Wow. Just heard of Davy Jones's death.I can't say I was a...

Wow. Just heard of Davy Jones's death.
I can't say I was a major Monkees fan - even at 14, I was damn well aware that they were the TV knock-off of the Beatles - but I enjoyed the show, and they were good. Certainly as good as a lot of organically-grown bands in the '60s and better than many. Besides, I was such a Beatles fan, I'd take the imitations if the real thing wasn't available. (And before the days of DVDs or even videotape, it WASN'T).
I do remember the episode where Davy's Evil Grandfather tried to take him back to England - cue to the song, "I Wanna Be Free," and thinking: There's more to this show than just a TV knock-off.
And much later, I was delighted and tickled when I realized that "Last Train to Clarkesville" was an anti-Vietnam song - Clarkesville being the staging-point for guys going to Nam, so "I don't know if I'm ever coming home" really MEANT, "I don't know if I'm ever coming home" - something that got slipped straight in under the radar disguised as  bubblegum pop.
Davy Jones was a cutie - and a very talented man.
It is indeed a long and winding road.