Classic ALbums- Headquarters by the Monkees

Headquarters was the 3rd album for American pop rock group the Monkees in 1967. the origins of the album occurred at the time when the group mainly Mike Nesmith and Peter Tork wanted to play on the recordings as well as writing songs and were stung by the criticism about them not playing on their records as well as friction between the group and music supervisor Don Kirshner. The turning point was when the Monkees were on tour in January 1967 that the 2nd album More of the Monkees was released without their knowledge which they had to get an the album from an record store as well as an incident at the Beverly Hills Hotel where the group were given royalty checks and gold records by Don Kirshner and herb Moelis an lawyer from Colgems when Mike Nesmith put through the wall after an confrontation about changing the way the monkees chose the music to record. the group recorded the first version of the Girl I knew Somewhere with Mike Nesmith on lead vocals well as writing with Davy on Tambourine, Peter Tork on harpsichord, Mickey Dolenz on drums and John London who was Mike Nesmith's co hort played on bass at gold star studios in Hollywood with Chip Douglas who was from the Modern Folk Quarter and the Turtles who played on Happy Together as record producer as well as a song called All Of Your Toys written by Bill Martin an friend of Chip Douglas as well as a housemate. A few days later the group did an new version of the Girl I knew Somewhere with Mickey Dolenz on lead vocals and were eager to put it out as their next single. But Don Kirshner had other plans which he put out an Song called "A Little Bit Me A Little bit You" written by Neil Diamond with the b side called She Hangs Out written by Jeff Barry and it was his power play would not only mark the relationship with the Monkees as well as his association with Colgems ,Columbia and Screen Gems which he was fired in February 1967. It was then the group went to the studio to record the album was to become Headquarters and it was recorded at RCA Victor in Hollywood from February 23rd 1967 until March 22nd 1967 again with Chip Douglas as producer. the album was released on May 22nd 1967 which went to Number 1 in the USA on June 24th 1967 where it stayed for 1 week til the Beatles took the number 1 spot with Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club and for 11 weeks after that Headquarters was at no 2 which was certified platinum and sold more than 2 million copies. This was the first album that the Monkees played on the recording as well as songs written by most of the group as well as few studio musicians which among those few who played on it were Jerry Yester (The Lovin Spoonful), Keith Allison as well as Chip Douglas on bass. This album has been one of my favourite Monkees albums which i got the CD version for my 20th Birthday in 1998 and really loved it from the time I started playing it which I still love playing it to this day. This album holds up very well today in 2012 with great songs like 3 written by Mike Nesmith-Sunny girlfriend,you told me and you just may be the one which it's one of my favourite songs on the album, For Pete's Sake written by Peter tork and roommate Joey Richards which it was used as the closing them for the second season for the Monkees TV series, randy Scouse Git(aka Alternate title) written by Mickey Dolenz which it's about his trip to England, Forget that Girl written by Chip Douglas with Davy Jones on lead and other great songs. it's been said that it's one of their best album and I think it is one of their best albums which it's honest and Brilliant and with the sad passing of Davy Jones I thought it would be appropriate to pay tribute to him by talking about Headquarters.