JAPAN
RCA Singles 1
The Monkees' singles were priced at 370 yen in 1966. Then in September 1968
with
"D. W. Washburn" the price went up to 400 yen and all the previous sleeves
were re-issued
with 400 yen price stickers over the original 370 yen price.
The stickers were put on by the manufacturer, "Nippon Victor Corporation".
These singles were the only mono records released in Japan
as the LPs and EPs were sold in stereo only.
The record itself was inside a generic company sleeve and the artwork
was printed on a separate sheet, which was the same size as the record.
These picture sleeve inserts can be one 7"x7" sheet
(color on one side and B&W on the other). Or they can be 7"x14" and
folded in half like a booklet (color now on the outside and B&W on the inside).
The B&W side usually has information about the group, plus lyrics.
- thanks to Michelle66 at the Hoffman music forums for this information
Chart positions by Cash Box Magazine, Oricon &
Billboard from Ed Reilly's book "Monkees: A Manufactured Image".
RCA Company Sleeves
-------------------------------
Released in November 1966
Highest Chart Position:
2 (CB)
SS-1706
Last Train To Clarksville/
Take A Giant Step
___________________
Coupon Details:
On the above picture sleeve there is a second page
with a B&W picture of the group,
plus a coupon for a promotion
where the sender could win prizes.
The back of the coupon shows the address
to send it to
and the date all entries needed to be in by (December 31, 1966).
A coupon that was filled out, but never mailed it in:
Prize details:
3000 people would win handkerchiefs -
that had the Monkees' signatures printed on them.
One lucky winner won the top prize...
a pet monkey!
Handkerchief
From the collection of Akira Suzuki
SS-1706 & SS-1696
Promo
SS-1706
Test Pressing
January 1967 Victor Catalog
----------------------------------------
In 1967 the sleeve was shortened to a single page
as the
coupon & contest details were removed.
SS-1706
Single Sheet
In 1968 the price was raised to ¥400,
unsold picture sleeves had this sticker
added by RCA Japan
SS-1706
Single Sheet
¥400 Sticker
SS-1706
¥370 Price not marked out
-------------------------------------------
Released in February 1967
Highest Chart Position:
3 (CB)
SS-1719
¥370
I'm A Believer/
(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone
SS-1719
Promo
SSD-35
Promo LP featuring this single
I'm A Believer/
(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone
SDFM-41
Victor Spring Family Grand Prix Sale Promo
This very unique promotional disc is from the spring of 1967 and
was intended to be played in record stores.
Nippon Victor selected 111 records
and launched an aggressive sales campaign.
Each record had a sticker with the Ace mark
(designed with Nipper and A-Best 111) on the jacket.
This promo LP has a special edit of I'm a Believer with the DJ Ichiro Takasaki introducing the song.
Ichiro was the one who wrote the liner notes for the Monkees' albums and singles.
- Takeo Suzuki
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In 1968 the price was raised to ¥400,
RCA added this sticker to all unsold copies
SS-1719
¥400 Sticker
-----------------------------------
Released on March 15, 1967
Highest Chart Position:
1
(3 weeks) (CB)
4 (Oricon)
4 (BB)
SS-1735
Type 1 Picture Sleeve
¥370
(Theme From) The Monkees/
I Wanna Be Free
SS-1735 & SS-1775
AD
SSD-37
EP Promo
(SS-1735 & SS-1737)
"Special promo sampler for
express release on March 15 1967"
This was a promo only EP featuring the above Monkees single on Side 1.
From the collection of Akira Suzuki.
Repressed with a new picture sleeve in December 1967
Highest Chart Position:
SS-1735
Type 2 Picture Sleeve
¥370
(Theme From) The Monkees/
I Wanna Be Free
In 1968 the price was raised to ¥400,
unsold picture sleeves had this sticker
added by RCA Japan
SS-1735
¥400 Sticker
-----------------------------------------
Promo Flyer
----------------------------------------
Released in 1967
Highest Chart Position: ?
SS-1746
¥370
A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You/
The Girl I Knew Somewhere
SS-1746
Promo
In 1968 the price was raised to ¥400,
unsold picture sleeves had this sticker
added by RCA Japan
SS-1746
¥400 Sticker
SS-1746
¥400 Printed on Sleeve
---------------------------------------
Released on October 5, 1967
Highest Chart Position: (Words)
9 (CB)
17 (Oricon)
SS-1760
¥370
Words/
Pleasant Valley Sunday
SS-1760
Promo
Push-Out Center
SS-1760 Promo
Solid Center
In 1968 the price was raised to ¥400,
unsold picture sleeves had this sticker
added by RCA Japan
SS-1760
¥400 Sticker
SS-1760
¥500 Sticker
Japan began selling singles for ¥500 sometime in 1972.
So this is probably not a factory sticker but aftermarket.
----------------------------------------
[TV Show Debuts October 6, 1967]
-------------------------------------------
Released on December 5, 1967
Highest Chart Position:
2 (CB)
4 (BB)
4 (Oricon)
SS-1775
¥370
Daydream Believer/
Goin' Down
SS-1775
Promo
On later pressings this credit was added to the label:
"Arranged and Conducted by
Shorty Rogers"
This has also been found on later German & USA copies.
In 1968 the price was raised to ¥400,
unsold picture sleeves had this sticker
added by RCA Japan
SS-1775
¥400 Sticker
SS-1775
Alternate ¥400 Sticker
SS-1775
¥400 Printed on Sleeve
-------------------------------------
Released on December 5, 1967
Highest Chart Position:
37 (Oricon)
SS-1785
¥370
Star Collector/
No Time
SS-1775 & SS-1785
AD
SS-1785
Promo
In 1968 the price was raised to ¥400,
unsold picture sleeves had this sticker
added by RCA Japan
SS-1785
¥400 Sticker
SS-1785
¥400 Printed on Sleeve
---------------------------------
1968 Wallet Calendar
Promoting the singles Daydream Believer,
Star Collector &
The Monkees Golden Album
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