Micky Dolenz: “Demoiselle” (2022) Vinyl Review

In the early 1990s, Micky Dolenz recorded some tracks at his home studio, songs he had composed. A few of those songs were reworked by The Monkees and included on the 1996 album Justus. Then in 1998, several of the home recordings were released as Demoiselle, including the songs that ended up on Justus, along with two older recordings and one live track. Now 7A Records, a label that focuses on Monkees releases, has issued an expanded edition of Demoiselle on vinyl. This new edition has three more tracks, and the songs are presented in a different order from that of the original 1998 release. This new version also sports different album cover art, and has a gatefold, with several photos inside. There are liner notes by both Stuart Goldfarb and Rev. Mark Stephen Kleiner. And the vinyl is an attractive red. These tracks were produced by Jerry Corbetta and Micky Dolenz.

Side One

The record opens with “My Heart Is Failing Me,” one of the tracks not included on the original 1998 release. It was written by Albert Hammond and Holly Knight. And if it sounds familiar, that might be because it was recorded by the group Riff and included on that band’s self-titled debut album (it was also released as a single). Here is a taste of the lyrics: “When you were here, I knew what to do/Now I just waste time thinking of you/I wonder why/I feel like my heart is failing.” And yeah, Micky’s recording of it certainly has an unpolished feel, but that is part of its charm. And Micky’s vocals sound great. That’s followed by “Lonely Weekends,” an original song that has a fun vibe. “My woman, she was wild/Gave it up to have a child/She said, oh, these lonely weekends.”

Then in “Never Enough,” another original composition, he sings, “I’ve often heard you say/You’ve got to seize the day/Then when your life is gone/Oh, how it’s gone so long/There are often times/When life is not so kind.” The music has a late 1980s sound, but a seriously strong vocal performance makes this track stand out. I love the passion of his delivery. “‘Cause it’s not enough/It’s never enough/It’s not enough for you.” This is one of the songs chosen for inclusion on The Monkees’ Justus album. It is followed by another song that made it onto Justus, “Dyin’ Of A Broken Heart.” This version is quite a bit different from that on Justus. Missing is that cool bass line, along with that great guitar work. But what this version has is a delightful, peppy pop sound. Micky seems to have a fun time with this one.

On the original release, “We Were Not That Bad” was titled “Not That Bad.” This one has a sweeter, softer sound. I love when Micky Dolenz delivers a gentle, intimate vocal performance like the one on this track. My all-time favorite Monkees song is “As We Go Along,” in which he gives a beautiful performance. And “We Were Not That Bad” is my favorite track on this album. “When these desert nights are mine/I often sit and cry a while/Thinking of those years we had/And you were not that bad.” The first side then wraps up with a track recorded in London in 1981, “Piston Power,” a tune that has more of a rocking vibe. It’s a lively number featuring some nice stuff on keys.

Side Two

The second side, like the first side, begins with one of the tracks not included on the original release, Albert Hammond’s “Put A Hold On Your Heart,” which Hammond wrote with Graham Lyle. This track has a 1980s pop sound, and that section with Micky’s vocals and the beat makes me smile. That’s followed by “Regional Girl,” one of the songs that The Monkees recorded for Justus. I love the rhythm of his vocals, and there is a good amount of attitude here. “Did you think that you could come and make it on your own?” There is a slight variation in the lyrics here compared with those on the Justus album, and this version has more of a pop sound. Then we have “Torch For Hire,” the final of the three tracks not featured on the original release. Like the other two, this song was not written by Micky Dolenz. It has an electronic sound supporting his vocals. That’s followed by “It’s The Season,” which has an oddly dreamy vibe as it begins. “Come take me away/Keep every promise you make today/I will love you/I will always love and abide/I was meant to be alone/You were meant for me.” This was the lead track on the original release of this album.

Demoiselle contains one live track, a cover of “Since I Fell For You” recorded at some point in the 1990s. It’s a shame we don’t know the venue or date of the recording. Also, it’s weird that we don’t. That no one was keeping track of such things at that point in his career is nearly unbelievable. But anyway, it’s a really nice performance. Micky digs into it, delivering an earnest, captivating, soulful rendition. And check out that saxophone. So good! This is another of the record’s highlights. “Since I Fell For You” is a song that Micky Dolenz revisited later, including it on Out Of Nowhere, which was released in 2017. As with the record’s first side, this side concludes with a track recorded in 1981, “Beverly Hills.” On the original release, these two songs were placed one after the other, and that live track was the final song. “Beverly Hills” is a catchy number that doesn’t paint the brightest portrait of Beverly Hills or the people living there. “Puts the trash out every Thursday/Puts the children out at night/Builds a fence around your neighbor/In case that fool might want to fight/Living in the slums of Beverly Hills.” Interestingly, the year of this album’s original release saw the release of a movie titled Slums Of Beverly Hills.

Record Track List

Side One

1. My Heart Is Failing Me
2. Lonely Weekends
3. Never Enough
4. Dyin’ Of A Broken Heart
5. We Were Not That Bad
6. Piston Power

Side Two

1. Put A Hold On Your Heart
2. Regional Girl
3. Torch For Hire
4. It’s The Season
5. Since I Fell For You
6. Beverly Hills

This expanded vinyl re-issue of Demoiselle was released on August 12, 2022 through 7A Records.