Unmatted/unframed

The Monkee’s (aka “The Prefab Four”) third album was released in late May, 1967 and quickly topped the charts. Unfortunately, The Beatles released Sgt. Pepper’s the following week, and so Headquarters was pushed into 2^nd place, where it stayed for 11 straight weeks!

The record did do a lot, though, to establish that the made-for-TV band (originally organized by the maestro himself, Don Kirschner) consisted of more than actors who lip-synched to other’s music. In fact, they were talented singers (David and Mickey), musicians (Michael and Peter) and songwriters (all four, but with Nesmith leading the way in most cases), and so this album is considered by both fans and critics as the best examples of “real” Monkees music.

Recorded in six weeks time in Los Angeles with the help of first-time producer/musician Chip Douglas (who was brought in by Michael N. after he was seen playing bass for The Turtles), the album (surprisingly) spawned no hits, but it solidified the team that would soon release “Pleasant Valley Sunday” and one of their biggest hits, “Daydream Believer”; the former would be included later that year on their next album (Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.) and the latter released as a single just prior to the release of PAC&J.  

Of course, it just wouldn’t be right not to mention that the 1967 Monkees Summer Tour featured Jimi Hendrix as the opening act (it IS a well-worn trivia question, no?)…

Side 1:

"For Pete's Sake"

"I'll Spend My Life With You"

"Forget That Girl"

"You Just May Be The One"

"Shades of Gray"

"A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You"

"Band 6"

Side 2:

"Sunny Girlfriend"

"Mr. Webster"

"You Told Me"

"The Girl I Knew Somewhere"

"Zilch"

"Early Morning Blues And Greens"

"Randy Scouse Git" (written and titled by Mickey Dolenz after he heard the phrase on BBC-TV. He found out later that the phrase was obscene in the Queen’s English, and so it was retitled “Alternate Title” when released in the U.K.. Just goes to show you – USE A DICTIONARY!!  J