Monkees - Monkees (Dlx)
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Free Music Notes for Monkees (Dlx)
Free Music Review: The Beatles should have it this good
Hit: 5 Stars
I have been a fan of the Monkees since they first appeared in 1966, when I was nine. The TV show and records profoundly affected me, initiating a lifelong love of music for which I am forever grateful. I have owned all of their recordings in every conceivable format, including all three of the previous CD versions of this album (the original Japanese issue, the US Arista and the previous Rhino).
I am a picky connoisseur. I am also a grouch. I was prepared to hate this so-called "deluxe" issue, ready to dismiss it as a cynical attempt to get hard-core fans (like me) to shell out AGAIN for the music we love. And I am a recording engineer who knows a thing or two about mastering.
Nevertheless, I am delighted to report that is not only the finest edition of this record ever released, it is one of the best reissues of a '60s pop album EVER issued.
Disc 1 has the original LP in stereo with nine bonus tracks. Side 2 has the LP's monaural mix plus eight MORE bonus tracks. The double-gatefold package is very impressive, the extensive liner notes (by Andrew Sandoval, who probably knows more about this group than anybody) are excellent, and the production credits are as complete as it's possible to recreate after forty years. There are also plenty of tasty photos, many of which I've never seen before.
Only seven of the seventeen bonus tracks have never been issued before. Most of the others appeared on either the previous Rhino version of this album, or on one of the three volumes of MISSING LINKS rarities released in the 90s (all now out of print). If you don't already have any of these discs, these tracks will be of great interest.
However, the real reason you want to get this edition is the sound. This album has never sounded as good as this, not EVER. Every track is clean and quiet, with low distortion and a degree of natural expressiveness I haven't heard in forty years of intent listening. I am not exaggerating. I do not work for Rhino. This is a genuinely impressive restoration job!
Curious as to what was being done, I extracted the waveforms into my computer and examined them. Amazingly, unlike almost every other remastering job being done these days, there has been no attempt to make this music sound as "loud" as possible. The entire dynamic range of the source tapes appears to be completely preserved! The waveform display clearly shows how some songs (like "I Wanna Be Free", or the central bridge of "Last Train To Clarksville") are ALLOWED to sound softer than the other tracks. This is almost un-heard of in today's world of iPod-friendly mixes with savagely squashed dynamic range. Congratulations and thanks to Dan Hersch, Andrew Sandoval and Bill Inglot at Digiprep for finally, FINALLY getting it right.
The same high standards apply to the companion edition of MORE OF THE MONKEES.
If you're a Monkees fan, you owe it to yourself to purchase these fine editions at once. Please support Rhino/Warner so they will be encouraged to continue issuing the remainder of the Monkees catalog in this truly deluxe format.
Let's hope somebody at Apple is paying attention.
NOTE: The mono mix of the album is a minor feature. Instead, it would be a lot more interesting to include the backing tracks of each song, without the vocals. This would allow us to study the arrangements in detail. And what a boon to karaoke enthusiasts!
Free Music Review: Don't let this one pass you by!
Hit: 5 Stars
These songs sound just as fresh, vibrant and wonderful as they did when I was seven years old. Classic tracks such as "Sweet Young Thing", "Let's Dance On", "Saturday's Child" and, of course, `Last Train to Clarksville" are true pop classics that deserve more respect and umbrage than the Monkees detractor's jibes - for not being an "organic" band. The fact remains, though, that David Jones, Mike Nesmith and Micky Dolenz's vocals combined with Mike and Peter Tork's (the fourth Monkee), Glen Campbell, Louie Shelton and James Burton (Rick Nelson and Elvis Presley's lead guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member) musicianship produced timely music that is much better than the "organic" music of its day. To be blunt, many of the "real bands" complete catalogues don't contain as much great music as the great gems on just the group's first two albums("The Monkees' and "More of the Monkees.)" In addition, Rhino entertainment and Andrew Sandoval have done a great job in remastering and chronicling the album's history (in the liner notes). While many of the bonus tracks were already available in the Monkees "Missing Links" series (three CD's), it's great to have them in one place, with improved sound quality to boot. When you hear some of the bonus songs such as "Of You", "All the Kings Horses" and "I Don't Think You Know Me At All" (two versions), you'll be amazed that they weren't included on "The Monkees" or "More of the Monkees.". Lastly, there are seven previously unreleased songs such as the alternate version of "The Kind of Girl I Could Love," that are truly magnificent. In summary, even if you have the early Arista, Arista/BMG (Japanese import) or Rhino (1994) versions of this album, but it anyway! If you're unfamiliar with these albums or The Monkees, but love beautifully crafted pop classics, then take a chance. You won't be sorry. Also......your purchase of "The Monkees" and "More of the Monkees" deluxe edtions will help ensure that Rhino releases the remaining Monkee albums in the deluxe format. Andrew Sandoval has told me that Rhino does plan to release "Headquaters" and "Pisces,Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones LTD" in 2007.Free Music Review: I wanted to write a nasty review, but it's too good
Hit: 5 Stars
This deluxe edition of the Monkees debut album is so well done, I couldn't write anything nasty. The whole thing was presented with lots of love and care.
