Replay

Replay

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Capturing a dynamic ensemble on disc is a tricky business--the studio often engenders nitpicky cautiousness, while recording a live show compromises the sound, especially with acoustic music. On Replay, the genre-bending quartet led by banjo master Alison Brown finds a nice alternative approach, revisiting songs from her six previous albums in two days of informal live-in-the-studio performances. The result is a crisp-sounding and loose-limbed set that showcases both the range of Brown's compositions--from swing to Latin jazz to newgrass to chamber pop--and the fluency of the band (John R. Burr on piano, Garry West on bass, and Kendrick Freeman on drums). Along with her fleet, filigreed banjo picking, Brown delivers some hot guitar tracks, playing slinky jazz solos on "Daytime TV" and "The Inspector" and bringing the CD to a sweetly lyrical close on "The Promise of Spring." --Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers

Replay,Alison Brown Quartet,Compass Records,Folk,Folk & Traditional,Pop

Average customer rating:

Classic Italian 1930s pop done to perfection

Carlo Buti - Greatest Hits

Carlo Buti's Canzoni Bellisimi

Greatest Hits
Carlo Buti
Manufacturer: Replay
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Italy | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music
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Bella Ragazza

Le Rose Rosse

Greatest Hits

Cafe Italia

I Grandi Successi Originali

ASIN: B000007WT1
Release Date: 1998-03-26

Tracks:

Firenze Sogna
Chitarra Romana
Non Dimenticar Le Mie Parole
Reginella Campagnola
Primo Amore
La Maschietta
Violino Tzigano
Se Vuoi Goder La Vita
Mamma
La Romanina
Bambina Innamorata
Chitarretella
Torna Piccina
Maria La O
Luna Malinconica

Customer Reviews:

Classic Italian 1930s pop done to perfection.......2007-02-11

Nobody ever outpointed Carlo Buti in these Italian pop standards dating from between the wars. The best of the songs on this CD---Firenze Sogna, Chitarra Romana, Reginella Campagnola, Violino Tzigano, La Romanina---are heard here in performances not likely ever to be surpassed. And the other, more ephemeral selections are here ennobled by Buti's performances.

Today's listeners might have some difficulty with the rigid beat and dated orchestral accompaniments on these selections---but they will have no difficulty whatsoever with the sound of Buti's voice, which remains unique nearly half a century after his death. Probably the best selection of all is "Primo Amore", with words and music by Buti and sung to his own guitar accompaniment. Here, for once, we get to hear his voice without the semi-distracting 1930s dance-music orchestral background heard on the other selections. If "Primo Amore" is the only song you listen to on this CD, you've still bought yourself a bargain. Once heard, Buti's "Primo Amore" cannot be forgotten.

Essentially a light lyric tenor with a sweet, smallish, very beautiful sound, an incredible half-voice, and a more-than-adequate technique, Buti was a master of "fioritura": A vocal technique dating from the baroque period and calling for the singer to embellish the vocal line. "Vocal embroidery" is a good descriptor for this technique, which was commonplace in Handel's day---but you have to hear Buti for yourself to see how seamlessly and naturally he makes this bel canto technique work in pop material.
You will hear no vocal embroidery, though, in the last selection on the CD: "Luna Malinconia", none other than Richard Rogers's "Blue Moon", here sung in the most immaculate Italian you'll ever hear from a pop star. This is a "Blue Moon" that one hopes Rogers himself heard.

There are no Neapolitan pop classics on this CD. Buti tended to prefer standard songs of the day, very often bypassing the Neapolitan songs so successfully purveyed by the great Italian tenors Caruso and Gigli. Buti never had that kind of voice, never had that training, never commanded the huge sound those great artists had. He was wise enough to sing to his strengths, leaving the more heroic material to his opera-oriented colleagues. The wisdom of his decision is evident on this CD.

From the mid-1930s until midway into the 1950s Carlo Buti was the leading pop singer in Italy, with an immense following in the Italian-speaking communities in the United States as well. For today's listeners, those with patience and some understanding of the evolution of pop styles, this CD will provide great pleasure.

Carlo Buti - Greatest Hits.......2007-01-10

Vintage Buti. If you like old, Italian, non-operatic songs and an unbelievable tenor voice, this CD is for you.

