“When I was a child and the road was dark, and the way was long and alone…”
THE STORY
The Good Earth is the A-side of a Dave Allen single, released on February 14th, 1969. In it, Dave speaks poetry written by Benjaman Nisbet about wishing for equality of man, as well as aspirations of world peace. He is backed by a lavish orchestral score.
Davy Jones presumably picked up this single at one point in 1969, and enjoyed it so much he felt moved. On July 22nd, 1969, he enters RCA studios to track the first (and most essential) element, that being the poetry itself. He records his own voice alone, assumedly planning to overdub his own lavish orchestral score later in the week.
THE RECORDING
Before Take 1, Davy will say “Okay, this is The Good Earth. take 1, the only take.” [he was wrong.]
Takes 1, 4, and 8 are complete readings. After take 8 Davy will go to the control room to check his performance. Deciding it was read too fast, he will go back to the microphone to record a slower reading. Upon reaching take 17, Davy feels he has achieved a master and will leave shortly after.
For reasons unknown, no orchestra will be added to the piece. Davy’s vocal sits alone on the 8-track tape. It can be presumed that the final product would have been similar to the 1966 recording The Day We Fall In Love.
Take 4 was released on the 1994 CD Reissue of The Monkees Present. Take 17 was released on the 3CD super deluxe edition of The Monkees Present.
THE PERSONNEL
Davy Jones - Producer, Performer
Pete Abbott - Engineer
Brendan Cahill - Supervisor
Master #XZB3-0594
[The Master# for The Good Earth is the last chronological one for The Monkees, excluding the songs recorded for Changes.]
