music.wikisort.org - Composition

"Take a Giant Step" is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, and first released by American pop rock band the Monkees in 1966.

"Take a Giant Step"
US single
Single by The Monkees
from the album The Monkees
A-side	"Last Train to Clarksville"
Released	16 August 1966
Recorded	9 July 1966 RCA Victor Studios, Studio C Hollywood, California
Genre	Pop rock
Length	2:31
Label	Colgems 1001
Songwriter(s)	Gerry Goffin Carole King
Producer(s)	Tommy Boyce Bobby Hart

History

The song was released as the B-side to the band's first single, "Last Train to Clarksville", and later appeared as the closing track on side one of their debut album.[1] Micky Dolenz performed lead vocals.[1]

The song is presented as a plea to a heartbroken girl to move on from her past romantic disappointments, and to "learn to live again at last", by "taking a giant step outside your mind". Critic Eric Lefcowitz describes the song as "proto-psychedelic."[2]

Fountain of Youth released a version of the song in June 1968 on the Monkees' own Colgems label, featuring a different arrangement.[3][4]

The song was later covered by singer Taj Mahal, in a significantly rearranged version, and included as the title track to his 1969 double album release Giant Step/De Ole Folks at Home.[5] It was also recorded by Rising Sons—featuring Mahal and Ry Cooder—in 1966, but not released until 1992 on their self-titled album.[6]

The song was also covered by Bobby Sherman in the March 20, 1970, episode of the television series Here Come the Brides, titled "Absalom".

Nina Hagen released a German version of the song (titled "Riesenschritt") on her 1995 album FreuD euch.[7]

References

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