The drummer and singer Micky Dolenz is famous for his work with The Monkees, very successful American band that had a TV show and released several praised records. At the age of 78 the musician is now about to release an EP covering only songs from the Alternative Rock band R.E.M.
The first single released is “Shiny Happy People”, which was first featured on the band’s 1991 album “Out Of Time”. Curiously, Dolenz started his professional career four years before R.E.M’s vocalist Michael Stipe was born. Called “Dolenz Sings R.E.M., the EP will be released next November 3 on 7A Records.
Hear Micky Dolenz covering R.E.M.’s “Shiny Happy People”:
The EP features fresh and completely new arrangements of some of R.E.M.’s most memorable and catchy songs. As Dolenz says: “Once again, this EP reaffirms my long-held conviction that a solid recording always begins with solid material. You don’t get much more solid than R.E.M. What a joy to sing these classics and honor a team of outstanding writers”. 7A Records’ CEO Glenn Gretlund adds: “R.E.M. and Micky Dolenz are a match made in heaven and I’m delighted with how the recordings have turned out. Micky’s voice sounds better than ever and Christian Nesmith has done a wonderful job in reimagining the arrangements.”
The EP release directly coincides with the publication of Micky Dolenz’s latest book: I’m Told I Had Good Time – The Micky Dolenz Archives, Volume One. Comprised of more than 1200 rare and unpublished images from Micky’s private collection, this 500-page book includes photos and memorabilia spanning 1945-1978, including hundreds of images Micky shot himself of the other Monkees (Davy Jones, Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith) as well as Jimi Hendrix, Harry Nilsson, Otis Redding, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Alice Cooper and many more.