Which Monkees Album Is Their Masterpiece?

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.

 

Pisces easily......top notch material and all four played/sang on nearly every track!

 

PAC&J. Hands down. Perfect blend of studio aces and Monkee know-how.

 

HQ was their White Album

made my career prosecuting and sometimes defending the Mr. Websters....

 

Not sure if I would call any of their albums "a masterpiece" , but my vote goes to Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.

 

Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. although the one preceding and the two following albums are also excellent.

 

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

 

Voted for four of them:

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

 

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)

 

Masterpiece maybe is a bit too much in my opinion, but the one I liked the most was and still is "Head".

 

what single would you have issued from HQ?

i guess none is an answer...

 

PACJ

 

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.

 

Pisces and Head

 

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...

 

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.

 

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!

 

Yup….agree wholeheartedly. Great songs, nice variety and consistency.FWIW I think it’s their best sounding album as well.

 

Side one is a perfect album side, but side two struggles beyond Last Train, IMO.

 

Yes. The best of Monkees and the machine

 

DUDE! Sweet Young Thing RULES!!!

 

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

 

No masterpieces, but Pisces Aquarius is one to impress your skeptical friends with.

 

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.

 

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.