Hey Hey It's A Monkees Box

No apologies. I love the Monkees. OK, I don't quite put them up there with the Fab Four, Kinks, Beach Boys or Zombies, but I don't put them that far behind. You can pick up your jaw now. One of the band's underrated albums is 'The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees'. Originally released in 1968, their fifth record was the first not to make it to No. 1. It peaked at No. 3. Three singles broke into the Top 40, and "Daydream Believer" claimed the top spot. The songwriting team of Boyce and Hart penned some great pieces for this one, including "Valleri", but it's the work of Michael Nesmith that has always interested me. I especially like "Auntie's Municipal Court" (see mp3 below).

Nearly 42 years after its initial release, Rhino has pulled out all of the stops for a three-disc tribute to 'The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees'. Only a handful of mono editions of the album were released in 1968, but the reissuing gods give us a mono and stereo version in this box set that comes out next Tuesday. The rest of the 88-song set is filled with previously unissued tracks and dozens of rarities. The $59.98 price will scare away all but die-hard fans, but here is hoping a couple of tunes will sway you.

The Monkees - Valleri (mp3)
The Monkees - Auntie's Municipal Court (mp3)