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Last Train To Clarksville: "The Monkees" Goes Super Deluxe In November

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Monkees SDEIn 1967, Monkeemania was sweeping the country. "I told people I would outsell The Beatles, and they laughed at me," impresario Don Kirshner once recalled. "Then the first album sold four million." That first album which led the television foursome to outsell The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys and, well, everybody else in 1967 is the subject of a new 3-CD Super Deluxe set arriving from Rhino Handmade on November 11.

The Monkees - Super Deluxe Edition rewinds the series of box sets that has already encompassed the group's sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth albums: The Birds, The Bees and the Monkees, Head, The Monkees Present and Instant Replay, respectively. (A previous box set collected the sessions for Headquarters, Album No. 3.) This new box features a whopping 100 tracks, 45 of which are previously unreleased, and includes the original album in both mono and stereo as well as Davy Jones' 1965 solo debut David Jones in both mono and stereo versions.

The first disc of the set features the mono and stereo versions of The Monkees, featuring seven compositions by Tommy Boyce, six with Bobby Hart and one with Steve Venet, including "(Theme from) The Monkees," "I Wanna Be Free" and the No. 1 hit "Last Train to Clarksville." The album also has tunes from Mike Nesmith ("Papa Gene's Blues") David Gates ("Saturday's Child"), Carole King and Gerry Goffin ("Take a Giant Step," "Sweet Young Thing," co-written with Nesmith) and Goffin and Russ Titelman ("I'll Be True to You"). This disc is rounded out with 12 bonus cuts including unique television versions previously unreleased on CD.

The 31 tracks on the second disc are all previously unreleased, as well. This disc of session material boasts the master backing tracks for "Let's Dance On," "This Just Doesn't Seem To Be My Day," "(Theme From) The Monkees" and "Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day" plus various alternate versions of songs from the debut album, including an alternate vocal take by Nesmith on "The Kind of Girl I Could Love," rehearsal recordings and multiple takes of songs like "I Wanna Be Free," Goffin and King's "So Goes Love" and Nesmith's "Mary, Mary."

The third disc puts the spotlight on the early solo endeavors of Monkees Davy and Mike. Jones' 1965 Colpix debut David Jones is presented in both mono and stereo along with two single sides, while six single sides from Michael Blessing a.k.a. Nesmith are also here, two of which have never been released before in any format. This disc concludes with four rare demo recordings of "I Wanna Be Free."

After the jump: more on The Monkees including the complete track listing and pre-order link!

The Monkees has been released twice before in expanded format on CD, in 1994 and in 2006. The 1994 CD features alternate versions of Boyce and Hart's "I Can't Get Her Off My Mind" and Goffin and King's "I Don't Think You Know Me" which are not reprised here. The 2006 reissue, a 2-CD set, has The Monkees in mono and stereo but likewise contains many recordings not on this new box among its seventeen bonus tracks, so it's important that collectors hold onto that title, as well.  Producer Andrew Sandoval enlightens fans as to his process for crafting this new set at The Monkees Live Almanac.

The Monkees: Super Deluxe Edition is a limited edition of 4,000 individually numbered boxes. It's available now for pre-order directly via The Monkees' website, and will ship in November 2014. It will not be available at any other retailer. You can place that pre-order and check out the track listing below!

The Monkees, The Monkees: Super Deluxe Edition (Rhino Handmade, 2014)

CD 1

The Original Mono Album (Colgems COM-101, 1966)

  1. (THEME FROM) THE MONKEES
  2. SATURDAY'S CHILD
  3. I WANNA BE FREE
  4. TOMORROW'S GONNA BE ANOTHER DAY
  5. PAPA GENE'S BLUES
  6. TAKE A GIANT STEP
  7. LAST TRAIN TO CLARKSVILLE
  8. THIS JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO BE MY DAY
  9. LET'S DANCE ON
  10. I'LL BE TRUE TO YOU
  11. SWEET YOUNG THING
  12. GONNA BUY ME A DOG

The Original Stereo Album (Colgems COS-101, 1966)

  1. (THEME FROM) THE MONKEES
  2. SATURDAY'S CHILD
  3. I WANNA BE FREE
  4. TOMORROW'S GONNA BE ANOTHER DAY
  5. PAPA GENE'S BLUES
  6. TAKE A GIANT STEP
  7. LAST TRAIN TO CLARKSVILLE
  8. THIS JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO BE MY DAY
  9. LET'S DANCE ON
  10. I'LL BE TRUE TO YOU
  11. SWEET YOUNG THING
  12. GONNA BUY ME A DOG

