Circle Sky
Encyclopedia
Circle Sky is a song written by Michael Nesmith
of The Monkees
, which appeared on their sixth album, the Head soundtrack, and also in the film Head
as a live concert performance.
The song is written and performed in a Bo Diddley
style, staying mostly on a single chord (A Major), while strumming barre chords (from B Major to E Major) down a guitar neck for the intro, outro, and breaks, and from B minor to D minor for the bridge. The lyrics are impressions of sights and sounds on a Monkees tour, while "Hamilton's smiling down" refers to a Hamilton
music stand, used for rehearsals and recording.
While the movie included the song performed live by the Monkees in Salt Lake City, Utah
(on May 21, 1968, during a free show at the Valley Auditorium), the original soundtrack album instead substituted a studio recording, made by Nesmith and session musicians (an unexplained decision that became a major source of tension in the group). The movie version intercut Vietnam War
footage, and several mirrored shots of the band onstage.
A lo-fi transcription of the concert version was included on an Australian Monkees compilation in the early 1980s, while an alternate studio take appeared on a Rhino Records album, Monkee Flips
, in 1984.
A stereo recording of the concert version finally appeared on Missing Links, Volume II, in 1990. This version on the Apple iTunes store is incorrect, but Amazon's MP3 matches.
A reworked version of the song opened the Monkees's 1996 reunion album, Justus
, featuring a rare Davy Jones
guitar performance. This version is harder rocking than the original but is otherwise identical musically. The lyrics, however, have been changed in several spots.
Michael Nesmith
Robert Michael Nesmith is an American musician, songwriter, actor, producer, novelist, businessman, and philanthropist, best known as a member of the musical group The Monkees and star of the TV series of the same name...
of The Monkees
The Monkees
The Monkees are an American pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork,...
, which appeared on their sixth album, the Head soundtrack, and also in the film Head
Head (film)
Head is a 1968 psychedelic comedy-adventure major motion picture, starring TV group The Monkees , and distributed by Columbia Pictures...
as a live concert performance.
The song is written and performed in a Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley
Ellas Otha Bates , known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter , and inventor...
style, staying mostly on a single chord (A Major), while strumming barre chords (from B Major to E Major) down a guitar neck for the intro, outro, and breaks, and from B minor to D minor for the bridge. The lyrics are impressions of sights and sounds on a Monkees tour, while "Hamilton's smiling down" refers to a Hamilton
Hamilton Stands
Hamilton Stands Inc. is a musical instrument accessories manufacturing company based in Middletown, Ohio, and has existed since 1883.Hamilton is most famous for their wide variety of music stands , used by musicians and music students around the world...
music stand, used for rehearsals and recording.
While the movie included the song performed live by the Monkees in Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
(on May 21, 1968, during a free show at the Valley Auditorium), the original soundtrack album instead substituted a studio recording, made by Nesmith and session musicians (an unexplained decision that became a major source of tension in the group). The movie version intercut Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
footage, and several mirrored shots of the band onstage.
A lo-fi transcription of the concert version was included on an Australian Monkees compilation in the early 1980s, while an alternate studio take appeared on a Rhino Records album, Monkee Flips
Monkee Flips (album)
Monkee Flips was a 1984 singles and rarities compilation album of songs by the Monkees, issued by Rhino Records. Labeled as the "Best of the Monkees, Volume Four" as it followed the two Arista compilations and Monkee Business picture disc, the album featured an all-stereo selection of single sides...
, in 1984.
A stereo recording of the concert version finally appeared on Missing Links, Volume II, in 1990. This version on the Apple iTunes store is incorrect, but Amazon's MP3 matches.
A reworked version of the song opened the Monkees's 1996 reunion album, Justus
Justus (album)
Justus is the eleventh and final studio album by The Monkees, recorded in celebration of their 30th anniversary. This album featured the return of Michael Nesmith. This was the first Monkees album since Head was released in 1968 to feature all four Monkees...
, featuring a rare Davy Jones
Davy Jones (actor)
David Thomas "Davy" Jones is an English rock singer-songwriter and actor best known as a member of the Monkees.-Early life:...
guitar performance. This version is harder rocking than the original but is otherwise identical musically. The lyrics, however, have been changed in several spots.