Records, CDs and Music:

Today is a day of celebration; a Monkees celebration that is.

You see a brand new 2 LP vinyl set of the group’s multi-platinum third album “Headquarters” has just been reissued on Rhino Records and it’s a thing of beauty and something every Monkees fan who loves vinyl should own.

This new set is pressed on red and blue colored vinyl and comes in a shiny and sturdy double fold-out sleeve which also contains terrific liner notes penned by Monkees scholar and tour manager Andrew Sandoval and is filled with not only a terrific-sounding transfer of the original stereo album but a wonderful selection of out-takes and alternate takes from the album’s recording sessions.

The Monkees first two albums also received this same treatment under the Run Out Groove specialty record label but this time out Rhino Records, who owns the group’s catalog, has decided to issue this version of “Headquarters” on its own bypassing Run Out Groove.

This special vinyl issue of “Headquarters” is based on the recent Rhino Records “Headquarters Deluxe Edition” 4 CD set from 2022 which was available exclusively from Monkees.com and sold out fairly quickly.

(Note: the new 2 LP “Headquarters” is available from the link below)

Headquarters New Reissue:

This new vinyl set features the same 2022 remixed out-takes and alternate takes from that CD box set but also features a newly remastered stereo version of “Headquarters” album taken from the best analog master that exists (the original stereo master is currently missing) featuring the original stereo mix while the 2022 CD box set featured a newly remixed version of the stereo album.

Suffice to say is it worth yet another version of the “Headquarters” album? Well with results this good I say of course it is!

I listened to both discs in this new vinyl edition today and I was thrilled by what I heard. The original stereo mix of the album sounds so good with much more bass than the original Colgems pressing and had a nice high end without being too tinny sounding as this album has sounded in the past.

The out-takes disc sounded equally as good and is a tad bit warmer sounding than the CD counterparts of these mixes from the 4 CD set.

Like the previous two Run Out Groove Monkees Deluxe vinyl sets I’d rate this new version of “Headquarters” as the definitive vinyl version as it easily outshines any other vinyl version of this album I’ve heard and I own them all.

(Note 2: Both of the albums in my set were perfectly flat and dead quiet. Not even a hint of crackle, very clean and beautiful pressings)

I won’t go into the interesting history of this album as I’ve written about it many times on this blog (feel free to type in “Headquarters” in the search engine on this site to find my previous posts) but this third Monkees album is the first and only time the group played all the instruments as well as sang in their original run (1966-1970) and is truly the perfect representation of how the fictional TV version of the group should sound.

The “Headquarters” album is in fact where fiction became reality as the group transformed into a real touring and recording unit apart from the TV show that spawned them.

This in my opinion is the pinnacle, along with the group’s fourth album “Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn and Jones Ltd.”, of The Monkees recording career and is among the best pop/rock albums of the entire decade of the 1960s.

Well that’s all for now.

You can view photos above of this lovely new “Headquarters” set above.

Until next time be safe and well and see you soon!

Headquarters Deluxe 2 LP set track listing from Monkees.com:

 

Okay folks, if you’re not into Beatles vinyl geekdom then this blog post is not for you.

While I get an endless thrill (some say obsession) out of hunting down and listening to every sort of pressing minutiae most sane people I know don’t. At least you’ve been warned.

Anyway, today I thought I’d share with you some of the most prized and best sounding Beatles pressings that I’ve managed to track down over the years. I know others have talked about these same pressings but I thought I’d share some thoughts I had as I’ve been going through and doing some digital transfers of these particular Beatles pressings below.

(Note: this is the first of many in a series of my favorite Beatles pressings that I own)

First off I have to say that there’s something really special about hunting down original first pressings of The Beatles albums especially the British versions. For most of the 1960s these pressings were mastered with tube equipment which has a distinct sound of its own and can’t be reproduced with modern mastering.

That’s not to say the original pressings are the best sounding (however most times they are) but there’s a certain warmness and mid-range sound on these pressings that you can’t get on later issues. I like to experience these records as they were issued in the ’60s as that’s what the records sounded like at the time thus these original pressings, flaws and all, are a true time capsule for me which I quite enjoy.

Here are three pressings from my collection which I think are each superb sounding and should be tracked down by any true Beatles fan:

• Please Please Me – UK gold label mono first pressing
• A Hard Day’s Night – UK mono first pressing
• “Yesterday” … And Today” – lime green label record club true stereo pressing

Here’s a few quick thoughts on each.

Please Please Me – UK gold label mono first pressing:

This very first pressing of The Beatles very first album is special in more ways than one.

