The Birds, the Bees & the Monkees

The Birds, the Bees & the Monkees is the fifth studio album by the Monkees, and their first album released after the cancellation of their TV show. Released in April 1968, it was the first Monkees album not to reach Billboard's number one, peaking at No. 3 on the U.S. charts. It was also their first album to miss the UK charts altogether, with their four previous efforts all having reached the top ten. The album has sold over a million copies.

The Birds, the Bees & the Monkees
Studio album by
the Monkees
ReleasedApril 22, 1968
RecordedJune 14, 1967 – March 14, 1968
StudioRCA Victor Studios, Hollywood
Length37:00
LabelColgems (original U.S. release)
RCA Victor (original release outside U.S.)
Arista (1980 Japanese LP reissue + 1986 CD reissue)
Rhino (1985 LP reissue + 1994 & 2010 CD reissues)
Sundazed (1996 LP reissue)
ProducerThe Monkees, Chip Douglas
The Monkees chronology
Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.
(1967)		 The Birds, the Bees & the Monkees
(1968)		 Head
(1968)
Singles from The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees
  1. "Daydream Believer" / "Goin' Down"
    Released: October 25, 1967
  2. "Valleri" / "Tapioca Tundra"
    Released: February 17, 1968
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
MusicHound[2]
popdose(favorable)[3]
Record Collector[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[5]

History

While 1968 presented several misfortunes for the band (their eponymous television series was canceled; their first motion picture project, Head, failed at the box office; their television special, 33⅓ Revolutions per Monkee, arguably fared even worse; and, in December, Peter Tork left the group), The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees proved to be another successful album, yielding the group's sixth million-selling single in "Valleri" and yet another No. 1 in "Daydream Believer", written by former Kingston Trio member John Stewart. "Tapioca Tundra", an experimental piece of poetry put to music by Nesmith, charted well as the B-side to "Valleri" and reached No. 34.

After gaining complete artistic control over their musical direction and being allowed to play instruments on their own records in early 1967, the success of Headquarters and Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. began to somewhat rebuff the critics who viewed The Monkees as a band of talentless individuals who were simply lucky enough to gain recognition through their "manufactured" origins.

After the Pisces album, however, the desire and focus to remain as a complete band unit in the studio evaporated, and each individual band member began to produce his own sessions with his own selected studio musicians, often at entirely different studios around the Los Angeles area. According to Chip Douglas, producer of the Monkees' previous two albums, "Peter kind of drifted away first, and then everybody did. Everyone wanted to do their own songs and produce them the way they wanted to hear them." An agreement was made to label all finished efforts as "Produced by The Monkees" but, in reality, beyond a few exceptions the recordings featured on The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees reverted to the recording process of the first two albums (fewer group dynamics), except now each band member was fully in charge of the sessions. Douglas fully expected to continue as the band's representative in the studio, but found the individual Monkees more interested in exploring their diverse musical backgrounds with their own friends and associates rather than relying on him as the central figure. "I was ready to do that Boyce & Hart song 'P.O. Box 9847' – it sort of had that 'Paperback Writer' feel on the demo. We passed on it for Pisces, and I began to think, 'Well, we should do that one now.' Then somebody said, 'Chip, we're not working with you anymore; we're gonna do our own thing.'"

While being credited as the producers, in reality the Monkees were assisted in the studio by Colgems' president, and head of Screen Gems-Columbia Publishing, Lester Sill, jazz musician and arranger Shorty Rogers, or future manager and later MCA vice president Brendan Cahill. "At that point their contract read that they were to be credited as producers on any product of theirs that came out", Rogers recalls. "Brendan Cahill and I really did all the studio work and production with Lester Sill. When we finished the album, Lester said, 'We'll put you down as producers', but The Monkees didn't want it, so that went by the wayside."

Davy Jones' Broadway rock, Michael Nesmith's country and western leanings and psychedelic experiments, and the rock and soul of Micky Dolenz made for a diverse album. Several of Peter Tork's compositions were considered for release on Birds; however, they were all rejected (for reasons unknown). Aside from playing piano on "Daydream Believer", he did not participate in the making of the record at all. Veteran Monkees tunesmiths Boyce and Hart returned to the fold to contribute the psychedelic "P.O. Box 9847", as well as a new version of "Valleri."

