Customer Reviews

Best of the Monkees

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Rhino Records has released countless Best of collections by The Monkees. From two separate box sets, to several greatest hits collections, they have constantly repacked the band's hits. The Best of The Monkees is yet another such collection. If you are a fan of the Monkees, then there is no real need to buy this collection as you probably have the songs on several different compilations. The only reasons to get this collections is if you are a completist or you want the bonus karaoke disk that contains five songs. If you are a new fan of the band or are interested in sampling their music, then this set is a generous collection of twenty-five songs. The album includes all the Monkees' essential tracks including the mega-hits like "I'm A Believer", "Last Train To Clarksville", "Pleasant Valley Sunday" and "Daydream Believer", album tracks like "Mary, Mary", "You Just May Be The One", "For Pete's Sake" and "What Am I Doing Hangin' `Round" and lesser known tracks like "Listen To The Band", "Porpoise Song" and "Randy Scouse Git". The album, despite Rhino's recycling, is still a superb collection, because the songs that are included are 60's pop classics.

It seems fitting that the first time I heard a Monkees song ("Last Train to Clarksville") was on the way to the Beatles last concert in Detroit on their last tour anywhere in August, 1966.

I remember riding with my big brother on I-94, playing around with radio stations, then hearing that distinctive intro to "Clarksville" on guitar. I dug it right away. I was vaguely aware that NBC was premiering a new series on a rock group, loosely based on the Beatles, to air in the Fall. I thought to myself that if "Clarksville" was any indication of the music we could expect from this prefab group, it should be a pretty good show.

Little did I know, on that trip to see the Fab Four, that they would play their last public appearance in August, 1966. The Beatles had soured on trekking around the globe playing music that couldn't be heard. They were growing restless with their lack of independence and needed a chance to all do some individual soul searching.

I think the enormous popularity of the Monkees can be linked to the changes the Beatles were experiencing in late 1996-early 1967. The Monkees couldn't have asked for better timing. There is no way NBC or the producers of their show could've known that the Beatles were going to stop touring and go into hibernation around the time of the show's premiere. The Beatles' hibernation and their transformation into a more "mature" group of mustache-wearing soul-seekers in 1967 left a huge gap in the teenybopper music market. The Beatles weren't making music for teenyboppers anymore. They didn't look like cuddly, fresh-scrubbed teen idols anymore. The Monkees did.

Unfortunately, the Monkees teenybopper hysteria came at the time when rock started to be taken seriously by critics. Again, the Beatles set the pace with such singles as "Strawberry Fields Forever" and albums like "Sgt. Pepper." "Serious" rock critics looked upon the Monkees with disdain, even though, or maybe because, their records continued to top the charts in 1966-67.

Even though it was common practice for many rock bands in California to have session musicians play on their records, the Monkees were harshly singled out for this. You have to give the Monkees credit for publicly demonstrating their musical abilities by actually "playing" on albums such as "Headquarters" and "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, & Jones, Ltd." They had the sense to know their limitations as musicians, but they played the music they wanted to play with skill and precision.

It's too bad that the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" has continued to neglect the Monkees. They never got the respect they deserved when they were popular back in the '60s, and they still haven't gotten it now that it's been almost thirty-eight years since their TV show first aired. Like it or not, the Monkees are a big chapter in the history of rock music. I credit them for single-handedly doing more to blaze the trail for the music video format they any other band of their time. Their best songs still hold up and stand the test of time. I hope that someday the "serious" critics will give the Monkees the "serious" credit they so rightfully deserve!

It has been almost 20 years since Rhino Records reissued the original Monkees albums on vinyl. Immediately after this occurrence, the Monkees reunited for their extremely successful 20th anniversary reunion tour. Ten years after that tour, Rhino had given us a box set, rarities collections, a live recording, and the original albums now on compact disc, digitally remastered with bonus tracks. And ever since the Monkees originally disbanded in 1970, there have been numerous 'greatest hits' compilations put on the market. If you are deciding which one to purchase, I would go with this one, slightly favoring it over 1995's "Greatest Hits" (the flower cover).

Why? This CD prominently features selections of the Monkees' finest recorded output that the other disc omits. Songs like "You Just May Be the One" and "For Pete's Sake" from HEADQUARTERS are here, and overall this collection highlights more the music the Monkees made together as a functioning studio unit---and the quality is impressive. (Take that Don Kirshner!)

