This Month's Colgems Upload: The Birds, the Bees and the Monkees (mono)

In my quest to release every single record that was released on the
Colgems label, I have decided to go against what I said when I began
this crusade: "I will never upload a Monkees record," simply because
all of their records are so readily available ...

That is, all but this one. Although Rhino Records will soon re-
release this album in both stereo and mono formats, I decided to
jump the gun a bit, giving everyone a chance to listen to the album
first, and then buy it later from a legitimate record source.

The Birds, the Bees, and the Monkees is kind of a schizoid type
affair, and that might be why, unlike its four predecessors, it
failed to hit the top of the chart. You've got material that made it
onto the show, like "I'll Be Back Up On My Feet," you've got Don
Kirshner-era material, like "Valleri," you've got hits,
like "Daydream Believer," and you've got material that never made it
to the show, like "Magnolia Sims."

Yes, it is a hodgepodge, lots of great stuff mixed with lots of
filler, whether you listen to this in stereo or mono.

Personally, I kind of like the mono mix of "I'll Be Back Up On My
Feet," but all in all, if you liked the stereo version of this
album, there's no reason why you won't like the mono version.

This album will remain available until May 15, and you can find it
at http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/albumania/.

"Singalong At Shea" With Colgems

This is a news item that probably isn't making much of a presence outside of the New York Metropolitan area, but within the New York area, this has been a major news item for about a week.

It appears that the New York Mets are trying to choose an official song, which they will play at home games during the eighth inning whether they are winning or losing. They had an online poll, and rather than choose the various suggestions Mets management made, some unscrupulous Internet-ites chose a horrid Rick Astley song.

The Mets were backed into a corner, and had to play that song to see how it would fare amongst fans. It was roundly booed.

The next day, the Mets played a Bon Jovi song, which met with a collective "who cares" from the fans.

Then, on Thursday, April 10, the Mets played the Monkees' "I'm a Believer." Guess what? The fans loved it!

According to news reports, this song surged ahead of the others "based on the hearty singing [of fans] that accompanied it."

Next up is long-time New York area favorite Billy Joel's "Movin' Out."

What any of this has to do with baseball is anyone's guess. I'm a Yankee fan, anyway.

But I still would go with "I'm a Believer."

Next Colgems Upload

For the next Colgems album upload later this month, I am going to go against my original plan, which was never to upload a Colgems album by The Monkees.

The reason that I am uploading this one particular album is that the version that I am going to make available is extremely rare--although it will be out legitimately, hopefully in a few months.

This upload will give you a taste for the actual release, and you'll get it several months earlier than the release I'm sure you'll purchase.

This latest upload will take place on or around tax day, April 15.