Carlo Buti's Canzoni Bellisimi.......2001-09-06

Carlo Buti's beautiful voice in these Italian household favorites is outstanding. Sunday Radio's Italian Hour fast forwarded by 50 nor 60 years to the 21st Century. Wonderful!

Average customer rating:

Too much Faye
A Teenage Delight
THE BEST PLAY ALBUM YET !!!!
This CD ROCKS!!! A ++++++
A great pop album!! A must for pop music fans.

Replay
Play
Manufacturer: Music World
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Don't Stop the Music
Play
No Secrets
Girl's Mind
Play - Playin' Around the World

ASIN: B00009MGQ5
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Tracks:

I Must Not Chase The Boys
Honey To The Bee
Just A Little
Whole Again
Hot
Girl's Mind
What Is Love?
11 Out Of 10
Lets Get To The Love Part
2 Blocks Down
Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Customer Reviews:

Too much Faye.......2006-06-13

I absolutely love Play and am just about one of the biggest fans of Play. My favorite member is Anna. I love how her voice is very sweet. i also love Rosie's voice. It's very unique because of her accent, yet its still nice to listen to. All the songs on the cd are amazing. They really show they're getting older and that they're trying to appeal to an older crowd. The only thing I don't like about this cd is that its all evolved around Faye. Anais has a few parts, and Rosie and Anna have absolutely none. Being such a big fan of anna and rosie i was very upset by this. I would still buy the cd no matter what. Faye has amazing vocals and is extremely talented, but she's not the only one in the group! There are some parts on the cd where I coudl just imagine Anna or Rosie singing 10x better than Faye or Anais. Its not all about the range and the notes, its also about the style and that's exactelly what Anna and Rosie have in their singing. All in all this cd by play is not my favorite and I only pick it up once in a while but this cd is something that not just play fans wuld buy! <3 liz

A Teenage Delight.......2006-05-14

Play is a girl group from Sweeden, and at the time of Replay's release, they were between the ages 14 and 16. Replay is much more mature than their debut, the self titled Play. The only thing I didn't like about this CD was that Faye did almost all of the singing! Yes, Anais did have some solos, but what about Rosie and Anna? This is a girl group. The members are supposed to do singing, a lot of it!!!! Now here's my song by song review---

1) I Must Not Chase The Boys---8/10.
This is what I'm talking about when I say Play has matured. Their voices have alos matured, as shown in this song.

2) Honey To The Bee---9/10.
I have heard this is a remake, which I feel Play does WAY to many of. This song has a killer melody and sweet harmonies.

3) Just A Little---8/10.
Great to dance to, more of the whole maturity thing.

4) Whole Again---10/10.
Another remake, but an awesome one. An angelic ballad exposing the talent of Play. Great to sing to.

5) Hot---7/10.
This song dosen't really show Play's singing talent, but it's the best song to dance to on the whole CD!

6) Girl's Mind---7/10.
I can totally relate to this song, and I love the killer harmonies.

7) What Is Love---10/10.
This song was later covered by Raven, but Play's version is so much better. A sweet ballad with awesome harmonies and a beautiful melody, it's one of my favorite songs on the CD.

8) 11 Out Of 10---7/10
Dosen't really show their talent, can't really dance to it, but still a good song.

9) Let's Get To The Love Part---10/10.
More wonderful talent. I love to sing to this song, as well as dance to it.

10) 2 Blocks Down---9/10.
I love the melody, but the words are kind of cheesy. (Now I know I love you, I can't wait to say "I do.")

11) Ain't No Mountain High Enough---9/10.
I have never seen so many remakes on 1 CD! If this was not a remake I would give it a 10/10.

So that's it. I wish Play had gone a lot farther than they did, because they definetly had the potential. I recommend any GIRLS ages 10-15 to BUY THIS CD!!!

THE BEST PLAY ALBUM YET !!!!.......2006-04-29

MAJOR PROPS TO PLAY!!!! I have all 3 of PLAY'S cds. I have their debut PLAY, their second album (this one) REPLAY, and their third album DON'T STOP THE MUSIC. This one is my favorite one of them all. This album was released in 03. This album is 10x better than the debut. The best songs in my opinion included: Honey To The Bee, Hot, Girl's Mind, What Is Love?, 11 Out Of 10, and Ain't No Montain High Enough. 6/11 were good to me, and 5 of the remaining songs such as Just A Little weren't really clicking with me. I love PLAY because they are so orginal, and their vocals are great. All of the songs on this album are on key. They also choose songs that they know their vocals are good for. They also did an outstanding remake for the classic song "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." They sing their hearts out on the songs. For 14 and 15 year old girls (in 2003 when the album was released), they are hot. GET THE ALBUM, IT'S HOT!!!!

