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Alter: template type. Add: date, year, magazine. Removed parameters. Some additions/deletions were parameter name changes. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Spinixster | Category:1965 songs | #UCB_Category 422/582
→Personnel: Tidied personnel for accuracy and upgraded source to the most recent one.
 
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| released = {{start date|1967|05|22}}
| released = {{start date|1967|05|22}}
| recorded = March 16 and 22, 1967
| recorded = March 16 and 22, 1967
| studio = [[RCA Records|RCA Victor Studio C]]<br>[[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]], [[California]]
| studio = [[RCA Records|RCA Victor, C]] (Hollywood)
| genre = [[Chamber pop]]<ref name= "Masley 2024">{{cite web|first= Ed|last= Masley|title= Best Monkees songs of all time: 30 classics, from their biggest hits to album tracks|website= [[The Arizona Republic]]|date= January 7, 2024|url= https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/01/07/the-monkees-greatest-hits-of-all-time/72079810007/|accessdate= January 12, 2024}}</ref>
| genre = [[Pop rock]]
| length = 3:20
| length = 3:20
| label = [[Colgems Records|Colgems]]
| label = [[Colgems Records|Colgems]]
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| producer = [[Chip Douglas]]
| producer = [[Chip Douglas]]
}}
}}
"'''Shades of Gray'''" is a song which was written by [[Barry Mann]] and [[Cynthia Weil]], and recorded by [[The Monkees]] for their 1967 album ''[[Headquarters (the Monkees album)|Headquarters]]''. Lead vocals were shared by [[Davy Jones (actor)|Davy Jones]] and [[Peter Tork]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19808/m1/|title=Show 44 - Revolt of the Fat Angel: Some samples of the Los Angeles sound. [Part 4]|work=UNT Digital Library}}</ref> and this is the only track on the album featuring instruments performed by session musicians instead of the band members (and producer [[Chip Douglas]]) themselves ([[French horn]] and [[cello]]).
"'''Shades of Gray'''" is a song written by [[Barry Mann]] and [[Cynthia Weil]], recorded by [[the Monkees]] for their 1967 album ''[[Headquarters (the Monkees album)|Headquarters]]''. Lead vocals were shared by [[Davy Jones (actor)|Davy Jones]] and [[Peter Tork]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19808/m1/|title=Show 44 - Revolt of the Fat Angel: Some samples of the Los Angeles sound. [Part 4]|work=UNT Digital Library}}</ref> and this is the only track on the album featuring instruments performed by session musicians instead of the band members (and producer [[Chip Douglas]]) themselves ([[French horn]] and [[cello]]).


The song had been recorded previously by a folk-rock trio, [[the Will-O-Bees]], and released in 1967 on the Date Records label (Date 45 #1543).<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqcoU_Y-uSA "Shades of Gray"] video. YouTube. Retrieved on December 17, 2016.</ref> Although the Will-O-Bees' version was accorded "Chart Spotlights{{snd}}Predicted to reach the HOT 100" status in [[Billboard Magazine]]'s issue of December 31, 1966, the record is little known today.<ref name="Billboard">{{cite magazine|title= Chart Spotlight{{snd}}Predicted to reach the HOT 100 | magazine=Billboard |date=December 31, 1966|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eCIEAAAAMBAJ&q=Shades+of+Gray}}</ref>
The song had been recorded previously by a folk-rock trio, [[the Will-O-Bees]], and released in 1967 on the Date Records label.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqcoU_Y-uSA "Shades of Gray"] video. YouTube. Retrieved on December 17, 2016.</ref>{{better source needed|date=July 2024}} This version was accorded "Chart Spotlights{{snd}}Predicted to reach the HOT 100" status in the December 31, 1966 issue of [[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']].<ref name="Billboard">{{cite magazine |title= Chart Spotlight{{snd}}Predicted to reach the HOT 100 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=December 31, 1966 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eCIEAAAAMBAJ&q=Shades+of+Gray}}</ref>

"Shades of Gray" has been included on several compilation albums by the Monkees, including ''[[Barrel Full of Monkees]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Monkees-Barrel-Full-Of-Monkees/release/3752146 |title=The Monkees - Barrel Full Of Monkees (1971, Vinyl) |website=Discogs.com |year=1971 }}</ref> ''[[Re-Focus (album)|Re-Focus]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Monkees-Re-Focus/release/11462776|title = The Monkees – Re-Focus (1972, Vinyl)|website = [[Discogs]]| year=1972 }}</ref> and ''[[The Best of The Monkees]]''<ref>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r636522}}</ref>

[[Sons of Champlin]] recorded the song at about the same time, but the ''Headquarters'' version was released first. The album ''Fat City'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00000I7X9|title=The Sons of Champlin - Fat City|website=Amazon.com|year=1999 }}</ref> released in 2015 by The Thick Boys, finally featured the Sons of Champlin version of the song, named "Shades of '''Thickness'''" (whereas the original Monkees release was titled "Shades of '''Gray'''").

