Head (The Monkees album)

Head
Soundtrack album by The Monkees
Released December 1, 1968
Recorded December 1967–August 1968,
RCA Victor Studios, Western Recorders, Sunset Sound, California Recorders, and Wally Heider's, Hollywood, and Original Sound, Hollowed
Genre Psychedelic rock, psychedelic pop
Length 28:49
Label Colgems (original U.S. release)
RCA Records (original release outside U.S.)
Arista (1981 Japanese LP reissue)
Rhino (1985 LP reissue + 1994 and 2010 CD reissues)
Producer The Monkees, Gerry Goffin
The Monkees chronology
The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees
(1968)		 Head
(1968)		 Instant Replay
(1969)
Singles from Head
  1. "Porpoise Song" / "As We Go Along"
    Released: October 5, 1968
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Blogcritics(favorable)[2]
MusicHound[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[4]

Head is the soundtrack to the film Head, the only theatrical release by The Monkees. Released in 1968 through Colgems, it was the band's sixth album. Head was the last Monkees album to feature Peter Tork till Pool It! in 1987, and the last to feature all four Monkees until 1996's Justus.

The soundtrack album intersperses the six full-length songs ("Porpoise Song", "Circle Sky", "Can You Dig It?", "As We Go Along", "Daddy's Song" and "Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again?") with bits of Ken Thorne's incidental music, dialogue fragments, and sound effects culled from the film. The selection of music and dialogue approximates the flow of the movie itself, and was compiled by actor Jack Nicholson, who co-wrote the film's shooting script.

In 2013, Rolling Stone ranked the album at number 25 in their list of "The 25 Greatest Soundtracks of All Time".[5]

History

The music of The Monkees often featured rather dark subject matter beneath a superficially bright, uplifting sound. The music of the film takes the darkness and occasional satirical elements of the Monkees' earlier tunes and makes it far more overt, as in "Ditty Diego/War Chant", or "Daddy's Song", which has Jones singing an upbeat, Broadway-style number about a boy abandoned by his father. In his 2012 essay on the soundtrack album, academic Peter Mills observed that "on this album the songs are only part of the story, as they were with The Monkees project as a whole: signals, sounds, and ideas interfere with each other throughout."

Artwork

The original issue of the record (Colgems #COSO-5008) featured a front cover with a surface of aluminized PET film, meant to reflect the listener's "head" (face) back at them. With the movie having only a limited release (and virtually no publicity), the point was largely lost, and while the cover was innovative for its time, manufacturing was problematic. (Micky Dolenz recalled years later that the cover was ruining the printing presses at RCA.) A March 1985 LP reissue from Rhino Records (RNLP-145) was less problematic by using foil paper instead, the result being less reflective than the original. The Rhino CD reissue from 1994 (R2-71795) has a grey cover that is not reflective at all.

Track listing

Original 1968 Colgems vinyl issue

Side 1
No. TitleLead vocals Length
1. "Opening Ceremony"  Charles Irving 1:20
2. "Porpoise Song (Theme from Head)" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King)Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones 2:56
3. "Ditty Diego – War Chant" (Jack Nicholson, Bob Rafelson)Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork 1:25
4. "Circle Sky" (Michael Nesmith)Michael Nesmith 2:31
5. "Supplicio"    0:48
6. "Can You Dig It?" (Peter Tork)Micky Dolenz 3:23
7. "Gravy"  Davy Jones, I. J. Jefferson 0:06
Side 2
No. TitleLead vocals Length
1. "Superstitious" (The Black Cat)Bela Lugosi 0:07
2. "As We Go Along" (Carole King, Toni Stern)Micky Dolenz 3:51
3. "Dandruff?"  Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork, Charles Macaulay, Logan Ramsey 0:39
4. "Daddy's Song" (Harry Nilsson)Davy Jones 2:30
5. "Poll"  Michael Nesmith, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, Frank Zappa, Timothy Carey 1:13
6. "Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again?" (Peter Tork)Peter Tork 2:39
7. "Swami – Plus Strings, Etc." (Ken Thorne)Abraham Sofaer, Micky Dolenz, Teri Garr, I. J. Jefferson 5:21

