don`t Call on Me"
7. "Goin` Down"

Side two

1. "The Door Into Summer"
2. "Hard to Believe"
3. "What Am I Doing Hangin` `Round?"
4. "Daily Nightly"
5. "Peter Percival Patterson`s Pet Pig Porky"
6. "Pleasant Valley Sunday"
7. "Star Collector"

Personnel

Credits adapted from 2007 Rhino "Deluxe Edition" CD,[8] except where noted.

The Monkees

• Michael Nesmith – lead vocals (1, 3–4, 8, 12), guitar (1, 4, 8, 11–13), shaker (1), electric guitar (2, 10), acoustic guitar (5), tremolo electric guitar (6), percussion (6), backing vocals (6, 10)
• Micky Dolenz – percussion (1), backing vocals (1–2, 4–5, 8, 13), harmony vocals (3, 5, 13), drums (5), lead vocals (6, 10–11), Moog synthesizer (11), intro chatter (12)
• Davy Jones – percussion (1, 6), backing vocals (1–2, 4–5, 8, 10–11, 13), lead vocals (2, 5, 7, 13), tambourine (4–5), intro chatter (12)
• Peter Tork – organ (2, 4–6, 11–13), keyboards (3, 5), backing vocals (5, 10), lead vocals (6), spoken word (9), piano (10)

Additional musicians

• Chip Douglas – nylon-string guitar (1), bass guitar (1–6, 8, 10–13), backing vocals (2, 4–6, 8, 13), guitar (3), acoustic guitar (12)
• Eddie Hoh – drums (1–4, 6, 8, 10–13), percussion (10), claves (12)
• Pete Candoli – trumpet (2)
• Al Porcino – trumpet (2)
• Manny Stevens – trumpet (2)
• Dick Noel – trombone (2)
• Dick Leith – bass trombone (2)
• Philip Teele – bass trombone (2)
• Ted Nash – reeds (5), winds (5)
• Tom Scott – reeds (5), winds (5)
• Bud Shank – reeds (5), winds (5)
• Edgar Lustgarten – cello (5)
• Kim Capli – guitar (7), piano (7), bass guitar (7), drums (7), shaker (7), cowbell (7), claves (7), other percussion (7)
• Vincent DeRosa – French horn (7)
• Ollie Mitchell – flugelhorn (7)
• Anthony Terran – flugelhorn (7)
• Bobby Knight – bass trombone (7)
• Jim Horn – baritone sax (7)
• Leonard Atkins – violin (7)
• Arnold Belnick – violin (7)
• Nathan Kaproff – violin (7)
• Wilbert Nuttycombe – violin (7)
• Jerome Reisler – violin (7)
• Darrel Terwilliger – violin (7)
• Doug Dillard – banjo (8)
• Bill Chadwick – acoustic guitar (10)
• Bob Rafelson – piano intro (12)
• Bill Martin – intro chatter (12)
• Charlie Rockett – intro chatter (12)
• Paul Beaver – Moog synthesizer (13)

Unconfirmed personnel and duties

• Chip Douglas – backing vocals (1, 10), electric guitar (13)
• Peter Tork – acoustic guitar (1)
• Additional electric guitar, tambourine, handclaps & other percussion (2)
• Michael Nesmith – guitar (3)
• Micky Dolenz – drums (3), guitar (10)
• Bill Martin – unknown (3–4)
• Harry Nilsson – unknown (3–4)
• Percussion (3)
• Handclaps, percussion (4)
• Davy Jones – backing vocals (6)
• Others in intro chatter (12)
• Additional backing vocals (13)

Technical

• Chip Douglas – producer
• Lester Sill – music supervisor
• Hank Cicalo – recording engineer
• Pete Abbott – recording engineer
• Richie Schmitt – recording engineer
• Bernard Yeszin – cover design
• Roger Farris – arranger (7)[7]
• George Tipton – orchestrator (7)[7]

Chart positions

Album

Single

Certifications