Donny Kirshner had to make a living, and with changing musical tastes, he turned to an audience that was too young to smoke pot – or so he thought! – and launched his move into bubble gum. Jeff Barry soon followed, teaming with Andy Kim. Kirshner turned to
Gerry Goffin and Carole King to provide his group, the Monkees, with a hit in 1967. It was the duo’s attempt to be relevant with respect to lyrics, while still working within a bubble gum framework.
The Monkees: “Pleasant Valley Sunday”