[[Sandy Posey]] covered the song on her 1968 album ''Looking At You''.

Another version was recorded in 2016 by P.K. Limited (Screen Gems/Columbia Music songwriters Dan Peyton and Marty Kaniger); it was featured in the film ''[[Getting Straight]]''.

A cover of "Shades of Gray" by Mind Venertion appears on the album, ''Through the Looking Glass - Indie Pop Plays The Monkees''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Various-Through-The-Looking-Glass-Indie-Pop-Plays-The-Monkees/release/2986914|title=Various - Through The Looking Glass: Indie Pop Plays The Monkees|website=Discogs.com|date=October 2000 }}</ref>


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
Credits adapted from 2022 Rhino "Super Deluxe Edition" box set.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Headquarters (Super Deluxe Edition) |last=Sandoval |first=Andrew |author-link=Andrew Sandoval |others=[[The Monkees]] |type=CD box set liner notes |publisher=[[Rhino Entertainment|Rhino Records]] |id=R2 695257 |date=2022 |url=http://www.monkee45s.net/CDs_USA_RhinoBox/R2695257.html}}</ref>
Credits from Andrew Sandoval.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Sandoval|first=Andrew|url=http://archive.org/details/monkeesdaybydays00andr|title=The Monkees : the day-by-day story of the '60s TV pop sensation|date=2005|publisher=San Diego : Thunder Bay Press|others=Internet Archive|isbn=978-1-59223-372-4|pages=[https://archive.org/details/monkeesdaybydays00andr/page/113/mode/2up 114-115][https://archive.org/details/monkeesdaybydays00andr/page/297/mode/2up 297]}}</ref>


'''The Monkees'''
*Lead vocals by Davy Jones and Peter Tork
*[[Peter Tork]] – lead vocals, backing vocals, piano
*Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Peter Tork
*[[Davy Jones (musician)|Davy Jones]] – lead vocals, [[maracas]], tambourine
*Steel Guitar: Michael Nesmith
*[[Michael Nesmith]] – [[pedal steel guitar]]
*Bass: Jerry Yester
*Drums: Micky Dolenz
*[[Micky Dolenz]] – drums, harmony vocals
*Tambourine: Davy Jones
*Piano: Peter Tork
*Maracas: Davy Jones


=== Session musicians and production staff ===
'''Additional musicians'''
*[[Jerry Yester]] – bass guitar
⚫
*Cello: Frederick Seykora
*French Horn: [[Vincent DeRosa]]
*[[Vincent DeRosa]] – [[French horn]]
⚫
*Frederick Seykora – [[cello]]
*Engineered by: Hank Cicalo


'''Technical'''
==In popular culture==
*Chip Douglas (as Douglas Farthing Hatlelid) – producer
In the 1986 film ''[[Soul Man (film)|Soul Man]]'', [[C. Thomas Howell]]'s character Mark attempts to impress a girl, so he says, "Today there is no black or white, only shades of gray," a direct quote from the song.
*[[Hank Cicalo]] – engineer


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 04:35, 8 July 2024

This article is about the Monkees song. For other songs, see Shades of gray (disambiguation) § Music.
"Shades of Gray"
Song by The Monkees
from the album Headquarters
ReleasedMay 22, 1967 (1967-05-22)
RecordedMarch 16 and 22, 1967
StudioRCA Victor, C (Hollywood)
GenreChamber pop[1]
Length3:20
LabelColgems
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Chip Douglas

"Shades of Gray" is a song written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, recorded by the Monkees for their 1967 album Headquarters. Lead vocals were shared by Davy Jones and Peter Tork,[2] and this is the only track on the album featuring instruments performed by session musicians instead of the band members (and producer Chip Douglas) themselves (French horn and cello).

The song had been recorded previously by a folk-rock trio, the Will-O-Bees, and released in 1967 on the Date Records label.[3][better source needed] This version was accorded "Chart Spotlights – Predicted to reach the HOT 100" status in the December 31, 1966 issue of Billboard.[4]

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from 2022 Rhino "Super Deluxe Edition" box set.[5]

The Monkees

Additional musicians

Technical

  • Chip Douglas (as Douglas Farthing Hatlelid) – producer
  • Hank Cicalo – engineer

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Masley, Ed (January 7, 2024). "Best Monkees songs of all time: 30 classics, from their biggest hits to album tracks". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  2. ^ "Show 44 - Revolt of the Fat Angel: Some samples of the Los Angeles sound. [Part 4]". UNT Digital Library.
  3. ^ "Shades of Gray" video. YouTube. Retrieved on December 17, 2016.
  4. ^ "Chart Spotlight – Predicted to reach the HOT 100". Billboard. December 31, 1966.
  5. ^ Sandoval, Andrew (2022). "Headquarters (Super Deluxe Edition)" (CD box set liner notes). The Monkees. Rhino Records. R2 695257.
[edit]


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