The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees (3 CD Boxed Set) [Limited Collector's Edition]

Monkees | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Original Release Date: 1968
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Limited Collector's Edition
• Label: Rhino Handmade
• ASIN: B00396HGXG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #228,109 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The wait is over! The release of a 3-CD boxed set featuring and expanded Rhino Handmade version of The Monkees' The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees is finally here.

Released in 1968, The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees featured a trio of Top 40 hits, "Tapioca Tundra," the group's sixth million-selling single "Valleri" and the #1 "Daydream Believer." The set includes mono and stereo mixes of the original album on individual discs, each expanded with rare and unreleased tracks. The third disc collects more than two dozen unreleased tracks culled from the album's sprawling sessions complemented by a number of rare recordings.

Early editions come with a bonus vinyl 45-RPM single featuring "St. Matthew" (acoustic version) backed with "Lady's Baby" (alternate acoustic version).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Track listing, February 20, 2010

By 

Great Lakes Media (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees (3 CD Boxed Set) (Audio CD)

Disc 1 - The Original Stereo Album & More

1. Dream World
2. Auntie's Municipal Court
3. We Were Made For Each Other
4. Tapioca Tundra
5. Daydream Believer
6. Writing Wrongs
7. I'll Be Back Up On My Feet
8. The Poster
9. P.O. Box 9847
10. Magnolia Simms
11. Valleri
12. Zor And Zam
13. Through The Looking Glass (1968 Stereo Mix)
14. Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again (Alternate Mix)
15. D.W. Washburn (1968 Stereo Mix)
16. It's Nice To Be With You (1968 Stereo Mix)
17. Carlisle Wheeling (1967 Stereo Mix)
18. Rosemarie (1968 Stereo Mix)
19. My Share Of The Sidewalk (1968 Stereo Mix)
20. Alvin (Alternate Take)
21. We Were Made For Each Other (Alternate Backing Track)
22. The Girl I Left Behind Me (1967 Stereo Mix)
23. Little Red Rider (Acoustic Version)
24. Lady's Baby (1968 Stereo Mix)
25. Ceiling In My Room (1967 Stereo Mix)
26. I'm A Man (Backing Track)
27. Me Without You (1968 Stereo Mix)


Disc 2 - The Original Mono Album & More

1. Dream World
2. Auntie's Municipal Court
3. We Were Made For Each Other
4. Tapioca Tundra
5. Daydream Believer
6. Writing Wrongs
7. I'll Be Back Up On My Feet
8. The Poster
9. P.O. Box 9847
10. Magnolia Simms
11. Valleri
12. Zor And Zam
13. Alvin (1968 Mono Mix)
14. While I Cry (1968 Mono Mix)
15. D.W. Washburn (Mono Single Mix)
16. It's Nice To Be With You (Mono Single Mix)
17. Come On In (1968 Mono Mix)
18. Carlisle Wheeling (1968 Mono Mix)
19. Rosemarie (1968 Mono Mix)
20. The Girl I Left Behind Me (1967 Mono Mix)
21. Seeger's Theme (Alternate Version)
22. Tear The Top Right Off my Head (Micky's Vocal)
23. My Share Of The Sidewalk (1968 Mono Mix)
24. Lady's Baby (1968 Mono Mix)
25. Ceiling In My Room (1967 Mono Mix)
26. Merry Go Round (1968 Mono Mix)
27. Don't Listen To Linda (1968 Mono Mix)
28. Me Without You (1968 Mono Mix)
29. Zor And Zam (TV Version)
30. Teen Radio Spot


Disc 3 - The Birds, The Bees & The Raritees

1. Monkees Adult Stereo 8 Spot
2. Tear The Top Right Off My Head (Peter's Vocal)
3. Auntie's Municipal Court (Mike's Vocal)
4. P.O. Box 9847 (1968 Alternate Stereo Mix)
5. War Games (Version One)
6. Lady's Baby
7. Tapioca Tundra (1967 Alternate Stereo Mix)
8. D.W. Washburn (Alternate Mix With Bass Vocal)
9. Nine Times Blue (Version Two - Davy's Vocal)
10. Lady's Baby (Acoustic Version)
11. While I Cry (Alternate Mono Mix)
12. Shorty Blackwell (Rehearsal)
13. Laurel And Hardy
14. Seeger's Theme (Acoustic Version)
15. Tapioca Tundra (Acoustic Version)
16. Don't Say Nothin' Bad (About My Baby)
17. War Games (Version Two)
18. (I Prithee) Do Not Ask For Love (Second Recorded Version)
19. My Share Of The Sidewalk (Mike's Vocal Version)
20. Shake 'Em Up And Let 'Em Roll (Alternate Vocal Version)
21. Changes (2009 Mix)
22. Merry Go Round (Version One)
23. Magnolia Simms (Acoustic Version)
24. I'm Gonna Try
25. Seeger's Theme (Electric Version)
26. Magnolia Simms (Stereo Remix)
27. The Girl I Left Behind Me (Third Recorded Version)
28. Merry Go Round (Third Recorded Version)
29. Nine Times Blue (Version Two - Mike's Vocal)
30. The Party (2009 Mix)
31. I Wasn't Born To Follow (Backing Track)