This CD ROCKS!!! A ++++++.......2006-03-24

I rented this CD from my local library and I fell in love with it, this CD is no Teen Bopper they sing very mature songs.
The song 'Let's Get to the Love Part' and 'Just a Little' you can figure out what they are talking about, 'Honey to the Bee' is a sweet song and 'Whole Again' is a good song too.
For someone who is in love or thinking about their man should definatly get this CD.

A great pop album!! A must for pop music fans........2006-03-22

I love play. It's definetly a new discovery of mine even though they broke up already, but music today is so boring I keep going back a couple of years or listening to music from Europe to get my pop fix. Play is a strong girl group from the early 00's and though they do one too many covers they are extremely excpetional. I love Faye and Anais.

REPLAY~Play
1. I Must Not Chase The Boys- A great original pop song, with sass and sex appeal. Pop Perfection. The song geniusly mixes the two trends going on in pop at that time; Britney Sex appeal with Avril guitar angst. 11/10
2. Honey To The Bee- A cover of a Billie song. It takes a few listens to get used to but its a cute and pleasant song overall. 8/10
3. Just A Little- This song was recorded at the same time by British boy-and-girl group Liberty X, but Plays version is much more superior. Plays vocals are much MUCH stronger and its sexier without using the cheesy more suggestive lyrics Liberty X uses. 10/10
4. Whole Again- A cover of an Atomic Kitten song, but once again Plays version is more melodic and the vocals are much more Strong. A beautiful ballad with perfect harmonies. 11/10
5. Hot- Play trying to be sexy again, its a good R&B song but Just A Little is better, but still one of the better tracks. 9/10
6. Girl's Mind- This song isn't my favorite but the vocals are strong and it reminds of something Christina Aguilera would do. 7/10
7. What Is Love?- This song was later covered by Raven-Symone but both are good and different. Plays is a bit more catchy and pop while Ravens' is more R&B. Good and cute song. 9/10
8. 11 Out of 10- Very smart lyrically. A more rock-ish attempt but the song is pretty cool. I like this one a lot actually. 9/10
9. Let's Get To The Love Part- A very cute song kinda like Honey to the Bee but a bit better. 8/10
10. 2 Blocks Down- Very similar to 11 Out Of 10 but not as good, but its still worthy of your listening. 8/10
11. Ain't No Mountain High Enough- One of the most covered songs of all time. But play does it decently and its worth a listen. 8/10

Buy this album, I still havent heard Don't Stop The Music, but this is much better then Play's self titled album and don't even consider Girls Mind, it doesnt have Whole Again or Just a Little.
This album is pop greatness from an under-rated pop girl group.

Average customer rating:

Bravo Buti !!
Excellent, Carlo Buti at his Classic best

Le Rose Rosse
Carlo Buti
Manufacturer: Replay
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Greatest Hits
Bella Ragazza
Greatest Hits
I Grandi Successi Originali
Bella Ragazza: Original Recordings 1934-1949

ASIN: B00000I2LP
Release Date: 1998-10-09

Tracks:

Faccetta Nerra
Addio Signora
La Piccinina
Il Miracolo Della Lana
Sul Lungarno
Povero Amico Mio
Finestra Chiusa
Firenze
La Sagra Di Giarabub
Le Rose Rosse
Incantatella
Madonna Fiorentina
Rondinella Forestiera
Luna Marinara
Piccola Butterfly
Porta Un Bacione A Firenze

Customer Reviews:

Bravo Buti !!.......2004-03-26

I just listened to the samples provided by Amazon.com for this album and if the rest of the selections are as wonderful as the first five samples then I'm in for some great listening. I am ordering all Buti's albums that are on the market. My only regret is that he is no longer here to make more. My father brought his love for Buti when he came from Italy but I was too young to recognize such great talent. But I do now and recommend that anyone who still keeps with his heritage buy this album before it is no longer available.

