This disc contains songs and snippets of dialogue from
the Monkees' full-length feature film of the same name. Although their Emmy-winning television program had been cancelled in the spring of 1968, the quartet quickly regrouped and, with the assistance of budding actor/director
Jack Nicholson, created a 90-minute surreal cinematic experience -- replete with matching soundtrack. Without question, both the movie and album are the most adventurous and in many ways most fulfilling undertaking to have been born of
the Monkees' multimedia manufactured project. The music featured on both the screen as well as this album is a long strange trip from the Farfisa-driven bubblegum anthem "I'm a Believer." Perhaps even more telling is that
Head became the first
Monkees long-player not to include a
Tommy Boyce/
Bobby Hart composition. As such, the talents of each member are uniquely showcased -- especially those of
Peter Tork, whose contributions were previously too few and far between. Ironically, his acid rocker "Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again" and Eastern-flavored "Can You Dig It?" are not only among the best of the six original compositions on the soundtrack, but also among his finest
Monkees offerings, period. Other notable tracks include
Micky Dolenz's vocals on two
Carole King works: the ethereal "Porpoise Song," which was co-authored by
Gerry Goffin, and the Toni Stern collaboration on the pastoral "As We Go Along." ~ Lindsay Planer