The Monkees’ Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd. album has returned today in two formats: an audiophile-grade vinyl pressing from the original stereo tapes for the first time and a 4CD/1-7" super deluxe box set containing over 100 unreleased tracks. This album, released in April 1967, marked a significant musical milestone, featuring Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork who took advantage of the band’s newfound freedom after completing their debut album Headquarters. Sessions began just two weeks after the group finished filming the sitcom The Second Season, resulting in one of their most diverse musical experiences. Though Chip Douglas and drummer Eddie Hoh joined the group along with additional vocalists, all four members contributed to the LP, selecting songs from the original recordings. Over four months before the album’s release, it was previewed on 45 RPM by Pleasant Valley Sunday, a poignant commentary on the suburban setting of the couple’s relocation to West Orange, NJ. The song, performed by Micky Dolenz with a killer guitar riff, became a biting slice of pop bliss, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and setting the stage for the full album named for the group members’ astrological signs. (Dolenz is Pisces, Tork is Aquarius, and both Jones and Nesmith are Capricorn.)
Mike Nesmith made the biggest impression, leading the album with five standout tracks including Craig Smith’s trippy opener Salesman, Chip Douglas and Bill Martin’s folk-rock anti-war anthem The Door Into Summer, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil’s dreamy ballad Love Is Only Sleeping, his own ballad Don’t Call on Me co-written with John London, and What Am I Doing Hangin’ Round—a country-rock fusion with Doug Dillard playing the banjo. He also penned Daily Nightly, a Moog-flecked meditation on the Sunset Strip riots, sung by Dolenz. Davy Jones showcased his versatility with Cuddly Toy and Goffin/Gerry King’s timely meditation on Hollywood stars, while Stalwarts Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart provided the garage-style nugget *Words. The album proved innovative, featuring the first-ever Moog use on both Daily Nightly and Star Collector. Meanwhile, the country-rock fusion on What Am I Doing Hangin’ Round anticipated Nesmith’s future sojourns into hybrid genres, as well as later efforts by The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers.
Rhino’s Rhino High Fidelity vinyl edition, part of their Rhino High Fidelity series, features a limited press from the 1967 stereo master. AAA-cut by Kevin Gray at Cohearant Audio, it preserves the sound of the original recordings without added reverb or compression. It’s available in 180-gram black vinyl with a four-page color insert by Andrew Sandoval, which places the music in context with the band’s career. The super deluxe edition includes bonus tracks, a 32-page liner notes booklet, and Colgems-style CD labels. This addition follows the 4CD format used by the group since 2022, offering a mix of remastered versions and alternative mixes.
Joe Marchese, editor of The Second Disc, joined the label shortly after its launch in early 2010. He has worked alongside iconic artists like Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross, and The Supremes, and produced liner notes and annotations for over 200 reissues. His work spans classic American music across genres and beyond, contributing to the success of labels such as Real Gone Music and Cherry Red Records. He has also collaborated with Broadway and theater productions.