1994 Rhino CD reissue

Tracks 1-14: Original album

  1. "Ditty Diego — War Chant" (Alternate Take) (Nicholson, Rafelson) - 4:30
  2. "Circle Sky" (Live Version) (Nesmith) - 2:20
  3. "Happy Birthday to You" (Mildred Hill, Patty Smith Hill) - 1:02
  4. "Can You Dig It?" (Peter on Lead Vocal) (Tork) - 3:25
  5. "Daddy's Song" (Mike on Lead Vocal) (Nilsson) - 2:06
  6. "Head Radio Spot" - 2:03
Notes

2010 Rhino Handmade deluxe CD reissue

On October 26, 2010, Rhino Records released a three-disc deluxe box set through its Rhino Handmade division. Along with the three discs, the set contained a 27-page booklet and a bonus 7" record that includes unreleased instrumental versions of "Porpoise Song" and ‚"As We Go Along."

Disc 1 (Original LP... Plus)

Tracks 1-14: Original album in stereo

  1. "Porpoise Song (Theme from Head)" (Alternate Stereo Mix) (Goffin, King) - 4:12
  2. "Ditty Diego — War Chant" (Alternate Stereo Mix) (Live) (Nicholson, Rafelson) - 0:52
  3. "Circle Sky" (Alternate Stereo Mix) (Nesmith) - 2:34
  4. "Can You Dig It?" (Peter's Vocal) (Stereo Rough Mix) (Tork) - 3:31
  5. "As We Go Along" (Alternate Stereo Mix) (Stern, King) - 4:10
  6. "Daddy's Song" (Remix With Slow Verse) (Nilsson) - 4:33
  7. "Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again?" (Alternate Stereo Mix) (Tork) - 2:35
  8. "Swami - Plus Strings, Etc." (Alternate Stereo Mix) (Ken Thorne) - 3:58
  9. "Happy Birthday to You" (Alternate Stereo Mix) (Patty Hill, Mildred J. Hill) - 1:06
  10. "Ditty Diego — War Chant" (Session) (Nicholson, Rafelson) 22:55
Disc 2 (Outtakes and Rarities)
  1. Head Promo: "Coming Soon" - 1:02
  2. "Porpoise Song" (Mono Single Mix) (Goffin, King) - 4:03
  3. "Ditty Diego — War Chant" (Mono Mix) (Nicholson, Rafelson) - 1:06
  4. "Circle Sky" (Mono Mix) (Nesmith) - 2:33
  5. "Can You Dig It?" (Mono Mix) (Tork) - 3:25
  6. "As We Go Along" (Mono Mix) (Stern, King) - 3:56
  7. "Daddy's Song" (Mono Mix) (Nilsson) - 2:17
  8. "Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again?" (Mono Mix) (Tork) - 2:36
  9. "Porpoise Song (Theme from Head)" (Rough Mono Mix) (Goffin, King) - 4:16
  10. "Ditty Diego" (Alternate Version) (Nicholson, Rafelson) - 0:53
  11. "Circle Sky" (Alternate Mono Mix) (Nesmith) - 2:32
  12. "Can You Dig It?" (Peter's Vocal) (Tork) - 3:27
  13. "Daddy's Song" (Mike's Vocal) (Nilsson) - 2:08
  14. "Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again?" (Rough Mix Acetate) (Tork) - 3:45
  15. "Can You Dig It?" (Mono Movie Mix) (Tork) - 3:08
  16. "Daddy's Song" (Mono Movie Mix) (Nilsson) - 3:10
  17. Head Promo: "It's This and That" (Hidden track)/Head Promo: "Now Playing" - 0:55
  18. Introduction to Live Show - 8:21 (recorded in Salt Lake City, May 17, 1968)
  19. "You Just May Be the One" (Live) (Nesmith) - 3:39 (recorded in Salt Lake City, May 17, 1968)
  20. "Sunny Girlfriend" (Live) (Nesmith) - 3:32 (recorded in Salt Lake City, May 17, 1968)
  21. "You Told Me" (Live) (Nesmith) - 3:20 (recorded in Salt Lake City, May 17, 1968)
  22. "Circle Sky" (Live) (Nesmith) - 2:34 (recorded in Salt Lake City, May 17, 1968)
  23. "California, Here It Comes" (Buddy DeSylva, Al Jolson, Joseph Meyer) (From 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee) - 1:04
Disc 3 (Head Open-End Radio Special Interview Platter With Davy Jones)
  1. "Circle Sky" (Excerpt) (Nesmith) - 1:38
  2. Davy Jones Interview, Pt. 1 - 2:39
  3. "Can You Dig It?" (Excerpt) (Tork) - 2:17
  4. Davy Jones Interview, Pt. 2 - 8:32
  5. "Daddy's Song" (Nilsson) - 2:43
  6. Davy Jones Interview, Pt. 3 - 5:30
  7. "Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again?" (Excerpt) Tork) - 2:47
  8. Davy Jones Interview, Pt. 4 - 3:20
  9. "Porpoise Song (Theme from Head)" (Goffin, King) - 2:47
  10. Davy Jones Interview, Pt. 5 - 0:06
  11. "Can You Dig It?" (Excerpt) (Tork) - 1:59
Vinyl 45
  1. "Porpoise Song" (Instrumental Mix) (Goffin, King) - 4:18
  2. "As We Go Along" (Instrumental Mix) (King, Stern) - 4:20