My only complaint: Rhino chose to delete the two chart hits from the '80s reunion: "That Was Then, This Is Now" and "Heart and Soul." Successful in their own right (the former being a top 20 hit), and for pure nostalgic reasons, I wish these two great pop songs had been kept in the lineup.

I personally prefer the 2-disc set THE MONKEES ANTHOLOGY over any of the 'greatest hits' packages, as it explores fully the wealth of the Monkees catalog, showing how many great songs the band truly created. More hardcore fans should seek out the 4-disc box set MUSIC BOX. And, as with any modern release from Rhino, the sound quality and packaging on all of these collections is superb.

Also included are liner notes by Monkees historian Andrew Sandoval, detailed chart positions, and a colorful collection of photos from the band's heyday. Recommended.

The Monkees should be taken more and less seriously. From the sixties they're popularity has ebbed and flowed probably more than any other band. This collection does them justice. It has all of their hits, plus all the songs that made it on their TV show. The selection and order are impeccable. Some of the songs are likable fluff; others are formidable power pop classics. They even have some social commentary that often gets under the radar. Any way you view it, there isn't one bad song, subjectively. Although objectively, some will have qualms with a few of the sentimental ballads (usually sung by Davy Jones). Admirably, the Monkees themselves hated the pretenses of having a back-up band to play their music, but they manfully, but sometimes less skillfully, took over the helm of the music and ripped the control of their music from their able, but headstrong producer Don Kirschner, who gave us appealing pop like "Sugar Sugar," as well as produced the Monkees first hits.

The very best songs are among the most appealing of the sixties. (Although it should be said that they couldn't entirely be pigeon-holed, like, say, The Association.) "I'm a Believer," "A Little Bit You, A Little Bit Me," "The Last Train to Clarksville," and "Another Pleasant Valley Sunday," should keep them on the map for years to come. Furthermore, the riveting "I'm Not Your (Stepping Stone)" has to be one of their very best songs. Before punk was invented, it's fast-forward appeal is still formidable. Adding to the variety are lesser known songs, like "Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)," which is a bit dated, but one of their most pleasing. "Randy Scouse Git," "Mary Mary," "Words," and the country "Listen to the Band," should make them be known as more than a novelty band.

Social commentary is more ample than thought. Certainly, they aren't looked upon like Dylan and the Beatles are, but "...Clarksville" and "Another Pleasant Valley Sunday" are great. On the surface the former seems like a fluff-ball love song. The narrator may not return to his lover because Clarksville is a war recruiting station. (After the pleasantries, "...toffee flavored kisses and a bit of conversation...," we get the punch line, "And, I don't know if I'm ever coming home.") And, in "Another Pleasant Valley Sunday" adults not attentive missed the sarcasm regarding the opulence and ostentation of suburban life in "status symbol land". Furthermore, "Shades of Grey" is about as bottom line philosophically about the sixties as you get. Great songwriters contributed. Carol King and Jerry Goffin, Neil Diamond, and Boyce and Hart upped the quality of the words and their pop appeal. Michael Nesmith was the formidable songwriter of the group, but Peter Tork has a gem with "For Pete's Sake," which is a fine piece of flower-power and a clever title.

All together now, "Best of the Monkees" covers all of the bases, doesn't leave any diamonds in the dust, and is sequentially nearly perfect.

Sure there are way too many Monkees' anthologies out there, but this one is now the best single-CD one available : 25 tracks including many fave LP tracks, excellent remastered sound, and, for whatever reason, a five-track "karaoke" bonus CD. If you're one of the 6 or 7 people who doesn't yet own a Monkees CD, this is a great package. If you're a collector, you might want to pass, but it sure is hard to resist.

Is it just me, or is there anybody who thinks this latest Monkee package from Rhino is harsh, shrill, and distorted on many of the tracks? I thought maybe my disc was a bad pressing and returned it in exchange. Nope. I have to say the Listen To The Band box set retains more of the original warmth of these recordings. As for the Bonus Karaoke disc, this is worth the price alone. It's a shame though that instead of the umpteenth "remastering" of the Monkees catalog, Rhino should give us a discs worth of the Backing Tracks. These are in superb fidleity.

