Davy Jones

Davy Jones has taken it upon himself to document his career in music by issuing a number of CDs that span the scope of his career (the four-volume set titled Just for the Record). This CD is sort of a sampler of that set, as well as highlights from his 1986 release, Incredble. This is an interesting collection, as Jones has a definite ear for good pop music, and a number of these songs fall into that category. "Don't Go" is an excellent example. This is pure pop, with a tight nameless backup band and Jones sounding just like Davy Jones. He also covers old Monkees songs (a simply horrible version of "Daydream Believer") as well as early versions of songs that wound up on the Monkees reunion CD, Justus ("What a Night" and "It's Not Too Late," which sound less produced and not as well arranged as the Monkees versions). The overall problem with this CD is poor documentation (songwriters do not even merit a credit), and the sound quality is not what one would expect from material recorded in the 1990s. Overall, the songs are not all bad, with a few shining moments ("It's Just a Matter of Time," "After Your Heart," and "What a Night" are great songs) to just embarrassing ("You'll Soon Be Sixteen"). This CD is ideal for Monkees collectors -- all others will find little of interest here. ~ Aaron Badgley, All Music Guide