The front cover of the box also features an authentic reproduction of the album's original front cover, printed on foil mylar to reflect the person's head.

Session information

all songs produced by The Monkees unless otherwise specified

Opening Ceremony

Porpoise Song (Theme from Head)

Ditty Diego — War Chant

Circle Sky

Supplicio

Can You Dig It?

Gravy

Superstitious

As We Go Along

Dandruff?

Daddy's Song

Poll

Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again?

Swami - Plus Strings, Etc.

1994 bonus tracks session information

Ditty Diego — War Chant [First Recorded Version]

Circle Sky [Live Version]

Happy Birthday to You

Can You Dig It? [Early Mix]

Daddy's Song [Early Mix]

Head Radio Spot

Album personnel

The Monkees
with
  • Ken Bloom – guitar
  • Danny Kortchmar – guitar on "As We Go Along"
  • Leon Russell – keyboard
  • Ralph Shuckett – keyboard
  • Douglas Lubahn – electric bass
  • Mike Ney – drums
  • William Hinshaw – horn
  • Jules Jacob – horn
  • Gregory Bemko – cello
  • David Filerman – cello
  • Jan Kelly – cello
  • Jacqueline Lustgarten – cello
  • Max Bennett – string bass
  • Clyde Hoggan – string bass
  • James Hughart – string bass
  • Jerry Scheff – string bass
  • Michel Rubini – piano
  • Keith Allison – guitar
  • Bill Chadwick – guitar
  • Richard Dey – bass
  • John Gross – bass
  • Eddie Hoh – drums, cowbell
  • Lance Wakely – guitar, bass
  • Dewey Martin – drums
  • Michael A. Glass – percussion
  • Ry Cooder – guitar on "As We Go Along"
  • Neil Young – guitar on "As We Go Along"
  • Carole King – guitar on "As We Go Along"
  • Harvey Newmark – bass
  • Earl Palmer – drums
  • Dennis Bruce – percussion
  • Stephen Stills – guitar on "Long Title"
  • Pete Candoli – trumpet
  • Marion Childers – trumpet
  • Anthony Terran – trumpet
  • Richard Leith – trombone
  • Lewis McCreary – trombone
  • Justin Ditullio – cello
  • Raphael Kramer – cello
  • Emmet Sargent – cello
  • Eleanor Slatkin – cello
  • Brendan Cahill – percussion
  • Jack Nitzsche – arrangement on "Porpoise Song" and "As We Go Along"
  • Russ Titelman – conductor on "Porpoise Song"
  • John R. Hoening – unknown
  • Tony McCashen – unknown
  • Unknown – organ and flute

Charts

Album

Chart (1969) Peak
position
Billboard Top LPs[6] 45

Single

Year Single Chart Peak
Position
1968 "Porpoise Song (Theme from Head)" Billboard Hot 100 62[6]

References

  1. ↑ Head (The Monkees album) at AllMusic
  2. ↑ "Music Review: The Monkees' Head Soundtrack Remains A Worthy Trip - Blogcritics". Blogcritics.org. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
  3. ↑ Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds) (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide (2nd ed.). Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. p. 774. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.
  4. ↑ Brackett, Nathan; with Hoard, Christian (eds) (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). New York, NY: Fireside/Simon & Schuster. p. 553. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  5. ↑ http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/lists/the-25-greatest-soundtracks-of-all-time-20130829/head-1968-19691231
  6. 1 2 "Head - Charts and Awards". Retrieved 22 June 2014.
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