Excellent, Carlo Buti at his Classic best.......1999-05-03

50 minutes of great music and leaves you craving more. Brings nostellgia home. If you like any music from the good old days (or music in general) this CD is for you.

Average customer rating:

Exquisite music but no liner notes

Greatest Hits
Claudio Villa
Manufacturer: Replay
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Italian | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

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Greatest Hits
I Grandi Successi Originali
Bella Ragazza
L' Indimenticabile
Canta La Sua Roma

ASIN: B000007WU3
Release Date: 1998-02-20

Tracks:

Granada
L'Eco Der Core
Acquarello Neapolitano
Cancello Chiuso
Mamma
Stornellata Romana
Manuela
Serenata Celeste
Binario
Luna Rossa
Casa Mia (Casetta De Trastavere)
Corde Della Mia Chitarra
Buongiorno Tristezza
Nanni ('Na Gita A Li Castelli)
Incantatella
Arrivederci Roma

Customer Reviews:

Exquisite music but no liner notes.......2007-02-13

Claudio Villa's voice is sweet nectar in the tradition of wonderful Italian popular singers. He is so good that it's unfortunate this CD has no liner notes, no recording dates, or biographical information. I went to the Wikipedia and there's not much there either. This compilation was copyrighted 1991. Villa died in his early 60's in February 1987. All titles are only in Italian, though if you have some smattering of Spanish and Italian, you can figure out most titles. Only a few are well-known to Americans--mainly, Granada and Arrivederci Roma. "Il Successi di Claudio Villa" (Greatest Hits) is still highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

terrible album
real underground Hip Hop
A Classic ... High Class of Muzic !!
Real Hip Hop
A noticeable falloff

A Tear for the Ghetto
Group Home
Manufacturer: Replay
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

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Livin' Proof
Ghetto Millionaire
The Rude Awakening
The Natural
Industry Shakedown

ASIN: B00000J7GV
Release Date: 1999-09-28

Tracks:

Tear Shit Down
Da Real GH
Stupid Mf's
Street Life
Sun For A Reason
The Legacy
Run For You Life
Make It In Life
A Train X-press
Be Like That
Dial-A-Thug
Politic All Night
Keep Rising
We Can Do This
12 O'Clock
Oh Sweet America
Breaker 1-9
Beefin' For Rap
Game Recognize Game
Life Ain't Shit

Customer Reviews:

terrible album.......2006-12-15

This album sucked badly. I didn't like it at all and Melachi The Nutcracker didn't rap that much on any of the songs. It sounded like a Lil Dap solo album LOL.

real underground Hip Hop.......2006-09-28

One of the best Hip Hop undeground album !!! The golden years of Hip Hop are more or less the same : 93/94/95/96 (few till 1999 are still good,but...)

A Classic ... High Class of Muzic !!.......2005-02-22

One of tha best in tha game !!!! Respect to them..

Real Hip Hop.......2005-02-01

The best hip-hop recording since "Criminal Minded". I love the references to RASTAFARI.

A noticeable falloff.......2004-03-02

For as amazing as the first "Livin' Proof" release was, I expected a whole lot more. This release really disappoints if you liked the debut.

And if you'd never heard the debut before, you wouldn't be impressed at all by this one.

And this is probably due to one missing piece: DJ Premier. With DJ Premier producing, he could even make me sound respectable!

Tracks:

Voce 'E Notte
Nessuno Al Mondo
Nun E' Peccato
Speedy Gonzales
Malatia
Roberta
Scetate
Let's Twist Again
Freva
Cinque Minuti Ancora
Luna Caprese
Nostro Concerto
Io Te Vurria Vasa'
Addio, Mondo Crudele
Ghiaccio
Saint-Tropez Twist

Average customer rating:

Pon de Replay...
Decent Club Jam
awesome
Hottest single
Very good single from Rihanna

Pon de Replay
Rihanna
Manufacturer: Umvd Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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S.O.S.
Music of the Sun
A Girl Like Me
Don't Cha
Buttons

ASIN: B000ANHGMW
Release Date: 2005-09-05

Tracks:

Pon de Replay

Album Description

Australian version features three versions of the title track along with the enhanced video. Tracks, (Album Version, Cotto's Replay Dub, Instrumental and the Enhanced Video)The gorgeous seventeen year old barbados native, rihanna is enjoying a rapid rise up the us charts with her new single pon de replay. Already a top 10 hit on the charts, rihanna is Jay z's newest prodigy. With one listen to pon de replay, the highly addictive new dancehall anthem, you will understand why rihanna is hot property! Def Jam. 2005.

