Monkees Headquarters

The Monkees - "Headquarters" (1967) - Colgems

Hello Friends,

We got the third Monkees LP on the turntable tonight.  

In an earlier post, we listened to the first two records by The Monkees.  These two records are highly listenable and fun, but there was still some doubt about who was playing what, who was writing what, etc.   By 1967, The Monkees were no longer the "Pre Fab Four" and by all accounts a full-fledged band: writing, arranging and playing their own songs!  

If there's any doubt if the Monkees are a "real band" then just listen to the first track, the swingin', Nesmith-penned, "You Told Me." 

The fun continues on track's like "I'll Spend My Life With You", "Forget That Girl", "You Just May Be The One", "Shades of Gray", "I Can't Get Her Off of My Mind", "For Pete's Sake", "Mr. Webster", "Sunny Girlfriend", "No Time", "Early Morning Blues & Greens" and "Randy Scouse Git."  Jangly guitars, clever lyrics and fantastic harmonies all around!  Hints of psychedelia with even subtler hints at late 60's social awareness.  The direct influence of the Beatles is hard to deny, however-- "You Told Me" and "Sunny Girlfriend" would sound right at home on Revolver; "Mr. Webster" sounds like a Monkeefied version of "Eleanor Rigby"; "Randy Scouse Git" has a line referring to "The Four Kings of EMI... sitting stately on the floor"; Micky Dolenz even gives a shout out at the end of "No Time": "Rock on George for Ringo one time!" 

FUN FACT: Hey kids! Headquarters was produced by Chip Douglas, former member of the Modern Folk Quartet and The Turtles.  He wrote the great track "Forget That Girl" for this album!

FUN FACT # 2: Hey kids! In June of 1967, Headquarters was the Number One record on the Billboard charts.  Can you guess what album usurped its Number 1 spot?  (Hint: It rhymes with "Argent Lepers Roaming Farts Stub Hand"!)
  
RATING: 4.5 EARLY MORNING BLUES & GREENS OUT OF 5