Take a Giant Step (song)

"Take a Giant Step" is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and released by the American band The Monkees in 1966. It was also covered in 1969 by singer Taj Mahal.

"Take a Giant Step"
US single label
Single by The Monkees
from the album The Monkees
A-side"Last Train to Clarksville"
Released16 August 1966
Recorded9 July 1966
RCA Victor Studios, Studio C
Hollywood, CA
GenrePop rock
Length2:31
LabelColgems #1001
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
The Monkees singles chronology
"Take a Giant Step"
(1966)		 "I'm a Believer"
(1966)

History

The song was released as the B-side to the band's single "Last Train to Clarksville" and also as the closing track on side 1 of their debut album The Monkees.[1] Micky Dolenz sang the lead vocal.[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]

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.[3] It was also recorded by Taj Mahal, Ry Cooder, and the Rising Sons in 1966 but not released until 1992 on their self-titled album.

Labelmates of the Monkees on Colgems Records, Fountains of Youth, also released a version of the song, again with a much different arrangement. [4]

Nina Hagen released a German version, titled "Riesenschritt", of the song on her 1995 album FreuD euch.[5]

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References
  1. Planer, L. "Take a Giant Step". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
  2. Lefcowitz, E. (2011). Monkee Business. Retrofuture. pp. 43, 52. ISBN 9780943249018.
  3. Planer, L. "Giant Step". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
  4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCl-m33YZ2Q
  5. "freuD euch - Nina Hagen Songs, Reviews, Credits AllMusic". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
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