{{More citations needed|date=January 2015}} {{Infobox song | name = Circle Sky | cover = | alt = | caption = album cover | type = | artist = The Monkees | album = Head | released = December 1, 1968 | format = | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = * Rock<ref name="Segretto 2022">{{cite book|title=33 1/3 Revolutions Per Minute - A Critical Trip Through the Rock LP Era, 1955–1999|first=Mike|last=Segretto|date=2022|chapter= 1968|pages= 183–186|publisher=Backbeat|isbn=9781493064601|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jtNtEAAAQBAJ}}</ref> * garage rock<ref name= "Rolling Stone Staff 2024">{{cite web|last= Rolling Stone Staff|title= The 101 Greatest Soundtracks of All Time|website= Rolling Stone|date= September 24, 2024|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-movie-soundtracks-1235083518/|accessdate= October 5, 2024}}</ref> | length = | label = Colgems | writer = Michael Nesmith | producer = }} "'''Circle Sky'''" is a song written by Michael Nesmith which appeared on The Monkees' sixth album, the ''Head'' soundtrack, and also in the film ''Head'' as a live concert performance.
==Background and inspiration==
The song is written and performed in style reminiscent to the work of musician Bo Diddley, staying mostly on a single chord (A Major), while strumming barre chords (from B Major to E Major) down the guitar neck for the intro, outro, and breaks, and from B minor to D minor for the bridge. The lyrics are impressions of sights and sounds on a Monkees tour, while "Hamilton's smiling down" refers to a Hamilton music stand, used for rehearsals and recording.
==Release== While the movie included the song performed live by the Monkees in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 17, 1968 during a free show at the Valley Music Hall, the original soundtrack album instead substituted a studio recording, made by Nesmith and session musicians (an unexplained decision that became a major source of tension in the group). The film version intercut Vietnam War footage with concert footage and featured several mirrored shots of the band onstage.
A lo-fi transcription of the concert version was included on ''Monkeemania (40 Timeless Hits)'', a compilation from the early 1980s,<ref name="monkeemania">{{cite web |url=http://www.monkeesconcerts.com/blog/monkeemania-40-timeless-hits-from-the-monkees-lp |title= 'Monkeemania: 40 Timeless Hits From The Monkees' LP |work=The Monkee Live Almanac |date=2014-02-01 |accessdate=2015-01-14 }}</ref> and an alternate studio take appeared on ''Monkee Flips'' in 1984. A stereo recording of the concert version appeared on ''Missing Links Volume Two'' in 1990.
A reworked version of the song opened the Monkees's 1996 reunion album ''Justus'', featuring a rare performance by Davy Jones on guitar.
==Personnel==
Studio version: *Michael Nesmith - lead vocal, guitar, organ, percussion *Keith Allison - guitar *Bill Chadwick - guitar *Eddie Hoh - drums, percussion
Live version (May 17, 1968): *Michael Nesmith - lead vocal, guitar *Davy Jones - percussion, organ *Peter Tork - bass *Micky Dolenz - drums, percussion
''Justus'' version: *Michael Nesmith - lead vocal, guitar *Davy Jones - guitar *Peter Tork - bass *Micky Dolenz - drums
==References== {{reflist}}
{{The Monkees}}
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Category:The Monkees songs Category:1968 songs Category:Songs written by Michael Nesmith