By admin 
A late-career track by a band often remembered for television and bubblegum pop suddenly feels like a secret anchor for listeners who grew up with them. “Every Step of the Way,” from The Monkees’ reunion album Pool It!, lands with a sincerity that surprises and stays with you.
The Monkees returned to the studio in the late 1980s with Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork and Davy Jones. Pool It! leans into the era’s glossy production, but this song refuses to be merely of its time. It opens with a shimmering guitar figure that feels both familiar and new. The arrangement layers piano warmth, shimmering synths and a steady rhythm that drives the words about loyalty and perseverance.
Producer Roger Bechirian’s touch is clear in the song’s polished sheen. The record mixes the sheen of the 1980s with the band’s old instincts for melody and close harmony. The result is a track that can sit next to the group’s earlier hits while still signaling maturity.
“When we worked on it, the aim was to keep The Monkees’ true voice intact. The band brought a tenderness to the studio that made every phrase count,” Roger Bechirian, producer, said.
The vocal performance is a study in restraint. Micky Dolenz carries the main line with a voice that has learned to hold back and deliver meaning with economy. Davy Jones and Peter Tork add harmonies that swell at the right moments, turning a simple chorus into a communal declaration. The recurring line “every step of the way” becomes a small mantra. It’s not sentimental in a cheap way. It’s steady, like the reassurance of a familiar friend.
The instrumentation deserves attention. Electric guitar gives the song an urgent edge, while piano lines add a classical balance. Layered synthesizers create a soft carpet of sound that was popular at the time but is arranged here with restraint. The drumbeat and bass keep the song moving without calling attention to themselves. Listeners who appreciate clear melody and tidy arrangements will find much to admire.
“This song felt like it was written for anyone who needed to keep going. I’ve been a Monkees fan for decades, and this one still makes me feel seen,” Mary Collins, longtime Monkees fan and community radio host, said.
Lyrically, the track is straightforward and effective. It speaks of dedication and the small, steady acts that make relationships last. That plainspoken approach resonates with an older audience who favor songs that say what they mean without extravagant metaphors. The repetition of the title phrase builds familiarity. It becomes a chorus you can sing along to even after a single listen.
Pool It! never reached the commercial heights of the band’s earliest records. Still, songs like “Every Step of the Way” show how The Monkees adapted their strengths to a changed musical world. The track functions as a bridge between decades. For many listeners, the song serves as a reminder that the band’s gift was always melody, harmony and an instinct for connection.
There is a bittersweet aspect too. The reunion brought these voices together after years apart, and that sense of returned company adds emotional weight. For older listeners, the song can trigger memory: afternoons at the kitchen radio, first dances, the slow accumulation of years. Its production is modern for its day, but the heart of the track is timeless.
Musically, fans who appreciate pairs like guitar and piano or who enjoy warm synth backing will find recommended companions in late-80s ballads and adult pop rock. The Monkees here do what they have always done well: write a simple hook and let the harmony do the work. When the chorus rises, you feel a communal lift, a small chorus of voices promising to keep pace.
On record, “Every Step of the Way” keeps pulling listeners back. It’s not loud. It does not demand attention. It insists on being heard, quietly and persistently, like a hand on your shoulder as you move forward into the next—