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 - The last "really good" Monkees albumSome really good things on the CD, one of the last really good efforts by the Monkees - except for the latter day reunion CD, Justus, which was also pretty darned good in a different way! Rating:  - Easily their bestHavent heard this 'Deluxe Edition' but this is their best effort. Only one duff track (Hard To Believe). Headquarters is usually - and wrongly - marked as their crowning achievement, but I think fans get swayed by The Monkees own skewed vision of the whole experience. 'Headquarters' was the album they had complete creative control and that's the reason the boys themselves, and their fiercly loyal fans, defend and give it such an honour. Dont get me wrong Headquarters is good - PAC&J though, leaves it in the dust. Any doubt should be eradicated by the fact that 'Daydream Believer' was recorded at these sessions and left off to sell the next (vastly inferior) album. It simply wasnt needed. The songs were THAT good here. Rating:  - Ripped off by Rhino again.Rhino will never learn. As good sounding as these "deluxe" edition are, one read of the Monkees "Day By Day" book written by one of the Rhino guys will tell you of the bonus tracks that could & should have been added to these editions that would have been a heck of a lot more interesting & appropriate than the rehash & remixes & "alternate" versions included here on these overpriced sets. Then to release a "bonus" vinyl single of a song,"... Had It in You Sally", that should have been included on the CD is just downright dumb. It's great that a label like Rhino cares enough to release editions like these but this first generation Monkees fan who owns everything else will not own these. 5 stars or the music, 1 star for the "product". Rating: - One of the best Monkees recordsI have always been a Monkees fan and really enjoy this CD. This is one of the best Monkees CD. I recommend this for any Monkee fan. Rating: - As the years go by, people changing every day.This is generally considered to be the Monkees best album, although some would give that honor to Headquarters, which has the distinction of having the majority of the instruments played by the Monkees themselves. The Monkees didn't contribute as much instrumentally to this album, although Tork and Nesmith did play on most of the tracks, with Dolenz and Jones lending a hand to several of them. As for the songs, there are several great ones here, with no real bad ones. Heck, I like 'em all! This "deluxe edition" features both the mono and stereo versions of the album, with different bonus track added to each album. With the exception of "Goin' Down", "Riu Chiu" and a brief "Special Announcement", the bonus track are alternate mixes of songs from the album. Whether you need to have both the mono and stereo albums and several alternate mixes probably depends on how much you like the Monkees. F.Y.I., here is how the alternate mixes differ from the "regular" versions: Disc 1 "Salesman" - has monologue at the end, runs half a minute longer "She Hangs Out" - no horns, runs half a minute longer "Love Is Only Sleeping" - different vocals "What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?" - different vocals, runs a few seconds longer "Star Collector" - no Moog synthesizer, runs half a minute longer Disc 2 "Salesman" - has monologue at the end, fades out earlier than the alternate mix on disc 1 "Cuddly Toy" - echoing effect at the end goes on about half a minute longer "The Door Into Summer" - different vocals "Daily Nightly" - no Moog synthesizer "Star Collector" - different Moog synthesizer part, runs half a minute longer
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