Search - The Monkees :: Missing Links 2

Great Collection

Rocker84 | Buffalo, NY | 05/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Many times albums that are released like this consist of a collection of odd, random songs that are nothing more than average. That is certainly not the case with this one, and not only is it a great album, but I think it's the best of the Missing Links series. It features many great unreleased songs, and a lot of songs that had been used in Monkees episodes, but never appeared on an album. Here is my review of the songs:



1. "All The King's Horses" - This is a classic Mike song that had been used in a few Monkees episodes, but for some reason never made it to an album. 8/10



2. "Valleri" - Another version of a song that had been used several times for the TV show, but was not released on an album (a different version of Valleri appeared much later on the Birds the Bees and the Monkees album). I actually like the later version better, but this one has some classic appeal. 8/10



3. "St. Matthew" - Mike seems to have the most amount of unreleased material on the Missing Links series, and the majority of them are excellent songs. This one, like most of the unreleased ones is very country. I'm not a huge fan of country music, but his songs are just great. 10/10



4. "Words" - This was a version of Words that had been used in one Monkees episode of season 1. It's not a bad version, but I think the later version that became a single is far superior. 7/10



5. "Some of Shelly's Blues" - Another extremely country Mike song, that he also recorded in his solo career. This may be one of his most popular unreleased songs, and another great showing. 9/10



6. "I Wanna Be Free" - This version of this song may be even more well known that the album version. This is the much faster version, which was featured in the Monkees pilot episode. It also has a small amount of Micky vocals in the middle. I like this version much better than the ballad version on the album. 9/10



7. "If I Ever Get To Saginaw Again" - Although Mike did not write this song, it sounds almost exactly like one that he would write. Has some very good lyrics, and I think it's sung wonderfully by Mike. 8/10



8. "Come On In" - Good old Peter always seems like he's trying to get some stuff on the albums. This is a good song, and maybe one of Peter's best vocal efforts. 7/10



9. "I'll Be Back Upon My Feet" - This is the earlier version of this song, which was used in several episodes of the TV show. I actually like it better than the version the ended up later using on the Birds the Bees and the Monkees. 10/10



10. "Michigan Blackhawk" - Not one of my favorite Mike songs, but it's not terrible. It has that good old country rock sound. 6/10



11. "Hold On Girl" - Just a different version from the one on More of the Monkees. I'm glad they went with the other version, because this one just doesn't do it for me at all. 5/10



12. "The Crippled Lion" - Yet another unreleased Mike song, that seems to have that trademark sound of the majority of the unreleased Mike songs. It's enjoyable. 7/10



13. "Changes" - Not one of my favorites on the album. I've said in other reviews, I just can't get into the stuff that Davy writes. I just think the lyrics are kind of dumb. 5/10



14. "Mr. Webster" - Slightly different from the Headquarters version, using drums instead of the tambourine, and a slower tempo. 7/10



15. "You Just May Be The One" - This is the earlier version, which was used in many episodes of the TV show. It's very good, but I think the Headquarters version is better. 9/10



16. "Do Not Ask For Love" - Great song, with some excellent Micky vocals. This song is also song by Peter in 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee. It might take a while to get hooked on, but I think it's one of the best on this collection. 9/10



17. "Circle Sky" - The live version of this song, which should have been used on the Head album. It was used in the movie, and I think shows how great the Monkees really were as a band. Why it was never released on an album in the first place is beyond me. 10/10



18. "Seeger's Theme" - A cool instrumental (I think mainly featuring Peter).



19. "Riu Chiu" - Song used in the Christmas episode of the TV show. Shows the Monkees vocalizing together very well. 7/10



Very good cd, and if you're looking for a collection of Monkees rarities or unrleased stuff, this should definitely be the one."

You won't be disappointed....

domino | 05/16/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I agree with most other reviews here....this is truly a strong effort and is of equal quality to just about all of their "official" albums.



In case anyone is wondering where they got their arrangement of "Riu Chiu", it is an almost note-for-note copy of the Kingston Trio's "Guardo El Lobo", a song which appeared on their 1961 album GOIN PLACES. My guess is that Peter Tork, being a major folk music fan, suggested doing this one.



"Seeger's Theme" is excellent and it is way too short! If only the other guys liked it more, it could have been a standout track for Tork, as he started out as a Greenwich Village banjo player-folkie.



Nesmith's songs shine here, but they always did.



Some of these songs might not seem so 'rare' these days, what with various box sets and bonus tracks having come out since this album's release, but this is still a nice compilation of material."