Album Details

This Gorgeous 17 Year Old Barbados Native is Jay-z's Latest Prodigy. Australian Release Includes Three Versions of the Hit Single and is Enhanced with a Video.

Customer Reviews:

Pon de Replay..........2007-01-31

"Pon de Replay" is a good and danceable CD. Rihanna is definitely in good form. Four stars!!

Decent Club Jam.......2006-04-09

"Pon De Replay" first set off in late-May and is Rihanna's first single. The song has an infectous and catchy beat. It is obviously impossible not to dance to it. The lyrics aren't the best since its not really required for a club song. Rihanna sings pretty well on this track as well. It's a cool club song and it will do until the next big thing in radio comes along (excluding terrible Atlanta acts like D4L).

awesome.......2006-03-08

Pon De Replay is the best song on earth. Not only is it great to dance to, it's great for a club/party. The beat is incredible and her voice is fab. Also, it's not "corny" like many of the other dance songs today.

Hottest single.......2006-01-01

It was #2 in the country for weeks, and was in th top 40 over over 35+ weeks. It should have been #1, but she couldn't beat the 'queen' or Pop/Opera R&B, but Rihanna is the best.

Very good single from Rihanna.......2005-12-11

This is the first item I have ever bought that is a Rihanna recording. I'm not an r&b fan, I am more of a punk rock fan. But I listen to the radio a lot (who doesn't), and I hear it all the time. I grew to like it so I wanted to get it. I think this is the best thing to get for a person who is just entering the world of r&b. Especially because Christmas is coming up! Or any othe holiday you might celebrate where u give gifts....

Average customer rating:

Italian Andrews Sisters

Songs
Trio Lescano
Manufacturer: Replay
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Le Grandi Voci Della Canzone Italiana
Delizioso

ASIN: B00004SVAM
Release Date: 2000-03-23

Tracks:

Camminando Sotto La Pioggia
Tornerai
C'E Un'Orchestra Sincopata
La Gelosia Non E Piu Di Moda
Ciribiribin
San Luigi (Le Tristezze Di...)(St. Louis Blues)
Arriva Tazio
Valzer Della Fisarmonica
Non Me Ne Importa Niente
Senti L'eco
Oh! Ma-Ma
Tuli-Tuli-Pan
Papa E Mamma
E Quel Fox-Trot
Ritmando In Sol
Ultimissime

Customer Reviews:

Italian Andrews Sisters.......2007-08-02

A little hollow and pop-and-fizzy, on account of it's age. But it truly is a great addition to anyones world-swing collection.

Average customer rating:

There'll be another song.
Nesmith Saves it!
A few good ones.
Instant Replay (1969)
best group of songs

Instant Replay
The Monkees
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Monkees Present
Changes
The Birds, the Bees & the Monkees
Headquarters
Head (1968 Film)

ASIN: B0000033E7
Release Date: 1995-01-24

Tracks:

Through The Looking Glass
Don't Listen To Linda
I Won't Be The Same Without Her
Just A Game
Me Without You
Don't Wait For Me
You And I
While I Cry
Tear Drop City
The Girl I Left Behind Me
A Man Without A Dream
Shorty Blackwell
Someday Man
Carlisle Wheeling
Rosemarie
Smile
St. Matthew
Me Without You
Through The Looking Glass

Customer Reviews:

There'll be another song........2005-11-23

This Monkees album was released in February, 1969. It was the first album released after Peter Tork left the group. It is a hodgepodge of material from various recording sessions. Some of the tracks date all the way back to 1966, being leftovers from their second album. Surprisingly, the album is actually pretty good. Most of the songs are good, and there aren't any truly bad songs here. I particularly like "Through the Looking Glass", "I Won't Be the Same Without Her", "Me Without You", "You and I", "Tear Drop City" and "A Man Without a Dream". The strangest track is Micky's "Shorty Blackwell", which is a long, self-indulgent, experimental piece. It's a failure, but an interesting failure. The CD adds seven bonus tracks. The best of these is "St. Matthew", a Nesmith song that is arguably the best Monkees song that was unreleased during the group's orginal run. Monkees fans should enjoy this album.

