Missing Links Volume Two
Compilation album by the Monkees
Released	January 1990
Recorded	1966–1969
Genre	Rock
Length	46:33
Label	Rhino
Producer	Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, The Monkees, Jeff Barry, Mike Nesmith, Jack Keller, Chip Douglas
Compiler	Bill Inglot, Andrew Sandoval
The Monkees chronology
Pool It! (1987) Missing Links Volume Two (1990) Listen to the Band (1991)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

Missing Links Volume Two is a compilation album of rare and previously unreleased songs by the Monkees, issued by Rhino Records in 1990. It is the second volume of a three-volume set, preceded by Missing Links in 1987 and followed by Missing Links Volume Three in 1996.

While several of the tracks had been featured in the Monkees' television series, only one of the tracks had ever been issued commercially: the live version of "Circle Sky" had appeared in the Monkees' feature film Head and was previously released on the Australian compilation Monkeemania (40 Timeless Hits) in 1979.

This compilation contains one mislabeled track, as "Down the Highway" is mistitled "Michigan Blackhawk."

As this compilation was released on both cassette and CD, tracks 7, 11, 14 and 15 do not appear on the original cassette version. A vinyl version was released in 2021 from Friday Music for Record Store Day.

Track listing

Session information

"All the King's Horses"

• Written by Michael Nesmith
• Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz
• Harmony vocals: Michael Nesmith
• Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork
• Guitar: James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey
• Bass: Larry Knechtel, Bob West
• Drums: Hal Blaine
• Percussion: Gary Coleman, Jim Gordon
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California, June 25 (7:30 pm–12:15 am), July 16, 1966 (during sessions for The Monkees)
• Produced by Michael Nesmith

"Valleri" (first recorded version)

• Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Lead vocal: Davy Jones
• Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Tommy Boyce, Wayne Erwin, Bobby Hart, Ron Hicklin
• Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
• Bass: Larry Taylor
• Drums: Billy Lewis
• Tambourine: Gene Estes
• Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studio A, Hollywood, California, August 6 (7:30 P.M. - 10:30 P.M.), August 27 (3:30 P.M. start), 1966, during sessions for More of the Monkees. It was later re-cut for The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees.

"St. Matthew"

• Written by Michael Nesmith
• Lead vocal: Michael Nesmith
• Electric guitar: Michael Nesmith
• Guitar: Harold Bradley, Wayne Moss
• Steel guitar: Lloyd Green
• Bass: Norbert Putnam
• Banjo: Bobby Thompson
• Drums: Jerry Carrigan
• Percussion/Organ: Unknown
• Piano: David Briggs
• Fiddle: Buddy Spicher
• Produced by Michael Nesmith
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Nashville, Tennessee, June 2 (12:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.), June 12, August 5, 1968, during sessions for Head

"Words" (first recorded version)

• Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Lead vocals: Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork
• Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, Tommy Boyce, Wayne Erwin, Bobby Hart, Ron Hicklin
• Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
• Bass: Larry Taylor
• Drums: Billy Lewis
• Percussion: Norm Jeffries
• Flute: Ethmer Roten
• Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, August 15 (7:00 P.M. - 1:00 A.M.) and 27 (3:30 P.M. start), during sessions for More of the Monkees. It was later re-cut for Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.
• Includes a backwards tape segment not included in the episode of the TV series in which the track appeared ("Monkees Manhattan Style")

"Some of Shelly's Blues"

• Written by Michael Nesmith
• Lead vocal: Michael Nesmith
• Acoustic guitar: Billy Sanford
• Steel guitar: Lloyd Green
• Banjo: Sonny Osborne
• Bass: Bobby Dyson
• Drums: Willie Ackerman
• Organ: Larry Butler
• Harmonica: Charlie McCoy
• Produced by Michael Nesmith and Felton Jarvis
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Nashville, Tennessee, May 29 (6:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.), June 2 (10:30 P.M. - 1:30 A.M.), 1968, during sessions for Head

"I Wanna Be Free" (fast version)

• Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Lead vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones
• Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
• Bass: Larry Taylor
• Drums: Billy Lewis
• Tambourine: Gene Estes
• Organ: Michel Rubini
• Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California, July 19, (2:00–6:00 PM, 7:00-10:00 PM) and 24 (11:00 AM-7:00 PM), 1966, during sessions for The Monkees

"If I Ever Get to Saginaw Again"

• Written by Jack Keller and Bob Russell
• Lead vocal: Michael Nesmith
• Guitar: Del Kacher?
• Electric Guitar: Louie Shelton
• Acoustic Guitar: Dennis Budimir, Al Casey, Mike Deasy
• Bass: Max Bennett
• Drums: Earl Palmer
• Tambourine/Vibes: Milt Holland, Stan Levey
• Harpsichord: Michael Melvoin
• Violin: Jack Gootkin, Bob Jung, George Poole, Heimann Weinstine, William Weiss
• Viola: Garry Nuttycombe
• Cello: Douglas Davis
• Produced by Michael Nesmith and Don McGinnis
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California, March 9 (4:30 P.M. - 7:30 P.M., 8:30 P.M. - 11:30 P.M.), 1968, January 31 (2:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.), 1969, and at United Recorders, Hollywood, March 6 (2:30 P.M. - 5:30 P.M.) and 7, 1969

"Come on In"

• Written by Jo Mapes
• Lead vocal: Peter Tork
• Electric guitar: Stephen Stills, Lance Wakely
• Bass: Peter Tork
• Drums: Dewey Martin
• Tack piano: Peter Tork
• Produced by Peter Tork
• Recorded at Western Recorders, Hollywood, California, February 8 (9:00 A.M. - 1:30 P.M.), 9, 11-13, 1968, during sessions for The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees
• The liner notes mistakenly credit the song to Steven Duboff and Neil Levenson

"I'll Be Back Up on My Feet" (mono TV version)

• Written by Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell
• Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz
• Backing vocal: Unknown
• Guitars: Al Casey, Carol Kaye
• Bass: Ray Pohlman
• Drums: Hal Blaine
• Percussion: Frank Capp, Julius Wechter
• Piano: Don Randi and Michel Rubini
• Produced by Jeff Barry
• Recorded on October 28, 1966, during sessions for More of the Monkees. It was later re-cut for The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees.

"Down the Highway (aka Michigan Blackhawk)"

• Written by Carole King and Toni Stern
• Lead vocal: Michael Nesmith
• Guitars: Al Casey, Louie Shelton
• Bass: Max Bennett
• Drums: Hal Blaine
• Piano: Larry Knechtel
• Produced by Michael Nesmith
• Recorded in June 5 (2:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.), 1969
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; June 5, 1969, during sessions for The Monkees Present. Several sources erroneously claim the song was recorded in June 1968.
• The actual title of this song is "Down the Highway". It was confused with an unrelated and unfinished Michael Nesmith song entitled "Michigan Blackhawk", recorded on June 10, 1969.

"Hold on Girl" (first recorded version)

• Written by Jack Keller, Ben Raleigh, Billy Carr
• Lead vocal: Davy Jones
• Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Ron Hicklin
• Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
• Bass: Larry Taylor
• Drums: Billy Lewis
• Percussion: Alan Estes
• Oboe: Norman Benno
• Harpsichord: Michel Rubini
• Produced by Jeff Barry and Jack Keller
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California, September 10 and 24 (2:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M., 7:00 P.M. - 12:00 A.M.), 1966, during sessions for More of the Monkees

"The Crippled Lion"

• Written by Michael Nesmith
• Lead vocal: Michael Nesmith
• Acoustic guitar: Harold Bradley
• Steel guitar: Lloyd Green
• Banjo: Sonny Osborne
• Bass: Bobby Dyson
• Drums: Jerry Carrigan
• Organ: David Briggs
• Produced by Michael Nesmith and Felton Jarvis
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Nashville, Tennessee, May 29 (10:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.), 1968, during sessions for Head

