"You know the song, but this isn't Micky Dolenz singing...
Michael Nesmith always had a voice that was something altogether unique and one-of-a-kind. True, Micky, Davy and Peter all had unique, instantly recognizable voices, but Michael had that sort of Country/Rock edge to his voice that brought an unexpectedly mature dimension to the Monkees.
The Monkees would sometimes record songs and then re-record them at another session, sometimes switching who sang lead. "The Girl I Knew Somewhere" is a strong song to begin with and Micky is nothing short of excellent on the tune. It's been a fan favorite for years and so his version has been etched in stone in my ears for years.
Well, here is a version with Michael in the lead role...and he sounds perfect too. In fact, I won't say which is my favorite between Micky's and Michael's because both are so well done, it would really be like comparing apples and oranges (and maybe "peaches, bananas and pears"!)
Michael brings a sort of Country, world-weary quality to the lyrics. Where Micky is determined to try to figure out where he knows this girl from, but Michael sounds like a man resigned to only knowing that he may have blown a really good opportunity.
The music too seems to roll along much more smoothly, like a non-stop train. The famous and brilliant Peter Tork Harpsichord solo sort of suddenly appears at just the right time and then, unlike the Micky Dolenz version, instead of the music taking a pause, it keeps playing, almost picking up momentum. The lower key also is another plus; a small detail but one that stamps this version as Michael Nesmith's and his alone."
