“Last Train to Clarksville” was the debut single by The Monkees. It was released August 16, 1966 and later included on the group’s 1966 self-titled album, which was released on October 10, 1966. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 on November 5, 1966. Lead vocals were performed by The Monkees’ drummer Micky Dolenz. “Last Train to Clarksville” was featured in seven episodes of The Monkees TV show, the most for any Monkees song. (More from Wikipedia)
The soundtrack for the Roger Corman film The Wild Angels (1966) was a breakthrough for Davie Allan and the Arrows and yielded their biggest hit song, “Blues’ Theme”. From Wikipedia: “The song from the film’s opening, ‘Blues’ Theme’ (sometimes listed as ‘Blue’s Theme’), an aggressive, repetitive and very catchy instrumental showcasing [Davie] Allan’s new fuzzed-out (heavily distorted) guitar sound became their biggest hit (it was also one of the first songs Eddie Van Halen learned to play on brother Alex [Van Halen]’s guitar). The song stayed on the Billboard charts for 17 weeks (it peaked at #37); the single, backed with ‘Bongo Party’, and the soundtrack album [The Wild Angels] both sold well. Rumors have stated that the melody in ‘Blues’ Theme’ was stolen from the Monkees’ guitar lick in ‘Last Train to Clarksville’; but ‘Last Train to Clarksville’ was recorded on July 25th, 1966, and The Wild Angels debuted in the theaters on July 20th, 1966.”
(December 2014)
