What Am I Doing Hangin' Round

Michael Nesmith's rural Texas roots and future musical paths crossed on Michael Martin Murphey and Owen Castleman's brisk ballad “What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?“ The authors were the Monkees' labelmates at Colgems under the Lewis & Clarke Expedition moniker, and Murphey and Nesmith had actually been acquaintances prior to the Monkees project. There is a discernible Bakersfield flavor to the selection, as Doug Dillard's exemplary banjo picking is coupled with Nesmith's twangy narrative and some effervescently rhythmic contributions from bassist Chip Douglas, together creating a feisty countrified rocker in the vein of latter-era Byrds and/or the Flying Burrito Brothers. This song provides one of the rare post-Headquarters occasions that all four Monkees played on the same studio cut. In addition to solid background vocals from Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones, Peter Tork joins Nesmith on guitar.