The sound quality is great in both mono & stereo, just like the Capitol Record Beatle releases that came out recently. Except that this release gives you so much more. Such as the bonus material, which is really entertaining, I loved some of the stuff I'd never heard before, like the instrumental version of "Gonna Buy Me A Dog," that plain rocks. The booklet is also great, with lots of rare photos and the in depth story of the making of this album, and really, if this debut album hadn't been so good, I doubt Monkeemania would've taken off as big as it did.
The overall packaging is top notch and very classy. It makes me hope the Beatles get this kind of treatment through Apple, and my other favorite band, Deep Purple get this sort of stunning re-packaging from Rhino as well.
Back to the Monkees, I grew up on the mono versions of their albums, up to their fifth, "The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees" in April 1968, so I was really thrilled to see that mono finally made it to compact disc. I've always thought that the mono mixes were better, on this album in particular. It made the overall impression of a heavier rock band sound. The opener, "Theme from the Monkees" is a perfect example, it's a much heavier mix than stereo, with distorted guitars brought more to the forefront.
As for the stereo mastering, it sounded overall better than the original Rhino CD's, but I'm not completely sure there wasn't a little added compression going on. A few of the songs seemed different, like the signal might have been pushed harder than the older Rhino discs. I can't be completly sure, maybe that's just the way the 40 year old material was recorded, and the new mastering just happens to bring out that sort of thing. But overall, a wonderful job from Rhino. Sure they seem to be milking the Monkee cow, but when it's this good, milk it baby. Next up, More of the Monkees.
Free Music Review: The birth of the Faux Four
Hit: 5 Stars
Here is where all began. With a dramatic quick drum roll history is made, the greatest and most profitable merger between art and commerce and between two mediums. Yes, Elvis had his films and records and so did the Beatles but neither had their own weekly TV show. Witness the birth of the Faux Four. For something that was put together in assembly line fashion most of the songs are top notch and have a "mostly" cohesive sound throughout the album.
I was always partial to the Boyce & Hart productions because they had the right amount of grit and a more Kinks / Stones feel than say the Goffin & King stuff. Mike Nesmith also had the brass to stand firm and have 2 of his songs on the album and the record is better off for it.
For the first time in a long while the mono version is available along with the stereo version. I preferred the mono because I feel that it's the best way to hear it. The bonus tracks are very welcomed and there are some great performances here. Be forewarned that these discs come in a cardboard digipk.
So in summation:
-mono and stereo versions
-bonus tracks a plenty
-great re-mastering job
-informative liner notes
-go get it.
Free Music Review: Top 60's Band
Hit: 5 Stars
This is a band who hit it big in the 60's with some massive hits.Their TV series was very popular,and they seemed to do no wrong earlier in their careers.But a combination of things lead to this groups downfall.Changing times was one of them,and people found out the did not play their own instruments on the recordings.These days thats common,and even back then alot of bands had outside help to make their albums.But they struggled to produce the hits after a while,their show ended,band members left till their was only 2 left.
But in those years some excellent songs were made.The Monkees Theme,Last Train To Clarksville,I'm A Believer,(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone,A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You,Pleasant Valley Sunday,Daydream Believer,as well as many other hits on this cd.Another song i like which is not here called Look Out Here Comes Tomorrow is a favorite of mine.
They had some great songwriters helping them such as Neil Diamond and the Boyce and Heart team.They also had writing credits to alot of songs of their own.This group was one of the best 60's bands.