49. Joe Adragna Discusses The Monkees, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.

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Are The Monkees a real band? Does any one of their vocalists stand out above the others? These are just a couple of the questions that Joe Adragna of The Junior League and Sadabouts addresses on this episode of You, Me and An Album, which is centered on The Monkees’ 1967 album, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. Joe also talks about working with Jay Ferguson, Scott McCaughey and Casey Neill, why he decided to write about New York for his latest Junior League album, the Monkees tribute band he plays in and what’s next for him musically.

You can keep up with Joe and his musical projects on Twitter and Instagram at @thejuniorleague (on both platforms).

You can find The Junior League discography on Bandcamp at https://thejuniorleague.bandcamp.com/.

Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.

1:06 Joe joins the show

1:18 Joe said something that reminded Al of a gift he got from his grandparents 50 years ago

4:57 Joe never planned on moving to New Orleans, but it’s become his home

6:49 Joe discusses meeting and collaborating with Jay Ferguson of Sloan

9:15 Scott McCaughey has played a key role in Joe’s career

13:28 Joe explains how he wound up writing an album full of songs about New York

17:03 Joe and Casey Neill went for a different sound on their Sadabouts EPs

19:49 Joe talks about his songwriting process

21:45 Hearing the Beatles was a formative experience for Joe

23:31 Did Joe ever not think of The Monkees as a “real band”?

26:00 Watching their show deepened Joe’s appreciation for The Monkees

30:26 Joe plays in a Monkees tribute band

31:48 Unlike Al, Joe likes the production on Pisces

36:31 Joe and Al break down Salesman’s appeal as an album opener

42:28 Joe likes the “mixed mode” of the Monkees featured on Pisces

45:28 Joe is impressed by Mike and Mickey’s vocals

49:29 The album’s sequencing and song selection makes Pisces a great album for Joe

53:20 Did the Monkees influence Todd Rundgren?

55:17 Joe and Al admire Mickey’s drumming

59:33 Pisces was one of the first recordings to feature a Moog synthesizer

1:01:47 Joe likes Daily Nightly for more than just the Moog

1:03:33 What Am I Doing Hangin’ Round is a standout track for Joe and Al

1:06:18 Social media has helped to bring Monkees fans together

1:07:36 Joe appreciates how Pisces gives each band member a spotlight

1:11:06 Cuddly Toy helped to raise Harry Nilsson’s profile

1:12:30 The Monkees did not get respect in the American Rock Mock

1:14:35 Joe has updates on The Junior League and Sadabouts

Outro music is from Hart Island by The Junior League.

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