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The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | April 22, 1968 | |||
Recorded | Late 1967–early 1968 | |||
Genre | Pop rock, psychedelic pop | |||
Length | 37:00 | |||
Label | Colgems (original U.S. release) RCA Victor (original release outside U.S.) Arista (1980 Japanese LP reissue + 1986 CD reissue) Rhino (1985 LP reissue + 1994 & 2010 CD reissues) Sundazed (1996 LP reissue) | |||
Producer | The Monkees, Chip Douglas | |||
The Monkees chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
MusicHound | [2] |
popdose | (favorable) [3] |
Record Collector | [4] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [5] |
The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees is the fifth studio album by the Monkees. Released in April 1968, it was the first Monkees album not to reach Billboard's number one, peaking at No. 3 on the U.S. charts. It was also their first album to miss the UK charts altogether, with their four previous efforts all having reached the top ten. The album has sold over a million copies.
While 1968 presented several misfortunes for the band (their eponymous television series was canceled; their first motion picture project, Head , failed at the box office; their television special, 33⅓ Revolutions per Monkee , arguably fared even worse; and, in December, Peter Tork left the group), The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees proved to be another successful album, yielding the group's sixth million-selling single in "Valleri" and yet another No. 1 in "Daydream Believer", written by former Kingston Trio member John Stewart. Coincidentally, both songs had been holdovers from previous albums: "Valleri" had originally been recorded more than a year prior for the television show (the version on this album is a new production) and "Daydream Believer" had been recorded for their previous album, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. "Tapioca Tundra", an experimental piece of poetry put to music by Nesmith, charted well as the B-side to "Valleri" and reached No. 34.
After gaining complete artistic control over their musical direction and being allowed to play instruments on their own records in early 1967, the success of Headquarters and Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. began to somewhat rebuff the critics who viewed The Monkees as a band of talentless individuals who were simply lucky enough to gain recognition through their "manufactured" origins.
The desire and focus, however, to remain as a complete band unit in the studio evaporated after the Pisces album, when each individual band member began to produce his own sessions with his own selected studio musicians, often at entirely different studios around the Los Angeles area. According to Chip Douglas, "Peter kind of drifted away first, and then everybody did. Everyone wanted to do their own songs and produce them the way they wanted to hear them." An agreement was made to label all finished efforts as "Produced by The Monkees" but, in reality, beyond a few exceptions the recordings featured on The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees reverted to the recording process of the first two albums (fewer group dynamics), except now each band member was fully in charge of the sessions. Chip Douglas, producer of the Monkees' previous two albums, fully expected to continue as the band's representative in the studio, but found the individual Monkees more interested in exploring their diverse musical backgrounds with their own friends and associates rather than relying on Douglas as the central figure. Douglas continues, "I was ready to do that Boyce & Hart song 'P.O. Box 9847' – it sort of had that 'Paperback Writer' feel on the demo. We passed on it for Pisces, and I began to think, 'Well, we should do that one now.' Then somebody said, 'Chip, we’re not working with you anymore; we’re gonna do our own thing.'"[ citation needed ]
While being credited as the producers, in reality the Monkees were assisted in the studio by Colgems' president, and head of Screen Gems-Columbia Publishing, Lester Sill, jazz musician and arranger Shorty Rogers, or future manager and later MCA vice president Brendan Cahill. "At that point their contract read that they were to be credited as producers on any product of theirs that came out", Rogers recalls. "Brendan Cahill and I really did all the studio work and production with Lester Sill. When we finished the album, Lester said, 'We’ll put you down as producers', but The Monkees didn't want it, so that went by the wayside."[ citation needed ]
Davy Jones' Broadway rock, Michael Nesmith's country and western leanings and psychedelic experiments, and the rock and soul of Micky Dolenz made for a diverse album. Several of Peter Tork's compositions were considered for release on Birds; however, they were all rejected (for reasons unknown). Aside from playing piano on "Daydream Believer", he did not participate in the making of the record at all. Veteran Monkees tunesmiths Boyce and Hart returned to the fold to contribute the psychedelic "P.O. Box 9847", as well as a new version of "Valleri."