Nesmith Saves it!.......2005-07-11

"Instant Replay" was the first Monkees album as a 3-piece. Peter Tork had left shortly before in frustration that the group still was not given very much influence on their music and records.

The group's popularity in general was also waning at this point, and there would be no more top 20 hit-singles.

Since their two fine 1967 albums, they had not really worked as a band on their recordings. It was more or less 4 solo artists working on the same overall concept.

This is very clearly the case on this album. A very mixed bag of family pop, country and a few leftovers from earlier sessions given new overdubs ( strings etc. ).

Though the general impression may be one of a group falling apart, there are some fine moments on the album. Especially Mike Nesmith shines. He was obviously the greatest musical capacity in the group. His musical direction had always tended towards country, and even more on this album. His songs are not spoiled by too heavy production like many other tracks.

The sparsely instrumentated "While I Cry" is very moving, and Nesmith's version of the Goffin/King song "I Won't Be the Same Without Her" is pure pleasure; almost Byrds-like.

His two country-flavoured bonus-tracks "Carlisle Wheeling" and "St Matthew" are great additions that both would have helped the original album, had they been included.

Mickey Dolenz, usually considered the lead-vocalist, is in front on two leftovers from the 1966 sessions. "Through the Looking Glass" could have been a fine track, but the new overdubbed version lacks the charm of the early recordings. The bonus-track version of the song is probably the track that sounds the most like early Monkees. "Tear Drop City" is another early Boyce/Hart production, sounding very much like a "Last Train to Clarkesville" rip-off. Somehow the song never really works, still one of the better Dolenz tracks. The rest of his songs are either too much family-pop or too heavily produced.

Even worse are most Davy Jones tracks. Best is probably is the sing-along pop-tune with a very Beatles-inspired production. His own "You and I" could probably have been a good song, but suffers from too heavy production. The rest are at best forgettable. Among the bonus tracks the single "Someday Man" is passable.

A few good ones........2004-04-15

'Through The Looking Glass' is a very nice song with a classic sound. It probably could have been a #1 record just a year or so earlier -- when the band was still phenomenally popular. 'I Won't Be The Same Without Her' is a nice one from Nesmith with somewhat of a surprise British-Invasion sound to it. 'Tear Drop City' is obviously a clone of 'Last Train To Clarksville' - but so what?, it has a great sound. 'Just a Game' is an interesting effort from Mickey - it sounds like it could have been something, perhaps had it been produced during the Chip Douglas era. 'Me Without You' and 'You and I' are decent Davy songs. The rest of the album is nothing special. ('Shorty Blackwell', like 'Just A Game' - shows Mickey was willing to take chances - unfortunately, it misses the mark). Worth owning if you're collecting the entire set of original albums.

Instant Replay (1969).......2003-12-25

What a shame that we can't physically go back in time and alter history. Given that ability, my advice to The Monkees in 1969 would have been `don't quit'. Not because they were the best band in history, or all of the material released on INSTANT REPLAY and THE MONKEES PRESENT were classics, but merely because there are moments on these albums that truly shine. But no matter what we say or do cannot alter the fact that at the time, The Monkees were hated and ignored by the media and a good portion of the record buying public, for reasons not truly deserved. Peter Tork had left the band in 1968, which also appears to be one of their most productive and prolific recording periods. On these final albums with Mike Nesmith, The Monkees may have just started getting on to a good thing. But public indifference and bad vibes killed it.

INSTANT REPLAY surprises me on many levels. My acquaintance with Nesmith's solo career is fairly well established, and his solo albums from 1970 ~ present I highly recommend. The material offered on INSTANT REPLAY by Nesmith truly shows the direction and talents he had prior to his departure from the band. I am also pleasantly surprised by Davy Jones particularly on this album. The material he wrote, produced or chose to sing suited his voice and style far better than earlier offerings. I cannot profess to be a huge Davy Jones fan, but my mind certainly changed when hearing INSTANT REPLAY. I feel Mickey Dolenz is better represented on THE MONKEES PRESENT than on this album. Which is where a time machine would come in very handy. Anyone who has both offerings, including the alternative and extra tracks can compile a Monkees 1969 album that really is a strong, cohesive set, and nothing to be ashamed of. There is no changing the public indifference at the time though, sadly enough. If fortunes could be reversed, a 1969 album by the Monkees comprised of the material that really excelled, might just have a different fate.

