Headquarters (The Monkees album)

While the original concept of their third album was to follow the same format and production of the first two albums, after the release of More of the Monkees, the group, particularly Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork, was becoming increasingly frustrated by the limited creative input they were allowed by Don Kirshner, and continued to fight for more creative control and independence from him. Kirshner had already begun supervising recording sessions with studio musicians for their third album, with Davy Jones recording vocal tracks for some of the songs, while the group took it upon themselves, independent of Kirshner, to record two songs featuring them both singing and playing ("All of Your Toys" and "The Girl I Knew Somewhere"), as a means of proving to him that they were capable of providing their own musical accompaniment on future albums. Kirshner was adamant that their music should continue to be recorded under the previous albums' recording style, and was desperate to have the group provide further vocal tracks to the pre-recorded songs before their upcoming pre-planned vacations in order to continue their previous chart-topping successes by having the new single displace the current number one song, "I'm a Believer", thereby having the group hold number one and number two positions. As upcoming talks with Kirshner about their concerns continued to be delayed, the group, citing exhaustion from their grueling TV, touring and recording schedule, were unwilling to postpone the vacations and took advantage of the situation by threatening to quit the show, and subsequently the band, unless their demands were met. Micky Dolenz made a last-minute compromise: the group would agree to sing on Kirshner's tracks in exchange for his allowing one of their previously recorded group performance tracks to serve as the B-side. While it seemed that Kirshner would agree, tensions soon came to a head when he released the third single (in Canada), with the Jones' tracks on both sides ("A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" and an early version of "She Hangs Out") without the approval of record executives, the show's producers or the group, completely ignoring their request. This was the last straw, and it lead to Kirshner's dismissal from the Monkees project with the group finally being given full creative control of their next album. The single was withdrawn from Canada and pulled from scheduled release in the US. Since "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" was already announced as the next single, it was retained as the A-side and "The Girl I Knew Somewhere" as the B-side (a publishing error prevented "All of Your Toys" from being used), replacing "She Hangs Out". The remaining Kirshner-supervised tracks that had already been finished were discarded, the group was finally given the creative freedom and input they yearned and soon began recording on their third album, free of the restrictions previously imposed by Kirshner.

The album was released on May 22, 1967, and charted at No. 1 in the U.S., only to be replaced the following week by the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band; it then began a run of 11 consecutive weeks at the No. 2 position as Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Headquarters became the two top-selling records during the legendary "Summer of Love" period.

The album was issued on the compact disc format for the first time by Arista Records in 1989, remixed from the multi-tracks, then later from the original stereo master tape in 1995, with several bonus tracks on Rhino Entertainment. In 2000, Rhino, through its Rhino Handmade division, issued The Headquarters Sessions, a three-disc box set of outtakes from the session as well as the album's original monophonic mix presented in an alternate running order that had been rejected before the album's official release.

In 2007, Rhino issued a two-disc deluxe edition of the album. The CD set was housed in a digipak with a slipcase and featured original album artwork (including replicas of the original Colgems vinyl labels on each disc), as well as a booklet of essays and session information by Monkees historian Andrew Sandoval. The discs contained both the stereo and mono mixes of the album, remastered, as well as alternate mixes and outtakes.

In 2022 a four disc edition was released including the original album in remixed form with tracks from the aborted January 1967 Don Kirshner sessions; the three other discs in the collection include alternate mixes and outtakes previously unreleased.

The original rear album cover features a collage of photos including one of producer Chip Douglas and engineer Dick Bogert. However, the photo was mislabeled: it identifies engineer Hank Cicalo as sitting next to Chip Douglas. This is known as the "producers cover". Colgems/RCA corrected the error by substituting a different photo rather than revising the caption. Peter, Micky and Mike were sporting light beards while Davy's shoulder-length hair had been cut off; this has come to be known as the "beard cover". This is the corrected version because it was standard practice for RCA to add an "RE" to the catalog number when any one side of a record sleeve had a revision. The "beard cover" has a catalog number of COS/COM-103 RE.[5]

The Monkees

• Micky Dolenz - vocals, drums, zither, electric rhythm guitar, shaker, timpani
• Davy Jones - vocals, percussion
• Michael Nesmith - vocals; electric and acoustic lead, rhythm, and 12-string guitars; steel guitar, organ
• Peter Tork - vocals; acoustic 12-string and electric guitars; piano, organ, celeste, electric piano, bass, banjo