The rare U.S. mono album (COM-109) was released in a limited quantity, as mono albums were being phased out by 1968, and has become a highly sought item for its unique mixes that differ from the common stereo versions. Mono copies from Australia, India, Israel, Mexico and Puerto Rico are known to have the same mix as the U.S. There may be others as well. Most countries' mono versions — including the UK's — feature a "fold-down" mix where the stereo channels are reduced to one monaural channel (a mono version of the stereo mix).
The front cover of the album shows a shadow box that contains some memorabilia from the 1940s through 1960s, including a Cootie bug, a popgun, a fan that folds out into a paper flower, ceramic birds, various paper flowers and stick flowers (which were popular in 1968). Alan Wolsky, whose agency created the cover, put a picture of himself in the bottom center square, partially obscured by some flowers. The rear cover [6] contains the term "MIJACOGEO" alongside Micky's photo, a term that is an acronym for the members of Micky's family (Micky, Janelle, Coco and George, respectively). Another quirk was that while Davy and Peter signed autographs in a traditional manner on their rear cover photos, Michael Nesmith signed "Carlisle Wheeling" to be superimposed onto his picture. This was the title of a song that did not make it on to any Monkees release at that time. However, it appeared on his post-Monkees album Loose Salute with the First National Band, having been renamed "Conversations". The song also was later released on various Monkees rarities collections.
On February 8, 2010, Rhino Records' Rhino Handmade released a 3-CD boxed set reissue of the album. It was made available only online directly from Rhino. The set is housed in a 7 inch by 7 inch box with a 3D lenticular cover. It contains the original stereo and U.S. mono versions of the album in miniature vinyl replica sleeves, over 60 demos, rehearsals and outtakes from the original album's sessions, a commemorative pin and a booklet of essays and session information by Monkees historian Andrew Sandoval. The first 1,000 orders include a bonus vinyl single featuring two more unreleased tracks, acoustic versions of "St. Matthew" and "Lady's Baby".
The mono mix was re-released in October 2014 by Friday Music, as part of The Monkees in Mono box set. This pressing features messages in the dead wax reading "Thanks to the Monkees" and "In memory of Davy Jones" on sides 1 and 2, respectively. [7]
No. | Title | Lead vocals | Length |
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1. | "Dream World" (David Jones / Steve Pitts) | Davy Jones | 3:22 |
2. | "Auntie's Municipal Court" (Michael Nesmith / Keith Allison) | Micky Dolenz | 4:05 |
3. | "We Were Made for Each Other" (Carole Bayer / George Fischoff) | Davy Jones | 2:25 |
4. | "Tapioca Tundra" (Nesmith) | Michael Nesmith | 3:08 |
5. | "Daydream Believer" (John Stewart) | Davy Jones | 3:00 |
6. | "Writing Wrongs" (Nesmith) | Michael Nesmith | 5:08 |
No. | Title | Lead vocals | Length |
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1. | "I'll Be Back Up on My Feet" (Sandy Linzer / Denny Randell) | Micky Dolenz | 2:26 |
2. | "The Poster" (Jones / Pitts) | Davy Jones | 2:21 |
3. | "P.O. Box 9847" (Tommy Boyce / Bobby Hart) | Micky Dolenz | 3:16 |
4. | "Magnolia Simms" (Nesmith) | Michael Nesmith | 3:48 |
5. | "Valleri" (Boyce / Hart) | Davy Jones | 2:15 |
6. | "Zor and Zam" (Bill Chadwick / John Chadwick) | Micky Dolenz | 2:10 |
The original track lineup for the album, compiled in March 1968, included the following songs: [8]
Tracks 1-12: Original album in stereo
No. | Title | Length |
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13. | "Alvin (Previously Unissued)" (Nicholas Thorkelson) | 0:27 |
14. | "I'm Gonna Try (Previously Unissued)" (Jones / Pitts) | 2:44 |
15. | "P.O. Box 9847 (Previously Unissued Alternate Mix)" (Boyce / Hart) | 3:16 |
16. | "The Girl I Left Behind Me (Previously Unissued Early Version)" (Neil Sedaka / Bayer) | 2:40 |
17. | "Lady's Baby (Previously Unissued Alternate Mix)" (Peter Tork) | 2:30 |
No. | Title | Length |
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7. | "I'm Gonna Try (Previously Unissued)" (Jones / Pitts) | 2:44 |
8. | "P.O. Box 9847 (Previously Unissued Alternate Mix)" (Boyce / Hart) | 3:16 |
Tracks 1-12: Original album in stereo
Tracks 1-12: Original album in mono
All tracks produced by The Monkees unless otherwise specified.
