Michael Nesmith began recording music in 1963. In his early career, Nesmith went under the pseudonym Michael Blessing. In 1966, Nesmith was cast in The Monkees, where he is largely known as his Monkees' persona "Mike". Of the twelve studio albums The Monkees released, Nesmith performed, produced, and wrote songs on ten of the albums. As a solo artist, Nesmith's musical library includes 13 studio albums, a movie soundtrack, and an instrumental album of his songs, which consists of both solo works and works by the First National Band, which Nesmith fronted in the early 1970s. His library of music was primarily recorded on either RCA Records or his own label, Pacific Arts.
Albums
| Year | Title | Label/Catalog # | Highest Billboard Position | Canada | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | The Wichita Train Whistle Sings | Dot 3861 (mono) / 25861 (stereo) | 144 | – | Album is credited to The Wichita Train Whistle. |
| 1970 | Magnetic South | RCA LSP-4371 | 143 | 49 | Album is credited to Michael Nesmith & The First National Band. Some copies came with a "Joanne" sticker on the shrink wrap. |
| 1970 | Loose Salute | RCA LSP-4415 | 159 | – | Album is credited to Michael Nesmith & The First National Band. Some copies came with a circular sticker on the shrink wrap saying "Contains the hit single 'Silver Moon.'" |
| 1971 | Nevada Fighter | RCA LSP-4497 | 218 | – | Album is credited to Michael Nesmith & The First National Band. |
| 1972 | Tantamount to Treason Vol. 1 | RCA LSP-4563 | 211 | – | Album is credited to Michael Nesmith & The Second National Band. |
| 1972 | And the Hits Just Keep on Comin' | RCA LSP-4695 | 208 | – | Features only Nesmith and O.J. Rhodes |
| 1973 | Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch Stash | RCA APL1-0164 | – | – | |
| 1974 | The Prison: A Book with a Soundtrack | Pacific Arts PAC-101 | – | – | Issued with 48-page book to be read while the LP is playing, allowing for a "soundtrack" to the story. Original copies issued in a box cover, while later copies came in a cardboard slip jacket. Some of these later copies had two stickers on the shrink, one saying "Michael Nesmith" and the other "Contains Record and 48-page Full Color Illustrated Book". Record was also sold in book stores. |
| 1977 | From a Radio Engine to the Photon Wing | Pacific Arts PAC7-107 / Pacific Arts ILPA-9486 | 209 | – | Early pressings used the overseas catalog # ILPA-9486 used by Island Records. |
| 1979 | Infinite Rider on the Big Dogma | Pacific Arts PAC7-130 | 151 | – | There is also a promotional album sent to radio stations prior to release. |
| 1992 | Tropical Campfires | Pacific Arts | – | – | |
| 1994 | The Garden | (Rio Records) | – | – | Companion piece to The Prison: A Book with a Soundtrack. Grammy nominated for New Age album of the year |
| 2000 | Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann | (Rio Records) | – | – | Soundtrack from the 1982 movie. |
| 2005 | Rays | (Rio Records) | – | – | Primarily music only, limited vocals. |
| 2015 | The Ocean | (Rio Records) | – | – | Recitation of the story with music, finishing a trilogy that began with The Prison, and continued with The Garden. |
Album
Live albums
| Year | Title | Label/Catalog # | Highest Billboard Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Live at the Palais | Pacific Arts PAC7-118 | – | Some copies came with a 3" circular sticker on the cover reading "Contains the hit single 'Roll With The Flow.'" |
| 1999 | Live at the Britt Festival | Cooking Vinyl | – | Recorded live in 1992 at the Britt Festival in Jacksonville, Oregon. |
| 2010 | The Amazing ZigZag Concert | Road Goes on Forever Records (RGF/ZZBOX1974) | – | Nesmith's concert is disc 5 of a 5 CD various artists box set. Recorded in April 1974. |
| 2014 | Movies of the Mind | Pacific Arts / Videoranch | – | Michael Nesmith's fall 2013 tour was documented on Movies of the Mind. |
| 2017 | At The BBC Paris Theatre | 7A Records Ltd | – | Michael Nesmith's live performance in London on November 27, 1975. Released as a CD and Vinyl Picture Disc. |
| 2018 | Live at the Troubadour | 7A Records Ltd | – | Billed as "Michael Nesmith & the First National Band Redux." Live recording of January 2018 concert at the Troubadour (where Nesmith played in 1964). |
| 2019 | Cosmic Partners – The McCabe's Tapes | 7A Records Ltd | – | Billed as "Michael Nesmith with Red Rhodes." Recorded live at McCabe's Guitar Shop, Santa Monica, CA, August 18, 1973. |
