Casino Royale finally returns to the site after a two and a half year hiatus, here with solid Double Plus (A++) sound throughout this original Stereo Colgems pressing
A record that has its share of problems, but if you’ve got the system for it (huge, heavily tweaked, fast, undistorted, highly resolving and free from obvious colorations), this pressing is guaranteed to handily beat anything else you’ve heard
A TAS list favorite – “The Look of Love” with warmth, richness and immediacy? Here is the sound you never thought you’d hear
4 1/2 stars: “The more recognizable and certainly more straightforward side of Bacharach is here, too, on the Dusty Springfield smash ‘The Look of Love.’ This is one of Bacharach’s best soundtracks…”
Both sides of this copy have outstanding sound for the band’s sophomore LP, earning solid Double Plus (A++) grades or BETTER – exceptionally quiet vinyl too
Amazingly QUIET for an early Stereo Colgems pressing – not many survived in this kind of audiophile playing condition
The key to any Monkees record is the midrange, and here is the low-distortion, rich, breathy, present, Tubey Magical sound that no other copy had in such abundance
This is no Demo Disc by any means — we grade on a curve, and considering the limitations of a heavily-processed, 60s pop record designed to be heard over AM radio, this is very good sounding pressing for what it is, and one of the best we have ever played
The key to any Monkees record is the midrange, and here is the low-distortion, rich, breathy, present, Tubey Magical sound that few of the copies we played had in such abundance
The sound may be too heavily processed for some, but we find that on the best copies that sound works about as well as any for this album
4 stars: “…the Monkees rate with any pop band of their era and More of The Monkees solidifies that position.”
Surprisingly quiet for an original Stereo Colgems pressing – not many survived in this kind of audiophile playing condition
We guarantee there is dramatically more richness, fullness, vocal presence, and performance energy on this copy than others you’ve heard, and that’s especially true if you made the mistake of buying whatever Heavy Vinyl pressing is currently on the market
4 stars: “The record wasn’t only a commercial juggernaut, it also stands as one of the great debuts of all time, and while the record and the group have faced criticism from rock purists through the ages, it stands the test of time perfectly well, sounding as alive and as much fun 40 years later.”
If you’re a fan of The Monkees, this title from 1966 is clearly one of their best
The complete list of titles from 1966 that we’ve reviewed to date can be found here
KILLER sound throughout for this original Colgems pressing with both sides earning Shootout Winning Triple Plus (A+++) grades or very close to them – the vinyl is fairly quiet for a vintage Monkees record too
The key to any Monkees record is the midrange, and here is the low-distortion, rich, breathy, present, Tubey Magical sound that no other side one had in such abundance
Daydream Believer was the big hit and it is absolutely killer here
“Featuring more than half of its material written by band members, The Birds, the Bees & the Monkees ranks as a favorite among longtime fans… it’s one of the band’s finest records, a great representation of the era and an even better pop album.” – Ultimate Classic Rock