The rare U.S. mono album (COM-109) was released in a limited quantity, as mono albums were being phased out by 1968, and has become a highly sought item for its unique mixes that differ from the common stereo versions. Mono copies from Australia, India, Israel, Mexico and Puerto Rico are known to have the same mix as the U.S. There may be others as well. Most countries' mono versions — including the UK's — feature a "fold-down" mix where the stereo channels are reduced to one monaural channel (a mono version of the stereo mix).

Artwork

The front cover of the album shows a shadow box that contains some memorabilia from the 1940s through 1960s, including a Cootie bug, a popgun, a fan that folds out into a paper flower, ceramic birds, various paper flowers and stick flowers (which were popular in 1968). Alan Wolsky, whose agency created the cover, put a picture of himself in the bottom center square, partially obscured by some flowers. The rear cover [6] contains the term "MIJACOGEO" alongside Micky's photo, a term that is an acronym for the members of Micky's family (Micky, Janelle, Coco and George, respectively). Another quirk was that while Davy and Peter signed autographs in a traditional manner on their rear cover photos, Michael Nesmith signed "Carlisle Wheeling" to be superimposed onto his picture. This was the title of a song that did not make it on to any Monkees release at that time. However, it appeared on his post-Monkees album Loose Salute with the First National Band, having been renamed "Conversations". The song also was later released on various Monkees rarities collections.

Reissue

On February 8, 2010, Rhino Records' Rhino Handmade released a three-CD boxed set reissue of the album. It was made available only online directly from Rhino. The set is housed in a 7 inch by 7 inch box with a 3D lenticular cover. It contains the original stereo and U.S. mono versions of the album in miniature vinyl replica sleeves, over 60 demos, rehearsals and outtakes from the original album's sessions, a commemorative pin and a booklet of essays and session information by Monkees historian Andrew Sandoval. The first 1,000 orders include a bonus vinyl single featuring two more unreleased tracks, acoustic versions of "St. Matthew" and "Lady's Baby".

The mono mix was re-released in October 2014 by Friday Music, as part of The Monkees in Mono box set. This pressing features messages in the dead wax reading "Thanks to the Monkees" and "In memory of Davy Jones" on sides 1 and 2, respectively.[7]

Track listing

Original 1968 Colgems vinyl issue
Side 1
No.TitleLead vocalsLength
1."Dream World" (David Jones / Steve Pitts)Davy Jones3:22
2."Auntie's Municipal Court" (Michael Nesmith / Keith Allison)Micky Dolenz4:05
3."We Were Made for Each Other" (Carole Bayer / George Fischoff)Davy Jones2:25
4."Tapioca Tundra" (Nesmith)Michael Nesmith3:08
5."Daydream Believer" (John Stewart)Davy Jones3:00
6."Writing Wrongs" (Nesmith)Michael Nesmith5:08
Side 2
No.TitleLead vocalsLength
1."I'll Be Back Up on My Feet" (Sandy Linzer / Denny Randell)Micky Dolenz2:26
2."The Poster" (Jones / Pitts)Davy Jones2:21
3."P.O. Box 9847" (Tommy Boyce / Bobby Hart)Micky Dolenz3:16
4."Magnolia Simms" (Nesmith)Michael Nesmith3:48
5."Valleri" (Boyce / Hart)Davy Jones2:15
6."Zor and Zam" (Bill Chadwick / John Chadwick)Micky Dolenz2:10

Aborted track listing

The original track lineup for the album, compiled in March 1968, included the following songs:[8]

Side 1
  1. "Through The Looking Glass"
  2. "We Were Made For Each Other"
  3. "Writing Wrongs"
  4. "I'll Be Back Up On My Feet"
  5. "Valleri"
  6. "Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again"
Side 2
  1. "Dream World"
  2. "P.O. Box 9847"
  3. "Tapioca Tundra"
  4. "The Poster"
  5. "Alvin"
  6. "Daydream Believer"
  7. "Zor and Zam"

1994 Rhino CD reissue

Tracks 1-12: Original album in stereo

Bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."Alvin (Previously Unissued)" (Nicholas Thorkelson)0:27
14."I'm Gonna Try (Previously Unissued)" (Jones / Pitts)2:44
15."P.O. Box 9847 (Previously Unissued Alternate Mix)" (Boyce / Hart)3:16
16."The Girl I Left Behind Me (Previously Unissued Early Version)" (Neil Sedaka / Bayer)2:40
17."Lady's Baby (Previously Unissued Alternate Mix)" (Peter Tork)2:30