Bonus 45-RPM Vinyl Single (early editions only)

A. St. Matthew (acoustic version)
B. Lady's Baby (alternate acoustic version)

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great album, but not ideal for a new fan, July 17, 2004

By 

Anyechka (Rensselaer, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Birds Bees & The Monkees (Audio CD)

This is a really finely crafted album, with lots of different types of songs--psychedelic, schmaltzy Davy ballads, Mike's country-western-type music, and the peppy pop The Monkees got famous for. As other reviewers have pointed out, it's kind of like their White Album, and even more out there than PAC&J, which plays like The Monkees on acid. It's one of those albums that, while great, isn't ideal for a new fan, one that even for an old fan like myself (I've been a fan since their 1986 revival) needs multiple playings for it to really sink in and grow to appreciate and really really love. I have a 1996 vinyl reissue with two bonus tracks, the first two bonus tracks on the CD remaster.

My faves on here are "Dream World" (Davy has been my favourite since I first got into them at six years old; otherwise I might very well not think that highly of the schmaltzy songs he's usually stuck singing!), "We Were Made for Each Other," "Tapioca Tundra" (it reached #34 on the charts), "Daydream Believer" of course, "Writing Wrongs" (I seem to be in the minority of people who like this weird trippy song, but then again, I also love the weird Beatles' sound collage "Revolution No. 9"), "I'll Be Back Up on My Feet," "P.O. Box 9847," "Valleri," and "Zor and Zam." The lattermost always gives me chills; the ending line is just as eerie and pertinent today, considering what's going on in the world now. It was played during the last episode of their tv show as well.

The two bonus tracks I have are an alternate version of "P.O. Box 9847" with a synth instead of strings, and a cute schmaltzy co-written Davy number, "I'm Gonna Try." I got into The Monkees for their upbeat happy pop songs, songs which I would probably hate were they coming from most other bands or groups, but even these more mature, introspective, and trippy songs are happy and fun. The Monkees are known for their fun pop, which makes it harder for a new fan or a non-fan to appreciate the beauty and genius on this album.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Expanded version of "The Birds, The Bees and The Monkees" but this is available for less at Rhino.com, February 25, 2010

By 

WTDK "If at first the idea is not absurd, the... (My Little Blue Window, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees (3 CD Boxed Set) (Audio CD)

I'm not adverse to someone making a profit but this set as of 2/26/10 is STILL available from Rhino Handmade for around $59.00. It seems excessive and greedy to be selling something STILL in print for 4x what it cost. That said, we get both the stereo and mono versions of the album, bonus tracks/demos/alternate takes/instrumental unfinished tracks.

"The Birds, The Bees and The Monkees" was the band's last top 10 album (it reached #3 in the U.S.)and while it isn't as consistent as the two preceding albums ("Headquarters" and "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn and Jones Ltd"), it does have quite a few gems including Mike Nesmith's highest charting song (the b-side "Tapioca Tundra" a brilliant slice of quirky pop which reached #34 on Billboard's singles chart), "Valleri", "Daydream Believer" (two of Davy Jones' best vocal performances), the quirky vintage sounding "Magnolia Sims" again by Nez (which actually "skips" on purpose and reminds me a bit of McCartney's "Honey Pie" in that it evokes the music of a bygone era but still has a 60's quality to it), the experimental "Writing Wrongs", Mickey Dolenz performing "Zor and Zam" an anti-war song that was originally intended for an unmade children's cartoon show.

You get both the mono (some of the tracks are needle drops) and remastered stereo versions of the albums, demos for songs some of which would end up on later Monkee releases ("Instant Replay"). The oversize booklet is quite nice with plenty of info on the recording of the album and the 3D lenticular cover a big plus as well. The CDs are stored (for the mono and stereo versions of the albums)in cardboard replicas of the original vinyl packaging. My only complaint is that Rhino went to so much effort but couldn't give us plastic inserts to safely keep the CDs in without them becoming scratched. The packaging is oversized about the same dimensions as a 45 when housed in its sleeve.

Overall Andrew Sandoval producer of this set gets an A+ for his efforts and for also digging out a variety of interesting demos and rarities with some pulled from rare acetates. The mastering by Sandoval and Dan Hirsch is pretty good overall and the CDs aren't brickwalled. The original album would earn a 3 star rating but when you add in all the bonus tracks and exceptional packaging (missing plastic sleeves aside), the set earns an extra star for all the love that clearly went into this set. If you can order it from Rhino Handmade--it's less expensive.