What does it sound like?:
It has become clear to me that all my musical roads lead back to “Headquarters” The more I listen to it the more convinced I am that it is the one album I would take with me if one was all I was allowed. The most perfect pop, rock ‘n’ roll, heart breaking, evocative, just plain crazy, unique and the absolute reason why The Monkees are so much better than many would think. It’s the album where they begin to take control, Nesmiths contribution to the song writing in “You Told Me” and You Just May Be The One” show a rare talent blooming. The maniacal genius of Dolenz of “Randy Scouse Git” and his truly unique singing style evidenced on the full on “No Time” again show a man of rare talent who is up there with the great vocalists. Davy Jones breaks some hearts with delightful breathy vocals on “Forget That Girl” Then there’s Peters piano and keyboards that lift songs like “I Can’t Get Her Off My Mind”.
Ok you say, it’s just another pop album but then I say what about “Zilch”, where did that come from? “Mr Webster” tells the tale of a Nick Leeson character taking the companies money while they prepare his leaving do, it’s the sequel to The Jams “Smithers-Jones”.
It ticks every single box and hasn’t dated one bit. I can tend towards hyperbole but it is not misplaced when I say if you only own one “Pop” album it must be “Headquarters” you won’t be disappointed.
What does it all *mean*?
It means that hearing my sisters play this album 40 od years ago set the stall for me musically. Melodic, pop filled, songs about life and love that set my musical senses to “Monkee”. I’ve flirted with other genres but I always go back to those “Early Morning Blues and Greens” that can be heard in everything from Haircut 100 to Del Amitri and everything in between
Goes well with…
A smile, a cry and a sing a long. Try not yelling “Why don’t you cut your hair” or whispering “Zilch, zilch, zilch or shedding a tear to “All men must have someone, have someone, who will stand beside them”.
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
Music, plain and simple this album does everything that was possible in 1967. Take The Beatles away and all you have left is The Monkees and this is their finest moment
Yep.
Any Nesmith song could have walked on any other LP of the time.
And don’t even go there on Micky Dolenz as a vocalist. The guy’s a genius.
Some acts get better with time……PLEASE, BBC, get the rights to re-show the series on TV.
Well, you might be in luck. This happens in April:
http://www.rhino.com/article/the-monkees-the-complete-series-on-blu-ray-at-last
…and I assume the remastering of the series sets it up for new repeats and syndication, so it’s likely it could pop up on Netflix or similar at the end of the year.
Of course I like the idea of it being on dvd etc., and I’m sure I’ll end up getting it.
However, I’d actually also love it to be re-shown on BBC Four.
My God, I’m such a hippy!
Great album, in any form.
Pisces Aquarius Uranus Thingy is also very good indeed.
The Head album is a masterpiece of editing worthy of Zappa (who is very briefly on it).
Head is where Zappa meets Tin Pan Alley. The aural collage stuff was by Jack Nicholson. (Yes, that one.)
It’s April 1st, please tell me it’s April 1st….
Calling @h-p-saucecraft, spillage in aisle 3….
I don’t think it’s any better than other Monkees records just because they’re more in control, and playing and singing “just like a real group”. I don’t care who plays the instruments, or who writes the songs, on any pop record. But it does give this album a giddy rush of freedom. Here’s four guys hired as actors, to act as pop musicians, becoming what they were paid to pretend to be. Once they made their point (which was – hey hey we’re the Monkees, and we’ve got something to say) they went back to the studio system to make their records, although with more creative control.
If you can measure a general reaction to the Monkees, they’re still not taken seriously. Although their hipness factor has had its ups and downs over the decades, they’re not seen in the same league as The Beatles or The Byrds (who used a similar studio system) or other “big groups”. This is because, I imagine, they were a kids’ TV show first and foremost, they were hired as actors, they didn’t write a lot of their hits, Nesmith was the only member who could legitimately be thought of as an artist as opposed to entertainer, and their attempt to get hip credibility (the Head movie) alienated their teen/preteen fanbase without getting them on Grateful Dead shows. None of this matters. It’s these factors that make them such a fascinating – and endlessly enjoyable – group. Because the TV show was a total package of goodhearted, not-taking-itself-at-all-seriously, sunny Saturday morning fun. Because they had a Monkeemobile. Because Davy played the tambourine. Because Head still baffles and bamboozles those who don’t make a little effort to meet it half way, and is a true Arthouse Pop movie of the kind The Beatles only dreamt of making. And because they made such huge, wonderful, delerious hit records. They had the best writers, the best musicians, the best producers, the best studios. Quality like that remains quality.
The mix remains crucial. Nesmith is the only one who could make an album you can sit through (and he made a lot). Too much of any of the others just reveals their weaknesses. But together, something happens that turns their weaknesses into strengths. Some kind of magic. As the great John Sebastian put it (for another criminally forgotten/underestimated pop group):
Do you believe in magic?
Believe in the magic of a young girl’s soul
Believe in the magic of rock and roll
Believe in the magic that can set you free
The Monkees believed in that. Me too. I’m a believer.
You’re right as always HP on all things Monkee. There is every reason why it shouldn’t have worked, music fans can’t imagine that something so facile can produce such brilliance. The energy, enthusiasm and talent those four boys put into making it happen shines through but ultimately it’s the mix that works, magically, by chance or invention, it just works. Musical Garam Masala….
A couple of things I forgot to mention. You allude to Davys tambourine, the use of percussion is perfect, it always adds, never takes away. The other was the song writing, your point “And because they made such huge, wonderful, delerious hit records. They had the best writers, the best musicians, the best producers, the best studios. Quality like that remains quality.” is exactly right. But other bands and artists had great songwriting teams behind them but didn’t have that undefinable glorious Monkee Magic.
There’s a four-disc set of Headquarters Sessions (Rhino limited edition) which is a bridge too far even for me, but fun to listen to once. You can read about it here:
http://www.willardswormholes.com/archives/215
Don’t download though – that’s illegal and you’ll go to jail and we’ll all come to laugh at you through the bars.
It’s on Amazon and e-bay (as I’m sure you know) I’ll put it on my Christmas list. I love those “behind the scenes” bits. Jericho is great fun…..
I like The Monkees but “Take the Beatles away and you only have The Monkees”, probably said in jest, but I suggest you give The Stones, The Kinks, The Who, The Zombies, Beach Joys, Birds, Love etc a listen from that era.
Beach Boys and Byrds
Semi enthused by your write up, I played most of it this morning. Some of it was great, some of it awful eg Zilch. I didn’t think it was as good as More Of The Monkees. OOAA?
This was the first proper album I ever owned. One of my Mum’s colleagues gave it to her for me. My vinyl copy is knackered now but I have it on CD. I think it shaped my future taste because looking at all my favourite albums they all have a whacky track on them and they’re all as tuneful as hell.
I’ve had it on loop all week along with all the other Monkee albums, still the best to me but there is so much good stuff on the others. Nesmiths songs stand out but some of Davys songs where the lyrics and vocals are just not good enough so they’re not perfect.
Glad I gave you a semi Neil….. “Zilch” is an acquired taste I’ll agree but to me it’s a part that adds to the whole.
@cleanersvenus sounds like a familiar tale