Firstly it’s the only pressing that features the old style gold label Parlophone label, that in itself is really cool. But it is also one heck of a great sounding disc as even if you have a beat up copy these early British pressings were made to last and even a worn looking copy probably sounds great.

Since my pressing is a fairly early copy I think (Matrix/Stampers: Side One XEX 421-1N 1P and Side Two XEX 421-1N 1L) the sound on this pressing just shines; it’s full of life and has a clarity that isn’t on later pressings.

I prefer the mono mix of this album though I do enjoy the stereo one as well. This first mono pressing is nice and punchy and jumps out of the speakers and hits on all cylinders. I also own a 1982 repress of this mono mix and while it sounds great this first pressing has a life and excitement that other pressings lack.

I know it’s becoming harder and harder to find a decent copy of this first pressing mono that won’t break the bank but if you can manage to swing it this copy does not disappoint. Even though many of the second issue UK mono copies sound great as well there’s just something special about this first issue that’s well worth seeking out.

A Hard Day’s Night – UK mono first pressing:

Here’s a case where the sound of the vinyl is way better than the way the album looks. I found this first UK mono pressing at a record store a few years ago and hemmed and hawed about buying it because the vinyl looked really worn. Since the price was right, under $20, I bit the bullet and hoped that a good cleaning would help and maybe it would at least sound decent.

I have to say that even after one quick clean my jaw hit the floor as even though it looked like this album was kicked around the floor a bit it played absolutely great and it sounded incredible! I’ve always been a fan of this album but the stereo pressings I own tend to sound a bit tinny and/or distorted on some songs – even the first pressings.

The mono mix of this album however sounds incredible and no other pressing of this albums sounds as alive and dynamic as this first mono pressing. The two songs that really stand out to me are “And I Love Her” and “I’m Happy Just to Dance with You” as they are both perfection on this pressing.

For some reason “I’m Happy Just to Dance with You” on all my stereo pressings seems to have a bit of sibilance that’s not on this or any other mono pressing.

I have to say that while I like the stereo mix as well there’s just something special about the mono mix. From start to finish this is my favorite early Beatles album.

“Yesterday” … And Today” – lime green label record club true stereo pressing

Okay, most of the records I’m mentioning here are British pressings but this Capitol stereo pressing is an exception and truly sounds great.

This lime green record club pressing came out in about 1969 I think, years after the first pressing from 1966.

What makes this lime green pressing so special is that unlike the first 1966 stereo pressing, EVERY song on this album is in true stereo. On true first pressings the songs “Dr. Robert”, “And Your Bird Can Sing”, and “I’m Only Sleeping” were not in true stereo but reprocessed or simulated stereo made from the mono mixes.

It wasn’t until this 1969 lime stereo pressing I believe that true stereo versions of these songs were used on the album. Not only were the songs true stereo but these mixes were exclusive to Capitol Records and the US.

There are slight differences to the UK 1966 stereo mixes which makes these stereo version unique and interesting. Not night and day just different and much better sounding than the fake stereo version on the 1966 stereo pressing.

Well that’s it for the first installment of my favorite Beatles pressings. I don’t want to over geek on the first one so I thought I’d keep it to three pressings.

Above you can see the labels of these three pressings and below there’s a photo of the cover of the mono “Please Please Me” Lp.

There’s more to come so until then I hope you are well and healthy.

See you soon … 

In these days of waning physical media there seems to be way less attention paid to how good an album sounds.

Not to sound old but back in the day there were actually people who used to show off their stereos and loudspeakers who took pride in their sound systems and loved how vinyl and then later CDs could sound with the right stereo system.

I remember searching high and low, especially in the heyday of vinyl, for the best sounding version of a particular favorite recording and looked through many a dive of a record store to locate just the right version of an album that just took my breath away.

There was no streaming, no downloads, just the excitement of the chase for the best sounding version you could find whether that version came from the US, the UK, Japan or any part of the world that had a better sounding record.

Once the advent of the CD happened in the early eighties when I was in college, yikes that’s over forty years ago, the quest for the better sounding version of a particular album grew even more interesting.

You see the CD era brought about the best and the worst in sound reproduction. At its best the CD can produce stunning depth and wonderful bass and a clarity that’s amazing. At its worst it can produce shrill and sterile sounding discs that are fatiguing and even painful to listen to at least on a good stereo system.

In the early to mid 1990s there was a trend in the music industry to pump up the sound of CDs which produced what was called the loudness wars. At that same time illegal downloads were becoming all the rage and with the Ipod leading the way music listening transferred from big stereos to tiny computer speakers and car speakers to eventually phones.