Additional musicians and production staff

• Chip Douglas - backing vocals, bass, producer
• Hank Cicalo - engineer
• John London - bass
• Jerry Yester - bass
• Frederick Seykora - cello on "Shades of Gray"
• Vincent DeRosa - French horn on "Shades of Gray"

During the early months of 1967, the four Monkees sequestered themselves in the RCA Victor Music Center of the World Studios, on Sunset Boulevard near Vine Street in Hollywood. Some of the songs were written by the four group members, or evolved via their 'jam' sessions. Other songs were written by songwriters Boyce and Hart. Michael Nesmith recruited fellow folk musician Chip Douglas, a member of the Modern Folk Quartet and the Turtles, to produce the album. Douglas, credited under his birth name, Douglas Farthing Hatlelid, also contributed bass guitar and a song, "Forget That Girl".

"You Told Me"

• Written by Michael Nesmith
• Lead vocal by Michael Nesmith
• Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork
• Electric 12-String Guitar: Michael Nesmith
• Bass: Chip Douglas
• Drums: Micky Dolenz
• Banjo: Peter Tork
• Tambourine: Davy Jones
• Zither: Micky Dolenz
• Engineered by: Hank Cicalo
• The opening parodies the Beatles' "Taxman," from their album Revolver. The two songs also have similar basslines.
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studio C, Hollywood, March 3 and 9, 1967

"I'll Spend My Life with You"

• Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Harmony vocals: Peter Tork
• Electric 6-String Guitar: Micky Dolenz
• Acoustic 12-String Guitar: Peter Tork
• Steel Guitar: Michael Nesmith
• Bass: Chip Douglas
• Tambourine: Davy Jones
• Organ: Peter Tork
• Celeste: Peter Tork
• Engineered by: Hank Cicalo
• A remake by the band; the earlier version was recorded during the sessions for More of the Monkees which featured studio musicians
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studio C, Hollywood, March 4, 9, 10, 11 and 18, 1967

"Forget That Girl"

• Written by Douglas Farthing Hatlelid (aka Chip Douglas)
• Lead vocal by Davy Jones
• Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, Chip Douglas
• Electric 12-String Guitar: Michael Nesmith
• Bass: Chip Douglas
• Drums: Micky Dolenz
• Maracas: Davy Jones
• Electric Piano: Peter Tork
• Acoustic Guitar: Unknown
• Engineered by: Hank Cicalo
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studio C, Hollywood, March 7, 8, 9 and 11, 1967

"Band 6"

• Written by Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork
• Spoken words by Micky Dolenz and Chip Douglas
• Electric Guitar: Peter Tork
• Steel Guitar: Michael Nesmith
• Drums: Micky Dolenz
• Engineered by: Hank Cicalo
• A studio exercise, based on the Looney Tunes theme
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studio C, Hollywood, March 2, 1967

"You Just May Be the One"

• Written by Michael Nesmith
• Lead vocal by Michael Nesmith
• Harmony vocals: Micky Dolenz
• Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, Chip Douglas
• Electric 12-String Guitar: Michael Nesmith
• Acoustic Guitar: Michael Nesmith
• Bass: Peter Tork
• Drums: Micky Dolenz
• Tambourine: Davy Jones
• Engineered by: Hank Cicalo
• A remake by the band; an earlier version was recorded during the sessions for the Monkees' debut album; this earlier version was used several times during Season One of the Monkees' television series. It was eventually featured on Missing Links Volume Two and also subsequent reissues of the first album.
• This is the only track on Headquarters to feature the four Monkees playing the same instruments they were shown to play on the television show.
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studio C, Hollywood, March 16, 1967

"Shades of Gray"

• Written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
• Lead vocals by Davy Jones and Peter Tork
• Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Peter Tork
• Steel Guitar: Michael Nesmith
• Bass: Jerry Yester
• Drums: Micky Dolenz
• Tambourine: Davy Jones
• Piano: Peter Tork
• Maracas: Davy Jones
• Cello: Frederick Seykora
• French Horn: Vincent DeRosa
• Engineered by: Hank Cicalo
• Some compilations credit songwriting to Gerry Goffin and Carole King, and production to Boyce, Hart and Jack Keller.
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studio C, Hollywood, March 16, 22 and 23, 1967

"I Can't Get Her Off My Mind"

• Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Lead vocal by Davy Jones
• Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz
• Electric 12-String Guitar: Michael Nesmith
• Bass: Jerry Yester
• Drums: Micky Dolenz
• Percussion: Davy Jones
• Tack Piano: Peter Tork
• Engineered by: Hank Cicalo
• A remake by the band; an earlier version was recorded in July 1966 during the sessions for the debut album featuring session musicians.
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studio C, Hollywood, March 17 and 19, 1967

