Monkees, The (Deluxe Edition) - Monkees (The)

Advantages: timeless pop
Disadvantages: none

...More of the Monkees, reissued on rhino records, was the Monkees 2nd album released just as they were hitting the big time containing most of the songs from the 1st TV series. Unfortunately the Monkees themselves were far from happy with this album, as everything was prerecorded and all they had to do was add the vocal tracks - so manufactured pop definately. But the quality of songs is very high, as would be expected with songwriters such as Goffin & King. But also interesting is the range of the songs suggesting that no-one knew quite how to sell the monkees. These range from the classic "Daydream believer" to 60's pop "look out here comes tomorrow" the novelty " Auntie Grizelda" Peter Tork's first lead vocal to the garage band "Mary, Mary" and "steppin Stone". All things to all fans - a classic... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: A compact, easily accessible collection of great 60's tunes.
Disadvantages: It's a pity it wasn't a ten CD-box.

...This remains probably my favourite box-set of all time. This was a real godsend upon release in 1991, as at the time hardly any of the Monkees records were still on catalogue. The package contains four CD's, containing all of the Monkees hit singles, their best-known album tracks, and a smattering of previously unreleased material. Being merely a six-year old fan of the Monkees TV show in the 60's, I wasn't overly concerned with the critics obsession with the fact that the Monkees didn't play on their records. (As I got older I found out that this wasn't necessarily always the case). Nevertheless, despite the myriad of changes that have occured within my musical tastes since then, I've always retained a deep love of their music, particularly tracks like Stepping Stone, Words, The Girl I Knew Somewhere, Circle Sky and Pleasant Valley... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: bonus tracks, sleevenotes
Disadvantages: film extracts

...Hey Hey we are the Monkees You know we aim to please with our manufactured Image and no philosophies So starts Diego Ditto on the Head LP. Like the Head film itself this album sticks the boot into the cheesey teen hero image the monkees had, and the film and album achieved this successfully with Peter Tork leaving before making any further new recordings and the hits drying up - probably as Jack Nicholson (co-producer of the film and cd intended. The cd itself shows both sides of the group with top quality songwriters (Carole King / Harry Nilsson) bought in and CK providing the sublime "porpoise song" but with Mike Nesmith and Peter Tork each contributing 2 songs each as well. On the performing front the album proper shows each Monkees has their own gang who played on their songs, but the bonus tracks on the rhino issue show the group... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful