7a Records is heading to Davy Jones' locker...or more accurately, his vault, as the label has announced its most extensive project yet.  The late Monkee's Live in Japan is a remarkable and comprehensive collection of both of Jones' officially released (and long-unavailable) Japanese concert albums in their best sound yet, plus numerous singles and rarities from the early 1980s.  The set, due on August 2 in two formats, paints a vivid portrait of Jones' solo work during the period prior to The Monkees' 1986 reunion.

Japan had been a popular destination for Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, and Peter Tork, all of whom toured the country separately as solo artists.  Davy was so successful there that he released two live albums, 1981's Live in Japan (featuring Monkees classics plus his then-current singles "It's Now" and "How Do You Know") and 1982's Hello Davy (with a diverse setlist of new songs, Monkees favorites, and his 1970s singles "You're a Lady" and, of course, "Rainy Jane").  7a's 2CD/DVD set features both of these original Japanese album releases, plus a whopping 22 bonus tracks consisting of alternate mixes and the following ultra-rare original single releases:

• "(Hey Ra Ra Ra) Happy Birthday Mickey Mouse" b/w "You Don't Have to Be a Country Boy to Sing a Country Song" (U.K., 1978)
• "It's Now" b/w "How Do You Know" (Japan, 1981)
• "Dance, Gypsy" b/w "Can She Do It Like She Dances" (Japan, 1981)
• "Baby, You'll Soon Be Sixteen" b/w "Baby, Holdout" (Japan, 1982)
• "Rainbows" (rec. 1981, rel. private press in 1983, commercially in 2018)

And that's not all.  The collection also includes a DVD of the quintessential showman's Hello, Davy concert, which has only ever previously been issued on laserdisc in the Far East, back in 1982.  7a acknowledges, "It isn't Blu-ray quality; it's laserdisc footage from the '80s, but it still looks and sounds amazing and we are delighted to be able to finally release this as an official DVD."

All recordings have been digitally remastered for this project.  The set, housed in an attractive and faithfully-designed package, comes with a detailed 24-page color booklet, boasting previously unpublished photographs, new liner notes by 7a co-founder Iain Lee and Mark Kleiner, and recollections from Japanese fans that were present at the shows.

A 3-LP vinyl gatefold edition will also be released.  This format includes a 28-page A4 brochure with a replica of a Davy Jones Japanese tour program unavailable anywhere else.  The three LPs comprise both of the original concerts, each pressed on individually colored vinyl, and one LP of 16 bonus tracks drawn from both the alternate mixes and single sides.

Davy Jones' Live in Japan has been produced in conjunction with the artist's family, and promises to be a wonderfully nostalgic trip with the Manchester Cowboy.  7a notes, " We have thrown everything at this. We could have cut corners. We could have made it cheaper. But we wanted to make THE BEST. And we really stand by this release. Remember, we do not take a penny personally out of any of our releases. Every penny we make gets poured into the next release (Micky Dolenz - Live in Japan anyone?)."  Count us in!  In the meantime, Davy Jones' Live in Japan is set for release on August 2, and is available for pre-order now in both formats at the links below.

Davy Jones, Live In Japan [2CD/DVD Edition] (7a Records 7A018, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Keymail Records (U.K.) / Deep Discount (U.S.))

2CD + DVD (with 24 page booklet)

CD 1: Live In Japan (Japan Record LP JAL 1003, 1981)                                                       

1. Last Train To Clarksville
2. I'm A Believer
3. Cuddly Toy
4. How Do You Know
5. (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone
6. Star Collector
7. I Wanna Be Free
8. A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You
9. Valleri
10. It's Now
11. Daydream Believer

Bonus Tracks

12. (Theme From) The Monkees
13. (Theme From) The Monkees (Alt. Mix)
14. Daydream Believer (Alt. Mix)
15. A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You (Alt. Mix)
16. I Wanna Be Free (Alt. Mix)
17. Star Collector (Alt. Mix)
18. How Do You Know (Alt. Mix)
19. I'm A Believer (Alt. Mix)
20. Cuddly Toy (Alt. Mix)
21. Last Train To Clarksville (Alt. Mix)
22. Valleri (Alt. Mix)
23. (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone (Alt. Mix)
24. It's Now (Alt. Mix)
25. (Theme From) The Monkees (Outro)

