The team of Rob Gravelle and John Perinbam went way back to the 60s to reimagine The Monkees' classic in a modern driving rock style.
Inspired by a street named Pleasant Valley Way and their move to suburban West Orange, New Jersey, Gerry Goffin and Carole King wrote the song about dissatisfaction with the life in the suburbs.
The Monkees' version added a flashy guitar intro played by Michael Nesmith and a reverb ending. It became one of the band's most successful singles, peaking at No. 3 and continuing their string of top 10 hits. The song was included on Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.
Listen to the original here:
https://soundcloud.com/themonkees/pleasant-valley-sunday?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Copyright 2022 Outsider Music Records.
Best of Rob Gravelle: tinyurl.com/y3jk9vzk
Artwork by Marc Gravelle
Lyrics
Your local rock group down the street
Is trying hard to learn this song
To serenade the weekend squire
Just came out to mow his lawn
Another Pleasant Valley Sunday
Charcoal burnin' everywhere
Rows of houses that are all the same
And no one seems to care
See Mrs. Gray she's proud today
Because her roses are in bloom
And Mr. Green he's so serene
He's got a TV in every room
Another Pleasant Valley Sunday
Here in status symbol land
Mothers complain about how hard life is
And the kids just don't understand
Creature comfort goals they only numb my soul
And make it hard for me to see
My thoughts all seem to stray to places far away
I need a change of scenery
Another Pleasant Valley Sunday
Charcoal burning everywhere
Another Pleasant Valley Sunday
Here in status symbol land
Another Pleasant Valley Sunday
Another Pleasant Valley Sunday
Another Pleasant Valley Sunday
Another Pleasant Valley Sunday
Another Pleasant Valley Sunday