“Headquarters” by The Monkees - album review

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TJR says

What with all that monkeying around, and the doubt as to whether they themselves were playing or not, it was difficult for them to be taken seriously amongst the critics, but there’s no doubt they were a giant hit with the record-buying public. “Headquarters”, released in May 1967, went to No.1 in the US Charts, before settling for a run of 11 consecutive weeks in the No. 2 position, with “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” commanding the top spot all the while. They were: Michael Nesmith (lead vocals, electric 12 string); Micky Dolenz (drums, zither, backing vocals); Peter Tork (banjo, backing vocals); Davy Jones (tambourine, backing vocals) with “fifth-Monkee” Chip Douglas (bass).

Following two LPs where the core quartet were limited to vocals only, “Headquarters” was the first-time they had managed to attain some degree of artistic control, and all four were finally free to play their own instruments. Almost surreally, a TV fantasy had become a reality. For me, the third album wasn’t all that, but then, I’m more Monks than Monkees in my sensibilities. Still, I know a fine song when I hear one and there were at least two fine efforts on this album; the groovy “Early Morning Blues and Greens” as well as the anthemic “You Just May Be The One”, a fantastic song, written and sung by Michael Nesmith, clearly a talented lad.

The Jukebox Rebel
21–Nov–2015

Tracklist
A1 [02:25] 5.8.png The Monkees - You Told Me (Michael Nesmith) Folk Rock / Americana
A2 [02:26] 4.0.png The Monkees - I’ll Spend My Life With You (Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart) Folk Rock / Americana
A3 [02:25] 3.4.png The Monkees - Forget That Girl (Douglas Farthing Hatlelid) Pop
A4 [00:41] 5.0.png The Monkees - Band 6 (Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork) Novelty
A5 [02:03] 8.0.png The Monkees - You Just May Be The One (Michael Nesmith) Folk Rock / Americana
A6 [03:22] 5.6.png The Monkees - Shades Of Gray (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) Songwriter
A7 [02:27] 2.7.png The Monkees - I Can’t Get Her Off Of My Mind (Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart) Pop
B1 [02:11] 4.8.png The Monkees - For Pete’s Sake (Peter Tork, Joey Richards) Pop
B2 [02:05] 5.8.png The Monkees - Mr. Webster (Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart) Cerebral Pop
B3 [02:33] 4.7.png The Monkees - Sunny Girlfriend (Michael Nesmith) Pop
B4 [01:06] 4.5.png The Monkees - Zilch (Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork) Novelty
B5 [02:08] 5.3.png The Monkees - No Time (Hank Cicalo) Rock n Roll / Rockabilly
B6 [02:35] 7.1.png The Monkees - Early Morning Blues And Greens (Diane Hildebrand, Jack Keller) Cerebral Pop
B7 [02:40] 6.0.png The Monkees - Randy Scouse Git (Micky Dolenz) Pop

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