Rhino Handmade hits rewind on INSTANT REPLAY for a triple-disc DELUXE EDITION packed with rarities, as well as 58 unreleased recordings, backing tracks and a generous selection of stereo and mono mixes for both album and non-album cuts. As a bonus, the set comes with a 45-rpm vinyl single that includes the one-of-a-kind acetate versions of “I Go Ape” and “(I Prithee) Do Not Ask For Love.”
Arranged by mixes, the first disc is dedicated to stereo and contains a newly remastered and restored transfer of the original album, expanded with 16 other stereo mixes. Among the highlights are nearly all of Nesmith's highly coveted 1968 Nashville sessions. Also included for the first time is the 1968 mix of Dolenz's “Mommy And Daddy,” a provocative, socially conscious anti-war song that was rewritten for 1969's The Monkees Present.
Devoted entirely to mono, the second disc contains mixes for most of the album tracks, alongside rare and unreleased recordings. While The Monkees' original label Colgems ceased to issue true mono Monkees albums after THE BIRDS, THE BEES & THE MONKEES, most of INSTANT REPLAY's songs were originally mixed in this form, with many making their debut on this collection. The disc is further enhanced by period mono mixes of the never-before-heard backing tracks for “All The Grey Haired Men” (a song recorded for THE BIRDS, THE BEES & THE MONKEES, but never completed) and an early 1969 rendering of Michael Nesmith's “My Share Of The Sidewalk.”
The final disc takes you into the studio to hear the creative process behind INSTANT REPLAY. Highlights include alternate takes and backing tracks produced by studio whiz Bones Howe, who briefly worked with the group to create music for their television special, 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee, and for the single sides “Someday Man” (written by Paul Williams) and “A Man Without A Dream” (composed by Carole King with Gerry Goffin). The final tapes of Howe's productions for the television special have been lost since 1969, but Rhino Handmade has recovered all that remains of these legendary sessions. Included here are never-before-heard backing tracks for “String For My Kite,” “Naked Persimmon” and “Goldie Locks Sometime,”as well as the completed versions from the only surviving video master of the special.
Another unique entry in The Monkees reissue series, Rhino Handmade's Deluxe Edition of INSTANT REPLAY is beautifully packaged in an oversize box with mini-LP paper sleeve reproductions of the original cover art and vintage trade ads, rounded out by an in-depth essay by producer and Monkees aficionado Andrew Sandoval.
Rhino Handmade hits rewind on INSTANT REPLAY for a triple-disc DELUXE EDITION packed with rarities, as well as 58 unreleased recordings, backing tracks and a generous selection of stereo and mono mixes for both album and non-album cuts. As a bonus, the set comes with a 45-rpm vinyl single that includes the one-of-a-kind acetate versions of “I Go Ape” and “(I Prithee) Do Not Ask For Love.”
Arranged by mixes, the first disc is dedicated to stereo and contains a newly....+Read More...
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 - 5:44 PM
First off, let me say that it's hard to put in a review when this set hasn't even shipped yet. However, a quick look at the track list gives you a good idea of what's coming--lots of alternate mixes, backing tracks and the sub-par (and that's being generous) soundtrack to 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee. Andrew Sandoval literally wrote the book on the Monkees recording sessions so fans are acutely aware of many STILL unreleased tracks in the vaults such as Nesmith's "Omega" and "London Bridge". Why on Earth did Rhino not include these in this set? It's getting frustrating to have to buy these limited edition sets for a few scarce minutes of interesting material. Rhino Handmade has a good thing going with hardcore fans--why not give them what they want? I'm sure the remastering is much better, mono mixes are interesting blah, blah, blah...but there is no excuse for 4 mixes of "Through The Looking Glass" for instance. Some of the material on Instant Reply was substandard in 1969 so why heap on the second and third helpings of the same songs here? I don't get it and I don't think Rhino does either. Unfortunately, it looks like Monkees fans will have to wait another 5-10 years for the REMASTERED limited edition set to finally hear these tracks. Meanwhile over at Capitol, they are issuing 7 1/2 hours of unreleased Beach Boys in the form of "Smile"...I wonder who the marketing genius is over there? Maybe Rhino should hire that guy...
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 - 12:48 PM
Omega and London Bridge (amongst a few other backing tracks) were done in June 1969... all intended for The Monkees Present album
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 - 4:28 PM
Despite what is said above, this looks to be another great set. Thanks to Rhino and Andrew Sandoval for keeping the series going through the later albums. I am really looking forward to this one.
Thursday, October 27, 2011 - 3:18 AM
I own the previous two delux editions "the birds, the bees and the monkees", and "head" So I will definitely get this as well. I do not know the monkees recording history as I wasn't born until 1970 and aside from a few compilation cassettes I never owned a monkee's album until Rhino began releasing them on cds in the 90s. So everytime I find a new version of the album there always seems to be something new added. And I love the deluxe packaging concept. Though I can't keep them with the rest of my cd collection they do stand apart, and I am very proud of my monkees collection. They are very underrated. I only wish that they do the rest of the monkees albums the same way (especially Monkees Present) and th en go back and redo the first group. I didn't like the digipack format, though I liked what was included I can't say that I like the packaging. Plus with these new editions, the old ones do not match the set, so that seems silly to keep them seperated. Once I own this I may give this another review, but for now (based on the ones I already have) I would highly recommend this one too (just wait until I get my copy first before everyone starts buying it though lol) I don't think any monkee's fan will be disappointed. and the inclusion of the music from 331/3 Revolutions per monkees is a plus to me I don't include it subpar as somoene else stated. It was what it was and must be remembered/viewed in context. I'm glad to have it. Just wish that rhino will redo/remaster the series for blu ray and include the special again (i have the dvd version but it shows wear). Again I'd highly recommend this. The Monkees were great and it's awesome and about time that they receive the deluxe treatment
Thursday, October 27, 2011 - 10:57 AM
Day 3 and sound samples are still not working. Also, misspelled track "My Shae of the Sidewalk" Disc 2, Track 23.
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