Compilation albums
| Year | Title | Label/Catalog # | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Compilation | Pacific Arts PAC7-106 | |
| 1989 | The Newer Stuff | (Rhino) | Contains eight prev. unreleased, archival tracks and six remixed tracks from "Photon Wing" and "Infinite Rider". LP release featured fewer tracks. |
| 1991 | The Older Stuff | (Rhino) | Greatest hits of RCA recordings. |
| 1993 | Complete First National Band Recordings | Pacific Arts | The three First National Band albums (Magnetic South, Loose Salute and Nevada Fighter) on two discs. |
| 1997 | Listen to the Band | (Camden 74321 523772) | European compilation of RCA recordings. |
| 2008 | Rio: The Best Of Michael Nesmith | (Music Club Deluxe MCDLX092) | UK 2-CD compilation of studio and live recordings. |
| 2021 | Different Drum: The Lost RCA Victor Recordings | Real Gone Music RGM-1044 | alternate takes and unreleased tracks |
Reissue albums
| Year | Title | Label/Catalog # | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | The Wichita Train Whistle Sings | Pacific Arts PAC7-113 | Reissue of 1968 Dot release with new album jacket design. |
| 1978 | And the Hits Just Keep on Comin' | Pacific Arts PAC7-116 | Reissue of 1972 RCA release with standard jacket (RCA release had gatefold jacket). |
| 1978 | Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch Stash | Pacific Arts PAC7-117 | Reissue of 1973 RCA release with standard jacket (RCA release had gatefold jacket). |
| 2008 | Magnetic South & Loose Salute | (Camden) | paired album release |
| 2008 | Nevada Fighter & Tantamount to Treason | (Camden) | paired album release |
| 2008 | And the Hits Just Keep on Comin' & Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch Stash | (Camden) | paired album release |
| 2008 | From a Radio Engine to the Photon Wing & Infinite Rider on the Big Dogma | (Edsel) | paired album release |
| 2008 | The Wichita Train Whistle Sings & Timerider | (Edsel) | paired album release |
| 2015 | Michael Nesmith – Original Album Classics | RCA | Boxed set containing Magnetic South, Loose Salute, Nevada Fighter, Tantamount to Treason & And the Hits Just Keep on Comin'. Contains 4 bonus tracks. |
Promotional albums
| Year | Title | Label/Catalog # | Highest Billboard Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | The Michael Nesmith Radio Special | Pacific Arts PAC7-1300 | – | Promotional LP featuring all the tracks from Infinite Rider on the Big Dogma as well as interview snippets. |
Singles
| Date | U.S. Label & number | Titles (A-side, B-side) | Billboard Hot 100 | Cashbox | Billboard A/C | RPM (Canada) | RPM A/C (Canada) | Kent Music Report (Australia) | Notes | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Highness HN-13 | "Wanderin" b/w "Well, Well" | – | – | – | – | – | – | Credited as Mike Nesmith. Vanity pressing | Non-album tracks |
| 1965 | Omnibus 239 | "How Can You Kiss Me" b/w "Just A Little Love" | – | – | – | – | – | – | Credited as Mike & John & Bill. John London is the bassist, later of Nesmith's First National Band. Bill Sleeper is the drummer. (The trio broke up when Sleeper was drafted into the US Army.) | |
| 09/1965 | Colpix CP-787 | "The New Recruit" b/w "A Journey with Michael Blessing" | – | – | – | – | – | – | Credited to Michael Blessing. | |
| 11/9/1965 | Colpix CP-792 | "Until It's Time for You to Go" b/w "What Seems To Be the Trouble Officer" | – | – | – | – | – | – | Credited to Michael Blessing. | |
| 4/1967 | Edan 1001 | "Just A Little Love" b/w "Curson Terrace" | – | – | – | – | – | – | A-side is same as Omnibus 239. B-side is credited to Mike & Tony. Mike has stated in an interview that it's him, but has no idea who Tony was. | |
| 07/1968 | Dot 45-17152 | "Tapioca Tundra" b/w "Don't Cry Now" | – | – | – | – | – | – | Credited to The Wichita Train Whistle. L.A.'s finest session musicians, led by Nesmith, though he does not appear on the recordings as either musician or vocalist. "Don't Cry Now" is edited from the album. | The Wichita Train Whistle Sings |
| 07/1970 | RCA 47-9853 | "Little Red Rider" b/w "Rose City Chimes" (Non-album track) | – | – | – | – | – | – | Credited to Michael Nesmith and the First National Band. Until its release as a bonus track on CD in 2001, non-LP 'B' side was a sought after collectable. | Magnetic South |
