Definitive Monkees [Limited Edition, Import]

Monkees | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 5, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Limited Edition, Import
• Label: Warner Spec. Mkt. UK
• ASIN: B000059QC0
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #374,667 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. (Theme From) The Monkees

2. Last Train to Clarksville

3. Take a Giant Step

4. Saturday's Child

5. I'm a Believer

6. I Wanna Be Free [Album Version]

7. (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone

8. She

9. A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You

10. Mary, Mary

See all 29 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Tema Dei Monkees

2. So Goes Love

3. Teeny Tiny Gnome

4. Mr. Webster [Alternate Version]

5. Hold on Girl [Alternate Version]

6. Apples, Peaches, Bananas and Pears

7. Love to Love [Alternate Version]

8. Midnight Train [Demo Version]

9. She'll Be There

10. Riu Chiu

See all 31 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Import only compilation features 29 hits on one CD along with a 31 track bonus CD that includes their best most bizarre off-cuts and out takes, ranging from an Italian-language take of their theme song along with alternate versions of classic tracks from their classic 60's albums. Highlights include the finest-ever rendition of 'Circle Sky', 'Steam Engine' and 'Apples, Peaches & Pears'. 60 tracks in all. Warner/Rhino. 2001.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Beware--Nothing Really Rare in Here, September 26, 2002

By 

Kenneth French (Montclair, NJ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Definitive Monkees (Audio CD)

First off, my 3 stars do not indicate what I think of the material. I love the Monkees and have everything they recorded (well, except "Pool It"). I just want to warn fellow Monkees-completists like me that there's nothing here you don't have already. All of the "rare" songs on disc two popped up years ago on Rhino's "Missing Links, Vols. 1-3." If you're new to the group, this is a good sampling of hits and rarities.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but curious compilation, September 6, 2003

By 

Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Definitive Monkees (Audio CD)

This compilation of Monkees recordings was released in Britain for the price as a single CD so most people who bought this did so just for the main CD, which contains all the hits and the best album tracks and B-sides. Among the classics to be found here are Monkees theme, Last train to Clarksville, I'm a believer (written by Neil Diamond, and a bigger hit than any of his own singles), I'm not your stepping stone, A little bit me a little bit you (another Neil Diamond song), Randy Scouse git, Pleasant valley Sunday, Daydream believer, Valleri and Listen to the band. The CD, presented in chronological order, concludes with two tracks from their eighties comeback - That was then this is now and Heart and soul. The other tracks on this CD are of a high quality though lacking the instant appeal of the hits - but if you play them often enough, they will grow on you. As a hits collection, this (on its own) is as good as I've seen by the Monkees.

The bonus CD is culled from three compilations of rarities previously released in America as Missing links volumes 1 2 and 3. These tracks have never been made available previously in Britain, though I suspect that diehard Monkees fans in Britain will prefer to import the other compilations anyway. Actually, more than half those Missing links tracks have been included here and that will be enough for most people. The standard is surprisingly high.

The packaging is lavish, with a booklet printed on high quality paper and including extensive liner notes that tell the truth about the band (not as jolly as their image suggests) and pictures of all their original LP covers. The main CD is in a standard single CD jewel case, with the bonus CD comes in a separate cardboard case and the whole is housed in a cardboard slipcase.

What this collection shows is that there was a lot more to the Monkees than most of us think. Perhaps that is why their records still sell well all these years later. If you just want a Monkees greatest hits package, the main CD is as good as you are likely to find on a single CD, especially given the quality of the booklet. If you can buy it at its British price, regard the bonus CD as just that and if you end up liking it, great, but if not, you've got your money worth anyway.

At the import price, you have to think carefully about whether you want this. At that price, you must want both CD's. That will still be cheaper than buying all the Missing links CD's, so it will depend whether you want all the rarities (buy those instead) or just the best ones (buy this).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost, March 12, 2007

By 

Annie Van Auken (Planet Earth) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Definitive Monkees (Audio CD)

This fine MONKEES compilation has few flaws.

Disc One is a solid set of the MONKEES best tracks. Almost all the singles are here, with the exception of "D.W. Washburn" and "Tapioca Tundra." "Washburn" generally fares better on retrospectives than "Tundra" however, perhaps due to it's higher peak chart position (#19). As for the Mike Nesmith single, it's puzzling how BEST OF, GREATEST HITS and even "DEFINITIVE" collections sleight it consistently, despite the record having reached #34 on BILLBOARD, in 1968.

Disc Two draws from the three MISSING LINKS albums, and uses some of those CDs' best songs. Overall these two discs present a fine (if not "definitive") set of MONKEES music.