Record:The Monkees

In 1965 two TV producers, Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider, advertised in Hollywood for "four insane boys" to star in a new TV series modeled on the Beatles' wildly successful film "A Hard Day's Night" (1964). The move was a calculated attempt to capitalize on the successful British Invasion by producing an American version of the same band. Unlike their British predecessors, the "Pre-Fab" Four wrote none of their own material and didn't even play on most of their albums. Instead, the producers depended on assistance from tried-and-true veterans, enlisting such expert songwriters as Carole King, Gerry Goffin, and Neil Diamond. "We're advertisers," enthused band member/actor Mickey Dolenz. "We're selling a product. We're selling Monkees." Nonetheless, with expert musical assistance and crack media promoters, the extraordinarily popular TV series was supported by equally successful musical releases. The group's first album, "The Monkees" (1966), contained a whopping five #1 singles, including the theme song for the TV show, "I'm a Believer," and "Take a Giant Step." Mocking their clearly derivative formation, the single "The Last Train to Clarksville" aped the Beatles' "yeah-yeah-yeah" refrain with its own "no-no-no."