Rating: - Don't let this one pass you by!
These songs sound just as fresh, vibrant and wonderful as they did when I was seven years old. Classic tracks such as "Sweet Young Thing", "Let's Dance On", "Saturday's Child" and, of course, `Last Train to Clarksville" are true pop classics that deserve more respect and umbrage than the Monkees detractor's jibes - for not being an "organic" band. The fact remains, though, that David Jones, Mike Nesmith and Micky Dolenz's vocals combined with Mike and Peter Tork's (the fourth Monkee), Glen Campbell, Louie Shelton and James Burton (Rick Nelson and Elvis Presley's lead guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member) musicianship produced timely music that is much better than the "organic" music of its day. To be blunt, many of the "real bands" complete catalogues don't contain as much great music as the great gems on just the group's first two albums("The Monkees' and "More of the Monkees.)" In addition, Rhino entertainment and Andrew Sandoval have done a great job in remastering and chronicling the album's history (in the liner notes). While many of the bonus tracks were already available in the Monkees "Missing Links" series (three CD's), it's great to have them in one place, with improved sound quality to boot. When you hear some of the bonus songs such as "Of You", "All the Kings Horses" and "I Don't Think You Know Me At All" (two versions), you'll be amazed that they weren't included on "The Monkees" or "More of the Monkees.". Lastly, there are seven previously unreleased songs such as the alternate version of "The Kind of Girl I Could Love," that are truly magnificent. In summary, even if you have the early Arista, Arista/BMG (Japanese import) or Rhino (1994) versions of this album, but it anyway! If you're unfamiliar with these albums or The Monkees, but love beautifully crafted pop classics, then take a chance. You won't be sorry. Also......your purchase of "The Monkees" and "More of the Monkees" deluxe edtions will help ensure that Rhino releases the remaining Monkee albums in the deluxe format. Andrew Sandoval has told me that Rhino does plan to release "Headquaters" and "Pisces,Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones LTD" in 2007.