The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees

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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 in 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.

Video The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees

History

Despite the band's hardships in 1968 (their television series was canceled; their first motion picture project, Head, failed at the box office; 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. 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 revert 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.

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; unfortunately 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 the aforementioned "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).

Artwork

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 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 interesting 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.

Reissue

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 on 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.

Maps The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees

Track listing

Original 1968 Colgems vinyl issue

Side 1

Side 2

Aborted track listing

The original track lineup for the album, compiled in March 1968, included the following songs:

Side 1

1. "Through The Looking Glass"
2. "We Were Made For Each Other"
3. "Writing Wrongs"
4. "I'll Be Back Up On My Feet"
5. "Valleri"
6. "Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again"

Side 2

1. "Dream World"
2. "P.O. Box 9847"
3. "Tapioca Tundra"
4. "The Poster"
5. "Alvin"
6. "Daydream Believer"
7. "Zor and Zam"

1994 Rhino CD reissue

Tracks 1-12: Original album in stereo

13. "Alvin" (Nicholas Thorkelson) - 0:27
14. "I'm Gonna Try" (Jones, Pitts) - 2:44
15. "P.O. Box 9847" (Boyce, Hart) (Early Mix) - 3:15
16. "The Girl I Left Behind Me" (Neil Sedaka, Bayer) (Second Recorded Version) - 2:40
17. "Lady's Baby" (Peter Tork) (Alternate Mix) - 2:30

1996 Sundazed vinyl reissue

Bonus track Side 2, Track 7: "I'm Gonna Try" (prev. unissued)
Bonus track Side 2, Track 8: "P.O. Box 9847" (prev. unissued alt. mix)

2010 Rhino Handmade deluxe CD reissue

Disc 1 (The Original Stereo Album & More)

Tracks 1-12: Original album in stereo

13. "Through the Looking Glass" (1968 Stereo Mix) (Red Baldwin, Boyce, Hart) - 2:49
14. "Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again" (Alternate Mix) (Tork) - 2:36
15. "D.W. Washburn" (1968 Stereo Mix) (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) - 2:50
16. "It's Nice to Be with You" (1968 Stereo Mix) (Jerry Goldstein) - 2:52
17. "Carlisle Wheeling" (1967 Stereo Mix) (Nesmith) - 3:07
18. "Rosemarie" (1968 Stereo Mix) (Dolenz) - 2:38
19. "My Share of the Sidewalk" (1968 Stereo Mix) (Nesmith) - 3:01
20. "Alvin" (Alternate Take) (Thorkelson, Thorkelson) - 0:22
21. "We Were Made for Each Other" (Alternate Backing Track) (Bayer, Fischoff) - 2:46
22. "The Girl I Left Behind Me" (1967 Stereo Mix) (Bayer, Sedaka) - 4:32
23. "Little Red Rider" (Acoustic Version) (Nesmith) - 2:30
24. "Lady's Baby" (1968 Stereo Mix) (Tork) - 2:25
25. "Ceiling in My Room" (1967 Stereo Mix) (Dominick DeMieri, Bobby Dick, Jones) - 3:50
26. "I'm a Man" (Backing Track) (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) - 2:55
27. "Me Without You" (1968 Stereo Mix) (Boyce, Hart) - 2:16

Disc 2 (The Original Mono Album & More)

