Michael Nesmith began recording music in 1963. In his early career, Nesmith went under the pseudonym Michael Blessing. In 1966, Nesmith was cast in The Monkees, where he is largely known as his Monkees' persona "Mike". Of the twelve studio albums The Monkees released, Nesmith performed, produced, and wrote songs on ten of the albums. As a solo artist, Nesmith's musical library includes 13 studio albums, a movie soundtrack, and an instrumental album of his songs, which consists of both solo works and works by the First National Band, which Nesmith fronted in the early 1970s. His library of music was primarily recorded on either RCA Records or his own label, Pacific Arts.

Albums

Year Title Label/Catalog # Highest Billboard Position Canada Notes
1968The Wichita Train Whistle SingsDot 3861 (mono) / 25861 (stereo)144 Album is credited to The Wichita Train Whistle.
1970Magnetic SouthRCA LSP-437114349Album is credited to Michael Nesmith & The First National Band. Some copies came with a "Joanne" sticker on the shrink wrap.
1970Loose SaluteRCA LSP-4415159Album is credited to Michael Nesmith & The First National Band. Some copies came with a circular sticker on the shrink wrap saying "Contains the hit single 'Silver Moon.'"
1971Nevada FighterRCA LSP-4497218Album is credited to Michael Nesmith & The First National Band.
1972Tantamount to Treason Vol. 1RCA LSP-4563211Album is credited to Michael Nesmith & The Second National Band.
1972And the Hits Just Keep on Comin'RCA LSP-4695208 Features only Nesmith and O.J. Rhodes
1973Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch StashRCA APL1-0164
1974The Prison: A Book with a SoundtrackPacific Arts PAC-101Issued with 48-page book to be read while the LP is playing, allowing for a "soundtrack" to the story. Original copies issued in a box cover, while later copies came in a cardboard slip jacket. Some of these later copies had two stickers on the shrink, one saying "Michael Nesmith" and the other "Contains Record and 48-page Full Color Illustrated Book". Record was also sold in book stores.
1977From a Radio Engine to the Photon WingPacific Arts PAC7-107 / Pacific Arts ILPA-9486209Early pressings used the overseas catalog # ILPA-9486 used by Island Records.
1979Infinite Rider on the Big DogmaPacific Arts PAC7-130151 There is also a promotional album sent to radio stations prior to release.
1992Tropical CampfiresPacific Arts
1994The Garden(Rio Records)Companion piece to The Prison: A Book with a Soundtrack. Grammy nominated for New Age album of the year
2000Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann(Rio Records)Soundtrack from the 1982 movie.
2005Rays(Rio Records)Primarily music only, limited vocals.
2015The Ocean(Rio Records)Recitation of the story with music, finishing a trilogy that began with The Prison, and continued with The Garden.

Album

Live albums

Year Title Label/Catalog # Highest Billboard Position Notes
1978Live at the PalaisPacific Arts PAC7-118Some copies came with a 3" circular sticker on the cover reading "Contains the hit single 'Roll With The Flow.'"
1999Live at the Britt FestivalCooking VinylRecorded live in 1992 at the Britt Festival in Jacksonville, Oregon.
2010The Amazing ZigZag ConcertRoad Goes on Forever Records (RGF/ZZBOX1974)Nesmith's concert is disc 5 of a 5 CD various artists box set. Recorded in April 1974.
2014Movies of the MindPacific Arts / VideoranchMichael Nesmith's fall 2013 tour was documented on Movies of the Mind.
2017At The BBC Paris Theatre7A Records LtdMichael Nesmith's live performance in London on November 27, 1975. Released as a CD and Vinyl Picture Disc.
2018Live at the Troubadour7A Records LtdBilled as "Michael Nesmith & the First National Band Redux." Live recording of January 2018 concert at the Troubadour (where Nesmith played in 1964).
2019Cosmic Partners – The McCabe's Tapes7A Records LtdBilled as "Michael Nesmith with Red Rhodes." Recorded live at McCabe's Guitar Shop, Santa Monica, CA, August 18, 1973.

