Most music fans showed no interest in this album when in it was released in 1976 -- it was most certainly their loss. Though lightweight and fluffy, this album ended up being the most consistent
Monkees-related release since Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, the fourth
Monkees album from 1967. With top-notch songs from the pens of
Tommy Boyce and
Bobby Hart and even a few outstanding tracks from
Mickey Dolenz, this album was destined to be a cult classic. Kicking off with the mid-tempo balladry of "Right Now," sung by
Davy Jones and featuring a few
Lennon-esque chord changes, it was obvious that this was not the latest
Deep Purple album (although the chunky guitar riff in "Moonfire" certainly owes a bit of debt to
DP's "Smoke on the Water" if you can believe it). "I Love You (And I'm Glad That I Said It)," sung by
Hart, is a beautiful ballad that
Kenny Rogers could've turned into a monstrous hit. "You and I" is the same track that the
Monkees re-recorded for the Justus album, though this version is sung by
Dolenz and is much better. "It Always Hurts the Most in the Morning" is another track sung by
Dolenz and features even more
Lennon-esque chord changes. "You Didn't Feel That Way Last Night" is a direct rewrite of the
Monkees classic "Stepping Stone" and
Dolenz has fun with it. The
Dolenz-penned track "Savin' My Love for You" is pure pop cheese but is one of the greatest cheese-pop songs ever written. The single "I Remember the Feeling" is one of those feel-good tracks that restores your faith in pop music with
Jones handling the verses and
Dolenz belting his way throughout the chorus.
Dolenz steals the show on this album. His harmonies are perfect while his lead vocals have never sounded better. Though the other three members take their solo turns handling a verse of "Sail on Sailor,"
Dolenz sits out the verses but steals the show during the chorus' fadeout while wailing "Sail On! Sail On! Sail O-o-n!" Genius. The only misstep here is a horrific rendition of "Along Came Jones" that may have been fun to record but is too painful to listen to.
DJB & H had quite a past behind them, but they certainly lived up their legend here. ~ Steve Schnee