"For Pete's Sake"

• Written by Joseph Richards and Peter Tork
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Peter Tork
• Electric Guitar: Peter Tork
• Organ: Michael Nesmith
• Bass: Chip Douglas
• Drums: Micky Dolenz
• Tambourine: Davy Jones
• An edited mix became the closing theme for the second season of the band's NBC-TV sitcom
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studio C, Hollywood, March 23 and 24, 1967

"Mr. Webster"

• Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Backing vocals: Davy Jones
• Electric 6-string guitar: Micky Dolenz
• Steel Guitar: Michael Nesmith
• Bass: John London
• Tambourine: Davy Jones
• Piano: Peter Tork
• Engineered by: Hank Cicalo
• A remake by the band; an earlier, slower version with session musicians was recorded during the sessions for More of the Monkees and is featured on Missing Links Volume Two
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studio C, Hollywood, February 24, 1967

"Sunny Girlfriend"

• Written by Michael Nesmith
• Lead vocal by Michael Nesmith
• Harmony vocals: Micky Dolenz
• Backing vocals: Davy Jones
• Electric 6-String Guitar: Peter Tork
• Electric 12-String Guitar: Michael Nesmith
• Acoustic Guitar: Michael Nesmith
• Bass: John London
• Drums: Micky Dolenz
• Shaker: Micky Dolenz
• Engineered by: Hank Cicalo
• Mike and Micky recorded the song's vocals on a separate track featuring Mike on guitar and Micky with shaker.
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studio A, Hollywood, February 23 and April 18, 1967

"Zilch"

• Written by Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork
• Spoken words by Peter Tork, Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, and Michael Nesmith
• Engineered by: Hank Cicalo
• A spoken-word collage made up of disparate phrases; the Monkees would sometimes enter public places performing it
• Michael Nesmith claims the origin of "Mr Dobalina" was the name of a department Store manager in San Antonio. "My wife Phyllis and I were shopping when the page come over the speaker and I was immediately struck by the internal rhythm of the phrase."[7]
• (Peter's) Tork had heard the phrase "last boarding call for Mr. Dobalina, Mr. Bob Dobalina" coming from an airport intercom,[8] (Davy's) "China Clipper..." came from the movie China Clipper, (Micky's) "Never mind the furthermore..." from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma!, and (Mike's) "It is of my opinion..." from a political speech.
• The line "Never mind the furthermore, the plea is self-defense" is also performed on the song "No Time".
• "Zilch" was the 'hidden meaning' of it all; it added up to...nothing. It was simply entertaining nonsense, a fact betrayed by the laughter of Micky and Mike as they break up during the session.
• The Headquarters Sessions compilation features the four spoken tracks separately to reveal everything that was said
• "Zilch" was used in the TV series episode "The Picture Frame" during the police interrogation scene when Mike, Micky, and Davy are commanded by the Sergeant (Dort Clark) to "start talking!" and the boys initially respond with "Zilch"'s lyrics.
• "Zilch" was sampled on "Mistadobalina", a 1991 song by alternative hip hop musician Del Tha Funkee Homosapien.
• The line, "Never mind the furthermore, the plea is self defence" features in the They Might Be Giants song "Memo To Human Resources". Zilch itself is occasionally part of the They Might Be Giants live show, and was performed throughout the 2010 tour promoting their children's album, Here Comes Science.
• In the stereo release of the composition, Peter and Micky can be heard through one speaker while Davy and Mike can be heard through the other.
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studio C, Hollywood, March 3, 1967

"No Time"

• Written by the four Monkees (according to Peter, composition was done primarily by Micky and Mike). However, as a fiscal 'thank you' for an extra week spent on the album, as well as his patience & technical mentoring, the band credited the song to recording engineer Hank Cicalo, guaranteeing him a sizable royalty check, from which (Hank) bought a home. The released version of the song was the second version recorded for the album; the first included session help from guitarists Keith Allison and Jerry Yester, but the released version has only Chip Douglas assisting the quartet.
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Backing vocals: Davy Jones, and Unknown
• Electric Guitar: Michael Nesmith, and Unknown
• Bass: Chip Douglas
• Drums: Micky Dolenz
• Tambourine: Davy Jones
• Piano: Peter Tork
• Engineered by: Hank Cicalo
• Micky's "Rock on, George, for Ringo one time" refers to the Beatles' version of "Honey Don't."
• The musical style of the song is also very similar to that of the Beatles' version of "Boys."
• "Andy, you're a dandy, you don't seem to make no sense" is a reference to Andy Warhol.
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studio C, Hollywood, March 17 and 22, 1967

