The Monkees, those zany made-for-television musicians are baaack! Eagle Rock Entertainment has released both TV seasons of the sit-com on DVD in two separate boxed sets. Mickey, Davy and the boys are in their glory again.

This is the first time in more than 10 years that both seasons of the hit ’60s TV show are available on DVD, They were released previously on Rhino Records.

The show starred Micky Dolenz, Davey Jones, Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith, all of whom were credible musicians. In fact, the band’s records became hugely popular.

The 32 half-hour episodes of Season One, contained on six discs, originally aired in 1966. It was the first time on American television that a situation comedy keyed in on the zany escapades of a Beatles-style rock band.

Monkees Day Dream Reunion Tour

The type of stylized new-age cinematic techniques, ala the Beatles movie “A Hard Day’s Night,” were coupled with music from some of finest songwriters in America. Gerry Goffin and Carole King, David Gates, Harry Nilsson, Neil Diamond and Neil Sedaka all wrote for the band.

With Jones on vocals, Nesmith on guitar, Tork on bass and Dolenz on drums, the band catapulted songs such as “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone,” “I’m A Believer,” “Daydream Believer,” “Last Train To Clarksville” and “Pleasant Valley Sunday” into huge hits.

Bonus features for the first season include commentary from the band and the show’s directors, trivia for each episode, a 16mm version of the original pilot, discography and vintage Monkee Kelloggs commercials.

The 26 episodes of 1967’s Emmy Award-winning Season Two, on five discs, contains bonus commentary, trivia and discography.

Monkees Launch Music Careers

The band’s musical style clearly matures between the two seasons as the four actually transform themselves into that which they, at first, portrayed as actors.

Their innate comedic talents, coupled with their obvious musical ingenuity, makes both seasons a fascinating 1960s time capsule.

Ultimately, all four proved themselves to be talented musicians, vocalists and songwriters in their own right. The fought for and eventually won the freedom to make their own music.

The group to continue to record and tour for years afterward the show ended. Today, there’s talk of a Monkees reunion and individual band members still tour.