Author: Jim Feliciano

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1966

‘The Monkees’ New Disk Released; Single Tied-in With Colgems’ Promotional Tour

NEW YORK — RCA Victor wound up a 10-day promotion spree on behalf of the Monkees’ Colgems release in the Los Angeles area last Sunday, September 11. Victor, which recently set up a distribution deal with Colgems Records took the group on a cross-country trek that began in Los Angeles on September 11 and then went on to Chicago, Boston and New York.

The final’s day promotion centered on a town near San Diego which changed its name to Clarksville for the Victor campaign. The name tie-in is based on the title of the Monkees’ disk “Last Train To Clarksville.” The record, produced by Don Kirshner, is in the No. 43 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart this week.

The campaign, which was under the direction of Pat Keleher, manager of pop promotion for RCA Victor, was tied in with the premiere of “The Monkees,” a new TV series bowing on NBC on September 12. The promotion in each city included a special showing of one of the series’ pilot segment as well as filmed interviews with members of the group. An added fillip to the promotion in New York was a special late afternoon showing of the segment for teenagers lured to the Broadway Theater by the disk jockeys on WMCA. The group was also there to meet the youngsters.

The Monkees first album has been scheduled for release the week of the TV show’s premier. Victor plans to release a tape cartridge of the LP shortly thereafter. The members of the Monkees are David Jones, Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith. END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; September 17, 1966)