Originally released in 1967 at the height of Monkee Mania, Stu Phillips had already been a successful composer, arranger and record producer before he started working with the Monkees. The songbook is one of a very successful series of tribute albums Stu released, starting in 1965 with The Beatles Songbook by the Hollyridge Strings. The songbook features some of the best-known songs from the Monkees first two albums.