The Monkees – ’50: Classic Album Collection’ – Box Set Review

The first album I ever bought was off a TV commercial way back in the 70’s. We were watching the TBS channel, but for us it was a local channel as we were from Atlanta. This was before it became a cable channel. TBS was showing re-runs of the TV show The Monkees. I saw that commercial and begged my mom to buy that album as I really, really wanted it. Well, being the fantastic mom she was, she picked up the phone, made a call and the next thing you know I had a copy of that album. It was The Monkees Greatest Hits and I still have that record today (see below).

Fast forward about 46 years later and I’m still a Monkees fan. But I didn’t have any of their other albums in my collection. I was on Amazon and I saw this box set called 50: Classic Album Collection by The Monkees. It had their first 9 albums included as well as a bonus disc of other tracks. I asked Santa for it and guess what was under the tree.

The Box Set came out in 2016 and is celebrating the band’s 50th Anniversary as they started in 1966. It was released on April 16, 2016 and was a Record Store Day special. I missed this because my first Record Store Day wasn’t until 2017 because if I was back in to collecting in 2016, I would’ve bought this then with no questions asked as it was limited to only 3,000 copies. Now, when I asked for this for Christmas, I actually assumed the box set was only the black vinyl, but when I opened it up and pulled out the debut album, it was a colored vinyl, in fact, they all were a different color. Man, what a surprise it was. There was nothing on the label to tell you if you got the standard black or the color…I got lucky I guess.

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Friday New Releases – April 30, 2021

Friday April 30th…the end of another month. And this week, we actually have 30 new releases for you to look over. Hopefully something in this bunch will float your boat. My boat is rocking with a couple killer releases and then my boat feels a little country too with another. My choices are in Blue. Let me know which ones you are dying to hear and which ones I might have missed as I am sure there are some despite the large number here. Thanks for stopping by each week and for all the support. I hope you all have a great and rocking weekend!!

  • 61NQMk7UwhL._SX522_  Royal Bloods – Typhoons – (Warner Bros): This album was supposed to come out last year and I have been waiting a long while for it to finally arrive. Their last album, the 2017 “How Did We Get So Dark?”, was smashing. If you like rock with a little blues, a little garage rock sound and just plain hard, then this is for you!!
  • 81LwZfkaQoL._SS500_  Gojira – Fortitudes – (Roadrunner Records): If Royal Blood isn’t heavy enough for you then Gojira might more up your alley. This French metal band has the goods and delivers all the time. The last album was back in 2016 and was called “Magma” and it was a lava filled volcano of rock. This should be just as good or better…yes, expectations are high!!
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Friday New Releases – April 14th

Happy Friday or should I say Good Friday!  Being Easter weekend probably explains the fact there are so few releases this Friday.  However, there is one special one that has my attention…the great Richie Kotzen.  Outside of that I might listen to Barenaked Ladies, but don’t know when and if I will get to others.  As usually my choices are highlighted in Blue.

  • 51yt9kcfX4L._AC_SY200_  Richie Kotzen – Salting Earth – (CD Baby):  Richie Kotzen is a true guitar wizard.  He is back with another solo album and I believe I have lost count after there have been so many.  He was incredible with Poison, Mr. Big and especially with The Winery Dogs and as a solo artist he is even better.  Check out what spells he is casting on this one.

  • 170x170bb (97)  Barenaked Ladies & The Persuasions – Ladies and Gentlemen: Barenaked Ladies & The Persuasions – (Raisin’ Records):  The Barenaked Ladies are collaborating with a cappella group The Persuasions.  The album consists of a lot of rewords from the Barenaked Ladies catalog and one cover of a Persuasion song.  Without Steven Page in the band anymore, are they really the same?  Don’t think so.

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