See You On The Road in November!

Podcast 23 Is Here!

Here's the latest podcast featuring all kinds of fun stuff! As I stated a while back, my schedule has become sooooo intensely busy that I have very little time to devote to the World of Wonder yet the podcasts are something that I can work on little by little so I will continue to do these. Thus these newer podcasts have a bit of a different feel to them. And also as I stated, they are pretty much straight forward audio clips, comedy and music without any dialogue from me. I just don't have the time. That being said, this podcast is really cool! Featuring songs from Cheap Trick, Carol King, Jame Minoudis (a friend and fellow Creamed Corn member), 'Til Tuesday (recently remastered and sounding amazing), Bill Cosby, T. Rex, Nirvana, Frank Zappa, John Travolta, Tom Jones and Jack White. With some comedy from Lawanda Page, Don Adams, Avery and Schrieber, and some cool mash-ups featuring Johnny Cash, ABBA, Van Halen and a really special performance from Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork from the Davy Jones Memorial Concert in NYC. And so much more! There's a lot packed into this one. Enjoy!

Dartman's Wacky Podcast #23

RIP Davy Jones

It's with a heavy heart that I acknowledge the passing of a true icon. Having worked in "the organization" it touches me greatly and I am in an extremely sad mood today. My thoughts are with my good friends and Davy's family.

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 21

Christmas is a special time of the year. No other trio put it better than the one that's hiding behind flap 21. Recorded a decade before they would be all the rage for the second time in their career, this sentiment can be found by opening the window. Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 21

The Original Formula With Added Monkees

Tomorrow night I start off a series of several shows playing for the one and only, Micky Dolenz. I am super excited to get back to playing with Micky. We start off with a free concert in Copiague, NY at a place called Tanner Park. If you are in the area come on down to the show and come say Hi afterwards. To celebrate the start of the "Season", I am posting another Monkees item. This time around it's a complete concert from 1989. What was special about this concert was it was on July 9, the day the Monkees received their star on the Walk of Fame. The "three-kees" played through half of the show and then were joined by the fourth Monkee, himself, Mike Nesmith. The Mike portions of this show have been circulating for years under the title, "Original Formula". The sound quality of the boot was ok but it was great to have for historical reasons (kind of like Elvis' last concert). However, I recently obtained the complete show from that date and the sound, though not amazingly perfect, is still really good. I present it for you now. Here is "The Monkees - July 9, 1989." Enjoy!

The Monkees - July 9, 1989
The Monkees - July 9, 1989: Part 2

A Head Full of Monkees

Friday night I was able to take in The Monkees 45th Anniversary Tour (or the 25th anniversary of the 20th anniversary tour) and loved seeing my buddy, Micky, having a ball with his old cohorts. I had thought that maybe it was going to be the same old same old that they have always done when they reunite but this show was truly great. It was a lot different watching a Monkees concert being a member of the "inner circle" and it was a great feeling to know I was watching friends up on stage. Anyway, I thought I would throw you a generous helping of Monkees stuff so here goes:
RHINO Handmade put out an amazing box set for HEAD last year that featured not only the original soundtrack in both MONO and STEREO but also had a bunch of great alternate mixes and unreleased items. It was great to get the "official" version of a lot of these items but there were still a lot that they left off. Two bootlegs that were released long before RHINO's box set contained not only the items released in the set but also a lot of others that didn't make the cut. Here are those tracks that didn't make the RHINO version from those two bootlegs. Here are "Head Shots" and "HEAD Deluxe". Enjoy!

The Monkees-HEAD Shots

The Monkees-HEAD Deluxe (part 1)
The Monkees-HEAD Deluxe (part 2)

The Best of The World of Wonder: The Monkees Come Alive

A few years back, Rhino Handmade released a box set of all of the Monkees concerts that were recorded during their 1967 tour. Sadly, I missed out on the collection but I was able to gain a copy of a bootleg of their 8/12/67 concert in Mobile, Alabama as a birthday gift from my brother-in-law! I have no idea if there is a difference between the bootleg recording and the one featured in the box set. I do know that this boot rocks! Although the balance between the lead vocal and the back up band is at times almost non-existent (with the vocals being up front while the band sounds like they're in another auditorium) it still provides a look at what my cousin has referred to as "the first punk band" playing their hearts out to screaming kids and their parents at a Monkees concert in 1967. Enjoy!