Subject says it all.

I am not an extremely picky audiophile; I can listen to 128k mp3's all day and they sound fine to me. But this is like nails on a chalkboard. Even the Monkees great music can't overcome the limitations of the awful engineering and "remastering" on this album.

From the get-go, the Monkees theme is totally flat, no bottom at all. It sounds like you are listening to AM radio. The rest of the tracks are all over the place, from bad to worse. There isn't a single track on this album that I can even stand to listen to.

I can't believe that this was worked on by anyone who knows anything about music engineering or mastering. It obviously wasn't. The engineer(s) should be fired for doing this kind of work.

I love the Monkees, but this set is a real disgrace to their music. I'm going to be looking for a different 'Best of' collection that sounds halfway decent.

This collection, in my opinion, is a better buy that the "Greatest Hits" CD. Just wished Rhino squeezed just a few more in like "D.W Washburn" & "Oh My, My" just to round out the set. Well, for the basic light fan, there is a great selection of hits and best tracks. For the Die-Hard fans there are the Karaoke tracks!! For those who already have the Japanese release by Rhino "Best of with Karaoke", these are mostly different versions minus "I Wanna Be Free". (Theme From) The Monkees is the TRUE music only track to the TV theme version! "I'm a Believer" is not the demo audio only track from the Japanese CD. Also, this collection adds a great karaoke version of "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone"! The other 3 karaoke tracks sound better than the Japanese CD. Monkeefanatics must have this! If you never got the Japanese version, That one has the demo Tommy Boyce "Theme.." audio like the bonus track from the Rhino CD issue of "The Monkees" debut album. Also the Japenese "Best of with Karaoke" has "I Wanna Be Free".
So what are ya waiting for?

The Monkees, the original "boy band" and trailblazer for Menudo, Boyz to Men, and a host of other manufactured bubble gum music makers, could not have realized what the producers of the television show and the music must have sensed: they had a pretty good thing going. When Davie Jones, Mickey Dolenz, Peter Tork, and Mike Nesmith set off to make a social commentary with the feature film, "Head" after experiencing incredible success with the television show, record sales, and concert dates, the quartet did not understand that their popularity was the direct result of the public's need to forget about the problems of the day, including assassinations, segregation, and Vietnam. Their success was also due in large part to incredible music and lyrics written by such now prolific songwriters and performers as Neil Diamond and Carol King who stopped working for The Monkees when The Monkees stopped working for Don Kirshner.

'The Best of the Monkees' is a great review and collection of all The Monkees hits and non-hits, from Neil Diamond's "I'm A Believer," "Look Out," and "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You," to Carol King's and Gerry Goffin's "Sometime In The Morning," and "Pleasant Valley Sunday," to all of the great Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart tunes like "Last Train to Clarksville," "Steppin' Stone," "Words," and "Valeri." (I guess Neil Diamond and Carol King did all right for themselves, huh?)

What is interesting for The Monkees neophyte is the songwriting talent of Mike Nesmith, who along with Peter Tork, were the only true musicians in the group. Because it was not teen-pop, Nesmith's songs in retrospect did not get the attention they really deserve. Nesmith wrote country/rock/pop songs recorded by The Monkees including "Mary, Mary," "The Girl I Knew Somewhere," "You Just May Be The One," and "What Am I Doing Hanging 'Round." Nonetheless, Nesmith created nice melodies and enjoyable "story songs" in his The Monkees writing days. I would be less surprised to hear a country cross-over act like Tim McGraw or Vince Gill record one of Nesmith's songs for a hit than I would hearing another cover of "I'm A Believer."

For the Baby-Boomer and early GenX-er, 'The Best of the Monkees' is a fun and carefree trip to revisit some old friends. For newer The Monkees fans, this CD gives a "retro" look (and listen) at the manufactured band phenomenon that has become somewhat commonplace in contemporaty popular music.

Don Kirshner was a genius, and it was too bad for The Monkees (and for us) that Davie, Mickey, Peter, and Mike did not stick with bubble gum.

Give credit where credit is due! Ignore the sarcastic remarks and put downs others have made of the group ( and show) and just listen. Some of the era's best songwriters wrote the songs and the Monkees performed better than they were ever given credit for.