Monkees - Head (1968 Film)
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Free Music Notes for Head (1968 Film)
Free Music Review: A Trippy Little Masterpiece
Hit: 4 Stars
While the Monkees would continue to release the occasionally brilliant track after this(i.e. "Listen to the Band" and "Mommy and Daddy"), this was the Monkees' last truly cohesive effort (though certainly not a unified effort). The experimental atmosphere first hinted at on the disjointed _The Birds, The Bees, and The Monkees_ earlier in the year reached it fruition in the brilliant movie and soundtrack "Head".Unlike every other Monkees album, there is not one stinker on this beautifully executed hodge podge of songs, poems, and movie dialog. Micky Dolenz contributed the finest vocals of his career to the dreamy "Porpoise Song" and the wonderful "As We Go Along" while Mike Nesmith rocked as never before or since on the masterful "wall of sound" piece "Circle Sky".
Ultimately, though, it is the pair of songs written by Peter Tork which stand out the most. "Can You Dig It" (sung by Micky) is quite simply the finest Tork song ever laid to tape while the proto-metal "Do I Have To Do This All Over Again" is not far behind.
Some of the bits and pieces from the movie cannot be fully appreciated unless you've seen the movie, but ultimately this stands as perhaps the Monkees' finest recorded moment.
Free Music Review: Incredible music, though soundbites from film not necessary
Hit: 4 Stars
Though a hardcore Monkees fan for 16 years, I never could get hooked on the movie "Head". I found it weird and unnerving when I last watched it 8 years ago. Who knows, if I see it now I just might appreciate it more. That is indeed the case with the Monkees' music, some of which I loathed for years until I grew older and gave it a second chance. Now I appreciate just about all of their work, except for the extreme bubblegum tunes that Davy was prone to singing. Anyway, the "Head" soundtrack has always been a big favorite. I originally bought it on cassette at age 14 and wore it out by the time I finished college. Now with the CD available I don't have to worry about that. I can play "Porpoise Song" as much as I please, and indeed I will. It's one of the most beautiful and surreal pieces the Monkees ever did, and the chorus of "Goodbye" was their gentle way of bidding their young fans farewell. It was time for them to move on, escape from the media circus in which they were trapped, and rise above their TV image. The only reason I did not give this CD 5 stars is the presence of the soundbites from the movie. Quite unnecessary and they interrupt the flow from one song to the next. The CD would be much improved without the little "skit bits".Free Music Review: "A very extraordinary scene"!
Hit: 4 Stars
This soundtrack to The Monkees' feature film contains 6 of the best tunes they ever recorded. From "Porpoise Song" (Goffin/ King's psychedelic masterpiece) to "Circle Sky" (Nesmith!) to "Can You Dig It?" (one of Peter Tork's finest efforts) to "As We Go Along" (a gorgeous, dreamy piece from Carole King & Toni Stern whose lyrics reflect the feeling of the film: "We'll make up our story as we go along") to "Daddy's Song" (Harry Nilsson gives Davy another reason to strut his stuff) and finally "Do I Have To Do This All Over Again?" (Peter ROCKS!). The film was a rambling, surrealistic journey reminiscent of some MONTY PYTHON episodes, and the album, with its excerpts of dialogue edited together by screenwriter Jack Nicholson manages to be, if anything, even stranger an experience to listen to than watching the film itself! As Mike's lyrics attest, "It's a very extraordinary scene to those who don't understand..." It's a mystery why the earlier studio version of "Circle Sky" was included originally, but the LIVE version, with all 4 Monkees playing their hearts out, is included as a bonus track.Free Music Review: Tossing the Bubblegum into a Trash Can
Hit: 4 Stars
By the time that the movie and soundtrack was released, Mickey Dolenz, Davy Jones, Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith were attempting to distance themselves from the bubblegum of the industry-created group known as The Monkees and forge a new artistic direction based on the foursome known as The Monkees.
Working within the conceptual framework of Frank Zappa came Head, which remains a vastly underrated project from 1968. There are six tracks - Porpoise Song, Circle Sky, As We Go Along, Can You Dig It?, Daddy's Song, Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again? - with incidental music, sound effects and dialogue from the film. The soundtrack follows the flow of the movie.
A number of artists appear on the album, including Ry Cooder, Neil Young, Carole King and Danny Kortchmar. The bonus tracks include alternate vocal tracks and a pair of radio promotional spots.
The group members had gotten a hard dose of reality from the entertainment industry and fired back with a salvo of wit, with a coolness that certainly baffled both the pop fans and those whose idea of bubblegum was a pack bought at the local drugstore.
Free Music Review: What A Long Strange Trip It Was
Hit: 4 Stars
It's about time the soundtrack to this trippy 1968 Jack Nicholson-directed film has been remastered and released. The results are a fine if offbeat collection of six strong songs, mixed with psychedelia, clips from the film, and general fooling around. The beautiful "Porpoise Song" was used to great effect years later in Cameron Crowe's Vanilla Sky.
The liner notes are a revelation, putting in context the Monkees' effort to deconstruct their image, play their own instruments and write their own songs, and the somewhat sabotaged publicity campaign which ultimately was their undoing. Particularly poignant, as one reads the notes and listens in retrospect, are the outtakes of "Diego Ditty," where the Monkees are forced to recite how empty and commercial they are over and over again, as Nicholson exhorts them to be "sillier." Those looking for an updated take with similar themes should check out the recent "Josie and the Pussycats" film, where the travails of the Monkees were in many ways fast-forwarded to the present. As a whole, this is a worthwhile time capsule and an enjoyable listen, though casual fans should look elsewhere.