Bonus Material

  1. (THEME FROM) THE MONKEES (SECOND VERSION) (first released on The Monkees, Rhino 71790, 1994)
  2. YOU JUST MAY BE THE ONE (MONO TV VERSION)*
  3. THIS JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO BE MY DAY (MONO TV VERSION)*
  4. TAKE A GIANT STEP (MONO TV VERSION)*
  5. ALL THE KING'S HORSES (MONO TV VERSION)*
  6. I WANNA BE FREE (FAST VERSION - MONO TV MIX)*
  7. THE KIND OF GIRL I COULD LOVE (ALTERNATE MONO MIX)*
  8. MONKEES NBC PROMO SPOT*
  9. SATURDAY'S CHILD (MONO TV VERSION)*
  10. KELLOGG'S JINGLE (first released on Missing Links, Volume 3, Rhino 72153, 1996)
  11. MONKEES RADIO SPOT (first released on The Monkees, Rhino R2 77678, 2006)
  12. (THEME FROM) THE MONKEES (TV VERSION) (first released on Missing Links, Volume 3, Rhino 72153, 1996)

CD 2: The Monkees - Sessions

  1. I WANNA BE FREE (OVERDUBBED DEMO - TAKE 2)*
  2. ALL THE KING'S HORSES (ALTERNATE VOCAL TAKE)*
  3. THE KIND OF GIRL I COULD LOVE (ALTERNATE VOCAL TAKE)*
  4. I DON'T THINK YOU KNOW ME (STEREO REMIX - MICKY'S VOCAL)*
  5. (THEME FROM) THE MONKEES (VERSION ONE - MASTER BACKING TRACK)*
  6. LET'S DANCE ON (MASTER BACKING TRACK)*
  7. THIS JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO BE MY DAY (MASTER BACKING TRACK)*
  8. GONNA BUY ME A DOG (VERSION ONE - BACKING TRACK TAKE FIVE)*
  9. SO GOES LOVE (TAKE ONE)*
  10. SO GOES LOVE (ALTERNATE VOCAL TAKE)*
  11. PAPA GENE'S BLUES (BACKING TRACK - TAKE ONE)*
  12. PAPA GENE'S BLUES (ALTERNATE VOCAL TAKE)*
  13. I'LL BE TRUE TO YOU (STEREO REMIX)*
  14. I WON'T BE THE SAME WITHOUT HER (BACKING TRACK - TAKE SIX)*
  15. I WON'T BE THE SAME WITHOUT HER (STEREO REMIX)*
  16. SWEET YOUNG THING (BACKING TRACK - TAKE ONE)*
  17. SWEET YOUNG THING (STEREO REMIX)*
  18. YOU JUST MAY BE THE ONE (REHEARSAL & BACKING TRACK - TAKE NINETEEN)*
  19. YOU JUST MAY BE THE ONE (STEREO REMIX)*
  20. I WANNA BE FREE (VERSION TWO - BACKING TRACK TAKE SIX)*
  21. I WANNA BE FREE (VERSION THREE - BACKING TRACK TAKE THREE)*
  22. I WANNA BE FREE (VERSION THREE - STEREO REMIX)*
  23. JOKES (BACKING TRACK)*
  24. TOMORROW'S GONNA BE ANOTHER DAY (MASTER BACKING TRACK)*
  25. GONNA BUY ME A DOG (VERSION TWO - BACKING TRACK TAKE TWO)*
  26. I CAN'T GET HER OFF OF MY MIND (VERSION ONE - STEREO REMIX)*
  27. MARY, MARY (BACKING TRACK - TAKE ONE)*
  28. OF YOU (BACKING TRACK - TAKE ONE)*
  29. OF YOU (STEREO REMIX)*
  30. (I PRITHEE) DO NOT ASK FOR LOVE (REHEARSAL)*
  31. (I PRITHEE) DO NOT ASK FOR LOVE (STEREO REMIX OF DAVY'S VOCAL)*

CD 3

David Jones - The Original Mono Album (Colgems CP-493, 1965)