1996 Sundazed vinyl reissue
Side two bonus tracks[9][10]
No.TitleLength
7."I'm Gonna Try (Previously Unissued)" (Jones / Pitts)2:44
8."P.O. Box 9847 (Previously Unissued Alternate Mix)" (Boyce / Hart)3:16

2010 Rhino Handmade deluxe CD reissue
Disc 1 (The Original Stereo Album & More)

Tracks 1-12: Original album in stereo

  1. "Through the Looking Glass" (1968 Stereo Mix) (Red Baldwin, Boyce, Hart) - 2:49
  2. "Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again" (Alternate Mix) (Tork) - 2:36
  3. "D.W. Washburn" (1968 Stereo Mix) (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) - 2:50
  4. "It's Nice to Be with You" (1968 Stereo Mix) (Jerry Goldstein) - 2:52
  5. "Carlisle Wheeling" (1967 Stereo Mix) (Nesmith) - 3:07
  6. "Rosemarie" (1968 Stereo Mix) (Dolenz) - 2:38
  7. "My Share of the Sidewalk" (1968 Stereo Mix) (Nesmith) - 3:01
  8. "Alvin" (Alternate Take) (Thorkelson, Thorkelson) - 0:22
  9. "We Were Made for Each Other" (Alternate Backing Track) (Bayer, Fischoff) - 2:46
  10. "The Girl I Left Behind Me" (1967 Stereo Mix) (Bayer, Sedaka) - 4:32
  11. "Little Red Rider" (Acoustic Version) (Nesmith) - 2:30
  12. "Lady's Baby" (1968 Stereo Mix) (Tork) - 2:25
  13. "Ceiling in My Room" (1967 Stereo Mix) (Dominick DeMieri, Bobby Dick, Jones) - 3:50
  14. "I'm a Man" (Backing Track) (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) - 2:55
  15. "Me Without You" (1968 Stereo Mix) (Boyce, Hart) - 2:16
Disc 2 (The Original Mono Album & More)

