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MPR News Staff

50 years ago: Monkees's Nesmith told music producers that they'd crossed a line

The Monkees
A publicity photo of The Monkees from March 1967.
Colgems Records

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Today's Morning Edition music is from the song "Take a Giant Step" by the Monkees, the flipside of their first single, "Last Train to Clarkesville," which was number one on the Billboard pop chart 50 years ago today.

Singer Mickey Dolenz is the only Monkee who performs on this song.

Mike Nesmith says that when he first saw the record he was horrified because the Monkees were presented as a real rock and roll band, not as actors portraying a band in a TV show. He told the producers "You've crossed the line here. You are now duping the public."