The Monkees Wiki
Register
Advertisement
"Take a Giant Step"
(Goffin—King)
Take a Giant Step

Composers
 

Gerry Goffin
Carole King

Producers
 
 

Tommy Boyce
Bobby Hart
Jack Keller

Publisher

Screen Gems–Columbia Music, Inc.

Performance rights

BMI
 

Album

The Monkees

Single by the Monkees

A-side

"Last Train to Clarksville"

Release date

16 August 1966

Label

Colgems Records

Country

United States

Catalog no.

66-1001

Followed by
     b/w

"I'm a Believer"
"(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone"

"Take a Giant Step", written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, is The Monkees' first B-side, opposite "Last Train to Clarksville", released on 16 August 1966 by Colgems Records as 66-1001. The song was also featured on the band's debut album The Monkees. The single was the first record released by Colgems and featured a mono mix of the song; a stereo version first appeared on the stereo album.

Studio Mixes[]

The first session for "Take a Giant Step" occurred on 10 June 1966 under producer Snuff Garrett. However, due to dischord between the producer and session musicians, Garrett was relieved of his duties and the recordings from this session are assumed lost. A second session, under producers Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, took place on 9 July 1966 at RCA Victor Studios in Hollywood, which were the basis for the recordings heard on the Monkees' records and television series.

credits[]

lead vocals: Micky Dolenz
guitar: Tommy Boyce (acoustic); Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton (electric)
bass: Larry Taylor
drums: Billy Lewis
percussion: Gene Estes (mallets)
piano: Jack Keller
harpsichord: Michel Rubini
oboe: Bob Cooper

mono single master[]

stereo album master[]

  • The Monkees (1966) —Colgems COS-101 (LP)
  • Listen to the Band (1991) — Rhino R 70566 (4 CDs)
  • The Monkees (1994) — Rhino R2 71790 (CD)
  • The Monkees Anthology (1998) — Rhino R2 75269 (2 CDs)
  • Music Box (2001) — Rhino R2 76706 (4 CDs)
  • The Monkees (2006) — Rhino R2 77678 (2 CDs)
  • The Monkees (2011) — Rhino (CD)

mono television master[]

  • "Royal Flush" — NBC, 12 September 1966
  • "The Chaperone" — NBC, 7 November 1966

Lyrics[]

Though you've played at love and lost
And sorrow's turned your heart to frost
I will melt your heart again
Remember the feeling as a child
When you woke up and morning smiled
It's time you felt like you did then

There's just no percentage in remembering the past
It's time you learned to live again at last
Come with me, leave yesterday behind
And take a giant step outside your mind

You stare at me in disbelief
You say for you there's no relief
But I swear I'll prove you wrong
Don't stay in your lonely room
Just staring back in silent gloom
That's not where you belong

Come with me, I'll take you where the taste of life is green
And every day holds wonders to be seen
Come with me, leave yesterday behind
And take a giant step outside your mind

Come with me, I'll take you where the taste of life is green
And every day holds wonders to be seen
Come with me, leave yesterday behind
And take a giant step outside your mind

See Also[]

Around the Web[]

Advertisement