Tracks 1-12: Original album in mono

  1. "Alvin" (1968 Mono Mix) (Thorkelson, Thorkelson) - 0:24
  2. "While I Cry" (1968 Mono Mix) (Nesmith) - 3:02
  3. "D.W. Washburn" (Mono Single Mix) (Leiber, Stoller) - 2:49
  4. "It's Nice to Be with You" (Mono Single Mix) (Goldstein) - 2:53
  5. "Come on in" (1968 Mono Mix) (Mapes) - 3:19
  6. "Carlisle Wheeling" (1968 Mono Mix) (Nesmith) - 3:02
  7. "Rosemarie" (1968 Mono Mix) (Dolenz) - 2:39
  8. "The Girl I Left Behind Me" (1967 Mono Mix) (Bayer, Sedaka) - 2:45
  9. "Seeger's Theme" (Alternate Version) (Seeger) - 0:42
  10. "Tear the Top Right Off My Head" (Micky's Vocal) (Tork) - 1:55
  11. "My Share of the Sidewalk" (1968 Mono Mix) (Nesmith) - 3:02
  12. "Lady's Baby" (1968 Mono Mix) (Tork) - 2:26
  13. "Ceiling in My Room" (1967 Mono Mix) (DeMieri, Dick, Jones) - 3:15
  14. "Merry Go Round" (1968 Mono Mix) (Tork, Diane Hildebrand) - 1:43
  15. "Don't Listen to Linda" (1968 Mono Mix) (Boyce, Hart) - 2:56
  16. "Me Without You" (1968 Mono Mix) (Boyce, Hart) - 2:17
  17. "Zor and Zam" (TV Version) (Chadwick, Chadwick) - 2:04
  18. The Birds the Bees & the Monkees Teen Radio Spot - 1:00
Disc 3 (The Birds, The Bees & The Raritees)
  1. Monkees Adult Stereo 8 Spot - 0:59
  2. "Tear the Top Right Off My Head" (Peter's Vocal) (Tork) - 1:57
  3. "Auntie's Municipal Court" (Mike's Vocal) (Nesmith, Allison) - 4:08
  4. "P.O. Box 9847" (1968 Alternate Stereo Mix) (Boyce, Hart) - 3:22
  5. "War Games" (Version One) (Jones, Pitts) - 2:12
  6. "Lady's Baby" (Tork) - 2:27
  7. "Tapioca Tundra" (1967 Alternate Stereo Mix) (Nesmith) - 3:02
  8. "D.W. Washburn" (Alternate Mix with Bass Vocal) (Leiber, Stoller) - 2:56
  9. "Nine Times Blue" (Version Two - Davy's Vocal) (Nesmith) - 2:19
  10. "Lady's Baby" (Acoustic Version) (Tork) - 2:19
  11. "While I Cry" (Alternate Mono Mix) (Nesmith) - 3:05
  12. "Shorty Blackwell" (Rehearsal) (Dolenz) - 2:54
  13. "Laurel and Hardy" (Berry, Christian) - 2:45
  14. "Seeger's Theme" (Acoustic Version) (Seeger) - 0:52
  15. "Tapioca Tundra" (Acoustic Version) (Nesmith) - 3:15
  16. "Don't Say Nothin' Bad" (About My Baby) (Goffin, King) - 2:08
  17. "War Games" (Version Two) (Jones, Pitts) - 2:31
  18. "(I Prithee) - Do Not Ask for Love" (Second Recorded Version) (Michael Martin Murphey) - 3:47
  19. "My Share of the Sidewalk" (Mike's Vocal Version) (Nesmith) - 3:12
  20. "Shake 'em Up and Let 'em Roll" (Alternate Vocal Version) (Leiber, Stoller) - 2:10
  21. "Changes" (2009 Mix) (Jones, Pitts) - 2:25
  22. "Merry Go Round" (Version One) (Tork, Hildebrand) - 1:29
  23. "Magnolia Simms" (Acoustic Version) (Nesmith) - 3:15
  24. "I'm Gonna Try" (Jones, Pitts) - 2:44
  25. "Seeger's Theme" (Electric Version) (Seeger) - 0:42
  26. "Magnolia Simms" (Stereo Remix) (Nesmith) - 3:42
  27. "The Girl I Left Behind Me" (Third Recorded Version) (Bayer, Sedaka) - 2:57
  28. "Merry Go Round" (Third Recorded Version) (Tork, Hildebrand) - 1:41
  29. "Nine Times Blue" (Version Two - Mike's Vocal) (Nesmith) - 2:17
  30. "The Party" (2009 Mix) (Jones, Pitts) - 3:01
  31. "I Wasn't Born to Follow" (Backing Track) (Goffin, King) - 2:58
Vinyl 45
  1. "St. Matthew" (Acoustic Version) (Nesmith)
  2. "Lady's Baby" (Alternate Acoustic Version) (Tork)

Session information

All tracks produced by The Monkees unless otherwise specified.

Charts

Album
Chart (1968) Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[11] 5
Canadian Albums (RPM)[12] 6
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[13] 8
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[14] 28
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[15] 44
US Billboard 200[16] 3

Singles
Year Single Chart Peak
position
1967 "Daydream Believer" Billboard Hot 100 1[17]
1967 "Daydream Believer" UK Charts 5[18]
1968 "Valleri" Billboard Hot 100 3[17]
1968 "Valleri" UK Charts 12[18]
1968 "Tapioca Tundra" Billboard Hot 100 34[17]

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[19] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r44968
  2. Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide (2nd ed.). Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. p. 774. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.
  3. Harris, Will (February 22, 2010). "CD Review: The Monkees, 'The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees'". popdose. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  4. Easlea, Daryl (June 2010). "The Monkees – The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees". Record Collector. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  5. Brackett, Nathan; with Hoard, Christian (eds) (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). New York, NY: Fireside/Simon & Schuster. p. 553. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  6. "birds". web.295.ca.
  7. "Monkees Albums USA Friday Music Mono Box Set FRM-1966". monkee45s.net. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  8. The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees, Rhino Records, 1994, liner notes
  9. Physical copy of LP, UPC code 90771-5049-1
  10. "Monkees on Sundazed". Steve Hoffman Music Forums.
  11. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, NSW. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  12. "RPM: The Monkees (albums)". RPM Magazine. Archived from the original on October 14, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
  13. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 263. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  14. "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
  15. "Oricon Archive - The Monkees". Oricon. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
  16. "The Monkees US Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
  17. "The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees - Charts and Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  18. "UK Charts - Monkees". Official Charts. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  19. "American album certifications – The Monkees – The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
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