Vinyl-a-Day 29: Boyce and Hart - I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite? (A&M, 1968)

In addition to penning several hits for the Monkees (“Last Train to Clarksville,” "(Theme from) The Monkees”) as well as hits for other artists of the era (“(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone” for Paul Revere & The Raiders, “Come a Little Bit Closer” for Jay and the Americans), Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart had several chart-toppers of their own. Their biggest, the flawless pop song “I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite?” peaked at #8 on the US Billboard Charts. The resulting album of the same title contains some overlooked gems such as “Pretty Flowers,” their own version of the Monkees’ “Teardrop City,” “Love Every Day,” “Goodbye Baby (I Don’t Want To See You Cry),” "I'm Digging You Digging Me," and of course their own, unique take on the Monkees/Davy Jones fav “I Wanna Be Free.” Honestly, this is the album the Monkees wish they had made in 1968 - and if you listen to this you’ll understand why Boyce and Hart were brought in by Davy Jones and Mickey Dolenz to replace Tork in Nesmith in the mid-70s for a Monkees reunion of sorts. The resulting album, “Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart” deserves an honorable mention as well.