Top Artists – The Monkees

The Monkees / More of The Monkees – Sounding “Good” For the First Time Ever

More of The Monkees

More Sixties Pop

  • The band’s sophomore LP debuts on the site with INCREDIBLE Shootout Winning Triple Plus (A+++) sound from start to finish
  • Surprisingly quiet for an original Stereo Colgems pressing – not many survived in this kind of audiophile playing condition
  • 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 clearly better than any copy we have previously played
  • 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 we played had in such abundance
  • 4 stars: “…the Monkees rate with any pop band of their era and More of The Monkees solidifies that position.”

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The Monkees – Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd.

More of The Monkees

More Sixties Pop

  • This 1967 Stereo pressing boasts INCREDIBLE Nearly Triple Plus (A++ to A+++) sound from beginning to end – just shy of our Shootout Winner
  • These two sides are exceptionally (for this album) smooth, rich, sweet, and clear
  • 4 1/2 stars: “To think that both this album and Headquarters came out the same year! Most bands would be lucky to have two albums this good come out their entire career. Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. is a must-have for any fan of smart, fun, and exciting ’60s pop. It doesn’t get much better than this.”

We’ve been trying to find good sound on Monkees’ albums for at least thirty years, with very little to show for our efforts — until now, of course. It seems the fourth album is practically the only one with potential.

One of the problems holding us back from discovering the best sounding pressings of The Monkees’ albums is the fact that 90+% of the copies we come across are beat to death. The average Rolling Stones record from the ’60s is in better shape.

We will, of course, keep looking, but it’s highly doubtful that any copy of the first two albums — you know, the ones that were at the top of the charts for so long they outsold The Beatles in 1967 — will ever make it to the site. Doubtful, but hope springs eternal in the record biz. You never know what gems you’ll discover until they somehow find themselves on your turntable.

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The Monkees – Self-Titled

More of the Music of The Monkees

More Sixties Pop Recordings

  • 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

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The Monkees / The Birds, The Bees and The Monkees – Yes, Some Copies Actually Do Sound Good

More Monkees

More Sixties Pop Recordings

  • 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

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