Monkees
Head
Rare & Collectible Vinyl Records

1985 Reissue in shrink with hype sticker. In a bold departure from their established pop image, the Monkees' 1968 soundtrack album *Head* represents a daring fusion of psychedelic rock and avant-garde experimentation, reflecting the countercultural zeitgeist of its era. Often overshadowed by its accompanying film’s commercial failure, *Head* finds the Monkees embracing a more mature and eclectic sound palette with the help of contributors like Jack Nicholson and Bob Rafelson, who were instrumental in its production. The album's eclectic nature is underscored by a variety of sound collages, dialogue snippets from the film, and genre-spanning tracks that oscillate between the surreal and the satirical.

Musically, *Head* traverses an array of styles, seamlessly blending the Monkees' signature pop sensibilities with deeper explorations into rock, folk, and psychedelia. Tracks like "Porpoise Song," penned by the illustrious songwriting duo Gerry Goffin and Carole King, stand out for their lush orchestration and haunting vocals, encapsulating the psychedelic spirit. Meanwhile, "Circle Sky," with its raw, driving energy, showcases the band's potential as legitimate rock musicians, a sharp contrast to the prefabricated image that had long shadowed their career. Despite its initial commercial underperformance, *Head* has since gained a cult following, lauded for its innovative approach and its unflinching foray into the complexities of fame and identity, themes that resonate with both the era and the band's own narrative.