For fans of The Monkees, December 30th is a big day: It’s the birthday of both Davy Jones and Michael Nesmith!

Critics be damned, The Monkees put out some of the best pop songs of the 60s.  (They certainly had some of the best songwriters at their disposal. Looking at you Neil Diamond!)  So, in honor of Jones and Nesmith, we look at six tracks that we think are essentials in the Monkees catalog and should be cranked loudly today.

“Last Train To Clarksville”

“Steppin’ Stone”

“Daydream Believer”

“I’m A Believer”

“Mary Mary”

“Valleri”

GALLERY: Classic Images of The Monkees

• The Monkees

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  Pop band 'The Monkees', (L-R) Davy Jones, Mickey Dolenz, Peter Tork and Mike Nesmith, filming a flying sequence for the television show, circa 1968. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

• GettyImages-530242673_594_screen

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• Portrait Of The Monkees Performing

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  Promotional portrait shows the popular music and television group the Monkees as they perform, 1st February 1967. From left, Michael Nesmith (back), Peter Tork (fore), Davy Jones (hanging upside down), and Mickey Dolenz. (Photo by NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)
• Monkee Scientists

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  Television still shows the popular music and television group the Monkees dressed as 'mad scientists,' complete with bubbling beakers, lab coats, and glasses, early 1970s. From left, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, Mickey Dolenz, and Michael Nesmith. (Photo by NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)

• The Monkees Perform

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  Television still shows the popular music and television group the Monkees as they perform onstage in an episode of their self-titled tv show, late 1960s. From left, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, Mickey Dolenz (on drums), and Michael Nesmith. (Photo by NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)

• Portrait Of The Monkees

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  Promotional portrait of popular music and television group the Monkees, dressing in tuxedos and they as they sit in folding chair and look over their shoulders, early 1970s. From left, British musician and actor Davy Jones, and American musician and actors Mickey Dolenz, Peter Tork, and Michael Nesmith. The chairs are labeled with the band's guitar-shaped logo and the name of each member. (Photo by NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)
• Portrait Of The Monkees

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  Promotional portrait of the popular music and television group the Monkees, dressed in matching shirts and vests, 1967. From left, Peter Tork, Michael Nesmith (back), Davy Jones (fore), and Mickey Dolenz. (Photo by NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)

• Four Monkees In A Car

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  Promotional portrait of the popular music and television group the Monkees as they sit in a converticle with side exhausts, early 1970s. From left, Michael Nesmith, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, and Mickey Dolenz. (Photo by NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)

• Portrait Of The Monkees

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  Promotional portrait of the popular music and television group the Monkees, dressed in matching shirts and vests, 1967. From left, Peter Tork, Michael Nesmith (back), Davy Jones (fore), and Mickey Dolenz. (Photo by NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)
• Monkees On Wall Street

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  Musician/actors the Monkees, all dressed in suits, sit around a board room table equipped with a stook ticker in a scene from the television show 'The Monkees,' early 1970s. From left, Peter Tork, Mickey Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and Davy Jones. (Photo by NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)

• Portrait Of Michael Nesmith

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  Portrait of American musician and actor Michael Nesmith, in a knit cap, of the popular music and television group the Monkees, 1967. (Photo by NBC/Courtesy of Getty Images)

• Portrait Of The Monkees

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  Promotional portrait of the Monkees as they pose under a tree, late 1960s. From clockwise rear left, Michael Nesmith, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, and Mickey Dolenz. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
• Portrait Of Davy Jones

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  British musician and actor Davy Jones, in a double-breasted shirt, of the popular music and television group the Monkees, late 1960s. (Photo by Jack Knox/Getty Images)

• Portrait Of Peter Tork

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  American musician and actor Peter Tork, in a double breated shirt, of the popular music and television group the Monkees, late 1960s. (Photo by Jack Knox/Getty Images)

• Portrait Of Mickey Dolenz

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  Portrait of American musician and actor Mickey Dolenz, in a double-breasted shirt, of popular music and television group the Monkees, late 1960s. (Photo by Jack Knox/Getty Images)
• The Monkees

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  2nd February 1967: American pop group The Monkees. Left to right are Mike Nesmith, Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones and Peter Tork. (Photo by Keystone Features/Getty Images)

• Up To Their Necks

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  2nd February 1967: Three members of American pop group The Monkees have been buried up to their necks in sand by fellow group member Davy Jones. Buried members are, left to right, Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz. (Photo by Keystone Features/Getty Images)

• Davy Jones

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  1968: Davy Jones, singer of pop group The Monkees, at Lulu's house in St John's Wood, London. (Photo by Express/Express/Getty Images)
• Monkee Fur

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  circa 1968: Leaving London Airport, British singer Davy Jones of American pop group the Monkees, who were originally formed for an American television comedy and music show. (Photo by George Stroud/Express/Getty Images)

• Cheeky Monkees

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  29th June 1967: Top American pop group the Monkees, originally formed to play the part of a pop group for a comedy television series, enliven a press conference in England. (Photo by James Jackson/Evening Standard/Getty Images)

• Monkees In Bathrobes

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  May 1967: The Monkees pop group, left to right: Mike Nesmith, Davy Jones, Peter Tork (seated) and Mickey Dolenz. (Photo by Keystone Features/Getty Images)
• The Monkees

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  1967: American pop group The Monkees, (left to right) Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones and Peter Tork. (Photo by Keystone Features/Getty Images)

• Micky Dolenz

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  circa 1968: Micky Dolenz, a drummer with the manufactured American pop group The Monkees wearing a turban. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

• Mike Nesmith

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  circa 1968: Mike Nesmith, a guitarist with the manufactured American pop group The Monkees, displays his fashionable sideburns. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
• The Monkees

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  circa 1968: American pop group the Monkees touch down at Melbourne Airport, Australia. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

• Mike Nesmith

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  29th June 1967: American musician Mike Nesmith, a guitarist with the manufactured pop group the Monkees, at a press conference in England. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

• Peter Tork

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  29th June 1967: American musician Peter Tork, a singer and bass guitarist with the manufactured pop group the Monkees, at a press conference in England. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)
• Monkee Talk

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  29th June 1967: American pop group the Monkees (from left) Peter Tork, Mike Nesmith, Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz at a press conference in England. (Photo by Mike McLaren/Central Press/Getty Images)

• The Monkees

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  American pop group The Monkees (left to right) Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork, Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz, at a press conference at the Royal Garden Hotel, London. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images)

• The Monkees

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  American pop group The Monkees at a press conference, from left to right; Peter Tork, Michael Nesmith, Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz. (Photo by F Brooks/Getty Images)

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