Headquarters

by The Monkees

Overview

After the release of More of the Monkees, on which the band had little involvement beyond providing vocals and a couple Mike Nesmith-composed songs, the pre-fab four decided to take control of their recording destiny. After a well-timed fist through the wall of a hotel suite and many fevered negotiations, music supervisor Don Kirschner was out and the band hit the studio by themselves. With the help of producer Chip Douglas, the band spent some time learning how to be a band (as documented on the Headquarters Sessions box set) and set about recording what turned out to be a dynamic, exciting, and impressive album. Headquarters doesn't contain any of the group's biggest hits, but it does have some of their best songs, like Nesmith's stirring folk-rocker "You Just May Be the One," the pummeling rocker "No Time," the MOR soul ballad "Forget That Girl," which features one of Davy Jones' best vocals, Peter Tork's shining moment as a songwriter, "For Pete's Sake," and the thoroughly amazing (and surprisingly political) "Randy Scouse Git," which showed just how truly out-there and almost avant-garde Micky Dolenz could be when he tried. Even the weaker songs like the sweet-as-sugar "I'll Spend My Life with You," the slightly sappy "Shades of Gray," or the stereotypically showtune-y Davy Jones vehicle "I Can't Get Her Off My Mind" work, as they benefit from the stripped-down and inventive arrangements (which feature simple but effective keyboards from Tork and rudimentary pedal steel fills from Nesmith) and passionate performances. Headquarters doesn't show the band to be musical geniuses, but it did prove they were legitimate musicians with enough brains, heart, and soul as anyone else claiming to be a real band in 1967. [Rhino's 1995 reissue adds six previously unissued tracks recorded during the Headquarters sessions including an early take of the single "The Girl I Knew Somewhere" and rare demos "Nine Times Blue" and "Pillow Time."] ~ Tim Sendra

Product Details

Release Date:	08/19/2022
Label:	Friday Music
UPC:	0829421001034
Rank:	66864

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Monkees   Primary Artist
Stan Free   Piano,Clarinet,Clavinet
Bobby Hart   Harp,Piano,Vocals (Background)
Chip Douglas   Bass,Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background)
Herb Lovelle   Drums
John London   Bass,Tambourine,Guitar (Bass)
Gene Estes   Percussion,Tambourine
Davy Jones   Guitar,Vocals,Jawbone,Maracas,Percussion,Tambourine,Spoken Word,Vocals (Background)
Hugh McCracken   Guitar
Lou Mauro   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Keith Allison   Guitar
James Tyrell   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Michael Nesmith   Organ,Guitar,Vocals,Pedal Steel,Spoken Word,Guitar (Steel),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Guitar (12 String),Vocals (Background),Guitar (12 String Acoustic),Guitar (12 String Electric)
Micky Dolenz   Lead,Drums,Guitar,Vocals,Voices,Zither,Timpani,Keyboards,Percussion,Wood Block,Spoken Word,Vocal Harmony,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Al Gorgoni   Guitar
Billy Lewis   Drums
Tommy Boyce   Vocals (Background)
Frederick Seykora   Cello
Louis Shelton   Guitar
Larry Taylor   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Vincent DeRosa   Horn,French Horn
Louie Shelton   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Peter Tork   Bass,Banjo,Organ,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Voices,Celeste,Keyboards,Tack Piano,Harpsichord,Spoken Word,Guitar (Bass),Vocal Harmony,Piano (Electric),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Guitar (12 String),Vocals (Background),Guitar (12 String Acoustic)
Jerry Yester   Bass,Guitar,Guitar (Bass)
Neil Diamond   Vocals (Background)
Louis Mauro   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Artie Butler   Organ
Sal DiTroia   Guitar
Gerry McGee   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Wayne Erwin   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Don Thomas   Guitar
David Walters   Percussion
Fred Seykora   Cello
Coco Dolenz   Vocal Harmony,Vocals (Background)
Arthur Butler   Organ
Tom Cerone   Tambourine
Vince DeRosa   French Horn

Technical Credits

Ken Perry   Engineer
Bill Inglot   Engineer,Reissue Producer,Remastering Engineer
Sharon Sheeley   Composer
Patrick Milligan   Musician
Traditional   Composer
Shorty Rogers   Arranger
Andrew Sandoval   Liner Notes,Reissue Producer,Remastering Engineer
Bobby Hart   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Chip Douglas   Composer,Producer
Cynthia Weil   Composer,Lyricist
Ellie Greenwich   Composer
Don Kirshner   Composer
Joey Levine   Composer
Davy Jones   Composer
Dick Bogart   Engineer
Diane Hildebrand   Composer
Jerry Leiber   Composer
Richie Schmitt   Engineer
Matt Willis   Composer
Michael Nesmith   Composer,Lyricist
Micky Dolenz   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
The Monkees   Producer
Mike Stoller   Composer
Tommy Boyce   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Hank Cicalo   Composer,Engineer,Lyricist
Henry Mancini   Composer
David Hassinger   Engineer
Jack Keller   Composer,Producer
Barry Mann   Composer,Lyricist
Jeff Barry   Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Peter Tork   Composer,Lyricist
Neil Diamond   Composer,Lyricist
Ray Hall   Engineer
Joseph Richards   Composer,Lyricist
Daniel Hersch   Remastering Engineer
Joey Richards   Composer
Raul Abeyta   Composer
Douglas Farthing Hatlelid   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Bill Martin   Composer,Composer,Lyricist
Giuliano Nistri   Composer
Janelle Scott   Composer
Marty Eck   Musician
Artie Resnick   Composer
Carlo Nistri   Composer
David Jones   Composer