Fortunately there were several boutique record labels like Mobile Fidelity and DCC Compact Classics to fill in the gap for superb quality sounding CDs and vinyl with engineers like the esteemed Steve Hoffman taking the time to track down the best source of a particular album.

Both of these companies tried to locate the original master recordings of an album and took the time to carefully master it so it sounded the best it could possibly sound. DCC Compact Classics in particular aimed for the breath of life in sound for their discs which enabled the listener to hear things in the recordings that may have been buried on other versions of that record that were previously issued.

These small boutique record labels licensed classic rock, pop and jazz recordings from the major labels who didn’t want to take the time to track down the best versions of recordings as the public was just as happy with a loudly mastered album and didn’t seek out any better quality version as they most likely didn’t listen to it on a decent system.

That brings me to this blog post. 

Today I’m sharing what I consider to be the best sounding versions of six Paul McCartney albums that were released on the DCC Compact Classic label: “McCartney”, “Ram”, “Red Rose Speedway”, “Band on the Run”, “Venus and Mars” and “Wings at the Speed of Sound”.

Not only is the sound on each of these six discs rich and warm with great stereo separation and great clarity they have an oomph in the sound without being the least bit fatiguing to the ears and a pure pleasure to listen to and enjoy.

The packaging of these six discs is also superb with nice glossy booklets with all the original posters that came with the vinyl, in miniature form of course, but also photos of the original vinyl labels and lovely gold-plated CDs that supposedly can stand the test of time better and played more accurately than standard CD pressings.

Of course these premium looking and sounding discs came at a price; they retailed for usually twice the price of standard discs thus they appealed to collectors and fans much more than the general public and were pressed in much smaller numbers than the standard CD versions of these albums.

Unfortunately they have only gone up in price since they were released as they quickly went out of production and now command quite a hefty price in the secondary market if you can find them.

Are they worth the money?

Well it depends on how much you like the albums and how concerned you are with hearing the best sounding versions of these albums.

Are they better sounding then standard CD issues of these albums or the recent McCartney Archive versions of these albums?

I have to say that these particular DCC Compact Classic versions still win as the best sounding versions of these particular Paul McCartney albums. They most certainly were worth it at their original price but as for paying the price for them now it all depends on how much you love these albums.

The Paul McCartney Archive versions of these records do sound great as do most of the first issue UK versions of these albums on CD. None of them however have the nice balance of oomph along with the midrange magic that the DCC Compact Classic versions provide. 

While the original issues of these CDs are fine they just don’t have the magic in sound that the DCC Compact Classics CDs or vinyl have and are to me worth having in your collection. They are, pardon the pun, the gold standard versions of these albums and are well worth seeking out if you’re a fan of Paul McCartney’s music.

For grins I have also thrown in the Japanese Gold CD version of Paul McCartney’s “All the Best” album even though it doesn’t really sound that different from the regular CD release. I thought it would be nice to show photos of it as well as it’s a fairly rare disc to find these days and fun to see along with the DCC McCartney discs.

As usual there are plenty of photos of these discs above and below so if you’ve never heard or seen these discs you can catch a glimpse of what they look like in case you want to track one or more down.

That’s all for now.

I hope you are well and healthy and I’ll be back with more of my collection soon.

Until then take care and see you soon!

Last time I was in these parts, I posted about the audio I downloaded for the 6CD/2 Blu-Ray set of the latest reissue of John Lennon’s 1973 “Mind Games” album. In that post I said I had no plans to buy the actual physical set of the box but I did quite enjoy the musical content very much.

I also said that if someday I found the physical set at a decent discount price I just might buy it. 

Well someday came way faster than I thought lol.

This past week Amazon had a limited time deal on the “Mind Games” Deluxe 6 CD/2 Blu-Ray set with a massive discount of 41 percent off. Now a deal like that is exactly what I was hoping for and I decided to jump at the chance to buy it. 

(Note: The price of $98 for the set is current as of today 08/15/24)

Funny enough I did actually think about it for a few minutes first but with a price under $100 dollars (the set also includes a lovely hardback book) I thought it was now or never as I can’t see this set going much lower in the future.

So of course, as per my usual, I caved and the set arrived in my hot little hands in just a day – whew, you gotta love Amazon.

Anyway, I must say the box is just about perfect as far as content and appearance. I’ve seen the monster Super Deluxe box set online and that honestly has no appeal to me. It has the same musical content as this box set and while it is beautiful this set is under $100 vs over $1200 for the Super set so there’s no contest, at least for me.

