The Monkees – The Monkees

8 "This Just Doesn't Seem To Be My Day" on this CD has "a longer fadeout". On disc and on the booklet the playing time of this track indicates "2:08", but actually it is "2:19" (about 10 seconds long than RHINO 1994 CD version).

This 1992 Japanese edition CD contains a rare mix: track 8 "This Just Doesn't Seem To Be My Day" included here has "longer fadeout" (about 10 seconds longer). Same version appears on "The Monkees By Request"(3-CD set, 1989 Japan). I recently noticed that the same version already appeared on US Arista 1986 CD.

2 "Saturday's Child", 4 "Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day"and 6 "Take A Giant Step" are included here in mono mix.

Is this the same splatter vinyl pressing as RSD 2023?

Still available from Rhino (yes, ROG ltd edition yellow vinyl): https://monkeesstore.warnermusic.com/en/the-monkees/music/the-monkees-deluxe-edition-lp/081227892005.html

The Monkees' debut album featured different cover art in Japan than elsewhere in the world, and so does this 1980 Arista pressing. Note the typo on the back cover, "Papa Gean's Blues", it also appears that way on the lyric sheet insert. I'm happy with the sound quality of this Japanese pressing, with a punchy, crisp mix, adequate low end, and a wide, clear soundstage. My copy plays nice and clean, with virtually no surface noise, save for a skip on "I'll Be True To You".

It is a mono copy, although the vinyl cover and label mention stereo

Releases like this are why RSD is getting a bad name. Who wants a 2023 shoddy reissue of debut Monkees?? Cloggin up pressing plants for junk like this. Nothing but a money grab with no attention to quality.

1) This was marketed as “First Time Ever Gatefold Cover Exclusive!” It is not. It is a standard weight, single-pocket jacket.

2) The printing quality of the cover artwork is horrendous. Each Monkee looks sunburnt and it’s super pixelated

3) The vinyl color itself is less “psychedelic swirl” and more “someone took a poo on my record and smeared it across the surface”

4) The sound quality is just okay; I don’t think this album will ever sound great but it’s quite harsh, bright and sibilant here, IMO, though some songs sound better than others. Pressing quality is great though, with a near dead silent noise floor.

Overall, not too happy with dropping $40 on this thing, especially considering the fact that it turned out to have a cheap/thin single pocket jacket instead of the gatefold that was proudly d. Shoulda just spent $25 or so on the 2-LP Run Out Groove release.

no idea why they decided to put the typo back on. makes it more like the original press i suppose

“The Monkees” by The Monkees stands as an emblem of the pop-cultural revolution of the 1960s. The German vinyl pressing from 1966 encapsulates a remarkable musical time capsule, maintaining an excellent sound quality despite its age. This pressing impresses particularly with its clarity and warmth of sound, accentuated by the analog medium of vinyl. Tracks like “Last Train to Clarksville” and “(Theme From) The Monkees” unfold with a vivacity that one might not expect from a recording of this era.

However, as with many older recordings, there are certain limitations in sound quality. The slight weaknesses in the highs, noted in the 1966 German pressing, could be partly attributed to the recording technology limitations of the time. These minor flaws can lead to a loss in detail and brilliance in the higher frequency ranges, especially noticeable in the vocal harmonies and guitar riffs.

Nonetheless, the German vinyl pressing of “The Monkees” remains a considerable piece of music history. It represents not only the beginnings of a band conceived as an American answer to The Beatles but also an era when pop music began to establish itself as a serious art form. For vinyl collectors and fans of the band, this pressing, despite its minor flaws, is a worthy addition to their collection.