The Monkees – Headquarters (1967)
Unbelievable USA logo by Sarca @ caughtmegaming
USA Artists (so far): Aimee Mann, Marty Robbins, D’Angelo, The Modern Lovers, Bruce Springsteen, Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott, Steely Dan, Grant Lee Buffalo, 2Pac, Harry Nilsson, Linkin Park, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Randy Newman, The Monkees
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[Album 494/1001]
When you hear “The Monkees,” what jumps to mind?
The TV show, Hey Hey we’re the intentionally misspelled animal group?
Jimi Hendrix incongruously opening for that same band in 1967?
For me, it’s inevitably Ozzy Osbourne, in this scene from the 1995 film, The Jerky Boys: The Movie (at 1:24):
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Upon learning The Monkees had an album among the “1001 albums you must hear before you die,” I wouldn’t be surprised if many readers had the same reaction as Ozzy.
The (curse word) Monkees?????
The “pre-fab 4,” the group that was the very embodiment of a carefully constructed pop act, shamelessly/without-any-evidence-of-subtlety riding the Beatlemania wave??
Yes, those (curse word) Monkees.
Even more astonishing?
Their album, Headquarters, is pretty (curse word) good!
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When The Jerky Boys: The Movie was released in 1995, authenticity meant the world to me.
We were still a year or two away from the onslaught of ‘manufactured’ produced boy/girl bands; the notion of intentionally creating a reasonable facsimile of an existing group wasn’t yet on my radar. Thus, I deemed an artist as authentic if they:
a) wrote their own songs
b) played their own instruments
c) didn’t sound like a ‘rip-off’
So based on 13-year-old-me’s rigorous standards, The Monkees passed the first two authenticity checks with Headquarters, as the songs & performances are certainly competent, if unremarkable.
As for part c), You Told Me feels very Harrison-esque and they clearly channeled Sir Paul McCartney on No Time. But that’s about as overt as it got, meaning one could argue they actually aced the authenticity test.
Now, let’s not get carried away.
Even five decades later, few would argue The Monkees are the very embodiment of Authentic Artistry and fewer still would declare them to be on par with that other quartet of Liverpudlians.
That being said, although The Jerky Boys rose to fame through prank phone calls, The Monkees appearing on the 1001 list is no practical joke: the very listenable Headquarters is likely right where it should be.
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Verbalize the Positive
I appreciate that when Mike ‘LeBrain’ Ladano @ mikeladano.com reviewed a Jerky Boys CD, it gave me the idea to link The Jerky Boys/Ozzy/The Monkees for this eventual review.
More importantly, I appreciate his passion for music & his prolific blogging skills, I think he posted every day for the first couple years with zero trace of diminishing returns!
Trackbacks & Pingbacks
- Liz Phair – Exile in Guyville (1993) | 1001albumsin10years
- The Byrds – Younger than Yesterday (1967) | 1001albumsin10years
- Anita Baker – Rapture (1986) | 1001albumsin10years
- Circle Jerks – Group Sex (1980) | 1001albumsin10years
- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1976) | 1001albumsin10years
- Wilco – Being There (1996) | 1001albumsin10years
- Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet (1986) | 1001albumsin10years
- Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet (1986) | 1001albumsin10years
- 1967 | 1001albumsin10years
1001albumsin10years 
I have lots of comments!
First of all, thank you — I love how you’ve been “giving back” to the community with the spreading of the positivity. So thanks for that. Second thought was, “Of all things, why is Geoff linking to my Jerky Boys review???” But now it makes sense.
(People, if you click that link, please have a look around, the Jerky Boys review was an anomaly I swear!)
Third: Boy, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen that movie. I remember that scene very well, but wow what an awful movie!
Fourth: The Monkees! Thanks for linking me up on a Monkees review! I love the Monkees and have since highschool. I agree with your assessment. I would be wrong to write off the Monkees as a simple product. I liked the product too, but there is more to them than that.
Fifth: I love how you used the (curse word) to comedic effect. You know me, 99% of the time I will go ahead and use the curse word. I hope when I do so, the comedic effect or emotional effect gets across. But you used a simple (curse word) and it was funnier that way. Effective use of the “swear beep” for humour is always something that makes me chuckle.
Thanks again, and WELL DONE SIR.
I too have lots of comments!
1) You’re quite welcome – thanks for the inspiration!
2) I haven’t seen the movie since it was on TMN 20 years ago – sounds like I should skip a rewatch and stick to the CDs. Noted!
3) I’m guessing a lot of talented artists likely have trouble overcoming that ‘manufactured’ or ‘talent show’ image – there’s probably been some really good singers/musicians go through the American Idol-type rise to fame that struggle to be taken seriously as a result.
4) I have to give Seinfeld credit for the ‘curse word’ idea – that classic Cartwright scene in the Chinese restaurant (at 0:55). Thanks Mike!
I’m with Ozzy on this one.
Wonder what he’d say if he knew they’d made the list? Hahaha!
I think he might have a similar reaction!
The Monkees were my first favourite band, and I don’t think I’d have quite the same love of music today if I hadn’t memorised every word of their Greatest Hits comp when I was 9. They still hold a special place in my heart so it’s nice seeing some appreciation for them!!
There’s something about those childhood records that’s tough to top – I can think of a few cassette soundtracks from age 9 that I’d still know every word, even though I haven’t heard it in decades!
Cheers tangerinetrees99 – I appreciate your comments & The Monkees too!
I liked it when these marionettes cut their strings.
I remember N Sync actually had an album named No Strings Attached – with at least one of the videos featuring that marionette string cutting imagery!
Knowing that does you no credit Geoff.