Dream World
Auntie's Municipal Court
We Were Made for Each Other
Tapioca Tundra
Daydream Believer
Writing Wrongs
The Poster
P.O. Box 9847
Magnolia Simms
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1994 bonus tracks session InformationAlvin
I'm Gonna Try
P.O. Box 9847 (early mix)
The Girl I Left Behind Me (second recorded version)
Lady's Baby (alternate mix)
2010 bonus tracks session informationD. W. Washburn (1968 stereo mix)
It's Nice To Be with You (1968 stereo mix)
Ceiling in My Room (1967 stereo mix)
Auntie's Municipal Court (alternate mix)
Other personnel
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Chart (1968) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [11] | 5 |
Canadian Albums ( RPM ) [12] | 6 |
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [13] | 8 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [14] | 28 |
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [15] | 44 |
US Billboard 200 [16] | 3 |
Year | Single | Chart | Peak position |
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1967 | "Daydream Believer" | Billboard Hot 100 | 1 [17] |
1967 | "Daydream Believer" | UK Charts | 5 [18] |
1968 | "Valleri" | Billboard Hot 100 | 3 [17] |
1968 | "Valleri" | UK Charts | 12 [18] |
1968 | "Tapioca Tundra" | Billboard Hot 100 | 34 [17] |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United States (RIAA) [19] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
The Monkees are an American rock and pop band originally active between 1966 and 1971, with reunion albums and tours in the decades that followed. Their original line-up consisted of the American actor/musicians Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork with English actor/singer Davy Jones. The group was conceived in 1965 by television producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider specifically for the situation comedy series of the same name, which aired from 1966 to 1968. The band's music was initially supervised by record producer Don Kirshner, backed by the songwriting duo of Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart.
George Michael Dolenz Jr. is an American actor, musician, television director, radio personality and theater director, best known as a vocalist and drummer of the 1960s pop-rock band the Monkees.
Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. is the fourth album by the Monkees. It was released on November 6, 1967, when the Monkees were exerting more control over their music and had started to play many of the instruments themselves, something that their record company had previously forbidden. Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. sold more than three million copies and was also the band's fourth consecutive album to reach number one on the U.S. Billboard 200.
Headquarters is the third album issued by the Monkees and the first with substantial songwriting and instrumental performances by members of the group itself, rather than by session musicians and professional songwriters. After a struggle for creative autonomy with their record label, the group had been allowed, to a degree, to record by themselves. Headquarters reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified double platinum in the United States with sales of more than two million copies within the first two months of release. It peaked at No. 2 on the UK charts. It is included in the 2006 book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
More of the Monkees is the second studio album by the American pop rock band the Monkees. It was recorded in late 1966 and released on Colgems label #102 on January 9, 1967. It displaced the band's debut album from the top of the Billboard 200 chart and remained at No.1 for 18 weeks—the longest of any Monkees album. Combined, the first two Monkees albums were at the top of the Billboard chart for 31 consecutive weeks. More of the Monkees also went to No.1 in the UK. In the U.S. it has been certified quintuple platinum by the RIAA with sales of more than five million copies. More of the Monkees is also notable for being the first pop/rock album to be the best-selling album of the year in the U.S.
