The Monkees: A Manufactured Image : The Ultimate Reference Guide to Monkee Memories and Memorabilia [Hardcover]

Edward Reilly (Author), Maggie McManus (Author), William Chadwick (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Popular Culture Ink (June 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560750324
• ISBN-13: 978-1560750321
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,020,091 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you EVER wanted to know about the Monkees!, July 1, 2000

By 

Alan Williams (Charlotte, NC, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Monkees: A Manufactured Image : The Ultimate Reference Guide to Monkee Memories and Memorabilia (Hardcover)

If you are looking for the DEFINITIVE reference book on everyone's favorite TV show ABOUT a rock and roll group...this is the one. I thought I knew a lot about the show and the guys, but thanks to Bill Chadwick (who was almost a Monkee, and was there for it all!), Maggie McManus (Monkees fan extrodinaire), and Ed Reilly (whose memorabilia collection I REALLY wish I had! ), this publication is the most comprehensive, detailed book regarding The Monkees ANYWHERE! In "A Manufactured Image", you will discover the day to day occurances and situations that took place from the very beginnings of Monkeemania, following the guys through the height of their popularity, through the dissolution of the cast and group, including Head and 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee, and throughout their respective solo careers, up through their triumphant return in 1986. It was great to be able to follow Micky, Davy, Peter, and Mike through their trials and tribulations after the project ended, and it tied up a lot of loose ends to questions I had about where they were, and what they did between 1970 and 1986. As a fan of the music, I especially enjoyed the complete list of recordings, seeing the titles of the unreleased stuff up to the date of publication. You will also see a section on some of the hundreds of Monkee Collectables from throughout the years, hundreds and hundreds of wonderful pictures, a great number of them previously unreleased. Want to know how the TV show fared against Gilligan's Island and Gunsmoke? Want to know how long The Monkees had SEVEN albums on the charts at one time in 1986? It's all here! In addition, pictures of the 45's by the guys, both solo and with the group, along with LP covers from around the world, which was a real treat! I highly recommend this book as an excellent way to introduce new fans to the Monkees, as well as fans who want to learn more about their favorite "Pre-Fab" Four! You cannot go wrong with "A Manufactured Image"

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Researched Book - Just Splendid!, February 10, 2005

By 

Marnie_ATL (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: "Monkees": A Manufactured Image - The Ultimate Reference Guide to Monkee Memories and Memorabilia (Rock & roll reference series) (Hardcover)

This yellow hardback book is out of print, so it is pricey. If you are a die hard fan of Monkee history, of any generation, mine being 2nd, then this book is for you. It is like a Chronological History of the Monkees, which is probably a more apt title of the book, in my opinion. It is well done, lots of factoids packed with all black and white photos in 307 pages. The style in which the info is presented feels kind of like a school annual. The book does in some ways it seem older than mid-1980s when it was published.

I like how it is chornological, year by year milestones of the Monkees, even in the post-Monkees years to 1986. There are lots of great rare black and white pictures of the guys from all eras as well. I also enjoyed how the authors displayed images of the band's releases in foreign countries and post Monkee releases; quite detailed. I also liked reading the week by week tracking of the Monkees songs on the Billboard chart. Also they found many obscure ads, photos, of the Monkees. All very interesting.

The only drawback appears to be the lack of details about the Monkees in 1969, while the 3 Monkees, minus Peter, appeared on numerous TV programs as guests. The Monkees also had toured with Sam and the Goodtimers; I wish there was more information here. I would like to know more about this weird era post-TV show. Also the cinematic flop, Head, has sparse info. To make up for that shortage, there is lots of info and pictures, too about the 4 Monkees in the 1970s and 80s.

One neat fact I did not realize was that cassette tapes were in use in 1969! - There was a photo of Head release on LP. 8 Track and cassette. It mentions that 5 Monkee albums were released on cassette in 1969. I thought cassettes were introduced a few years later, like 1974ish.

Other than my criticisms, this is a splendid book. If you are a serious collector, it is worth spending the extra money. I hope you find a good deal on it: I have not seen this book listed online for less than $50.

I would like to purchase/review some of the other Rock and Roll Reference Series books they had published. Topics include: Lots of Beatles books, such as the Beatles Bootlegs and "Who's New Wave In Music."