Despite the two musicians in the band, producers were not interested in them writing or even performing on the records. They only wanted them to act and sing. Calculating success of the TV show and records sales required hit records. To ensure that their songs appear on the top 40, producers hired up-coming songwriters as well as using the hits of known hit songwriters Tommy Boyce and Bobby Heart.

Some of those up-and-coming songwriters went on to have huge careers of their own. The biggest name to come out of this was Neil Diamond who wrote their biggest selling hit, “I'm A Believer”. Another one of their most successful singles was “Pleasant Valley Sunday” written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King.

The woman I was hearing on the radio was Carole King telling the story of how her and her then husband Gerry Goffin wrote the song. The couple were New York City songwriters who were starting a family. Not wanting to raise their kids in the big city, they decided to move to the suburbs. So, they took the money they made in royalties and moved to West Orange, New Jersey. Goffin had been unhappy living the suburban life. He looked around and wrote what he saw. I always saw the lyrics as a happy warm place to live. A place that feels like home. However, the lyrics were actually meant to be a social commentary on the boredom, conformity and the status symbols of the suburban lifestyle.

When I heard Carole King say that the song and title were inspired by a specific street in West Orange, I looked it up to see how far it was. It was a very short drive, so I knew I HAD to go there. I had to see the street that inspired a song that has meant to much to me my entire life. I recruited my daughter, Savanna, who is always the person on most of these adventures. We drove out to West Orange and found Pleasant Valley Way.