Cuddly Toy - The Monkees, 1967

 
 

La la la la ...

You're not the only cuddly toy that was ever enjoyed by any boy
You're not the only choo-choo train that was left out in the rain
The day after Santa came
You're not the only cherry delight that was left in the night
And gave up without a fight
You're not the only cuddly toy that was ever enjoyed by any boy

You're not the kind of girl to tell your mother
The kind of company you keep
I never told you not to love no other
You must of dreamed it in your sleep

You're not the only cuddly toy that was ever enjoyed by any boy
You're not the only choo-choo train that was left out in the rain
The day after Santa came
You're not the only cherry delight that was left in the night
And gave up without a fight
You're not the only cuddly toy that was ever enjoyed by any boy

You're not the kind of girl to tell your mother
The kind of company you keep
I never told you not to love no other
You must of dreamed it in your sleep

You're not the only cuddly toy that was ever enjoyed by any boy
You're not the only cuddly toy that was ever enjoyed by any boy

La la la la ...

 
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The Monkees were a manufactured group, predecessors to the "boy bands" of later years. In 1965, American Television producers aimed to cash in on the Beatles' success, by coming up with their own four man group, complete with a prime-time TV show. Nick-named the Pre-Fab Four (the Beatles being the Fab Four...) , Michael Nesmith, Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork were selected out of 437 other applicants. The TV show was a smash hit, while the band released numerous albums and toured around the world.

However, they weren't much of a band at the beginning. Nesmith and Tork were only aspiring musicians, while the other two were just plain learning. Most of their songs were written for them, by such amazing talent as Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart, Neil Diamond, Harry Nilsson and even Carol King. Session musicians actually over-played their instruments for the recordings. But to their credit, The Monkees wrestled control away from their musical coordinator Don Kirshner, and produced some of the most interesting music to close out the 1960s.

Cuddly Toy is from the Monkees' fourth album, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd., and was written by Harry Nilsson. I've included it here since it hasn't been over-played, and I feel it captures the up-tempo harmony of their music.

The Monkees re-united in 1986, and became the highest grossing tour of that year.

Connections: There was another Davy Jones in music history.