Monkees Forever – New Anthology Release

By M.A. Cassata

The Monkees are riding their biggest wave since the days of their television show. Their latest album, Good Times!,debuted at 14 on the Billboard 200 and became their highest charting album in 48 years. Plus, their latest tour is doing huge business coast-to-coast.

On Tuesday, Rhino announced a new series of releases highlighting the groups career. Out on August 26, the company goes deep with Monkees 50 which includes their hits plus many album tracks from throughout their career starting with, of course, (Theme From) The Monkees and running through two tracks from their latest album.

On the same day, the group will release Forever, a single CD hits set that will also be put out on vinyl LP.

Monkees 50 is a fine collection of the Monkees best music including every charting single, a few non-album b-sides and non-charting tracks from every one of their albums. Presented in chronological order, there’s more than enough here to keep a serious fan happy.

On the other hand, Forever seems to bit of a random mixture of music. While all the top ten hits are here, it skips songs like D.W. Washburn, which went to number 19 in the U.S. and, instead, includes lesser hits like Porpoise Song and non-charting tracks.

The track list for Monkees 50 with original albums and U.S. chart positions:

Disc 1
The Monkees
(Theme From) The Monkees
Last Train To Clarksville (1966 / #1)
Take A Giant Step
Papa Gene’s Blues
More of the Monkees
I’m a Believer (1966 / #1)
(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone (1966 / #20)
She
Non-Album single
A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You (Stereo Remix) (1967 / #2)
The Girl I Knew Somewhere (1967 / #39)
More of the Monkees (cont.)
Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)
Mary, Mary
Sometime In The Morning
Headquarters
Randy Scouse Git
You Told Me
Shades Of Gray
For Pete’s Sake (Closing Theme)

Disc 2
Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones
Pleasant Valley Sunday (1967 / #3)
Cuddly Toy
Words (1967 / #11)
Love Is Only Sleeping
The Birds, The Bees & the Monkees
Daydream Believer (1967 / #1)
Non-Album single (b-side of Daydream Believer)
Goin’ Down (1967 / #104)
The Birds, The Bees & the Monkees (cont.)
Valleri (1968 / #3)
Tapioca Tundra (1968 / #34)
P.O. Box 9847
Auntie’s Municipal Court
Non-Album single
D.W. Washburn (1968 Stereo Mix) (1968 / #19)
It’s Nice To Be With You (1968 Stereo Mix) (1968 / #51)
Head
Porpoise Song (Theme from “Head”) (1968 / #62)
As We Go Along (1968 / #106)
Circle Sky (Live)

Disc 3
Instant Replay
Tear Drop City (1969 / #56)
A Man Without A Dream
You And I
The Monkees Present
Listen To The Band (1969 / #63)
Non-Album single (b-side of Listen to the Band)
Someday Man (1969 / #81)
The Monkees Present (cont.)
Good Clean Fun (1969 / #82)
Mommy And Daddy (1969 / #109)
French Song
Changes
Oh My My (1970 / #98)
I Love You Better
Then & Now…The Best of the Monkees
That Was Then, This Is Now (1986 / #20)
Pool It!
Heart And Soul (1987 / #87)
Non-album single (b-side of Heart and Soul)
MGBGT (Live)
Pool It! (cont.)
Every Step Of The Way
Justus
You And I
Regional Girl
Good Times!
You Bring the Summer
She Makes Me Laugh

The track list for the single CD Forever:

I’m A Believer
Valleri
You Just May Be The One (TV Version)
That Was Then, This Is Now
(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone
Pleasant Valley Sunday
Daydream Believer
Last Train To Clarksville
She Makes Me Laugh
A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You
Porpoise Song (Theme from “Head”)
Heart And Soul
Words
Goin’ Down

The track list for the vinyl LP edition of Forever:

Side 1
I’m A Believer
Valleri
You Just May Be The One (TV Version)
That Was Then, This Is Now
(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone
Pleasant Valley Sunday
Daydream Believer

Side 2
Last Train To Clarksville
She Makes Me Laugh
A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You
Porpoise Song (Theme from “Head”)
Heart And Soul
Words
Goin’ Down

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