I did go into the musical content of the box set in my previous post, the content is pretty much the same as the download, but the real finds with this set are the surround sound mixes (especially the Dolby Atmos mix) of the album and outtakes that wasn’t a part of the download version.

I’m not normally a fan of the surround sound mixes but since I have the now have the ability to play Dolby Atmos I have to admit that I do enjoy the Dolby Atmos mixes of the box set and find it a better listen as it’s a little less compressed then the CDs or downloads of the set.

And a major plus is that both Blu-Ray discs contain ALL the musical content of the CDs which is a really nice option. I wish The Beatles recent sets did that but at least the Lennon estate is listening to fans desires.

There’s also a lot of hidden content in this set including songs as well as video and design (you need a black light to see it) that’s a nice touch. At first I wasn’t so fond of the hidden content but I read online where to find all of it and it is fun to have the extras even though they aren’t listed on the box.

So I just thought I’d post a little update here and show some photos of the larger “Mind Games” 6CD/2 Blu-Ray set. I know this set has been talked about a lot online but I thought I’d throw my two cents in now that I did end up purchasing the physical set.

I did include a photo of what one of the screen looks like when you find one of the hidden songs (see above) as well as what the set looks like in case you haven’t seen it.

I was late to the came of this Deluxe set but it is a great set and here’s hoping a version of the “Walls and Bridges” album (my favorite Lennon solo album) is around the corner and it mirrors this set – now that would be an instant purchase.

Well, that’s all for now. 

See you soon and I hope this finds you healthy and well and listening to some of your favorite music.

More to come …

Well it’s taken me a long time but today I’m finally going to give my thoughts on the new John Lennon “Mind Games” reissue that came out in the middle of this month.

Usually it doesn’t take me this long but I’m getting older and it’s getting harder to squeeze in music listening time!

In my last post I took a look at the lovely CD sampler of the large “Mind Games” box set that was recently released by Uncut Magazine which I enjoyed very much. That review came out about ten days before the large box set and 2 CD version and I was bound and determined to only buy the 2 CD set on release day.

Well, as is usually the case, I half-way caved. I did indeed buy the 2 CD version of the “Mind Games” reissue (as pictured on this page) BUT I did happen to also get my hands on the full audio (minus the hidden tracks unfortunately) from the larger 6 CD/2 Blu-Ray set.

And the unusual part, for me anyway, was that I purchased the entire “Mind Games” box set audio in Mp3 format from Amazon.

Yikes, I know – digital only!

This blog celebrates physical media and I almost always buy the physical version but as the large box set was over $150 I thought I’d get the audio at a fraction of the cost (under $40) and if someday I run into a used set under $100 I might well get it but for now this solution works just fine for me.

Now what made me go this unusual route?

I ended up sampling more of the Evolution mixes online and REALLY enjoyed them. I have the main remix and the out-takes on the 2 CD set (plus a sampling of other mixes on the Uncut CD) so why not at least have all the audio and take my time to see how all these new mixes sound?

Here are my thoughts below:

The 2 CD set:

I must say I really enjoy the remix of the “Mind Games” album and while it still is a bit too loud it’s much better than previous John Lennon remixes and really enhances the songs on this album.

There is a lot of bass and at times it does tend to muddy up the sound a bit but I found that I actually enjoyed this remix a lot and can say that it’s my favorite of the Lennon remixes so far.

I also think that the out-takes are wonderful too and I love having an alternate version of the album to listen to as it gives these songs a fresh new light as I think that some of the production of the original mix may have gotten in the way of some really good songs that now shine a bit more.

The audio from the 6 CD/Blu-Ray set:

Game changer; these discs really enhance the album in a way I wasn’t expecting.

Now here’s the really strange thing, I really didn’t think that all these new remixes and stripped-down versions would be worth my time, I truly didn’t.

The surprising thing to me is that I’ve actually found that the new Evolution and Raw mixes in this set are some of the best things that have come out of the Lennon archive ever! Trust me I was pleasantly surprised. The more I dove into the larger audio pool the more I was enthralled.

The Raw mixes especially took me by surprise as I love the sound of these songs in a more stripped-down form. Songs like “One Day (At a Time)”, “Out the Blue”, “Aisumasen (I’m Sorry)” and “I Know (I Know)”, all of which I took years to warm to, take on new life with these raw mixes.

I’ve read other people online say the same thing but it’s true that while I respect John Lennon’s original mix and it does hold a special place in my heart, the “Mind Games” album in this raw form is a MUCH better listen and these songs sound far superior in this form and mostly better than the original album.

