The Monkees are a major footnote in 60’s music and TV history. Originally revered as America’s answer to the Beatles, with their own TV show that mirrored the Beatles movies, Help and A Hard Days Night, they, then, in classic pop culture fashion, became as reviled as, lets see. Milli Vanilli, as scandal erupted that they were a throw together group of actors who really didn’t play or write the music. While partially true, they really could play, they were trapped in this image of being nothing more than a made for TV act.
Following the demise of the show and the end of their relationship with produce Don Kirshner, the band went into studio to put out some music that would prove they were truly a band. This resulted in their album “Headquarters”. The album went straight to number 1, yet faded quickly as it had the unfortunate timing as to be out at the same time as Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band was released. The band, while playing their own instruments, used real back up artists in session. The list of artists is amazing. Appearing on the album were Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Lowell George, Buddy Miles, Glen Campbell and Louie Shelton.
The video attached is from a TV special that aired in April of 1969. Peter Tork left the band at the end of the taping of this special, which expedited the eventual end of the group. The song is pretty much the only song by the group that I ever became attached to. They had their hits, but this song, to me anyways, was their best effort at proving they were truly a band. Michael Nesmith is a very talented singer songwriter and his skill shows in this song. By the way, stop watching after about 4 minutes cause it gets all 60’s after that, you know, all that psychedelic stuff that we thought was really cool back then.
Listen To the Band
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- ArtsBeat Blog: Monkees Cancel Reunion Tour Dates (artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com)
