Andrew Hunt

Sixty years ago this week, THE MONKEES arrived in record stores. It still amazes me to look at that first album and think about the songs that were waiting for us there. Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart gave us “(Theme From) The Monkees,” “Last Train to Clarksville,” “I Wanna Be Free” and more. Mike brought in “Papa Gene’s Blues,” Gerry Goffin and Carole King gave us “Take a Giant Step,” and David Gates wrote “Saturday’s Child." Quite a collection of writers to have in your corner when you’re making your first record. The album went on to spend 13 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart, but what means the most to me now is that people are still listening to these songs 60 years later. And Rhino is marking the anniversary with a new 60th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, featuring the original stereo album, the mono album, TV versions, alternate takes, demos, backing tracks, radio spots, and new liner notes from yours truly. It ships October 30 and is available to pre-order at Rhino.com. #TheMonkees #MickyDolenz