Which Monkees Album Is Their Masterpiece?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by S. P. Honeybunch, Sep 2, 2021.

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  1. S. P. Honeybunch

    S. P. Honeybunch Presidente de Kokomo, Endless Mikelovemoney Thread Starter

    The Monkees have recorded a ton of music, far more than many people realize. Which album is their masterpiece? Choose one, or more than one if The Monkees made more than one masterpiece.
     
  2. Wingsfan2012

    Wingsfan2012 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Junior's Farm, IL
    Pisces easily......top notch material and all four played/sang on nearly every track!
     
  3. Wil1972

    Wil1972 'Nader Dodgin' Champ

    Location:
    Alabama
    PAC&J. Hands down. Perfect blend of studio aces and Monkee know-how.
     
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  4. 7solqs4iago

    7solqs4iago Forum Resident

    Location:
    Toronto
    HQ was their White Album

    made my career prosecuting and sometimes defending the Mr. Websters....
     
    Last edited: Sep 2, 2021
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  5. RudolphS

    RudolphS Forum Resident

    Location:
    Rio de Janeiro
    Not sure if I would call any of their albums "a masterpiece" , but my vote goes to Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.
     
  6. Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. although the one preceding and the two following albums are also excellent.
     
    Last edited: Sep 2, 2021
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  7. dbacon

    dbacon Senior Member

    I voted for all the albums from The Monkees through Head, plus Good Times. I think I enjoy them all equally.
     
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  8. Two Sheds

    Two Sheds Sha La La La Lee

    Voted for four of them:

    Headquarters
    Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.
    Head
    Missing Links, Volume 2
     
  9. Shriner

    Shriner Forum Resident

    Location:
    Ann Arbor, MI, USA
    Pisces probably because it has some "hits" on it.

    Headquarters is better, IMO, but has no hits. If it had included the single released around that time, it would be a no-brainer classic.

    Missing Links Vol 2, though, is a revelation (especially compared to the lackluster ML 1)
     
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  10. Masterpiece maybe is a bit too much in my opinion, but the one I liked the most was and still is "Head".
     
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  11. 7solqs4iago

    7solqs4iago Forum Resident

    Location:
    Toronto

    what single would you have issued from HQ?

    i guess none is an answer...
     
  12. Sear

    Sear Dad rocker

    Location:
    Tarragona (Spain)
    PACJ
     
  13. MagneticNorthpaw

    MagneticNorthpaw Senior Member

    Location:
    Chicago, IL USA
    This - and the basic tracks were recorded in about a week, give or take. It was a great mix of Monkees-or-Monkees-adjacent songwriters and top flight Brill Building/pros. Chip Douglas was the perfect producer/arranger/bass player to bring out their best as a self-contained unit.
     
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  14. JuanTCB

    JuanTCB Senior Member

    Location:
    Brooklyn, NY
    Pisces and Head
     
  15. Certainly no masterpieces, but I've always had a fondness for the eclectic and adventurous Birds, Bees & the Monkees, with the preceding Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, Jones LTD, also pretty solid. However, I will say that a comp I made of all Mike Nesmith's solo "Monkees" recordings post-Birds, Bees (and pre-solo years) is pretty close to a masterpiece IMHO...
     
  16. action pact

    action pact Music Omnivore

    None of their albums are 'masterpieces,' but their 1966-70 albums all range from very good to excellent.

    I think the first album is the best one overall.
     
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  17. Tristero

    Tristero In possession of the future tense

    Location:
    MI
    Pisces, Aquarius is my favorite, but Headquarters deserves a nod for the way the band took the bull by the horns, asserting their creative freedom. I also voted for the weird and wonderful Head (maybe a little too short for "masterpiece" status) and the better than it had any right to be reunion album, Good Times!
     
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  18. DK Pete

    DK Pete Forum Resident

    Location:
    Levittown. NY
    Yup….agree wholeheartedly. Great songs, nice variety and consistency.FWIW I think it’s their best sounding album as well.
     
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  19. DK Pete

    DK Pete Forum Resident

    Location:
    Levittown. NY
    Side one is a perfect album side, but side two struggles beyond Last Train, IMO.
     
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  20. Keith V

    Keith V Forum Resident

    Location:
    Secaucus, NJ
    Yes. The best of Monkees and the machine
     
  21. action pact

    action pact Music Omnivore

    DUDE! Sweet Young Thing RULES!!!
     
  22. Spy Car

    Spy Car Forum Resident

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    More of the Monkees is my favorite (touchstone) Monkee's album. Played that album many thousands of times. Still spin it with regularity. Know every note.

    Very fond of the debut as well.

    Bill
     
  23. Suncola

    Suncola Possibilities

    Location:
    NW Indiana U.S.A.
    No masterpieces, but Pisces Aquarius is one to impress your skeptical friends with.
     
  24. Shriner

    Shriner Forum Resident

    Location:
    Ann Arbor, MI, USA
    This would have been time for a Nesmith A-side, so "You Just May Be The One" backed with "For Pete's Sake" probably would have done very well considering how much they were played on the show.
     
  25. UnknownEric

    UnknownEric did not put the ram in the rama-lama-ding-dong

    Location:
    Baltimore
    Headquarters has a special place in my heart as it was an absolute staple on my turntable during 6th grade (during the mid-80s, mind you), but Pisces, etc. is just a fantastic record. "The Door Into Summer" is one of my favorite songs ever.
     
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