The Definitive Monkees is a limited edition Monkees compilation album released in 2001. It contains 29 of the Monkees' greatest hits. The album includes two tracks from the 1980s reunions. The album featured a bonus disc which featured 31 of The Monkees' rarity songs.
It has since been re-released in other countries, but the bonus disc was not included.
Several songs on the first disc, namely "Pleasant Valley Sunday", "Daydream Believer", "Listen to the Band", "That Was Then, This is Now" and "Heart and Soul" are presented in their single / shortened mixes, or else many of the tracks, such as "Cuddly Toy" have a sharper fade out than on most albums. This was probably done to fit 29 songs that otherwise would not have fit onto one disc.
"Love to Love" is considered to be in an alternate mix, even though as of 2001 it is by far the most commonly used mix to date. The reason the mix is considered as such could be because it is a 1967 song featuring a Davy Jones vocal that was re-recorded in 1969, or it may have been remixed prior to release.
"Teeny Tiny Gnome" is mislabeled. The correct title is "Kicking Stones", which can be found on the More of the Monkees Special Deluxe Edition, released in 2006.
"Michigan Blackhawk" is a mistitled track; the song included here is a Gerry Goffin/Carole King country-rock tune, "Down The Highway", that Mike recorded in 1969; the mistitling comes from the use of the title "Michigan Blackhawk" on an unfinished Nesmith track from 1969.
"Down The Highway" is erroneously credited to Michael Nesmith.
"Angel Band" is in the public domain. The writing credit shown for Michael Nesmith is for the song's arrangement.
The tracks "Little Red Rider" and "Hollywood" were re-recorded by Michael Nesmith for his solo album Magnetic South.
"Midnight Train" and "She'll Be There" feature Micky Dolenz's sister, Coco Dolenz, singing harmony vocals.
Micky and his sister Coco were responsible for the arrangement of the song "She'll Be There". However, the identity of the composer was unknown at the time of this release and, as a result, no official writer's credit was included.