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 - Monkees - 'Head' - Original Movie Soundtrack (Rhino) + bonus tracksHadn't seen this 1968 Monkees film in awhile now. Have always loved the movie soundtrack - about as much as I would any of their albums. Most memorable tunes here are the spine-tingling movie theme "Porpoise Song", "Circle Sky", the psych-like "Can You Dig It", "As We Go Along", the oh-so innocent "Daddy's Song", the toe-tapping rocker "Swami" and the radio spot. Rhino has apparently tagged on six bonus tracks. Very nice. Rating:  - Some of their bestDespite the manufactured image, the Monkees showed (particularly on this album) they were innovative and could handle a variety of styles. As We Go Along and Can You Dig It? are pop gems. Rating: - Circle MoviePeter, Davy, Mickey and Mike hitting the water is the opening scene of HEAD and also the movie's finale, or as Davy says in "Ditty Diego": "...when you see the end in sight the beginning may arrive." In essence, HEAD is a giant circle-- this movie could literally run perpetually if one were to edit the ends together. But a single time through is more than enough. Separated from HEAD's intentionally haphazard visuals, what is most obvious on this album is this band's disillusionment, disappointment, dissolution. The two year MONKEES trip was almost over. It had been an incredible experience for everyone, including us fans, but this simply couldn't last. HEAD was a swan song, and a swan dive. THE PORPOISE SONG is beautiful and melancholy- a Gerry Goffin/Carole King masterpiece. CIRCLE SKY has an angry Mike Nesmith vocal. The guitars, mixed impossibly high, can't mask his message: "It looks like we've made it to the end." CAN YOU DIG IT?, written by Peter Tork, has intricate guitar lines everywhere. Again, lovely, yet sad. AS WE GO ALONG, another Carole King number, practically encapsulates the MONKEES and this film: "We'll make up our stories as we go along." DADDY'S SONG, written by Harry Nilsson, despite it's strange orchestration, is filled with the pain of an abandoned, embittered child, now grown. DO I HAVE TO DO THIS ALL OVER AGAIN? is Peter Tork's last and best MONKEES song. He expresses a long-held resentment. After a rebuff at the group's initial 1966 recording session (Peter was derided for bringing his guitar), his disenchantment with this TV show project was deep-seated and total. It's no surprise Tork was first to leave-- the first to break the circle. CD includes several alternate takes, a rehearsal track, and a radio ad for the movie. There's also a 12-page foldout liner note booklet, detailing film and songs. HEAD, the movie and the album, are minor classics that perfectly reflect both 1968 and a manufactured band on the verge of unravelling. TOTAL RUNNING TIME -- 44:15 Rating: - Head- A QUALITY MONKEES RECORDING!!I have been a huge MOnkees fan since since the 1980's. And up to this point, I have had little to no interest in the, "Head," soundrack or movie. Well, I just purchased the soundrack and to my surprise, I really enjoy it. I mainly purchased it for the extra tracks, as I have most of the other tracks on the, "Listen to the Band," box set. THis was a worthy investment however, as I found the remastering much better on the 1994 Head soundtrack. And I like the snippets between the songs. I only recommend this CD, however, to Monkees fans. Rating: - There's so much to do in the sunlightThe majestic, oceanic swell of "The Porpoise Song," the Middle-Eastern hippy groove of "Can You Dig It?" and the poppy folk-psych of "As We Go Along" make this album one of the trippiest in the Monkees catalog. Ignore the feeble studio mix of "Circle Sky." The live version included here as a bonus track kicks butt! "Daddy's Song" sounds like typical Davy Jones treacle -- until you pay attention to the decidedly odd lyrics. Too bad they didn't use the a capella ending from the movie. The soundtrack snippets surrounding the songs are good for a giggle, but get tiresome after several listenings. This album is filled with sky and sun imagery. One is tempted to accuse the producers of some kind of artistry.
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