"Different Drum" was written by Mike Nesmith (of The Monkees) in 1965 and originally recorded by the northern bluegrass band the Greenbriar Boys.
The song is best known for the 1967 version credited to the Stone Poneys, featuring a vocal performance by a young and up-and-coming singer named Linda Ronstadt. Ronstadt's version flips the gender references in Nesmith's original lyric, replacing "girl" with "boy" when describing her lover, but still referring to him being "pretty". The Stone Poneys had initially intended to record an "acoustic ballad version" of the song, but producer Nick Venet opted for a more complex instrumental approach, using an arrangement by Jimmy Bond (who also played bass), guitarist Al Viola, drummer Jim Gordon, strings led by Sid Sharp, and harpsichord played in baroque style (and largely improvised during the recording) by Don Randi. As a result, Ronstadt was the only member of the Stone Poneys who actually performed on the record. The album rendition offers a different stereo mix than the hit single, including a longer harpsichord bridge. Ronstadt later commented that she had been surprised and "completely confused" by the changed approach to the song, and that even years later she perceived "fear and a lack of confidence" in her performance. Nesmith, on the other hand, said that Ronstadt's performance of his song "infused it with a new level of passion and sensuality". In later live performances of the song, Nesmith would often sing the closing verse in the same singing style as the Ronstadt version.
"Different Drum" was written by Mike Nesmith (of The Monkees) in 1965 and originally recorded by the northern bluegrass band the [Greenbriar Boys](https://www.hooktube.com/watch?v=GaukXklUHNk).
The song is best known for the 1967 version credited to the Stone Poneys, featuring a vocal performance by a young and up-and-coming singer named Linda Ronstadt. Ronstadt's version flips the gender references in Nesmith's original lyric, replacing "girl" with "boy" when describing her lover, but still referring to him being "pretty". The Stone Poneys had initially intended to record an "acoustic ballad version" of the song, but producer Nick Venet opted for a more complex instrumental approach, using an arrangement by Jimmy Bond (who also played bass), guitarist Al Viola, drummer Jim Gordon, strings led by Sid Sharp, and harpsichord played in baroque style (and largely improvised during the recording) by Don Randi. As a result, Ronstadt was the only member of the Stone Poneys who actually performed on the record. The album rendition offers a different stereo mix than the hit single, including a longer harpsichord bridge. Ronstadt later commented that she had been surprised and "completely confused" by the changed approach to the song, and that even years later she perceived "fear and a lack of confidence" in her performance. Nesmith, on the other hand, said that Ronstadt's performance of his song "infused it with a new level of passion and sensuality". In [later live performances](https://hooktube.com/watch?v=SMkiZ9tO-Zs) of the song, Nesmith would often sing the closing verse in the same singing style as the Ronstadt version.
"Different Drum" was written by Mike Nesmith (of The Monkees) in 1965 and originally recorded by the northern bluegrass band the Greenbriar Boys.
The song is best known for the 1967 version credited to the Stone Poneys, featuring a vocal performance by a young and up-and-coming singer named Linda Ronstadt. Ronstadt's version flips the gender references in Nesmith's original lyric, replacing "girl" with "boy" when describing her lover, but still referring to him being "pretty". The Stone Poneys had initially intended to record an "acoustic ballad version" of the song, but producer Nick Venet opted for a more complex instrumental approach, using an arrangement by Jimmy Bond (who also played bass), guitarist Al Viola, drummer Jim Gordon, strings led by Sid Sharp, and harpsichord played in baroque style (and largely improvised during the recording) by Don Randi. As a result, Ronstadt was the only member of the Stone Poneys who actually performed on the record. The album rendition offers a different stereo mix than the hit single, including a longer harpsichord bridge. Ronstadt later commented that she had been surprised and "completely confused" by the changed approach to the song, and that even years later she perceived "fear and a lack of confidence" in her performance. Nesmith, on the other hand, said that Ronstadt's performance of his song "infused it with a new level of passion and sensuality". In later live performances of the song, Nesmith would often sing the closing verse in the same singing style as the Ronstadt version.