(Note: I do prefer the original “Mind Games”, the song, mix as it just shines. So that song still works best for me in its 1973 form)

The Evolution disc is also superb as well. I LOVE hearing the various stages of the songs from demos to later studio takes and the studio chatter is what I really look forward to in a box set like this.

Other people have said it more eloquently but I have to agree that this new “Mind Games” reissue is well worth your time if your any kind of fan of John Lennon’s work. And while I as a super Beatles fan didn’t buy the large physical set trust me it’s well worth looking for online and streaming at least the raw studio mixes of this album to hear what a good set of songs this collection truly is.

In fact, until a few years ago I really stepped over this album as most of the songs seemed light and kind of forgettable. It was only after hearing “You Are Here” by itself one day and really loving it that I decided I needed to take this album off the shelf again and give it another try.

This new reissue set has really bumped up my love of this album to another level and I now think it and the “Walls and Bridges” album are my two favorite Lennon solo albums by far.

Conclusion:

I have to say that while I still prefer the physical versions of owning my favorite music, having the download of the audio from the larger set on a usb stick playing in my car has allowed me to really get myself deeper into these new mixes in small chunks and let them do their magic.

While I didn’t particularly find the Elements and Elemental mixes that enticing on the Uncut sampler CD they were kind of intoxicating to listen to on my 25-minute drive to and from work. Now that I’ve experienced them this way I have to say they are a lot of fun and I am so glad that Sean Lennon, who put this set together, really took the time to show these songs in a different light.

I’m not usually so stubborn to give mixes a chance so I’m glad I bit the bullet and have these lovely new mixes to add to my appreciation of the “Mind Games” album.

Of course I could have just streamed this set online only but the physical nerd in me just had to own something so download it is!

Well, there you have it. Just my two cents on this really fine new collection of remixes of John Lennon’s “Mind Games” album.

As usual take a gander at the photos of the 2 CD set and until next time be well and see you soon and more to come!

For those Beatles fans in the know, next Friday, July 12th, brings the release of a brand new John Lennon six disc CD/Blu-Ray set called “John Lennon – Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection”.

Not only will there be this lovely six disc Deluxe edition but there will be an Uber Deluxe Edition that also contains several vinyl albums plus a hardback book as well as various other goodies (and an uber price) but there will also be a two CD set and a two Lp vinyl set available for the budget-minded collector.

Normally I’m all over the Deluxe editions of Beatles and solo Beatles sets like this but this time I’m going the budget collector route and have pre-ordered the two CD set.

The two CD set will contain a newly remixed Ultimate mix of Lennon’s 1973 album “Mind Games” on disc one but will also contain a second disc full of out-takes for the album featuring basically a complete alternate version of the album.

Honestly the six disc set looks wonderful. It will contain a lovely hardback book as well as four CDs and two Blu-Ray discs, which will I’m sure be a welcome addition to any Beatles/Lennon collection, but this time out the price is just a bit too much for me at the moment.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the “Mind Games” album and may change my mind in the future if I find a good deal on the six disc set it’s just that the Deluxe version contains various mixes and stages of mixes of the same twelve songs which to me might be a bit of overkill.

I think Sean Lennon, John Lennon’s son with Yoko Ono, has done a great job putting this set together but for now I am going to enjoy the two CD version and wait to see if I need the Deluxe set.

Yesterday I received the August issue of a UK magazine called “Uncut”in the mail which fortunately has come to my rescue as to whether or not to buy the six disc version of the new “Mind Games” reissue.

Not only does this issue featuring a great article dedicated to John Lennon’s new “Mind Games” album it also contains a small booklet that contains a nice overview of all of Lennon’s solo albums AND it also contains a nine song CD sampler from the Deluxe “John Lennon – Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection” set!

Now I’m guessing Sean Lennon is really proud of this new set as Lennon’s estate (which Sean now runs) has never before issued a CD sampler like this that gives such a nice taste of the various mixes on the new Deluxe box set not to mention before the set is even officially released.

To say I’m pleased is an understatement. I get to sample some of the various element/elemental/raw studio and ultimate mixes ten days before the CD set is even issued plus get a terrific magazine and booklet is such a great way to celebrate the reissue of Lennon’s “Mind Games” album.

Now I have seen plenty of online vloggers who have received early issues of the Deluxe set and heard and seen their responses. It is very tempting I must say to want to buy the set after seeing the Deluxe sets contents but I think for now I am sticking with the two CD version and this lovely sampler which makes a great three CD overview of the “Mind Games” album and sessions.