"Early Morning Blues and Greens"

• Written by Diane Hildebrand and Jack Keller
• Lead vocal by Davy Jones
• Harmony vocals: Peter Tork
• Electric 12-String Guitar: Michael Nesmith
• Bass: Chip Douglas
• Drums: Micky Dolenz
• Jawbone: Davy Jones
• Maracas: Davy Jones
• Electric Piano: Peter Tork
• Organ: Peter Tork
• Engineered by: Hank Cicalo
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studio C, Hollywood, March 18 and 22, 1967

"Randy Scouse Git"

• Written by Micky Dolenz
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Backing vocals: Davy Jones, Peter Tork, Michael Nesmith
• Electric Guitar: Michael Nesmith
• Bass: Chip Douglas
• Drums: Micky Dolenz
• Timpani: Micky Dolenz
• Percussion: Davy Jones
• Organ: Peter Tork
• Piano: Peter Tork
• Engineered by: Hank Cicalo
• Title is a British slang phrase gleaned by Dolenz from television, likely the UK sitcom Till Death Us Do Part; it roughly translates as "lustful fool from Liverpool" (Wiktionary: randy, Scouse, git) (though in fact, to call someone a "git" in Britain is the equivalent of "jerk" or "prat"). In the series the word was aimed by Alf Garnett at his son-in-law, played by Tony Booth, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's father-in-law.
• To avoid offence in the UK the song was billed as "Alternate Title."
• "The four kings of EMI" is a reference to the Beatles, who were signed to EMI's Parlophone label at the time.
• The opening drum riff of "Randy Scouse Git" can be heard in the Season One episode, "Monkees A La Mode," played absentmindedly by Micky on a table.
• During rehearsal and set-up for recording of "Randy Scouse Git" a demo of Mike's instrumental "Cantata & Fugue In C&W" was inserted in the mistaken belief that it was part of Micky's guitar demo of his song.
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studio B, Hollywood, March 2, and Studio C, March 4 and 8, 1967

Several instrumental jams (available on The Headquarters Sessions) were taped by Chip Douglas which The Monkees apparently intended for inclusion on the album. The group (with bassist John London) jammed an instrumental cover of the song "Memphis Tennessee" in which Peter's guitar grooving (and some of London's bass work and Davy's tambourine) overshoots the ending; after Micky good-naturedly curses out Peter ("Aw, Peter! You had to screw it up!") and bashes his drums for effect, he decides, "We'll cut him off, just cut off the track (for the ending)," to which Mike replies, "No, don't cut off the track, it was groovy until [the ending]." Following this jam the group broke into a ferocious three-minute improvisation (dubbed "Twelve-String Improvisation" on The Headquarters Sessions) led by Mike's take-off of the guitar riff from the Beatles' "Day Tripper" and quickly joined by Peter's riffing, Micky's drums, London's bass and Davy's tambourine. Following the jam Micky is heard laughing and says, "Whoa! I gotta hear this!" and Peter asks Douglas, "Can we hear that back?" while a surprised Mike says, "Oh, they didn't tape that, did they?"

Another instrumental track intended for the album was a rock number, "Masking Tape" (credited to Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil but authorship has also been listed as unknown) which the group recorded with bassist Jerry Yester. One take was recorded: before the take Micky and Chip Douglas run through one of the song's verses. At the end of the performance Micky exclaims, "Whoa! That was it!" but producer Douglas protests, "No, that wasn't it, it slowed down in the middle, but it's getting close." For some reason the song was never finished.

Peter, Mike, Micky and his sister Coco recorded demos early in the sessions. Peter's demo of "Seeger's Theme" was instrumental, while Mike's and the Dolenzes' demos ("Nine Times Blue" and the Buffy Saint Marie composition "Until It's Time for You to Go" by Mike (who had first released it as a single in 1965); "She'll Be There" and "Midnight Train" by Micky and Coco) featured full vocals over acoustic guitar. Mike and the Dolenzes' demos took place in one session, as before Mike's demo of "Until It's Time" Chip Douglas is heard teasing that Mike is demoing under his old pseudonym 'Michael Blessing' to the laughter of Micky and Coco.

Bibliography

• The Monkees: The Day-By-Day Story of the 60s TV Pop Sensation by Andrew Sandoval
• 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die by Robert Dimery, ed (2006).

• Headquarters (Adobe Flash) at Radio3Net (streamed copy where licensed)