Michael Nesmith - Cruisin' (AI upscale, alternate audio mix)

Directed by William Dear, 1981. This clip was included in "Elephant Parts," a Grammy-winning collection of sketch comedy and music videos.

Many people believed (perhaps still do) that Hulk Hogan played Sunset Sam, a fact compounded by Nesmith mistakenly telling people that in 1989 before eventually correcting himself on the record years later. In fact, the actor was popularly known as Steve Strong, wrestling under the names Strangler Steve Disalvo, Sadistic Steve Strong, Billy Jack Strong, & The Minotaur throughout his career.

I've seen it claimed that Deborah Pratt played Lucy. She did appear in "Elephant Parts" (credited on IMDB like most of the performers as playing "Self") and would go on to co-create "Quantum Leap" and become extremely accomplished in the entertainment industry. But why would she be the only person from this music video who got a credit, when even Steve Strong went uncredited? I think it's clear she was part of the comedy ensemble, but the identity of the person who actually played Lucy is still a mystery.

Finally, IMDB reveals that the uncredited role of "Propositioning inflatable hooker on park bench during the song: 'lucy and ramona and their brother sunset sam'" was played by Billy Curtis, who has 119 screen acting credits to his name dating back to 1932. He passed away in 1988.

The audio here is the alternate mix included on Nesmith's "The Newer Stuff" compilation released in 1989.

[vidadanger]

Three days ago my dad said he wanted to hear "Lucy and Ramona" and I said no problem and brought up this video. The following morning he died. So this is the last song I listened to with my dad and honestly I'm really stoked about it.

[pierre]

when i was much younger, my dad tried to get me into mike nesmith by showing me this video because it was his favorite. I never really got it or the monkees, and I mostly forgot about it completely. But a few weeks after my dad died, this popped up on a spotify radio and I thought it was so good that I listened to all available Nez songs for like a month straight, and then moved on to the whole monkees discography and the TV Show, but I never got around to elephant parts so I never realized the connection until about 6 months later when I finally sat down to watch elephant parts and sure enough, the second sam came on screen I suddenly started bawling, haha. It's been two years since my old man died but I like to think that if there is some higher power, then this song coming back to me after so many years is due to them.

[jacklowe]

Nesmith was a genius. Not just in music or in business. . .but in life. Read his autobiography. Miss you, Nes.

[Hammersmithblues]

I watched this back when it was brand new and was in heavy rotation on HBO's Video Jukebox. Really happy to be able to experience it again whenever I like

[jharres]

I vividly remember watching this video on MTV and Friday Night Videos and thinking it was so cool that I knew who Mike Nesmith was. It's totally not my kind of music, but it burns so brightly in my memory that it's a true classic in my mind.

[mikevanblommestein]

Thanks for upscaling this clip and posting it…..Mike Nesmith was an amazing creative talent.

[wildbell]

I appreciate this so much. I return to hang out with this video every now and again like an old friend.

[bradostle]

mate i cant thank you enough for this better looking vid of this.sam getting kicked out of a nuclear testing site because he is a peace loving hippie who likes to work out because of his love of a strong america.

[craigcarnachan]

Im Now 60 and i loved this Song in My teens and it's still a frigging good song 40 years on lol .. Good Things Never Die they Just Get Better lol ..

[CynFinnegan-lbuo]

Can't remember how many times I voted for this video on "Friday Night Videos." One of my favorites. Rest in peace, Papa Nez.

[MsAhmebah]

As a Monkees fan, Mike's style here took a while for me to catch on. Now I love his creations!! RIP Nez

[tl]

I think I first saw this video on Night Flight on the USA Network probably 1981, I was 15.
The guy that plays Sunset Sam was also a wrestler in real life and he called himself Steve Strong. He also played in the movie Tarzan with Bo Derek, he was the villain that fought Tarzan.
I really like this song and the video it's got an incredible beat.

[paultreadaway]

So catchy the facials Mike made for MTV and helped made way the surge in the 80s.Lucy and Romana on their Skates at Sunset Strip love it.The talented genius Monkee and Artist of all and the goat ♑🐐 Musos in history.Elephant Parts to Pop Clips to it all hes the legend to be blessed and part of the greatest decade of all time never to forget miss it so much oh hail the 80s atmosphere could harp on and explain vibes and feelings like no other time or place in history

[ThrobertMcGee]

I named one of my pet rats after Ramona in this song, because it starts with R, and it amused me to imagine a rat with tiny little roller skates.

One of the sweetest pets I've ever had.

[charliebalsam]

Rolling Stone correctly called Nesmith's albums "Infinite Rider..." "From a Photon Engine..., " and "Tropical Campfires" the best RnRoll you've never heard.

[emmarae]

“Trying to figure out if he was gay.”😂 I watched Elephant Parts with my parents when I was 10.😂

[cherylhulting]

Half of the fun of "Cruisin" is watching Nez suppress the desire to crack up. 😂 He really did have a wicked sense of humor.

Miss you. Nez. RIP. ❤

[spiritnme]

Ah Nez is missed greatly by his die hard friends! That is all of us that knew his talent and wit!

[jamesswapinski]

The highlight most definitely from "Elephant 🐘 Parts"!

[percyvolnar]

The 80's were such simpler times. I miss them. America was not as polarized as it is today. RIP the 80's and Michael Nesmith! :(