Shades of Gray (song)

This article is about the Monkees song. For other songs, see Shades of gray (disambiguation) § Music.

1967 song by The Monkees

"Shades of Gray"

Song by The Monkees
from the album  Headquarters
Released| May 22, 1967 (1967-05-22)
Recorded| March 16 and 22, 1967
Studio| RCA Victor, C (Hollywood)
Genre| Chamber pop[1]
Length| 3:20
Label| Colgems
Songwriter(s)|

* Barry Mann
* Cynthia Weil

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

* Peter Tork – lead vocals, backing vocals, piano
* Davy Jones – lead vocals, maracas, tambourine
* Michael Nesmith – pedal steel guitar
* Micky Dolenz – drums, harmony vocals

Additional musicians

* Jerry Yester – bass guitar
* Vincent DeRosa – French horn
* Frederick Seykora – cello

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.

## External links

[edit]

* monkees.net Lyrics to the Monkees song

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

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