The Monkees Present is the Monkees' eighth album. It is the second Monkees album released after the departure of Peter Tork and the last to feature Michael Nesmith until 1996's Justus.
Head is the soundtrack to the film Head, the only theatrical release by the Monkees. Released in 1968 through Colgems, it was the band's sixth album. Head was the last Monkees album to feature vocal contributions by Peter Tork until Pool It! in 1987 and the last to feature all four Monkees until 1996's Justus.
Instant Replay is the seventh studio album by the Monkees. Issued 11 months after the cancellation of the group's NBC television series, it is also the first album released after Peter Tork left the group and the only album of the original nine studio albums that does not include any songs featured in the TV show.
More Greatest Hits of the Monkees is a 1982 greatest hits compilation album of songs by the Monkees, assembled and released by Arista Records. Rather than featuring strictly hit singles, the collection also featured music from their television series, which was still airing in syndication around the US.
Missing Links is a compilation album of rare and previously unreleased songs by the Monkees, issued by Rhino Records in 1987. It is the first volume of a three-volume set, followed by Missing Links Volume Two in 1990 and Missing Links Volume Three in 1996.
The Monkees Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits compilation album by the Monkees, issued by Colgems in June 1969.
Missing Links Volume Three is a compilation album of rare and previously unreleased songs by The Monkees, issued by Rhino Records in 1996. It is the third and final volume of a three-volume set, preceded by Missing Links in 1987 and Missing Links Volume Two in 1990.
Missing Links Volume Two is a compilation album of rare and previously unreleased songs by the Monkees, issued by Rhino Records in 1990. It is the second volume of a three-volume set, preceded by Missing Links in 1987 and followed by Missing Links Volume Three in 1996.
The Monkees Anthology is a two-CD compilation set by the Monkees issued in 1998, and is the first collection to include material from their most recent studio album at the time, Justus. It includes almost all the original singles and B-sides, as well as a TV rarity and one live track.
"Pleasant Valley Sunday" is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, most famous for the version recorded by the Monkees in 1967. Inspired by a street named Pleasant Valley Way and their move to suburban West Orange, New Jersey, Goffin and King wrote the song about dissatisfaction with the life in the suburbs.
The Definitive Monkees is a limited edition Monkees compilation album released in 2001. It contains 29 of the Monkees' greatest hits. The album includes two tracks from the 1980s reunions. The album featured a bonus disc which featured 31 of The Monkees' rarity songs.
Monkeemania is a two-disc Monkees compilation released in 2011. It contains 57 of the Monkees' songs, including hit singles, B-sides, album tracks and rarities. Several of these songs were unreleased in the 1960s, but were eventually issued on the Monkees' Missing Links archival compilation albums.
The Monkees: Original Album Series is a CD set by The Monkees which includes the first five albums by The Monkees. The CD set was released in 2010 as a slipcased box set.
Monkeemania is a Monkees compilation released in Australia in 1979. It contains 40 of the Monkees' songs, including hit singles, B-sides, album tracks and three previously unreleased tracks: "Love to Love," "Steam Engine" and a live version of "Circle Sky."
Good Times! is the twelfth studio album by American pop rock band the Monkees. Produced mainly by Adam Schlesinger, the album was recorded to commemorate the band's 50th anniversary. It is the first Monkees studio album since Justus (1996), marking the longest gap between Monkees albums to date, and the first since the death of founding member Davy Jones. The album features surviving Monkees Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork, as well as a posthumous contribution from Jones. The album received generally positive reviews from music critics and reached number 14 on the Billboard 200, becoming the band's highest-charting album in 48 years.
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(help). Australian Chart Book, St Ives, NSW. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.