Here are my thoughts on the tracks on the sampler CD and why I feel this sampler is a superb addition to the two CD set.

My track-by-track impressions:

Mind Games (Evolution Documentary) – from demo through studio sessions. I love this mix, especially the early studio takes. The sound is nice and clean and full. I didn’t know Yoko was at the sessions for this song so it was interesting to hear her comments from the recording booth. I like having the evolution mix of this song in particular (one of Lennon’s finest solo songs) but for me the two evolution mixes on this CD may be enough. A Nice sampling and a great listen.

I’m the Greatest (Ultimate Mix) – same as the recent Record Day EP. Nice to have on CD. Love this Lennon-sung version. Sounds a bit cleaner than the vinyl version. Not as pumped up as the mixes on the earlier hits set Sean  Lennon has done so that’s relief. Nice, very nice indeed.

Aisumasen (I’m Sorry) (Ultimate Mix) – very enjoyable mix, love this one!!! One of the better remixes and certainly cleaner than the original, less congested and love Lennon’s voice up front in the mix. Also love the clarity of the lead guitar near the end of the song. Can’t wait to hear the rest of the remixes of the entire album that comes out next week!

You Are Here (Out-Take, Take 5) – also on the Record Store day EP, what a fantastic out-take, superb! Again I like the sound here a bit better than the vinyl. The bass is nice and clean and not pumped up. Sublime song that I’ve grown to really love in the last decade or so. In fact this album has gone from two stars to four stars in the last few years for me. I first heard this album in 1979 when it was given to me for my 13th birthday and for about 10 or 11 years I just thought it was very workmanlike and kind of bland but in the last 10 years or so I’ve really grown to love it, especially the song.

Tight A$ (Raw Studio Mix) – this raw mix sounds more fifties influenced and country to me than the regular studio mix on the album. Nice to hear. Not overwhelmingly different but interesting. Again cleaner and less muddy than the original mix.

Bring on the Lucie (Freda People) (Elemental Mix) – interesting but not my favorite. This one seems too much like playing with the mix; much like a rough mix or monitor mix. Okay but not something I’d return to much. This is why I’d probably not buy the six CD set, a bit of overkill.

You Are Here (Elements Mix) – I enjoyed this a bit better than the last elemental mix but again it’s a bit of overkill for me. It’s actually nice sounding and pleasant but not something I’d return to much but it does give you a nice feeling of what it’s like recording an album and the different parts that go into a mix.

Out The Blue (Elemental Mix) – this is my favorite of the elements/elemental mixes on this set. This mix is an improvement over the original mix I like it a lot. For some reason this sounded to me like it popped right off the White Album, nice – a winner. To me the simpler approach works wonders for the song and the piano sounds fantastic, very Elton John like near the end.

Meat City (Evolution Documentary) – I must say this is another great mix and I love these Evolution mixes. If I ever buy the big set this would be my favorite disc in it because I love to hear the works in progress. My favorite part is working out the background vocals that’s really fun to listen to and I’ll listen to this more than once.

I didn’t find any hidden bonus tracks like I’ve seen are on the Deluxe version of this set. If there is a hidden track on this sampler disc I can’t access it. Franky the hidden track thing is interesting only once so hopefully it won’t show up on any future Lennon releases.

I’m so happy that Sean Lennon decided to release this sampler CD with the Uncut magazine. This is good value for your money and I will include it with the two CD version that comes out next week so I will now have a nice three CD set which is really terrific.

I’m guessing Sean Lennon is really proud of the work he did on this as he should be. At least the sound of the sampler is not pumped up and is really clean and clear and crisp. I can’t wait to hear what the rest of the two CD set sounds like next week.

Well that’s all for now. Just a quick overview of this new CD sampler. Next week I will follow-up with my thoughts on the new two CD version of the “Mind Games” reissue.

As usual there are plenty of photos above and below of the “Uncut” magazine and CD sampler.

Until next time I hope you are happy and well and for those of you reading this in the States Happy 4th of July in a couple of days.

See you soon!

Let me take you back to the dark ages.  An age before cell phones, the Internet, Google and most especially an age before social media.

I know it may be hard to imagine now but once upon a time we old folks had to rely on the post office and physical media such as mail to get news of well practically anything. 

In my last post I took a brief look at The Monkees comeback in 1986 and inferred that it was a much different time to be a Monkees fan before 1986. The years from 1976 to 1986 specifically were what I would now call the dark ages in comparison to the instant world of communication we have in the modern world.

