Monkees Pisces Aquarius, etc. CD

I read somewhere that the 1995 CD of Pisces Aquarius was remastered from 3rd generation tapes because that was all they could find at the time and it sounds like it. The 1st generation tapes were then found sometime before remastering the 2CD Anthology set and these tapes were also used for the Music Box box set. If you compare the Music Box tracks to the 1995 CD, the difference is absolutely stunning! All in all the mastering on the this box set is excellent, but this makes me feel that Pisces Aquarius... should be remastered as an individual CD immediately. This is one of the Monkees' best records and with all of the other Monkees stuff that Rhino is peddling, you would think that this would be a no brainer. When I asked them about this, they said there were no plans to do so. How about you, Steve? Please?!!!

 

I have the Pisces, Aquarius... single disc and always wondered what the story was. The opening track "Salesman" has to be the thinnest, shrillest recording I have ever heard. Toward the end of the disc there's an alternate mono mix of the same track and it sounds fine there............

 

If I recall correctly, the Arista PACJ and some of the tracks on the Listen to the Band box were partially remixed, while the Rhino disc was all original mixes. I don't think it was a third generation tape, though, but a first generation copy of the master tape. I'm not sure about Music Box.

Andy Sandoval has posted on this board before, and also on alt.music.monkees. If you do some searching you may be able to find his email and ask him directly.

 

Pac&j

The Pac&j situation is as follows:

Arista CD - partial remix/German stereo tape for remainder
Listen To the Band box - partial remix/German Stereo tape for remainder
Rhino CD - German Stereo tape for album (some bonus tracks from mono safety and or multitracks)
Monkees Anthology - Pisces tracks from first gen stereo and mono masters
Monkees Music Box - Pisces tracks from first gen stereo and mono masters

 

I haven't heard these box sets that are discussed here. I have a compilation cd on the Audiophile Legends label called 20 Greatest Hits and is on a gold cd using SBM. The sound is really quite good, a little bit edgey on the high-end but plenty of our friend, tape hiss. Unfortunately, as with every other pressing I've heard, it's just not warm enough in the mid and bottom end, but on the positive side it squashes the Arista version.

Anyone else familiar with this pressing that I speak of?

 

Monkees

Well, until recently, the Monkees tape library was a TOTAL MESS, in general.

Because the recordings were done at different studios, on different coasts, by different producers, mastered at different cutting houses, the multis, mono mixes, stereo mixes, and 45 mixes were all scattered around the country in different storage facilities, some at RCA, some at Screen Gems, some at Colpix, ect.

On top of that, for many years, RCA had refused to look for any Monkees tapes.
When Arista issued the Cd of The first LP, they did not even have a stereo mix of side one! They had to use a mono tape to master from. Talk about Shoddy!!

Luckilly, tho, things have changed. I believe that the 4 track multis for the first AND the second Lp have been found, which is very good news.

If ever an LP needed a remix, its the first Monkees album. The guitars sound puny, shrill and generally like crap. I'm sure a Hoffman remix could make this LP at least sound decent. The first two Monkees Lps are full of great songs and I REALLY wish that Rhino would do a total ground up remix of them, but alas, The Monkees are a very low priority at Rhino right now.


Mikey

 

Re: Pac&j

Mr. Sandoval,

Which tracks on the Arista CD were remixed?


Also, were the Japanese Aristas different from the American ones (I don't remember if this has been discussed).

-D

 

Sundazed Monkees

What tapes were used for the the Sundazed colored vinyl LP's...anyone?
I thought that a cleaner source tape was found for PAC&J

 

PACJ is my favorite Monkee album and around 1987/8 I located a sealed copy (stereo) and I've only played it one time. Maybe tonight I'll compare it with the Rhino CD and see what the differences are. At least the Rhino CD has helped me not wear this album out like I did my original copy back in '67.

 

Yes, I have this CD too. It has some pretty nice audible detail that isn't as prevalent on other discs. Some edgy highs -- you're right, Dave. But I gathered, even on the first listen of this disc, that some remixed versions were used for a few of the tracks. (That was before I even noticed the ADD designation on the inlay card spine.)

I haven't listened to it for quite a while now, so I can't really recall which tracks I suspect as being remixes.