Rhino has released a new multimedia box set titled Made for TV: Official Soundtrack to Season 1 of The Monkees. The collection arrives as part of a yearlong 60th-anniversary celebration marking the debut of the band and its television series.
The group first introduced itself on Aug. 16, 1966, with the release of the debut single “Last Train to Clarksville,” followed by the premiere of The Monkees television show on Sept. 12. Members Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork quickly became a global musical and television presence.
The new LP, two-CD, and Blu-ray collection includes 14 broadcast-exclusive TV mixes, more than two dozen songs, and 10 episodes from the first season, including the series premiere. Monkees historian and author Andrew Sandoval produced the release and provided detailed liner notes and episode guides.
Producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider created The Monkees, which ran on NBC for two seasons from 1966 through 1968. Inspired by the film A Hard Day’s Night, the show followed a fictional band that developed genuine musical chemistry beyond its scripted origin.
The Season 1 music features songs written by prominent songwriters, including Neil Diamond’s “Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)” and Gerry Goffin and Carole King’s “Take A Giant Step.” Songwriters Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart contributed heavily to the season with the main theme, “Words,” and an early version of “Valleri.”
Included episodes highlight the show’s initial Emmy-winning season, beginning with the premiere episode “Royal Flush,” which earned director James Frawley an Emmy Award. The collection ends with “The Monkees On Tour,” documenting the band’s live concert run in early 1967.
The anniversary observance will extend through the summer and fall as Micky Dolenz tours across the United States for his 60 Years of The Monkees tour.
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