Compilation albums

Year Title Label/Catalog # Notes
1977CompilationPacific Arts PAC7-106
1989The Newer Stuff(Rhino) Contains eight prev. unreleased, archival tracks and six remixed tracks from "Photon Wing" and "Infinite Rider". LP release featured fewer tracks.
1991The Older Stuff(Rhino) Greatest hits of RCA recordings.
1993Complete First National Band RecordingsPacific Arts The three First National Band albums (Magnetic South, Loose Salute and Nevada Fighter) on two discs.
1997Listen to the Band(Camden 74321 523772) European compilation of RCA recordings.
2008Rio: The Best Of Michael Nesmith(Music Club Deluxe MCDLX092) UK 2-CD compilation of studio and live recordings.
2021Different Drum: The Lost RCA Victor RecordingsReal Gone Music RGM-1044alternate takes and unreleased tracks

Reissue albums

Year Title Label/Catalog # Notes
1978The Wichita Train Whistle SingsPacific Arts PAC7-113Reissue of 1968 Dot release with new album jacket design.
1978And the Hits Just Keep on Comin'Pacific Arts PAC7-116Reissue of 1972 RCA release with standard jacket (RCA release had gatefold jacket).
1978Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch StashPacific Arts PAC7-117Reissue of 1973 RCA release with standard jacket (RCA release had gatefold jacket).
2008Magnetic South & Loose Salute(Camden) paired album release
2008Nevada Fighter & Tantamount to Treason(Camden) paired album release
2008And the Hits Just Keep on Comin' & Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch Stash(Camden) paired album release
2008From a Radio Engine to the Photon Wing & Infinite Rider on the Big Dogma(Edsel) paired album release
2008The Wichita Train Whistle Sings & Timerider(Edsel) paired album release
2015Michael Nesmith – Original Album ClassicsRCABoxed set containing Magnetic South, Loose Salute, Nevada Fighter, Tantamount to Treason & And the Hits Just Keep on Comin'. Contains 4 bonus tracks.

Promotional albums

Year Title Label/Catalog # Highest Billboard Position Notes
1979The Michael Nesmith Radio SpecialPacific Arts PAC7-1300Promotional LP featuring all the tracks from Infinite Rider on the Big Dogma as well as interview snippets.