`Through The Looking Glass' (by Boyce, Hart & Baldwin) opens the album. Obviously a single due to its insistent singalong chorus, I personally would not have gone with this song. It's good, don't get me wrong, but I think there is material on this album much better. `Don't Listen To Linda'(by Boyce & Hart) is a great song, the first of the Davy Jones vocal set of material, and its one of those I would have put to the side for that Monkees '69 album. No time machine though. `I Won't Be The Same Without Her'(Goffin & King), one of the older tracks is another set aside. This song is fantastic, with great vocals by Mike Nesmith (and Glen Campbell). I was very surprised at the quality of the material by this point of the album. 2 truly great tracks almost from the start. `Just A Game'(by Dolenz), `Me Without You'(by Boyce & Hart), and `Don't Wait For Me'(by Nesmith) I feel are outshined by the 2 songs before them and after them. I am hesitant to say that about a Nesmith composition, because I feel so much of his material is as good as the outside writers provided The Monkees, but I'll explain my reasons for `Don't Wait For Me' not being included later. Dolenz's `Just A Game' is a very short song, but I feel it needed a bit more work. No time machine.

And now the two gems of INSTANT REPLAY, Jones & Chadwick's `You and I' and Nesmith's `While I Cry'. `You and I' changed my mind about Davy Jones quite abruptly. This song is one of the standouts in The Monkees entire recording career, and to hear Jones singing such a heavy rock arrangement, that he also wrote, was a delight, honestly. That it boasts Neil Young as the lead guitar soloist is another plus. And I hear Nesmith's `While I Cry' as a definite single release. Absolutely beautiful song.

`Teardrop City'(by Boyce & Hart) is obviously `Last Train to Clarksville' revamped. Shame really. `The Girl I Left Behind Me' by Sayer & Sedaka is a decent song, but not the strongest of the set. But these are followed by another excellent Goffin & King song `A Man Without A Dream'. Davy Jones in hindsight has announced reservations about the production of Bones Howe on this track, but personally I feel this song has nothing wrong in this area. The material suits Jones voice and public persona, and my appreciation of this style of music has grown in recent years. Maybe when I was younger I would have avoided a track like this, but `A Man Without A Dream' has a strong root in Motown, and Jones sings this song in his natural singing range, which shows how good a vocalist he actually is. And let's call Dolenz's `Shorty Blackwell' an ambitious step. Honestly, Dolenz is a songwriter with great possibilities, and he certainly was more experimental than he may be given credit for. Certainly his songs on THE MONKEES PRESENT are some of the most innovative I've heard from the 60's. `Shorty Blackwell' works on some levels, and on others doesn't, but I give the man an A for ambition. A bit more time spent on arrangement, and this might have been The Monkees `Shangri~La' (see The Kinks).

The bonus material has songs I would personally have substituted for the released tracks. Nicol's & Williams `Someday Man' is another strong song that Jones sings, and produced by Bones Howe. This style really suits Jones as much as the heavier rock of `You and I'. An obvious single despite the numerous `sections' of the song, which go into half time and back out again. The two other tracks I would have saved were Nesmith's `Carlisle Wheeling' and `St.Matthew', both much stronger than his own `Don't Wait For Me'.

There is a great album here, and combined with THE MONKEES PRESENT, taking the gems from each you'd have a pretty amazing and solid 1969 Monkees album. My choices for inclusion would be:

Don't Listen To Linda (Boyce & Hart)
I Won't Be The Same Without Her (Goffin & King)
You and I (Jones & Chadwick)
While I Cry (Nesmith)
A Man Without A Dream (Goffin & King)
Someday Man (Nicols & Williams)
Carlisle Wheeling (Nesmith)
St. Matthew (Nesmith)

best group of songs.......2003-06-29

The majority of the songs on this albumn were writted by either a memeber of the Monkees. Michael Nesmith's solo's on most of the albumn is fantastic. Something that you usually do not see in any of the other albumns. and he did write at least 2 of the songs. The best song on this albumn is Don't Listen to Linda. You can really feel his sadness.