CD 2: Hello Davy (Warner/Pioneer LP K 10025, 1982)

1. Dance, Gypsy
2. Last Train To Clarksville
3. I'm A Believer
4. Star Collector
5. I Wanna Be Free
6. Rainy Jane
7. You're A Lady
8. Can She Do It (Like She Dances)
9. Cuddly Toy
10. (I'll) Love You Forever
11. Daydream Believer
12. Baby, You'll Soon Be Sixteen
13. It's Now
14. Baby, Holdout

Bonus Tracks

15. It's Now (Single Version) (Japan Record JAS-2007-A, 1981)
16. How Do You Know (Single Version) (Japan Record JAS-2007-B, 1981)
17. Dance, Gypsy (Single Version) (Japan Record JAS-2010-A, 1981)
18. Can She Do It (Like She Dances) (Single Version) (Japan Record JAS-2010-B, 1981)
19. Baby, You'll Soon Be Sixteen (Single Version) (Pioneer Japan K-1517-A, 1982)
20. Baby, Holdout (Single Version) (Pioneer Japan K-1517-B, 1982)
21. (Hey Ra Ra Ra) Happy Birthday Mickey Mouse (Warner Bros. (U.K.) K 17161-A, 1978)
22. You Don't Have To Be A Country Boy To Sing A Country Song (Warner Bros. (U.K.) K 17161-B, 1978)
23. Rainbows (Relived Records private press single BIR 004, 1983/7a Records single 7A017, 2018)

DVD: Hello Davy / Live In Japan

1. Intro
2. Dance, Gypsy
3. Last Train To Clarksville
4. I'm A Believer
5. Star Collector
6. I Wanna Be Free
7. Rainy Jane
8. You're A Lady
9. Cuddly Toy
10. (I'll) Love You Forever
11. Daydream Believer
12. Baby, You'll Soon Be Sixteen
13. It's Now
14. Baby, Holdout

Davy Jones, Live In Japan [3-LP Colored Vinyl Edition] (7a Records 7A024, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Keymail Records (U.K.) / Deep Discount (U.S.))

LP 1: Live In Japan

Side One

1. Last Train To Clarksville
2. I'm A Believer
3. Cuddly Toy
4. How Do You Know
5. (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone
6. Star Collector

Side Two

1. I Wanna Be Free
2. A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You
3. Valleri
4. It's Now
5. Daydream Believer
6. (Theme From) The Monkees

LP 2: Hello Davy

Side One

1. Intro / Dance Gypsy
2. Last Train To Clarksville
3. I'm A Believer
4. Star Collector
5. I Wanna Be Free
6. Rainy Jane
7. You're A Lady

Side Two

1. (Can She Do It) Like She Dances
2. Cuddly Toy
3. I'll Love You Forever
4. Daydream Believer
5. Baby, You'll Soon Be Sixteen
6. It's Now
7. Baby, Holdout

LP 3: Bonus Tracks

Side One

1. It's Now (Single Version)
2. How Do You Know (Single Version)
3. Dance Gypsy (Single Version)
4. (Can She Do It) Like She Dances (Single Version)
5. Baby You'll Soon Be Sixteen (Single Version)
6. Baby Holdout (Single Version)
7. (Hey Ra Ra Ra) Happy Birthday Mickey Mouse
8. You Don't Have To Be A Country Boy to Sing a Country Song

Side Two

1. Rainbows
2. Daydream Believer (Alt. Mix)
3. A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You
4. I Wanna Be Free (Alt. Mix)
5. Star Collector (Alt. Mix)
6. I'm A Believer (Alt. Mix)
7. Valleri (Alt. Mix)
8. (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone (Alt. Mix)