This four-disc package gathers the only known professionally documented concerts by the Monkees on their 1967 summer tour. Each of the four discs contains a complete performance -- hence the repetition of material. Disc one contains a monophonic demo recording made by crew member/photographer Winton Teel. The results of which were the criterion in whether or not it would be feasible to send a crew and equipment to sonically capture later dates on the tour. It becomes obvious that the results, while favorable, were far from optimal. The set list and stage antics were similar on every stop of the Monkees '67 tour. The "Theme From 'The Monkees'" would blare from the PA system and the lads would bound out of two mock Vox audio speaker cabinets. The self-contained quartet would then churn through hit singles as well as a few choice album cuts. Each band member is likewise featured in a spotlight performance; "Cripple Creek" being the most solo of them all, as Peter Tork was usually accompanied by nothing more than his own banjo. Backing up the other three soloists is the five-piece pop combo the Sundowners. They are particularly effective on Michael Nesmith's cover of Willie Dixon's "You Can't Judge a Book (By Looking at the Cover)." The show wraps up with the return of the self-contained quartet grinding through garage rock renditions of hits such as "I'm a Believer" and "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone." The recordings are an engineering nightmare. Buzzes, pops, and musicians performing into microphones that don't work all together...seemingly everything that could, does go wrong at some point. However, the massive transfer of energy between audience and performer -- especially under the circumstances -- can't be buried in the mix. Spontaneity and reinvention night after night likewise can't be faked. Summer 1967: The Complete U.S. Concert Recordings is a vital pop/rock relic available in a limited edition of 3500 from Rhino HandMade. ~ Lindsay Planer