After my last blog post I stumbled upon a box of old fan club letters from the late 1970s/early ’80s and thought it might be fun to see what it was like to be a Monkees fan back then and how hard it was to get information about the group and its members without the media exposure after the 1986 Monkees resurgence.

During those Monkees desert years, as I like to call them, I was a member of three Monkees or Monkees related fan clubs:

The David Jones Fan Club

The Monkee, Boyce & Hart Action Club

The Monkees Unofficial Fan Club

When I first started writing to these clubs I was ten years old and I was a member of them probably until I was in early high school. Not only did you get the most current news on the by then solo Monkees activities but one also got to order older memorabilia cheaply as well as various photos, books and any other current solo group material.

I remember ordering Davy Jones 1978 UK single on Warner Bros. Records called “(Hey Ra Ra Ra) Happy Birthday Mickey Mouse”, Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz “The Point” MCA UK album also from 1978 (see both below) as well as Micky Dolenz’ 1979 UK single “Love Light/Alicia” on Chrysalis Records.

(Note: the “Love Light/Alicia” came cracked in half so I never actually heard these songs until the 7a Records CD issue of Micky Dolenz’ “The MGM Singles Collection”)

I even managed to get some audience live recordings on cassette from a complete Davy Jones and Mickey Dolenz appearance at Rum Point from July 1977. While very lo-fi I have transferred this show to CD and it sounds pretty decent actually. Micky Dolenz sister Coco also appears with them and it’s a fun listen.

(Note 2: see my earlier blog post called “Monkees in the ‘7o’s – Solo Monkees/Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart – Artifacts, Music ands Rarities” for photos I purchased from these fan clubs)

At that time is was also pretty difficult to track down Monkees records as well as they were out of print by then (barring the 1976 release of “The Monkees Greatest Hits” on Arista Records) and used copies were hard to locate as I didn’t drive at that time and my local record stores didn’t have much Monkees recordings to chose from as well.

The main thing I remember about these fan club newsletters is that they did a very nice job of keeping you up on Monkees activities new and old and I absolutely loved getting them. Back then there was really no other outlet for Monkees news as the teen magazines had long past left The Monkees behind and Rolling Stone type magazines ignored the group as they were seen as completely uncool.

It’s amazing to me how much the Monkee revival of 1986 changed not only The Monkees media profile but it cemented their stature in pop culture. They were no longer seen as untalented has-beens but a very talented group of performers who produced some of the best pop music of the 1960s.

Anyway, this blog was just a brief reminder of how much the Internet has changed the way people find information and how much of a lifeline these fan clubs were to Monkees fans of the late 1970s/early ’80s.

Take a look at the photos above and below to see some of the newsletters as well as some of the vinyl I got that was advertised for sale in these letters.

That’s all for now. 

I hope your happy, well and healthy. See you soon and I hope you’re enjoying the pre-summer sun!

Some years are much more memorable than others; for various reasons. Sometimes you hit a certain age or celebrate a special event or sometimes even a special anniversary makes that particular year special.

Take 1986 for example.

The year 1986 in my mind is most memorable for the return of The Monkees. It was then, and still is now, hard to fathom the return of a group who at the time was considered a relic of the 1960s. The critical view of The Monkees as 1986 dawned was that a TV show that featured a fake group of mediocre talent that featured bubblegum music for preteens.

That of course was not my opinion but my peers at the time did not have much of a favorable opinion of the group or the show and didn’t even give them a second thought.

In fact, my first year of college started in the Fall of 1985 and as I put up some Monkees album covers on the wall of my dorm I can still see the look of bemusement and ridicule as my then unknown roommate scoffed out of our room and mumbled something about Led Zeppelin.

I however didn’t give two cents about anyone’s opinion, then or now (pardon the pun), and carried with me a love of all things Monkee and ‘60s pop music in general. I happily studied under the glow of the covers of the first five Monkees albums covers on my dorm room wall that entire semester.

As it turned out I only spent just the one semester on campus and returned to a local branch of that college in my hometown. This was the spring semester of 1986.

I had no idea that the mercurial winds of pop culture would conjure up a full-blown revival of The Monkees and their TV show that would forever cement the group as a true pop culture phenomenon that touched several generations.

It all began innocently enough with a marathon of Monkees TV episodes running on MTV in February of 1986 called “Pleasant Valley Sunday”.  I of course was thrilled as I hadn’t seen the series in many years as it hadn’t run on any of my local television stations.