Singles

Date U.S. Label & number Titles (A-side, B-side) Billboard Hot 100 Cashbox Billboard A/C RPM (Canada) RPM A/C (Canada) Kent Music Report (Australia) Notes Album
1963Highness HN-13"Wanderin"
b/w "Well, Well"
Credited as Mike Nesmith. Vanity pressingNon-album tracks
1965Omnibus 239"How Can You Kiss Me"
b/w "Just A Little Love"
Credited as Mike & John & Bill. John London is the bassist, later of Nesmith's First National Band. Bill Sleeper is the drummer. (The trio broke up when Sleeper was drafted into the US Army.)
09/1965Colpix CP-787"The New Recruit"
b/w "A Journey with Michael Blessing"
Credited to Michael Blessing.
11/9/1965Colpix CP-792"Until It's Time for You to Go"
b/w "What Seems To Be the Trouble Officer"
Credited to Michael Blessing.
4/1967Edan 1001"Just A Little Love"
b/w "Curson Terrace"
A-side is same as Omnibus 239. B-side is credited to Mike & Tony. Mike has stated in an interview that it's him, but has no idea who Tony was.
07/1968Dot 45-17152"Tapioca Tundra"
b/w "Don't Cry Now"
Credited to The Wichita Train Whistle. L.A.'s finest session musicians, led by Nesmith, though he does not appear on the recordings as either musician or vocalist. "Don't Cry Now" is edited from the album.The Wichita Train Whistle Sings
07/1970RCA 47-9853"Little Red Rider"
b/w "Rose City Chimes" (Non-album track)
Credited to Michael Nesmith and the First National Band. Until its release as a bonus track on CD in 2001, non-LP 'B' side was a sought after collectable.Magnetic South
08/1970RCA 74-0368"Joanne"
b/w "One Rose"
211764-3Credited to Michael Nesmith and the First National Band.
11/1970RCA 74-0399"Silver Moon"
b/w "Lady Of The Valley"
42287131311Credited to Michael Nesmith and the First National Band. Also reached #34 in Germany.Loose Salute
04/1971RCA 74-0453"Nevada Fighter"
b/w "Here I Am"
707367Credited to Michael Nesmith and the First National Band. Issued with picture sleeve.Nevada Fighter
06/1971RCA 74-0491"Texas Morning"
b/w "Tumbling Tumbleweeds"
Credited to Michael Nesmith and the First National Band. Single released as promo with both songs on B-side and "Texas" only on A-side with release #SPS-45-263.
10/1971RCA 74-0540"I've Just Begun To Care (Propinquity)"
b/w "Only Bound"
95Credited to Michael Nesmith and the First National Band.
01/1972RCA 74-0629"Mama Rocker"
b/w "Lazy Lady"
Credited to Michael Nesmith and the Second National Band. A-side is faded out early versus LP version.Tantamount To Treason Volume One
08/1972RCA 74-0804"Roll With The Flow"
b/w "Keep On"
"Roll With the Flow" is edited from LP version.And The Hits Just Keep Comin'
03/1977Pacific Arts IP084"Rio"
b/w "Life, The Unsuspecting Captive" (from The Prison)
4A shorter version (3:29) released as a double-sided stereo promo as IP088. Reached number 28 in the UK and received considerable radio airplay.From A Radio Engine To The Photon Wing
06/1978Pacific Arts PAC45-101"Roll With The Flow"
b/w "I've Just Begun To Care (Propinquity)"
Both songs are edited from the live LP.Live At The Palais
1979Pacific Arts PAC45-104"Rio"
b/w "Casablanca Moonlight"
Issued with picture sleeve. Shorter version than Pacific Arts IP084.From A Radio Engine To The Photon Wing
06/1979Pacific Arts PAC45-106"Magic"
b/w "Dance"
Infinite Rider On The Big Dogma
08/1979Pacific Arts PAC45-108"Cruisin'"
b/w "Horserace"
Reissue singles
05/1971RCA 447-0868"Joanne" / "Silver Moon"Reissue credited to Michael Nesmith and the First National Band. Early pressings on red label, later pressings on black label.
1998Collectibles COL-4759"Joanne" / "Silver Moon"Reissue.
  • Nesmith recorded "The World is Golden Too" in 1975 for the Japanese movie Blue Angels. An edited version of this song was released as a 45. The uncut version appears on the soundtrack.

MP3 single songs

In 2011, Nesmith began releasing new recordings as MP3 downloads from his website, Videoranch.com. The songs are available under two headings (or album collections): Iteration and Around the Sun. As each song is updated and remixed, Nesmith has released the updated version. In addition to the new music, Nesmith also releases live songs and alternate mixes of songs from previous albums.

Year Title Label Notes
2011Helen's Eternal Birthday SinglePacific Arts/Videoranch The first MP3 single to be released from Videoranch. Two versions were released. The second version was titled "January – Helen's Eternal Birthday Single v1.0". The first version has since been removed.
2011Only Understanding LovePacific Arts/Videoranch Released in two mixes, 1.0 and 2.0
2011Smiles of AutumnPacific Arts/Videoranch Released as version 1.0
2012Love Is The PlacePacific Arts/Videoranch Two versions were available (rough mixes 1.0 and 2.0), but both have since been deleted.
2012Life is LongPacific Arts/Videoranch Three versions are available (version 1.0, 1.1 and 2.5)
2012I Know What I KnowPacific Arts/Videoranch Four versions are available (version 1.0, 1.5, 1.6 and 2.0). However, what is presumed to be the final version was released in 2016 on The Monkees' album, Good Times

References

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