MONKEES - 2016 , what happened?? has Rhino let the fans and the band down?

There was a vinyl mono box released last year, I believe. It contained the first five albums.

 

This?:

https://www.amazon.com/Monkees-Orig...id=1472012186&sr=1-4&keywords=monkees+box+set

 

What happened was their best album ever!

 

I bought their new album a week ago, not knowing anything about it until a week prior, and based on the raves it was getting on this forum.
I was pessimistic, having been through the 80s and 90s reunion albums (the tours were better).

I'm more than impressed. I was stunned. I put this album right up there with Brian Wilson presents Smile as the most welcome and unexpected of achievements for a "legacy" act. A more mature Monkees than their heyday, for sure, but right up there in quality with anything they've ever done.

What was the question, again?

 

Most of your post reads like fan entitlement to the max. "They didn't do what I wanted, or expected them to do, so it all sucks!" Wha-wha-wha.

Granted you have a couple of points that are valid, such as with the Blu Ray set, or the screw ups with the RSD vinyl box set. I'll give you those as fair complaints. However, I will vehemently disagree with you about the above highlighted quote "5)" until the cows come home and beyond, if necessary. You can state it as your "opinion", but that sure as hell doesn't make it right, or true.
Adam Schlessinger was absolutely the right guy, with the right musical pedigree, and knowledge of The Monkees catalog, to make this record with the group. The way the album is presented - with side one being rememiscent of the group's earlier catlog, while side two is more representative of thier latter work - is pretty good proof of that, in and of itself. Personally, with the exception of what songs that made the album versus what ended up as bonus tracks, I dont see many ways this album could have been "miles better".

Perhaps your problem, aside from that, comes in one of your last statements - in your "expecting so much more"? Myself, and I'm sure a lot of others, really didn't expect anything, so that's why we were not let down, and our expectations, if you will, have been exceeded. Maybe the only debacle is the one you've created for yourself?

 

No, this:

https://www.amazon.com/Monkees-Mono/dp/B00N5NDAB0

 

I didn't say you were crazy, but after reading your essay you are obviously very angry and upset, and over what, a 60's pop group?
To say that you have over reacting and blown this out of proportion is a huge understatement.
There are many things to get really angry and upset about these days, but I would suggest The Monkees are not one of them.
You really are expecting too much from a band that most people have no idea are still around, and from a record company that really isn't going to shift too many copies of what ever Monkees product they release these days.
We are all internet strangers who use these forums, but hopefully we have real life friends who can point out to us when we are....well I think you know what I mean.
Have a good day and try to relax a little.

 

1. The missing 12 seconds was the rights holders refusing to even...

Meh. Why bother. But were the Johnny Cash scenes officially announced somewhere link able? That's the only thing that seems like a real outright lie on their part. Otherwise, if you have the romps, that's the only part of the show that changed, right?

 

Excellent!!! Thanks!

 

No vinyl issues with my copy of Good Times, which arrived yesterday - although it's an EU copy - are the US and EU vinyl the same cut?

I have to say I was initially sceptical of how good the new album could/would be, and deliberately didn't sample any tracks from it beforehand (and didn't read any reviews on here) - it was like the old days when you pop a record on for the first time and have no idea what you're going to get! I was pleasantly surprised to say the least!

 

Here's the point that you're missing - this isn't about the actual Monkees (Micky, Peter, Mike, an Davy). This is about the people that handle the Monkees brand. I feel that as fans, we've sunk a ton of money into the Monkees thing via album re-re-re-re-issues (how many times have you re-purchased this catalog? I think I'm on number 4 and that's a conservative number considering THIS audience around these parts), tours, VHS/DVD/Blu Ray...at some point the product has to be CORRECT and worth what we're being asked to pay. I feel like everyone is okay with paying for mistakes because they just want to pay for something with the Monkees logo.

This all goes back to Rhino and the absolutely simple things that could have and should have been done to make sure their products are good and correct upon release. It's that easy.

 

I'm not here to gossip or blast non-facts. It comes straight from the horses mouth that he didn't know the Monkees catalog prior to getting involved with this project. He said he knew the Beatles catalog. And that's not to say that not knowing a catalog is a bad thing because it could absolutely lend fresh ears to a project, right? But this...it just seemed that it veered into a sugary-sweet territory that the Monkees didn't veer into. All day long I read about how Jann Wenner is the anti-Christ because he won't let the Monkees in the RnR HOF because, you know, they are HUGE into the garage rock thing - which I absolutely agree with, especially that first record. That sound isn't on Good Times. There are hints of it on the title track, but what we got is a concoction of what Adam THOUGHT the band sounded like mixed with what he thinks they should sound like. it's not classic Monkees. And that's fine. We can agree to disagree on production style.

I'm not an entitled fan. I am, however, of the belief that if you pay a lot of money for something, it should appear new upon arrival AND be everything that was advertised. The description of the Blu Ray changes weekly to tweak the things WE as fans are noticing aren't there AFTER buying the box. We're guinea pigs for Rhino AND quality control. Last I checked Rhino hasn't issued me a paycheck to be on staff to make sure their releases are accurate.

 

It's a good album and it gets plenty of play around here, but I don't think it's their best ever.