"Changes"

• Written by David Jones and Steve Pitts
• Lead vocal: Davy Jones
• Guitar: Mike Deasy, Al Hendrickson, Gerry McGee
• Bass: Max Bennett
• Drums: Earl Palmer
• Percussion: Milt Holland, Jerry Williams
• Piano: Don Randi
• Violin: Sam Freed, Nathan Kaproff, George Kast, Marvin Limonick, Alex Murray, Erno Neufeld
• Cello: Marie Fera, Jacqueline Lustgarten, Edgar Lustgarten, Frederick Seykora
• Trumpet: Buddy Childers, Jack Sheldon
• French Horn: John Cave, David Duke, Arthur Maebe
• Trombone: George Roberts
• Produced by The Monkees
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, February 6 (2:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M., 10:00 P.M. - 2:00 A.M.) and 8 (7:30 P.M. - 10:30 P.M.), 1968, during sessions for The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees

"Mr. Webster" (first recorded version)

• Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Lead/backing vocals: Micky Dolenz
• Acoustic guitars: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
• Bass: Larry Taylor
• Harpsichord: Michel Rubini
• Percussion: Alan Estes
• Oboe: Norman Benno
• Cello: Maggie Aue
• Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California, September 10 and 24 (2:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M., 7:00 P.M. - 12:00 A.M.), 1966, during sessions for More of the Monkees. It was later re-cut for Headquarters.

"You Just May Be The One" (first recorded version)

• Written by Michael Nesmith
• Lead vocals: Michael Nesmith
• Backing vocals: Michael Nesmith and Unknown
• Guitar/Dano bass: Peter Tork, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, Mike Deasey
• Bass: Bob West
• Drums: Hal Blaine
• Percussion: Gary Coleman, Frank DeVito
• Piano: Larry Knechtel
• Produced by Michael Nesmith
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California, July 18 (8:00 P.M.-12:00 A.M.) and 27, 1966 during sessions for The Monkees. It was later re-cut for Headquarters.
• Featured doubling of regular bass with Danelectro bass. The doubling of bass proved difficult to master, as some 35 takes were needed before the backing track was completed.

"(I Prithee) Do Not Ask For Love" (first recorded version)

• Written by Michael Martin Murphey
• Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz
• Guitar: Peter Tork, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, Mike Deasey
• Bass: Bob West
• Drums: Hal Blaine
• Percussion: Gary Coleman, Jim Gordon
• Piano: Michael Cohen, Larry Knechtel
• Produced by Michael Nesmith
• Recorded at Western Recorders, Hollywood, on July 25 (8:00 P.M. - 12:15 A.M.) and at RCA Victor Studios on October 18 (4:00 P.M. - 12:00 A.M.), 1966, during sessions for The Monkees and More of the Monkees

"Circle Sky" (live version)

• Written by Michael Nesmith
• Lead vocal: Michael Nesmith
• Electric guitar: Michael Nesmith
• Bass: Peter Tork
• Drums: Micky Dolenz
• Percussion/Organ: Davy Jones
• Produced by Michael Nesmith
• Recorded live at Valley Auditorium and Lagoon Park Amusement Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 17, 1968, with overdubbed vocals recorded at RCA Victor Studios from May 21, 1968. Performance featured in the film Head.

"Seeger's Theme" (fourth recorded version)

• Written by Pete Seeger
• Whistling: Peter Tork
• Guitars: Peter Tork, Lance Wakely
• Banjo/bass: Peter Tork
• Drums: Buddy Miles
• Produced by Peter Tork
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California, February 12 and 13, 1968, during sessions for The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees
• Originally recorded during sessions for Headquarters. First version released on The Headquarters Sessions.

"Riiu Chiu" (studio version)

• Traditional
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Harmony vocals: Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork, Chip Douglas
• Produced by Chip Douglas
• Recorded on October 3, 1967, during sessions for Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.
• Douglas substitutes for Davy Jones on harmony vocals

References