  1. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
  2. MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE I'M A LONDONER
  3. PUT ME AMONGST THE GIRLS
  4. ANY OLD IRON
  5. THEME FOR A NEW LOVE
  6. IT AIN'T ME BABE
  7. FACE UP TO IT
  8. DREAM WORLD
  9. BABY IT'S ME
  10. MY DAD
  11. THIS BOUQUET

David Jones - The Singles

  1. TAKE ME TO PARADISE (Colpix single CP 764, 1965)
  2. THE GIRL FROM CHELSEA (Colpix single CP 789, 1965)

David Jones - The Original Stereo Album (Colpix SCP-493, 1965)

  1. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
  2. MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE I'M A LONDONER
  3. PUT ME AMONGST THE GIRLS
  4. ANY OLD IRON
  5. THEME FOR A NEW LOVE
  6. IT AIN'T ME BABE
  7. FACE UP TO IT
  8. BABY IT'S ME
  9. MY DAD
  10. THIS BOUQUET

Michael Blessing - The Singles

  1. THE NEW RECRUIT (Colpix single CP 787, 1965)
  2. A JOURNEY WITH MICHAEL BLESSING (Colpix single CP 787, 1965)
  3. UNTIL IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO GO (Colpix single CP 792, 1966)
  4. WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE TROUBLE OFFICER (Colpix single CP 792, 1966)
  5. WHO DO YOU LOVE*
  6. GET OUT OF MY LIFE WOMAN*

The Monkees - Demos

  1. I WANNA BE FREE (REHEARSAL)*
  2. I WANNA BE FREE (DEMO - TAKE TWELVE)*
  3. I WANNA BE FREE (DEMO REMAKE - TAKE ONE)*
  4. I WANNA BE FREE (DEMO REMAKE - TAKE FIVE)*
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Joe Marchese

JOE MARCHESE (Editor) joined The Second Disc shortly after its launch in early 2010, and has since penned daily news and reviews about classic music of all genres. In 2015, Joe formed the Second Disc Records label. Celebrating the great songwriters, producers and artists who created the sound of American popular song, Second Disc Records, in conjunction with Real Gone Music, has released newly-curated collections produced by Joe from iconic artists such as Johnny Mathis, Bobby Darin, Laura Nyro, Melissa Manchester, Chet Atkins, and many others. He has contributed liner notes to reissues from a diverse array of artists, among them Nat "King" Cole, Paul Williams, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield, B.J. Thomas, The 5th Dimension, Burt Bacharach, The Mamas and the Papas, Carpenters, Perry Como, Rod McKuen, Doris Day, Jackie DeShannon, and Andy Williams, and has compiled releases for talents including Robert Goulet and Keith Allison of Paul Revere and the Raiders. Over the past two decades, Joe has also worked in a variety of capacities on and off Broadway as well as at some of the premier theatres in the U.S., including Lincoln Center Theater, George Street Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, and the York Theatre Company. He has felt privileged to work on productions alongside artists such as the late Jack Klugman, Eli Wallach, Arthur Laurents, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. In 2009, Joe began contributing theatre and music reviews to the print publication The Sondheim Review, and in 2012, he joined the staff of The Digital Bits as a regular contributor writing about film and television on DVD and Blu-ray. Joe currently resides in the suburbs of New York City.

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Comments

  4. This is something that I just had to order. The first Monkees album was one of the first 3 L.P. records that I ever bought(at age 10), and the only one of those 3 albums where I still have my original L.P. 48 years later. Andrew Sandoval has done a fantastic job compiling all Rhino & Rhino Handmade "Monkees" CD's. I bought all the previous Rhino & Rhino Handmade Monkees boxed sets, and was delighted by them.

    Reply

    • No, because Rhino Handmade is essentially defunct. They will still release Monkees boxed sets for sale via The Monkees' website. Excepting selling old Rhino Handmade titles that are still on warehouse shelves, that's all Rhino Handmade does these days.

      Reply

  7. I am a huge fan of Andrew Sandoval's work with the Monkees catalog, but to the average fan, it's slightly misleading to say all the tracks on disc two of this set are previously unreleased. They all appear in previously unreleased mixes, however it's probable that 1/3 of the tracks on that disc have appeared in some form on other releases. For instance, the version of "I Can't Get Her Off My Mind" that featured on the single-disc version of this album from 1994 does appear on this box set, just not in the same mix. But judging by the 2006 reissue of that track, the mix should not vary drastically on this new set.

    Reply

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