On this day in music history: December 1, 1968 - “Head”, the sixth album by The Monkees is released. Produced by The Monkees and Gerry Goffin, it is recorded at California Recorders, Wally Heider Studios, and Original Sound Studios in Hollywood, CA from February - August 1968. Issued as the soundtrack to the band’s feature length film of the same name, it is compiled by actor Jack Nicholson who also co-wrote the script. Influenced by the work of musician Frank Zappa (who also appears in the film), the album features songs intercut with dialogue from the film (in a fashion similar to The Mothers Of Invention’s “We’re Only In It For The Money”). The album’s highly experimental and psychedelic sound will alienate the band’s teen fan base and will be resoundingly ignored by radio. The album’s unique packaging using aluminized polyethylene film (designed to look like a mirror) will create major manufacturing problems for RCA Records, causing their printing presses to break down. In spite of its poor commercial performance during its initial release, in time both the film and album will attain cult classic status among Monkees fans. In 2010, Rhino Records’ Rhino Handmade label will issue a three CD boxed edition of the album both the mono and stereo mixes of the album, as well as previously unreleased alternate takes, an open ended interview (originally released to radio stations), and a bonus 7" single with instrumental versions of “Porpoise Song” and “As We Go Along”. “Head” will peak at number forty five on the Billboard Top 200.
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