1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #85. The Monkees - Headquarters (1967)

The Monkees - Headquarters (1967)

Label – RCA
Producer – Douglas Farthing Hatfield
Art Direction – Uncredited
Nationality – USA
Running Time – 36:14

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. You Told Me
2. I'll Spend My Life With You
3. Forget That Girl
4. Band 6
5. You Just May Be The One
6. Shades Of Gray
7. I Can't Get Her Off My Mind
8. For Pete's Sake
9. Mr. Webster
10. Sunny Girlfriend
11. Zilch
12. No Time
13. Early Morning Blues And Greens
14. Randy Scouse Git

The only Monkees record on the 1001 list. And it is a pretty good one. After several albums on which the band had little to no involvement beyond providing vocals and a couple of Mike Nesmith written songs, the group decided to take control of their recording destiny. Legend has it that a huge fight that ended with a well-timed fist through the wall of a hotel suite and many arguments (or negotiations) the groups music supervisor Don Kirschner was out - and the band was allowed to hit the studio by themselves. With producer Chip Douglas, the band spent some time learning just how to be a rock band. So this – the Monkees first REAL album turned out to be a energetic, exciting, and rather impressive record. First off – “Headquarters” does NOT contain any of the group's biggest hits, but it does contain some of their best songs, specifically Nesmith's "You Just May Be the One," and "For Pete's Sake," which became the closing music for the credits to the second season of the Monkees TV show. Tracks like "I'll Spend My Life with You," the ballad "Shades of Gray," and even the showtune style Davy Jones track "I Can't Get Her Off My Mind" all work well. They DO benefit from the simple arrangements and stark production. No doubt because the band really was learning as they went. “Headquarters” doesn't show the band to be musical geniuses by any stretch, but it did prove they were legitimate musicians.
Along with the follow up “Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.” , “Headquarters” constitutes what both critics and supporters alike believe to be the ultimate Monkees recordings. “Headquarters” sold nearly two million copies immediately upon its release. It charted at the number one position in the United States. It stayed at that position for only one week, when it was replaced by The Beatles' “Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.” It then began a run of 11 consecutive weeks at the #2 position as “Sgt. Pepper's”remained at #1. It is recommended.

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You can purchase the CD here.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 18
Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains is 43;

ON THIS DATE
1947 Procol Harum drummer Barrie James “B.J.” Wilson is born in London. He died in 1990 at the age of 43
1975 Tommy, the film by The Who, premieres in New York
1994 Courtney Love calls police stating that her husband, Kurt Cobain, is suicidal, and police confiscate guns and ammo from their home
2002 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and the Talking Heads are inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame. Also inducted that evening are Brenda Lee, Gene Pitney, Isaac Hayes and the Ramones

CONCERT NEWS
Friday, August 28 CRUE FEST w/MOTLEY CRUE, DROWNING POOL, GODSMACK, and THEORY OF A DEADMAN Ford Ampitheatre Tampa