GOLD PROMO stamp on front. Vinyl plays nicely (play-graded). Cover looks good, several creases near edges and corners; moderate scuffing, surface impressions and discoloration spots (front/back), especially near bottom edge on front. Inner-sleeve is original (photos/lyrics/credits); two seams partially split. Spine is easy-to-read with some wear. Minor shelf-wear along top/bottom-edge and corners. Opening is crisp with signs of light use and divots. (Not a cut-out.)
New Monkees was the name of both a US pop rock music group, and a 1987 syndicated television show featuring the group. An album was made from the show. The 20th anniversary of The Monkees in 1986 generated enough interest that New Monkees was conceived later that year, and launched the following year. The show was produced by Columbia Pictures Television and distributed by Coca-Cola Telecommunications (both are now Sony Pictures Television). Straybert Productions, headed by Steve Blauner (a former partner of original Monkees producers Robert Rafelson and Bert Schneider), served as the project's producers. The group's members were Jared Chandler (bass and vocals), Dino Kovas (drums and vocals), Marty Ross (guitar and vocals), and Larry Saltis (lead guitar and vocals). As it had been with the original Monkees, each had to pass a grueling set of auditions. Unlike the previous series, however, musical ability was a key factor in the selection process. Ross, a multi-instrumentalist, had earlier been signed to CBS Records, with his former band The Wigs. The band released one self-titled album, distributed by Warner Bros. Records. The synth-pop sound of the New Monkees was largely the work of producers Carol Carmichael Parks and Dean Parks, and was similar to that of contemporaries Mr. Mister and Glass Tiger. On the show, the band lived in a large mansion with a butler named Manford (Gordon Oas-Heim). The mansion had numerous unexplored rooms, and was the main source of their adventures. Instead of a normal kitchen and dining room, the house featured a diner with a waitress named Rita, played by former exercise instructor Bess Motta, of 20 Minute Workout fame. Also present in the mansion was a talking computer called Helen (voiced by Lynnie Godfrey), who used to work for the Defense Department but has found that she preferred rock music over world destruction. A lawsuit was filed by the original Monkees for use of the name. However, the case was settled out of court. Two singles were featured on the album: What I Want and Turn It Up.