The Monkees - Mobile, Alabama - 8/12/67 (part 1)
The Monkees - Mobile, Alabama - 8/12/67 (part 2)

The Three-kees of '89

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted anything. I've been incredibly busy with all kinds of different things and getting a chance to post something on the World of Wonder has been almost impossible. I do promise that it is worth the wait. As you noticed in my last post, The Monkees (or the Three-kees as they have become known) are reuniting this summer for their 45th anniversary with a tour of England and possible the states! To celebrate, I dug into my bag of Monkees goodies and have brought forth this most impressive radio broadcast of a show they did back in 1989 in Holland. Here is The Monkees Live In The Netherlands, April 21, 1989. The sound quality is fantastic and it features a very special intimate acoustic set with just the three guys and no backing band in the middle of it all. Here is that show! Enjoy!

The Monkees Live In The Netherlands, April 21, 1989

A Month of Monkees: An Alternate Reality Part 8

Today we finish up the "Alternate Reality" of Monkees' records with a Greatest Hits collection. According to a March 21, 2009 Wikipedia entry, Colgems was slated to release a second Monkees greatest hits LP, but the plans were scuttled when the label folded. Apparently, in 1971, a test-pressing of another Monkees hits LP was planned. Like its predecessor, it contained 14 songs: four of these songs were key album tracks; five songs were issued on both singles and albums; the remaining five selections were previously released only as singles and would have made their album debut on this collection. While no official catalog number was ever assigned, the track listing was in place right from the start. Further documentation reveals that all 14 songs were in true stereo. Since we have been exploring this "Alternate Reality" of the Monkees, I decided that in that "alternate reality" Colgems did release this hits collection. As with the Alternate Reality HEAD Soundtrack, this is one that was put together from concept to cover art by myself. While I wasn't too keen on my cover art for the a.r. HEAD soundtrack, I absolutely love the cover art for this album. Since there was no official catalog number assigned, I just gave it the next number after Changes to "follow" the history.

(Theme From) The Monkees
Porpoise Song (Theme from Head)
Someday Man
Good Clean Fun
Oh My My
What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?
D.W. Washburn
For Pete's Sake
Listen To The Band
It's Nice To Be With You
The Girl I Knew Somewhere
Tear Drop City
Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again
Goin' Down

All songs are in stereo. Also, as a special bonus, in this "alternate reality", Colgems released the album with this exculsive pull out poster!



Please enjoy this last album in the "Alternate Reality" series!

The Monkees Greatest Hits No. 2 (Alternate Reality LP)

A Month of Monkees: Monkees Past Posts

As we near the end of "A Month of Monkees" here at the World of Wonder, I can't help but feel a sense of great accomplishment that I was able to do an entire month of posts featuring the Monkees without having to resort to re-posting any of the Monkees items that I have posted in the past. Every single day during this month, I featured (and will until the 12th) a brand new never before posted item. However, I could not let this month go by without giving the past posts a nod as well. Here are some Monkees items that I have posted in the past for you to enjoy just in case you missed them or have misplaced them! Enjoy!

33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee Soundtrack

The Monkees Live In L.A. 9/7/86

Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart LP

The Monkees - Mobile, Alabama - 8/12/67 (part 1)
The Monkees - Mobile, Alabama - 8/12/67 (part 2)

The Living Strings Play "I'm A Believer" and other Monkees Hits

Monkees Christmas Album

A Month of Monkees: A Deck of Monkees Part 6

Even though we finished the complete set of 90 cards put out by RHINO/Carleton in the 90s a few posts back, we still have the super cool FOIL cards also known as CHASE cards. These are the high quality collectible cards that are randomly put into the packs and are considered the most valuable of the set. This particular set has 4 FOIL/CHASE cards. All 4 of them are presented here so that you can complete the set for yourself.

The Monkees Trading Cards Chase Set

A Month of Monkees: 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Comic

Here we have the last of the Monkees comic books that I am posting during this "Month of Monkees". The last two issues we posted were issues 7 and 8. I would love to end this series of posts with the next two consecutive issues but unfortunately I don't have the next two issues. So, we have to jump a few issues. Here are issues 13 and 14 in the Dell Comic Book Series of The Monkees. Enjoy!

The Monkees Dell Comic Book Issue 13

The Monkees Dell Comic Book Issue 14

BONUS:
Here is a super cool magazine from the 60s that is pretty much totally devoted to The Monkees. It's an issue from Fall of 1967 that features articles like "The Monkees Talk About LSD (that one's pretty funny!), "The Kind of Mail The Monkees Would Answer" and then some. There's also a few articles about The Mothers of Invention, The Mamas and The Papas and a few more groups but most of the magazine is dedicated to The Monkees! Enjoy!