I had no idea that a reunion tour featuring Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones and Peter Tork had already been booked before this marathon so I was just basking in the glow of freshly recorded (on VHS tape of course) episodes of The Monkees series as well as reissue program of their albums on Rhino Records that had begun in 1985.

No one including The Monkees themselves could have anticipated the overwhelmingly positive response to the MTV airings which gave The Monkees 1986 reunion tour a boost that it never would have had if not for the MTV exposure.

MTV to those who weren’t there was THE place to see and hear music circa 1986. Starting in 1981, MTV became the major way to expose music and at that time it held a hugely powerful gripe on making and breaking musical acts of the time.

Little did the network know but their reruns of The Monkees television series would ignite a frenzy much similar to the group’s hottest year of 1967 in which millions of tickets and albums by The Monkees were sold and their concerts were filled with screaming fans.

I remember seeing in amazement the documentaries about The Monkees on MTV throughout the marathon and seeing the interviews with Dolenz in particular sitting in front of a set of drums talking about their upcoming reunion tour.

I was beside myself with the thought of The Monkees actually touring again after all these years; a twenty-year anniversary in 1986 seems so tame now that that is now well over thirty-five years ago.

What else could possibly make this Monkees renaissance better I remember thinking at time.

The answer to that question came in June of 1986 with the release of not only one brand new Monkees song (and single) called “That Was Then, This is Now” but two more new songs (“Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere” and “Kicks”) that were included on a new compilation album of Monkees hits called “Then and Now … The Best of The Monkees”.

Now to say I was thrilled to hear new Monkees music after nearly sixteen years would be a major understatement but the with that the single “That Was Then, This is Now” hitting the Top Twenty and the “Then and Now … The Best of The Monkees” album selling over a million copies I was over the Monkees moon to say the least.

Well 1986 was a long time ago but the fire created that year around The Monkees both as TV show and group still burns to this day as The Monkees are now considered in a much more favorable light then they ever were before 1986.

So today I thought I’d share some of my “Then and Now … The Best of The Monkees” vinyl and CD copies to highlight the 1986 reunion madness.

I recall that the vinyl release of “Then and Now … The Best of The Monkees” came months before the expanded CD issue. I bought the vinyl the second it was issued and remember being so happy that the three new songs were solid and good and loved hearing “That Was Then, This is Now” on the radio.

As The Monkees reunion tour progressed and became bigger and bigger the need for a second single grew larger as another new song would be the perfect way to keep up the momentum that had been generated so far by the MTV exposure.

Much to my surprise instead of the logical choice of “Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere” as a follow-up single a newly remixed and drum enhanced mess of a mix of “Daydream Believer” was issued instead.

Although unknown to me at the time apparently there was a lot of behind the scenes drama with Davy Jones as he refused to participate in the reunion recordings (a beef with Arista Records and its president Clive Davis) and didn’t want a second new song issued.

Of course while the new remix of “Daydream Believer” did get a lot of screen time on MTV and its sister station VH1 it failed to chart anywhere near the Top Twenty and did in fact dull some of the momentum of this magnificent Monkees come-back.

My two vinyl pressings of the “Then and Now … The Best of The Monkees” (below) show the two different variations of the vinyl album that were released. The vinyl in the below photos shows the version with the original stereo mix of “Daydream Believer” including its iconic “7a” intro while the one shown above is a later issue that substitutes the new remix sans the “7a” dialog.

I have included the matrix of each and the one with the RE-1 etched in the wax on Side 2 is the remix version and ones without the RE-1 contain the original mix. Interestingly the one above is actually a further variation as it has the RE listed on the Side 2 label but not in the matrix number and still contains the original mix.

The first issue of the album doesn’t contain the RE on either the label or matrix number.

I’m not sure that the “RE-1” pressing of “Then and Now … The Best of The Monkees” which I just recently located is from a record club version as it has no record club markings that I can see. I read that only record club issues of this on vinyl contain the remix so either this is a record club pressing or a further variation. Interesting either way and still a fun collectible.

I have also included pictures of the longbox from the first issue CD as well and photos of a Japanese issue on CD that mirrors the track listing of the original US vinyl issue with the same tracks that are on the vinyl version.

I also threw in a picture of a groovy ad for the album from Billboard magazine which is fun to see.

Well, that’s all for now. Just a quick overview of 1986 in Monkeedom and the release of the terrific “Then and Now … The Best of The Monkees” album.

As usual enjoy the photos and of course take care and be well.

Until next time I hope you have a great week and hopefully have some sunshine which has been sorely lacking in these parts lately.

See you soon!