 

Irritated that bonus tracks were spread out over several versions of Good Times. When all bonus tracks should have been put on the original cd release, download etc. Costing the fans upwards of $80:00 or more to buy all the special editions. What a joke, glad the monkees are turning out new music 2016, Nostalgia act and all I still appreciate them. Milking fans to make money is fine but are there limits. NO....

Rhino milking campaign left a sour taste in my mouth.

Bought the new album, 10 cd remastered albums box.
Should I buy the 3 cd box coming out this week. I would as a completist for most things monkees.
What gets me is I wish the powers that be at Rhino would have included all the bonus tracks left off Good Times cd include them on the newly released 3 cd box set coming out this week, Not to be!

 

And, according to Dr. Loudness is an excellent sounding record:

Album details - Dynamic Range Database »

I have the CD and have held off on the vinyl for now but may be getting it in the near future.

 

The worst Cruise since Pablo.

 

Agreed... I don't think "Good Times" is their best ever either...

 

I haven't checked their page for the Blu-Ray set recently, but I know it *did* say that it was going to include the song "Everybody Loves a Nut" (with Johnny Cash), but that *isn't* on the set...

 

Definition of obsession

• : a state in which someone thinks about someone or something constantly or frequently especially in a way that is not normal
  

 

It's their only album where I don't skip a track.

 

I would pick it up if I were you. SQ is amazing.

 

I have been vocal - hopefully not nauseatingly - about the quality control/customer service of Rhino/Time Warner in the "Year of the Monkees." Frankly, I think we have to look at the "/Time Warner" part for making Rhino operate on a shoestring and, apparently, a skeleton crew during peak times and a relative DELUGE of Monkees product. Follow the money.

Could they have done a better job messaging what was and was not to be included in the Bluray? Absolutely. Should they have developed a better case and strength tested it before shipping? No question. But my interest was never in the rerun soundtracks and I could care less about twelve seconds of 33 1/3, which I'll watch random scenes from once every couple of years. The meat of it is the restoration work on the series, which is incredibly good - like seeing some of the episodes new for the first time.

If Good Times was not in Adam Schlesinger's wheelhouse, I am genuinely curious to hear suggestions as to who realistically could have done it equally or better. They consciously made a "timeless" album that paid lip service to the breadth of the Monkees Sixties catalog without an overexcess of modern production. And I think it exceeded my expectations. Of course, not everything was to my liking - but just this January, I never would have dared to believe that there would be a new Monkees album much less one that featured Nez.

The multi-formatting and redundant anthologies? Look at the "/Time Warner" element again. It's an "anniversary year" and one of their commodities is releasing what could perhaps be their last new album. They're going to ride it for what it's worth and maximize profit potential. Wouldn't you? If this was the Nineties, they very well could have released "She Makes Me Laugh" and "You Bring The Summer" on multi-format CD singles which would have required buying four to six discs to acquire all the tracks.

Finally, I know Wiseblood has strong adverse feelings about the multimedia show at the Monkees shows, but I respectfully disagree that it detracts or has become the show. It enhances the show. YMMV, but I am following Micky, Peter, and individual performances of their band in the main and occasionally noting the video. Where the multimedia is really emphasized is during the pre-show and interlude, which I find to be a welcome extension of the concert.

Clean up the QC and deliver what should PHYSICALLY be in the contents of the products and I would be 99% satisfied with this year's releases. Nothing's perfect, right?

 

Were you even promised a download with the ticket? I know tickets for some of the shows, including the one I went to, never offered the promise of a download.

Other than the concert ticket, the only Monkees related item I bought was the regular cd version of Good Times and it exceeded my expectations, but I feel bad for all the people that bought some of the other items (BR, RSD vinyl box, VIP soundcheck, etc...) and didn't get what was advertised.

The show I saw was somewhat of a let down and part of it was because it wasn't what the pre tour hype said it was. From the Monkees Live Almanac Blog commenting on the Zilch episode that had Andrew on to promote the tour: "The 50th Anniversary concerts will feature a new set list and multimedia show, songs that have not been previously performed in a live setting, along with songs from Good Times! The acoustic set that was a part of Micky and Peter's shows in 2015 will return. "

Songs that have not been previously performed in a live setting = Let's Dance On
The acoustic set that was a part of Micky and Peter's shows in 2015 will return = Peter and Micky playing acoustics backed by their full band doing Papa Gene's Blues.

It was a casino show, so I knew there was a possibility of a shortened set, but was disappointed that they chose to drop Steam Engine, the other song that had not been previously performed live, and the other new song they are playing, I Was There... since the new songs, acoustic set (they were supposed to do one on one of the Nesmith tours I saw, but it was scrapped before the tour started), and rarities were my reason for going.

Some of my disappointment had to do with the casino itself, so I can't blame the Monkees organization for it. On the casino's web page, they promoted the fact that we were getting solo bits, which were also dropped. I bought my tickets the minute they went on sale and it said my ticket was in the first row of my section, but when I got to the venue to pick up my ticket about an hour before showtime, I found out that the venue is first come, first served when it comes to seating and I ended up six or seven rows farther back.

 

This. Particularly after their last two studio efforts, it's hard for me to imagine a better Monkees album in 2016 than Good Times! The vast majority of fans here seem to be well satisfied.

 

I bought my tickets pre-sale directly from the venue they were performing at. There was no mention of anything other than tickets.