From the two Monkees albums we got in the 1980s, we learnt two things - the first is that The Monkees should never make 80s music ever again (see Exhibit B: Pool It!). The other is that the group had a lot of material held in their vaults (see Exhibit A: Missing Links). When the latter came out in the middle of the 1980s amidst Monkeemania revival, it was a revelation - sixteen never-before released tracks compiled together to showcase the group's various styles and talents that they had gathered throughout their short tenure together. Missing Links, Vol. 2 is, likewise, the natural second step - even more backlog diving with TV versions, a live cut, and unused songs. The album confirms what was already known about The Monkees at this point to die-hards like myself - the group had kept a lot of gems hidden. The material on Missing Links, Vol. 2 is just as rocking, smooth, and twangy as anything on the first volume, and it may even be more consistently good.
A distinguishing factor of this release is the amount of TV mixes for songs - see, before the Monkees would re-record songs like "Valleri," "You Just May Be the One," and "Words," they were initially cut back at Kirshner-led sessions. Some aren't too different like "Words, but others like the more mysterious, haunting rendition of "Mr. Webster," a very unique take on the song done before the Headquarters sessions - I wouldn't necessarily say I prefer any of these to the album versions, but "Valleri" comes damn close. We also get an alternate version of "I Wanna Be Free," done at a much faster rock pace - this one was occasionally used on the TV show, and it does blow the album's version out of the water. It's a great fast rocker with clean Micky vocals, and I think it's better than the slower Davy Jones one - it kicks a lot off ass. That's not the only rocker, either, with the stomping "Michigan Blackhawk" (or "Down the Highway" if you're a nerd) being amongst my absolute favorite Monkees songs. We also get a clean recording of the live "Circle Sky" performance from their Head film which, as we all know, is superior to the studio version.
The album can do far more than rock, too, although I think that's what it does best - did I mention that the soaring, shining "St. Matthew" was on here? We also get plenty of gentle moments, and the pinnacle of these is in Peter Tork's rendition of "Come on In," a beautifully gentle, folkier take on the song - one of my favorites he's ever done for the group. Mike can also cut himself the usual country ballad, such as in "Some of Shelly's Blues," which he would later redo for a solo album in '73. Nevertheless, this version is excellent, as is the early version of "The Crippled Lion." A studio version of "Riu Chiu" appears at the end here, and the rich four-part harmonies really do speak for themselves on this one. We also get a Micky vocal cut of "(I Prithee) Do Not Ask for Love," as well as an earlier, slower version of "Hold on Girl." The former is a great leftover from More of the Monkees, while the latter is probably the weakest thing on here - still, it's better than the version we actually got on More of the Monkees. Only by a bit, though. Just a bit.
Missing Links, Vol. 2 is really an excellent archival release. Filled to the brim with excellent material, unique versions of songs, and a few true-blue hidden gems. From the soaring drums of "All the King's Horses" to the whistling and banjo plucks of "Seeger's Theme," Missing Links, Vol. 2 is just as, if not more, rocking, soaring, and powerful as the first entry. The Monkees finally released some of their best material on this album, and I don't think it's much of a stretch to say that.
RATING: ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯
Listen to Missing Links, Vol. 2.
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