The Monkees – The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees (1968) [3-CD reissue]

The fifth album by The Monkees gets the deluxe treatment with a superb 3-CD reissue containing the original stereo album, the first CD release of the rare mono LP mix, plus 64 rarities, many previously unreleased. Peaking at #3 on the Billboard album charts in 1968, it was the first Monkees album not to reach #1. It was held out of the top spot by a pair of Simon and Garfunkel albums (The soundtrack to “The Graduate” and “Bookends”). Features “Daydream Believer” and “Valleri.” With complete booklet and packaging scans.


After gaining complete artistic control over their musical direction and finally being allowed to play instruments on their own records in early 1967, the monumental success of “Headquarters” and “Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.” began to somewhat rebuff the critics who propagated that The Monkees was a band of talentless individuals who were simply lucky enough to gain recognition through their 'manufactured' origins.

The desire and focus, however, to remain as a complete band unit in the studio quickly evaporated after the Pisces album, when, much to the dismay of bassist Peter Tork, each individual band member began to produce his own sessions with his own selected studio musicians, often at entirely different studios around the Los Angeles area. An agreement was made to label all finished efforts as 'Produced by The Monkees', but in reality, beyond a few exceptions, most of the recordings featured on “The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees” revert back to the recording process of the first two albums – less group dynamics – except now each band member was fully in charge of the sessions. Chip Douglas, producer of The Monkees' previous two albums, fully expected to continue as the band's representative in the studio, but found the individual Monkees more interested in exploring their own diverse musical backgrounds with their own friends rather than relying on Douglas as the central figure.

Those diverse musical backgrounds, while making for an interesting mix of styles and sounds on Monkees albums, most likely also contributed to the downfall of The Monkees as a self-contained studio band. Four different musical outlooks resulted in less and less harmony in the recording process after Headquarters, and the results of that fracture are found on this album – Davy Jones' Broadway rock, Michael Nesmith's country and western leanings, and the rock and soul of Micky Dolenz. Unfortunately for Tork, even though several of his compositions were considered for release on Birds, his participation is almost zero on this album; he appears only on "Daydream Believer." He spent the rest of his Monkees tenure struggling to find his footing in the studio now that the band was no longer working organically.

1968 was tumultuous year for The Monkees. Riding high on a string of #1 albums and eight Top 20 singles (including 3 #1’s), the rug was about to be pulled out from under the band. In late spring 1968 NBC canceled “The Monkees” TV show and the band’s foray into film (“Head”) was delayed and ultimately flopped at the box office when released in November 1968. Critics trashed the movie and fans stayed away. Without a hit single or tour the “Head” soundtrack floundered on the Billboard chart, reaching only #45. At the end of 1968 Peter Tork was the first member to leave the group.

Produced by The Monkees (“Daydream Believer” produced by Chip Douglas)
Original LPs issued on Colgems Records (COC 109) on April 22, 1968
Deluxe 3-CD reissue on Rhino Handmade (RHM2 522248) on February 16, 2010

Tracks:
Disc 1: The Original Stereo Album
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”
Bonus Material
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
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”
Bonus Material
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. The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees 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*
* Previously Unreleased

Download album (rapidshare):
CD 1:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

CD 2:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

CD 3:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Artwork Part 1
Artwork Part 2

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