The original plan for Present was to release a double album which devoted one side to each member of the group, who by now were recording virtually as solo artists.

Unlike Instant Replay, all but two songs were recorded in 1968 or 1969, and the album was accompanied by a strong advertising push (including a cross promotion with Kool-Aid) and a tour with Sam & The Goodtimers — a seven-piece R&B backing band.

The album featured two singles: "Listen to the Band", b/w the non-LP song "Someday Man"; and "Good Clean Fun" b/w "Mommy and Daddy", which upon release reached No.

The album version was dramatically toned down from the original, which also touched on drug use, war, sexual reproduction, social ignorance and the JFK assassination.

[3][better source needed] Nesmith's "Hollywood", as well as Boyce and Hart's "Apples, Peaches, Bananas and Pears" and "(My) Storybook of You", were songs that were considered for the album but ultimately rejected.