Freak Out Magazine Fall 1967

A Month of Monkees: Last Chance For E-Bay Items!

Just a reminder that today is the last day to bid on the Monkees items I put up for auction on E-Bay! As stated before, all of these items are being auctioned off to raise funds for "The Richard S Dart Memorial Arts Scholarship" To help me on this "pledge drive", my good friend, Micky Dolenz, has donated some autographed items to put up for auction. All of the signed items came directly from Micky who signed them all personally and each one comes with a certificate of authenticity. All proceeds from these auctions will go towards the scholarship fund and I will include a receipt with each item so that you can claim the auction as a tax deduction.

(just click on each one to take you to the auction itself):

The Monkees TV Series Complete VHS Box Set with booklet and collectible watch

Monkees VHS Tape Collection

The Monkees Greatest Hits CD personally signed by Micky Dolenz

An 8'X10" color photo of Micky signed by him

"Micky's Secret Snaps" Photo Book signed by Micky!

Daydream Believer Remix 1986 Single

Heart and Soul/MBGBT Single 1987

Heart and Soul/MBGBT Single on PINK VINYL

Monkees Coffee Mug

Monkees 20th Anniversary Tour Baseball Cap

As always, if you feel like donating without having to bid on an auction, you can click on the donation button located on the right sidebar! Thanks in advance!

A Month of Monkees: A Deck of Monkees Part 5

Today we have the last of the Monkees trading cards from the RHINO/Carleton set that was released in the 90s. We have the final two "packs" of 9 cards bringing the grand total to 90 cards in the set. Also, feel free to download the cover to the super cool flip book at the left. Enjoy!

The Monkees Trading Cards 73-81

The Monkees Trading Cards 82-90

A Month of Monkees: Much More Monkee Business!

More great items from around the world wide web! (click on the images to get the full size pic)

This was the board game put out to coincide with the television show. I have never played it. Judging by most board games based on television shows, it probably wasn't that much fun.




This one cracks me up! Davy Jones as Pavel Chekov in Star Trek! Hilarious!



Here's one of the many model kits for the Monkee Mobile. I have the most recent release of this that was put out about 6 years ago. I attempted to build it. Attempt is about as far as I got. It looks somewhat like the actual car but I don't think I'll be taking on any more model cars in the future. The cool thing about the one pictured here is that it comes complete with figures of the Monkees to put in the seats. Mine didn't have that. Even it they were included, mine still wouldn't have that.

This is an ad for a performance by a group of kids taking music lessons at a "School of Rock" type place. Apparently the concert featured music by The Monkees. That must have been pretty cool to hear. I'm sure it sounded great! These "schools of rock" are becoming more and more common. I think it's a great way to teach kids 1) how to play an instrument and 2) the history of rock and popular music.


This is a poker chip that was used as a promotion to tie in with the Monkees week long engagement at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in 2001. This is the same week long stay where the guys recorded "2001 Live in Las Vegas", the album sold on the summer leg of that same tour that we featured on yesterday's post.



And finally, the infamous four headed puppet from the 60s!

I actually owned this puppet, in its original box, no less, for many years before I decided to unload it on e-bay. How I came to own it is quite the story. I was in high school at the time and it was no secret that I was a huge Monkees fan. It was during the big resurgence of the band in the mid-80s and I don't think a day went by where I wasn't wearing a shirt that had some kind of Monkees reference on it. I even wrote a term paper on the band! Anyway, a girl that I knew and at one time dated had told me that her brother had the puppet and that it was currently being stored in her attic. Now, here is where it gets weird. Her brother had committed suicide some time back and the puppet in question was being stored in the attic with the rest of his possessions that his family kept in his memory. I, being the self indulgent jerk that I was, really wanted that puppet and tried every angle to get it, with no luck coming my way. Until . . . the girl asked me to her prom. I told her that I would go with her if, and only if, I could have the puppet. Obviously, I went to the prom and the puppet became mine. Looking back on it now, I realize that I was a gigantic ass for doing this but it still makes for a great story! Please do not think less of me . . . if it makes you feel better, the voice box didn't work.

A Month of Monkees: The Spy Who Came In From The Comic

More Monkees Comics! Here are the next two issues of the Dell Comic Book series featuring The Monkees from the 60s! These comics make great reading material for all ages. This time we have issues 7 and 8. Enjoy!