| 08/1970 | RCA 74-0368 | "Joanne" b/w "One Rose" | 21 | 17 | 6 | 4 | - | 3 | Credited to Michael Nesmith and the First National Band. | |
| 11/1970 | RCA 74-0399 | "Silver Moon" b/w "Lady Of The Valley" | 42 | 28 | 7 | 13 | 13 | 11 | Credited to Michael Nesmith and the First National Band. Also reached #34 in Germany. | Loose Salute |
| 04/1971 | RCA 74-0453 | "Nevada Fighter" b/w "Here I Am" | 70 | 73 | – | 67 | – | – | Credited to Michael Nesmith and the First National Band. Issued with picture sleeve. | Nevada Fighter |
| 06/1971 | RCA 74-0491 | "Texas Morning" b/w "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" | – | – | – | – | – | – | Credited to Michael Nesmith and the First National Band. Single released as promo with both songs on B-side and "Texas" only on A-side with release #SPS-45-263. | |
| 10/1971 | RCA 74-0540 | "I've Just Begun To Care (Propinquity)" b/w "Only Bound" | – | 95 | – | – | – | – | Credited to Michael Nesmith and the First National Band. | |
| 01/1972 | RCA 74-0629 | "Mama Rocker" b/w "Lazy Lady" | – | – | – | – | – | – | Credited to Michael Nesmith and the Second National Band. A-side is faded out early versus LP version. | Tantamount To Treason Volume One |
| 08/1972 | RCA 74-0804 | "Roll With The Flow" b/w "Keep On" | – | – | – | – | – | – | "Roll With the Flow" is edited from LP version. | And The Hits Just Keep Comin' |
| 03/1977 | Pacific Arts IP084 | "Rio" b/w "Life, The Unsuspecting Captive" (from The Prison) | – | – | – | – | – | 4 | A shorter version (3:29) released as a double-sided stereo promo as IP088. Reached number 28 in the UK and received considerable radio airplay. | From A Radio Engine To The Photon Wing |
| 06/1978 | Pacific Arts PAC45-101 | "Roll With The Flow" b/w "I've Just Begun To Care (Propinquity)" | – | – | – | – | – | – | Both songs are edited from the live LP. | Live At The Palais |
| 1979 | Pacific Arts PAC45-104 | "Rio" b/w "Casablanca Moonlight" | – | – | – | – | – | – | Issued with picture sleeve. Shorter version than Pacific Arts IP084. | From A Radio Engine To The Photon Wing |
| 06/1979 | Pacific Arts PAC45-106 | "Magic" b/w "Dance" | – | – | – | – | – | – | Infinite Rider On The Big Dogma | |
| 08/1979 | Pacific Arts PAC45-108 | "Cruisin'" b/w "Horserace" | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| Reissue singles | ||||||||||
| 05/1971 | RCA 447-0868 | "Joanne" / "Silver Moon" | – | – | – | – | – | – | Reissue credited to Michael Nesmith and the First National Band. Early pressings on red label, later pressings on black label. | |
| 1998 | Collectibles COL-4759 | "Joanne" / "Silver Moon" | – | – | – | – | – | – | Reissue. | |
- Nesmith recorded "The World is Golden Too" in 1975 for the Japanese movie Blue Angels. An edited version of this song was released as a 45. The uncut version appears on the soundtrack.
MP3 single songs
In 2011, Nesmith began releasing new recordings as MP3 downloads from his website, Videoranch.com. The songs are available under two headings (or album collections): Iteration and Around the Sun. As each song is updated and remixed, Nesmith has released the updated version. In addition to the new music, Nesmith also releases live songs and alternate mixes of songs from previous albums.
| Year | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Helen's Eternal Birthday Single | Pacific Arts/Videoranch | The first MP3 single to be released from Videoranch. Two versions were released. The second version was titled "January – Helen's Eternal Birthday Single v1.0". The first version has since been removed. |
| 2011 | Only Understanding Love | Pacific Arts/Videoranch | Released in two mixes, 1.0 and 2.0 |
| 2011 | Smiles of Autumn | Pacific Arts/Videoranch | Released as version 1.0 |
| 2012 | Love Is The Place | Pacific Arts/Videoranch | Two versions were available (rough mixes 1.0 and 2.0), but both have since been deleted. |
| 2012 | Life is Long | Pacific Arts/Videoranch | Three versions are available (version 1.0, 1.1 and 2.5) |
| 2012 | I Know What I Know | Pacific Arts/Videoranch | Four versions are available (version 1.0, 1.5, 1.6 and 2.0). However, what is presumed to be the final version was released in 2016 on The Monkees' album, Good Times |
References
External links
- Michael Nesmith discography at Discogs
- Michael Nesmith & The First National Band discography at Discogs
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