Monkees: Anthology CD

A slimmed-down two-disc version of the four-disc box set LISTEN TO THE BAND, ANTHOLOGY is the Monkees collection for the average fan. Collecting all the Prefab Four's singles, and selected album tracks from "Theme From The Monkees" and "Last Train To Clarksville" together with the best tracks from their '80s reunion, the selection sticks mostly to the familiar. More obscure cuts are available in the three excellent volumes of MISSING LINKS.

There's no arguing with the quality, though; Micky Dolenz and Mike Nesmith have classic pop voices, and the songwriting is uniformly outstanding. The demands of a weekly television show meant that the Monkees recorded more classic pop songs in the '60s than just about any band save the Beatles. In a post-Milli Vanilli world where questions about the Monkees' authenticity are pretty much moot, ANTHOLOGY can be enjoyed on its own abundant merits.

Additional personnel includes: Tommy Boyce (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton (acoustic & electric guitars); Chip Douglas (guitar, bass); Glen Campbell, Ry Cooder, Carole King, Danny Kortchmar, Neil Young (guitar); Leon Russell (keyboards); Larry Knechtel (bass); Hal Blaine (drums, percussion); Harry Nilsson.

Includes liner notes by Andrew Sandoval.

Producers include: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Jack Keller, Michael Nesmith, Jeff Barry.

Compilation producers: Andrew Sandoval, Bill Inglot.

Engineers include: David Hassinger, Hank Cicalo, Ray Hall, Al Pachucki.

Monkees: Michael Nesmith (vocals, guitar); Peter Tork (vocals, piano, bass guitar); Micky Dolenz (vocals, drums); Davy Jones (vocals).

The Monkees: Michael Nesmith (vocals, acoustic, electric, 12-string & pedal steel guitars, organ); Peter Tork (vocals, guitar, electric guitar, banjo, harpsichord, piano, keyboards, organ, bass); Davy Jones (vocals, guitar, tambourine, organ, percussion, maracas, chimes, tree); Mickey Dolenz (vocals, zither, drums, tympani, wood block).

2 Cds