The Monkees Dell Comic Book Issue 7

The Monkees Dell Comic Book Issue 8

A Month of Monkees: Monkees On The Wheel For Real

This is the latest in Monkee related items: The Monkees Slot Machine. Notice that the theme is not the original and has a different vocal track.

Monkees slot machine atlantic city

A Month of Monkees: Sold Only At Concerts Part 2

In November 2000, it was announced that Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, & Peter Tork would reunite as The Monkees for a short tour in March & April 2001. While not as popular as the 1986 concerts, this tour played to sold out crowds in theatres, casinos, & selected fairly large venues. The tour hit the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV the last week of March, 2001. It was towards the end of that week that two of their shows were recorded. These recordings were put together and mixed in April & May before the kick-off of the tour's summer leg, where it was sold at the merchandise table. Interesting note: As with the "20th Anniversary Tour" album, this album is also credited to the guys individually rather than to "The Monkees". The last time new copies of this album were available was on Micky & Davy's UK tour in March 2002. Now, 7 years later, you can get it here at the World of Wonder. Here is that live concert album for you. Enjoy!

Peter Tork, Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz - 2001 Live In Las Vegas

A Month of Monkees: An Alternate Reality Part 6

Here is the 6th Monkees Alternate Reality LP. This time around we have a slightly different version of "The Monkees Present". The original concept for that album was that it would be a double album and each Monkee would have one complete side to devote to whatever they wanted to record. When Peter announced that he was leaving, the concept changed to the remaining three each getting a side and the remaining side would be a collaboration. In the end, as we all know, the entire concept went out the window and it just became a regular single album with 12 tracks. In the "Alternate Reality", however, Peter has not yet left the group and the original concept became a reality! Michelle 66's artwork was based on the idea of each Monkee releasing their own album (kind of like when all the members of KISS released their solo albums). This is a great idea but the problem for me was that most of the tracks that she listed, particularly on Micky and Peter's albums, are non-existent. For example, her version of Micky's solo LP was basically a collection of compositions played on the Moog synthesizer. As far as I know, there are no recordings of this type of stuff and if there are, they have yet to see the light of day. As a result, I chose to go with the original 4 sided concept and used most of the original "Present" tracks along with a lot of tracks that were not released on the original albums. I thought of the cover art as being a gatefold cover with, like the records inside, each Monkee getting a side. In the "alternate reality" the album was released in four different covers with each Monkee getting a chance for his cover to be on the front.




1. Good Clean Fun
2. Never Tell A Woman Yes
3. The Crippled Lion
4. Oklahoma Backroom Dancer
5. Calico Girlfriend
6. Listen To The Band









1. Through The Looking Glass
2. Bye Bye Baby Bye Bye
3. Shake 'Em Up
4. She'll Be There
5. Rosemarie
6. Pillow Time









1. Changes
2. If I Learned To Play The Violin
3. You Can't Tie A Mustang Down
4. Looking For The Good Times
5. Ceiling In My Room
6. 99 Pounds









1. Alvin
2. Seeger's Theme
3. Come On In
4. Tear The Top Right Off My Head
5. Lady's Baby
6. Merry Go Round


For the production, each Monkee was in charge of his six tracks that would make up the side of the album. They could use whatever material they wanted and could use whomever they wanted on the tracks. Some of the tracks, particularly Davy's, show a collaboration between two of them. This is because they simply asked each other to be on their tracks. This is all so geeky but all so much fun as well. Anyway, here's the "Alternate Reality" version of The Monkees Present. Enjoy!

The Monkees Present Alternate Reality LP 1
The Monkees Present Alternate Reality LP 2

To see the original artwork that was put together by Michelle 66, head over to her Flicker page. Drop her a line and tell her the Dartman sent you!

A Month of Monkees: More Monkee Business

More items I have found floating about the inter-web (click on each pic to get the larger version).

First is a card for a bubblegum machine that featured paper action figures of the boys that you could mix and match. Has anyone ever seen one of these?



Next are two of the infamous Ben Cooper Halloween costumes. These are Micky and Davy.







Here are the four mini dolls that were made in the 60s. Each Monkee was represented. Each package also claims to have a "Groovy 331/3 Record" that tells all about each Monkee. Does anyone have these?


Here is a postcard that was sent to fan club members welcoming them to the club. I actually have this one!


Here is a mail-in offer to get what I am presuming to be a copy of "The Monkees Present" that came inside various boxes of Kellog's cereal. This ws in conjunction with the cardboard records that were put on the back of the boxes that featured various Monkees songs. One of them is below the ad.

Stay tuned for more Monkees' items right here on the World of Wonder!