Sixty Years ago this past October, The Monkees released their first album simply entitled “The Monkees”. Not only was this album a hit but it launched a pop phenomena that has lasted over sixty years.
I’ve said it here on this blog before but to say that this album was a success would be an understatement. “The Monkees” stayed on the top of the Billboard Hot 200 albums for 13 weeks while managing to sell over five million copies in the United States alone and spawning the number 1 smash hit “Last Train to Clarksville”.
In fact the album that knocked “The Monkees” from the top spot in 1967 was the group’s own follow-up album “More of the Monkees” which itself sold over five million copies and stayed an even longer 18 weeks at the top of the charts.
Pretty impressive for a make believe TV band.
I won’t go into whether The Monkees were a real group or just a TV cast but the fact remains that this debut album is still being listened to and enjoyed over sixty years later and that my friends is quite an achievement and really supports the fact that this group or project produced some of the most beloved pop/rock songs of the 1960s.
Just a couple of weeks ago Rhino Records, who now owns The Monkees catalog, released this lovely 1 LP/3 CD set that not only features the original stereo and mono mixes of the album but includes TV versions of several songs from the album as well as outtakes, alternates and backing tracks from the 1966 sessions that produced this record.
Of course this newly released set is based on the 2014 3 CD Rhino Records deluxe set that was a limited edition release only made available online.
This new 1 LP/3CD version is a newly compiled version of that terrific set that leaves out the 2014 stereo remix of album as well as the first solo album by Davy Jones and some early Michael Nesmith solo material that were issued before the group and show became a reality.
On this new set the 1 LP features a wonderful sounding vinyl issue of the original stereo mix of the album that sounds very much like the recent Run Out Groove limited vinyl issue.
This new cut was made in 2026 by Matthew Lutthans at THE MASTERING LAB and is quite a lovely and dynamic sounding record that is a joy to hear and may in fact improve on the Run Out Groove release.
If you never owned a copy of the Run Out Groove reissue you’re in for a treat as the record sounds amazing.
The three CDs in this set feature most of what was included in the 2014 box (including the orignial mono mix of the album) and this version does retain the credits for the original producer of the 2014 box, Andrew Sandoval, which is nice to see.
There are a few cuts missing from the 2014 set but overall it’s a great overview of The Monkees 1966 recording sessions and a pleasure to listen to as you read the new liner notes from Micky Dolenz, The Monkees sole living member, who shares what it was like for him to set off on the Monkee train as has called it to overnight stardom.
The mastering on this set features the same mastering done by Dan Hersch for the 2014 set but the credits in this box do say additional mastering and compilation were done by Dave Schultz and Bill Inglot.
Truthfully it sounds pretty much the same as the 2014 set though I think the mono TV versions have a more dynamic and punchier sound than the 2014 set which is what I found for the mono TV versions featured on an earlier 2026 Monkees box set called “Made for TV” which I wrote about a couple of posts ago.
If you own the 2014 set then this new set doesn’t feature anything that may entice you unless of course you’re a Monkees freak like me who loves all reissues and packaging changes.
If you missed out on the 2014 3 CD box set of this album then this new 2026 reissue is a must buy. It looks great, sounds great and features a ton of unreleased material that is a great way to celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Monkees.
It’s also nice that this new set is more widely available than the 2014 version so if you have an interest in the album or The Monkees as a group I don’t think you’d be disappointed to add this gem to your collection.
As usual you can see photos of this new set above and below.
That’s all for now, until next time be healthy and well and see you soon!
