I was thinking recently how political 'hall of fames' are and it got me to thinking about the Monkees. I decided to look at some of the people who ARE in the HOF, and compare the accomplishments. I wanted to measure the criteria that appears to be keeping the Monkees out yet seems to be appropriate for other members. Please take this in the spirit it is intended, I'm in no way comparing the groups as I love all four of the ones I mention below.

The one group for some reason that had a parallel run of success and similarities in their structure was the Mamas and the Papas. I understand that the Mamas and the Papas were more accepted by the culture.

For example:

*They had only one real musician in the group, John Phillips (if the definition of a musician means playing the guitar on the track). C'mon now, Davy Jones is just as good a tambourine player as Mama Michelle!

*The M&P used many of the same musicians in the studio that the Monkees used (Eddie Hoe, Larry Knectel etc.)

*John Phillips was a pioneer with co-arranging the Monterey Pop Festival and a real good producer while Michael Nesmith was a pioneer of country-rock and the music video and a real good producer.

*They were together three years. The Monkees were together for 5 technically but really had a command of things for about 2 of those 5 years.

*M&P had one #1 hit, the Monkees had 3. The M&P had 6 singles in the top 10 and the Monkees had 7

*M&P had 5 albums, the Monkees had 9. M&P albums charted 1,4,2,15, and 84 respectively. The Monkees first five albums charted 1,1,1,1, and 3 respectively. It is interesting too that the Mamas and Papa's chart wise seemed to sink just as fast as the Monkees did as well as after the show went off the air, the remaining 4 albums were 45,32,100, and did not chart.

The Byrds, who were supposed to be so ultra cool and wrote So You Wanna Be a Rock and Roll Star about groups like the Monkees (maybe specifically the Monkees) didn't play on their first album and members played on Monkee records. Shouldn't they be disqualified for entry as well?

The Beatles didn't play a note on She's Leaving Home. Shouldn't they too be disqualified.

I realize I'm taking some liberites here and at the end of the day it doesn't matter because I love the music regardless. This was just a fun exercise that I was noodling around in my little head and I wanted to share it.

Very good analysis and thanx for providing all that information. I didn't know most of that. I appreciate the time you took to post all that. ;)

For some reason, I keep getting the real reason for the Monkees NOT making it in the HoF is simply because they are not considered a "real" band. Mind you, not my opinion, just repeating what I have read/heard. It is as if the Monkees were the first non-official boy band. And you know how well boy bands are perceived in the music industry. You can sell millions of records, have several hits, etc. but never really be considered a group or band.

True...when you look at it that way there are many that are in there that did the same stuff that are keeping the Monkees out. :)

The HOF and things like that are the end all be all. We all have our favorites and because people take their music seriously we can all make strong arguments for our favorites. Regardless of their inclusion or omission, they will always be one of my favorites. They played sometimes, sometimes they didn't but they still left a body of work that is relevant today. An argument could be made when you hear some of the stuff that Kirshner was working on and possibly green lighting around the time of the revolt (If I Learned to Play the Violin springs to mind), the Monkees probably saved their career by wresting control of the music at that point. Who knows....just speculation on my part.

The hall of fame is a joke. If clowns like the Eagles can get in, anybody can.

Great information! Thanks for taking the time to post it here.

The hall of fame is a joke. If clowns like the Eagles can get in, anybody can.

so what are you saying that the monkees aren't any different??!! that if the "clowns" like the eagles can get in then the monkees can too (cause IF and only IF i'm hearing this right then *** you!!

so what are you saying that the monkees aren't any different??!! that if the "clowns" like the eagles can get in then the monkees can too (cause IF and only IF i'm hearing this right then *** you!!


Didnt mean no offense but I am no Eagles fan.

I never know if posts like this are serious or a prank,the Monkees were big because they had great talent behind them but they were basically just figureheads.