The Monkees’ Head Film & Soundtrack: A Cult Classic Review (2024)

From TV Stardom to Cinematic Psychedelia: The Monkees’ Head Revisited By Jessica Ann Catena

Hey hey, you know that band The Monkees? Most generations do from their 1960s music and self-titled sitcom, but how about the film and soundtrack Head from 1968? Very little gets said about Head, and considered to be a purposeful end to The Monkees’ high point of fame. I still consider them among my top 5 bands of all time, and jumped at the change to give my first-time viewing of this cult classic movie.

Head Soundtrack

In most cases, promo singles or soundtracks release earlier before the final project is published. Pretending it was my first listen like those in 1968, I chose to hear the music before watching the film. For 2 years, The Monkees’ recorded albums ranged in lighthearted pop, folk, ballads, and transitioned to psychedelic rock. The Monkees made 5 albums between 1966-1968, remains the only music act earning 4 #1 albums in one year: 1967. Like The Beatles, TV producer Bob Rafelson wanted to fabricate an American band matching close to the same success. After The Monkees’ NBC TV show won 2 Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy, why not try the movies like The Beatles did? Without watching Head’s film, you can already imagine what it’s like listening to the soundtrack: psychedelia, sound effects, escapism, philosophical advice. I couldn’t help thinking of Pink Floyd’s 1973 album Dark Side of the Moon while hearing it; deciphering subtle messaging expressionism. In The Monkees’ case, it’s clear all 4 members were getting older and wanted to break their busy cycle. “Porpoise Song” begins Head’s album as a closing chapter, singing “Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.” (Porpoises are dolphin-like animals, which are symbolized lyrically and figuratively when watching Head.) “Circle Sky,” “As We Go Along,” and “Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again,” set the same tone referencing time passing, looking onto the future differently, and not as people have perceived them. Head wasn’t the end of The Monkees’ discography, but was a breaking point. Peter Tork (The Monkees’ bassist/keyboardist) quit the band next year, causing disbandment missing in The Monkees Present album. I also noticed another sure sign of The Monkees’ hiatus on Head’s record: each of The Monkees sing lead on at least one track. Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones sing “Porpoise Song,” Mike Nesmith wrote and sang “Circle Sky,” Micky solos “Can You Dig It” and “As We Go Along.” Davy sang “Daddy’s Song,” and Peter ends with “Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again?” Part of me wonders if Head was a publicity experiment because Head’s soundtrack was released a month after the film: 12/1/68. Was that a ploy in trying to bounce back the low box office sales, or giving fans an insight of The Monkees keeping up with the times?

The main assumption is Head’s an acid trip. I analyzed the screenplay based on comments spoken on The Monkees’ second season, and emphasis they were done acting satires.

Head’s Film

Head’s theatrical release was 11/6/68, directed and written by The Monkees’ creator Bob Rafelson. What’s wild is the co-writer who collaborated with Bob as an acquaintance, was Jack Nicholson! He wanted to present the current outside world that The Monkees could experience without feeling boxed-in: free love, opposing the Vietnam War, commercialism, cleansing a new reputation as an individual, and living by your own beliefs. No matter what context, set backdrops, or scene premise, The Monkees keep getting trapped together. Other celebrities who make a cameo are Frank Zappa, Annette Funicello, Toni Basil and Teri Garr. “Porpoise Song” is Head’s movie theme song, and occasionally played as a memory piece for the film. It gets played in the beginning and ending, showing Micky Dolenz jumping off a bridge into water. Slow motion of him drowning alone, signifies the drastic way out to stop the chaos chasing him and his bandmates. Mike, Peter, and Davy, jump in after as well, though watercolor art appears onscreen while women rescuing Micky up to the surface like mythical mermaids. Being a complete turnaround musically, weirdly, and humor, Head wasn’t received well by media or majority of The Monkees’ fanbase. Some value its counterculture and representation of the 1960s psychedelic era. Ahead of its time, future musicians would release their own film adaptions of their music; we now call that visual film. Examples are The Who (Quadrophenia (1973), Tommy (1975), Pink Floyd’s The Wall (1980), Michael Jackson’s Thriller (1982)/Bad (1987), Beyoncé’s Lemonade (2016) / The Lion King’s The Gift (2019).

The Monkees’ TV Show Clues to Head

Airing 2 fall-spring TV seasons, The Monkees ran 58 episodes 9/12/66-3/25/68. Shadowing the band’s everyday life persona, each episode portrayed them as superheroes preventing villainous characters up to no good. Practically every episode played a song of theirs as entertainment, product placement, and performing. Season 1’s writing was comedic and incorporated a laugh track when funny lines were said on camera. In season 2, the laugh track disappeared mid-season, directed more cinematic than interactive for audiences. Head’s filming took place while season 2 wrapped up, warming up The Monkees’ acting skills. As more episodes took place off set, you can see how they enjoyed a break amongst society and not redoing storyline tropes. Lasting longer than the series, The Monkees would rerun on main TV networks in the 1970s, MTV – 1980s, Nickelodeon’s Nick at Nite – 1990s, and various cable channels since then. Reruns can be watched now on AXS-TV round the clock, Micky Dolenz is the sole survivor on tours and appearances.

My parents were toddlers when The Monkees came along, passed down their music with me and my brother in the mid-1990s. We saw Micky Dolenz, Mike Nesmith, and Peter Tork perform at Port Chester’s The Capitol Theater: 7/15/2013. It was moving having the audience end the show singing “Daydream Believer,” mourning a year gone without Davy Jones. I just finished re-watching The Monkees’ series on AXS, perfect timing to now critique Head. In a short period of time, The Monkees innovated the fun, media influence, and levels of art that music brings.