Tracks 1-12: Original album in mono

13. "Alvin" (1968 Mono Mix) (Thorkelson, Thorkelson) - 0:24
14. "While I Cry" (1968 Mono Mix) (Nesmith) - 3:02
15. "D.W. Washburn" (Mono Single Mix) (Leiber, Stoller) - 2:49
16. "It's Nice to Be with You" (Mono Single Mix) (Goldstein) - 2:53
17. "Come on in" (1968 Mono Mix) (Mapes) - 3:19
18. "Carlisle Wheeling" (1968 Mono Mix) (Nesmith) - 3:02
19. "Rosemarie" (1968 Mono Mix) (Dolenz) - 2:39
20. "The Girl I Left Behind Me" (1967 Mono Mix) (Bayer, Sedaka) - 2:45
21. "Seeger's Theme" (Alternate Version) (Seeger) - 0:42
22. "Tear the Top Right Off My Head" (Micky's Vocal) (Tork) - 1:55
23. "My Share of the Sidewalk" (1968 Mono Mix) (Nesmith) - 3:02
24. "Lady's Baby" (1968 Mono Mix) (Tork) - 2:26
25. "Ceiling in My Room" (1967 Mono Mix) (DeMieri, Dick, Jones) - 3:15
26. "Merry Go Round" (1968 Mono Mix) (Tork, Diane Hilderbrand) - 1:43
27. "Don't Listen to Linda" (1968 Mono Mix) (Boyce, Hart) - 2:56
28. "Me Without You" (1968 Mono Mix) (Boyce, Hart) - 2:17
29. "Zor and Zam" (TV Version) (Chadwick, Chadwick) - 2:04
30. The Birds the Bees & the Monkees Teen Radio Spot - 1:00

Disc 3 (The Birds, The Bees & The Raritees)

1. Monkees Adult Stereo 8 Spot - 0:59
2. "Tear the Top Right Off My Head" (Peter's Vocal) (Tork) - 1:57
3. "Auntie's Municipal Court" (Mike's Vocal) (Nesmith, Allison) - 4:08
4. "P.O. Box 9847" (1968 Alternate Stereo Mix) (Boyce, Hart) - 3:22
5. "War Games" (Version One) (Jones, Pitts) - 2:12
6. "Lady's Baby" (Tork) - 2:27
7. "Tapioca Tundra" (1967 Alternate Stereo Mix) (Nesmith) - 3:02
8. "D.W. Washburn" (Alternate Mix with Bass Vocal) (Leiber, Stoller) - 2:56
9. "Nine Times Blue" (Version Two - Davy's Vocal) (Nesmith) - 2:19
10. "Lady's Baby" (Acoustic Version) (Tork) - 2:19
11. "While I Cry" (Alternate Mono Mix) (Nesmith) - 3:05
12. "Shorty Blackwell" (Rehearsal) (Dolenz) - 2:54
13. "Laurel and Hardy" (Berry, Christian) - 2:45
14. "Seeger's Theme" (Acoustic Version) (Seeger) - 0:52
15. "Tapioca Tundra" (Acoustic Version) (Nesmith) - 3:15
16. "Don't Say Nothin' Bad" (About My Baby) (Goffin, King) - 2:08
17. "War Games" (Version Two) (Jones, Pitts) - 2:31
18. "(I Prithee) - Do Not Ask for Love" (Second Recorded Version) (Michael Martin Murphey) - 3:47
19. "My Share of the Sidewalk" (Mike's Vocal Version) (Nesmith) - 3:12
20. "Shake 'em Up and Let 'em Roll" (Alternate Vocal Version) (Leiber, Stoller) - 2:10
21. "Changes" (2009 Mix) (Jones, Pitts) - 2:25
22. "Merry Go Round" (Version One) (Tork, Hilderbrand) - 1:29
23. "Magnolia Simms" (Acoustic Version) (Nesmith) - 3:15
24. "I'm Gonna Try" (Jones, Pitts) - 2:44
25. "Seeger's Theme" (Electric Version) (Seeger) - 0:42
26. "Magnolia Simms" (Stereo Remix) (Nesmith) - 3:42
27. "The Girl I Left Behind Me" (Third Recorded Version) (Bayer, Sedaka) - 2:57
28. "Merry Go Round" (Third Recorded Version) (Tork, Hilderbrand) - 1:41
29. "Nine Times Blue" (Version Two - Mike's Vocal) (Nesmith) - 2:17
30. "The Party" (2009 Mix) (Jones, Pitts) - 3:01
31. "I Wasn't Born to Follow" (Backing Track) (Goffin, King) - 2:58

Vinyl 45

1. "St. Matthew" (Acoustic Version) (Nesmith)
2. "Lady's Baby" (Alternate Acoustic Version) (Tork)

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Personnel

All tracks produced by The Monkees unless otherwise specified.

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Charts

Album

Single

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Certifications

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References

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External links

• The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees 3-CD box set by Rhino

Source of article : Wikipedia