Late Night Stargazing

I met Micky Dolenz once.

He was a buddy of someone who lived in the same village as I did, and he was cajoled into making an appearance at the village fete.

I remember nothing about meeting him, other than that I think I missed the Borg v McEnroe Wimbledon final (on TV, I didn’t have tickets) to shake his hand.

For those of you wondering who the hell I’m banging on about: Dolenz was the drummer in prototype boy-band The Monkees. He also did lead vocals on one of their most well-known songs: I’m a Believer.

Way back then, The Monkees had a TV show which was often repeated on the BBC, and which featured the band getting into all sorts of ridiculous scrapes.

I mention this because Dolenz has released an EP of R.E.M. covers. Four reinterpreted songs: Shiny Happy People, Radio Free Europe, Man in the Moon and Leaving New York.

And yes, you’re right, this has all the hallmarks of being an utterly disaster.

But it’s not.

Now I love R.E.M. but I also love Micky Dolenz, not least because he was the first celebrity I ever met, even if I can’t remember anything about it, other than that it happened. Maybe I should have annoyed him so much that he called me a Cheeky Monkee.

But. Which is better: Micky Dolenz or R.E.M.?

There’s only one way to find out:

OK, I can’t organise that.

Dolenz does a pretty good job of adding something to all of them, and even manages to make Shiny Happy People listenable again.

Here’s his take on Leaving New York, which I won’t describe as being the worst of the four covers, but it’s the least good of them all, and it’s still pretty darn good.

Micky Dolenz – Leaving New York

And, for comparison’s sake, here’s the original, from the otherwise dreadful Around The Sun album:

R.E.M. – Leaving New York

Seriously, check the Dolenz EP out, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

More soon.