~
I am not the slightest bit ashamed to admit I completely LOVED the created for TV music group, the
Monkees. The line-up of the
Monkees was the American actor/musicians
Micky Dolenz,
Michael Nesmith,
Peter Tork and
Davy Jones.
Of the four of the guys, Jones was my favorite, maybe because we were
the same height, 5' 4" and I could relate to him, but I think it was
more than that; he was very talented.
David Thomas Jones, was born on December 30, 1945 at 20 Leamington Street,
Openshaw,
Manchester,
England. The
Monkees recorded the
soundtrack for the film
Head, and it was released on a
vinyl LP on December 1, 1968, through
Colgems, it was the band's sixth album. So, the album and his birth are fodder for the holiday season.
This album could very well have been under the category I call, “Just the cover, ma’am” (link below), but there is SO much more to the album and the film I couldn't limit it just to the cover.
The film is whacky but so much fun to watch and there are parts that are brilliant! It is the black and white film
Hard Day's Night by
the Beatles
on
acid and
steroids in totally over-saturated, 60's psychedelia colors. And the
story line, well, that takes a bit of explaining, which I won't do. But
the cast is mind-blowing
(link below)!
Head reveals the distaste
The Monkees had for the music business and in fact it marked the demise of the group. The reviews of the film as well as the
Monkees website echo that result
(links below). In spite of that, and the funky effects (notice the wire on Dolenz in the shot below), it's a blast!
In one part of the film, the boys wear really cool white jumpsuits with two
brass zippers from neck to feet on the front.
I found one just like the one they wore
only in black with brass zippers. I have had it for decades and used it one Halloween when I dressed up as a "Dead Race Car Driver".
black "Monkees" style jumpsuit
Jones sings and dances to Daddy's Song, (my favorite cut on the album) written by Harry Nilsson, it is a wonderfully exuberant and bouncy tune and what every father should be able to tell his son. Jones is cute as a button and his partner, Toni Basil, is gorgeous (link below)!
Almost surreal, the costumes are totally black and white and there are no special effects only superb editing! The scene is spectacular! At
the opening, he is wearing the white jumpsuit then cuts to him wearing a white tuxedo.
movie poster
The artists that appeared in the film is astonishing! In addition to the member of the group, Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, it included Leon Russell, Ry Cooder, Neil Young, Carole King, Frank Zappa, Stephen Stills and dozens of other musicians with Jack Nitzsche and Russ Titelman on production.
David Manners was terrific as the pseudo-heavy and totally out of his head to the point of weird, even for his typecasting.
Carol Doda of
Condor Club fame makes an appearance as Sally Silicone. How appropirate is that?!
There is a great documentary as well as a very good review of the film and selections from the film on YouTube (links below).
Now about the album cover.
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. 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.
After the death of his mother from emphysema when he was 14 years old, Jones rejected acting in favour of a career as a jockey, commencing an apprenticeship with Newmarket trainer Basil Foster. He dropped out of secondary school to begin his career in that field.
Even though Foster believed Jones
would be successful as a jockey, he encouraged Jone to
take a role as the Artful Dodger in a production of Oliver! in London's West End.
On 9 February 1964, Jones appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show with Georgia Brown who was playing Nancy in the Broadway production of Oliver!. This was the same episode of the show in which the Beatles
made their first appearance. Jones said of that night, "I watched the
Beatles from the side of the stage, I saw the girls going crazy, and I
said to myself, this is it, I want a piece of that." He would later be considered a teen idol.
From 1966 to 1970, Jones was a member of The Monkees, a pop-rock group
formed expressly for the television show of the same name.
On the morning of 29 February 2012, Jones went to tend to his 14 horses at a farm in Indiantown, Florida.
After riding one of his favourite horses around the track, he
complained of chest pains and difficulty breathing, and was rushed to
Martin Memorial South Hospital in Stuart, Florida, where he was pronounced dead of a severe heart attack resulting from arteriosclerosis.
On 7 March, a private funeral service was held at Holy Cross Catholic parish in Indiantown. To avoid drawing attention to the grieving family, the three surviving Monkees did not attend.
On 12 March, a private memorial service was held in Jones's home town of Openshaw, Manchester, England, at Lees Street Congregational Church, where Jones performed as a child in church plays. The
news of Jones's death triggered a surge of Internet traffic, causing
sales of the Monkees' music to increase dramatically.
Guitarist Michael Nesmith stated that Jones's "spirit and soul
live well in my heart, among all the lovely people, who remember with me
the good times, and the healing times, that were created for so many,
including us. I have fond memories. I wish him safe travels." In an 8 March 2012 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Nesmith commented, "For me, David was the Monkees. They were his band. We were his side men."
Bassist
Peter Tork said, "Adios to the Manchester Cowboy", and speaking to CNN, drummer/singer
Micky Dolenz said, "He was the brother I never had and this leaves a gigantic hole in my heart."
Dolenz claimed that he knew that something bad was about to happen and
said "Can't believe it.. Still in shock.. had bad dreams all night
long."
Dolenz was gratified by the public affection expressed for both Jones
and the Monkees in the wake of his bandmate's death. "He was a very
well-known and well-loved character and person. There are a lot of
people who are grieving pretty hard. The Monkees obviously had a
following, and so did (Jones) on his own. So I'm not surprised, but I
was flattered and honored to be considered one of his friends and a
cohort in Monkee business."
Tracklist:
Side 1:
A1 – No Artist Opening Ceremony - 1:19
A2 – The Monkees - Porpoise Song (Theme From "Head”), written by Goffin And King - 2:56
A3 – The Monkees - Ditty Diego - War Chant - 1:27
A4 – The Monkees - Circle Sky, written by Nesmith* - 2:32
A5 – No Artist Supplicio - 0:49
A6 – The Monkees - Can You Dig It, written by Tork* - 3:19
A7 – No Artist - Gravy - 0:05
Side 2:
B1 – No Artist - Superstitious - 0:06
B2 – The Monkees - As We Go Along, written by King*, Stern* - 3:53
B3 – No Artist - Dandruff? - 0:40
B4 – The Monkees - Daddy's Song, written by Nilsson* - 2:39
B5 – No Artist - Poll - 1:12
B6 – The Monkees - Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again, written by Tork* - 2:37
B7 – No Artist - Swami - Plus Strings, Arranged By [Strings] – Ken Thorne - 5:18
Companies, etc.
Credits:
Composed By [Incidental Music], Conductor [Incidental Music] – Ken Thorne
Producer – Jerry Goffin* (tracks: A2), The Monkees (tracks: A1, A3-B7)
Notes:
Original soundtrack recording with Mylar cover, which acts as a mirror for the purchaser to see their own head.
Track A2, is the short version without the extra minute of drum and drone.
(The extended version can be found on the single release "Porpoise Song")
An Original Soundtrack Recording
Some copies have "NOT FOR SALE PROMOTIONAL USE ONLY" pressed onto foil sleeve and are considered the same as releases without.
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Matrix / Runout (Runout stamp side A): WZRS--5389-5S
Matrix / Runout (Runout etching side A): ARG
Matrix / Runout (Runout stamp side B): WZRS--5390-5S
Matrix / Runout (Runout etching side B): AIB
The Monkees – Head
Label: Colgems – COSO-5008
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Mylar Foil Sleeve
Country: US
Released: 1968
Genre: Rock, Stage & Screen
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Pop Rock
Viewfinder links:
Net links:
YouTube links:
The Monkees ~ Head
music:
Head review (8 mins., 34 secs.)
"There's an audience for everything."
Styrous® ~ Wednesday, December 30, 2020
