Year : 1981 (Rock Candy Remastered 2017)
Style : Melodic Rock , AOR
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + scans
Size : 141 mb
Bio:
707 was a rock band of the early 1980s, best known for the rock radio hits "I Could Be Good For You" and "Mega Force".The original members included Phil Bryant (bass, Vocals), Jim McClarty (drums), Duke McFadden (keyboards/synthesizers, vocals), and Kevin Russell (Guitars, vocals). Initially signed to Casablanca Records, they achieved significant rock radio airplay with "I Could Be Good for You", written by McFadden and McClarty. It peaked at #52 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was featured on their first album, simply entitled 707. McFadden left the band before their second album. "I Could Be Good For You" was recently included in the Adam Sandler film "Grown Ups.""Strings Around My Heart" failed to repeat their first single's success, but that didn't stop The Second Album from hitting the charts, peaking at #159 in 1981. Recording sessions began for a third album, The Bridge, featuring the addition of keyboardist/guitarist Tod Howarth. While being musically inventive and clearly demonstrating Howarth's influence, the recordings languished unreleased for 18 years due to contract disputes.During 1981 707 performed "Tonite's Your Night" on The Midnight Special.The band departed Casablanca, and signed with Boardwalk records, re-joining Bruce Bird and Neil Bogart, who had originally signed the band to Casablanca. In the tradition of other successful bands of the 1960s (The Beatles) and 1970s (Styx, Journey), 707 didn't have a single lead vocalist, and featured different band members taking lead vocals on different tracks; some songs even featured different vocalists within the same song. The label decided that 707 needed a single, distinguishable vocal front man, and Kevin Chalfant was added to the Megaforce lineup to take that role.The result of those changes was the band's most successful album, Mega Force. The album peaked at #129 in 1982. The title track, originally recorded as the theme to the motion picture Megaforce, repeated the success of their first hit, reaching #12 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock charts and rising to #62 on the Hot 100.The band played for stadium crowds as the opening act for several successful acts at their commercial peak, including Ted Nugent, Loverboy, Scorpions, Rainbow and REO Speedwagon's tour in support of their album Good Trouble, the follow-up to their smash HI-Infidelity. Despite that success, the group disbanded soon afterward.Chalfant would later enjoy top 10 success at the dawn of the 1990s with one of the last successful bands of the AOR era, The Storm. After a hiatus from music in the mid-90s, he has remained active in solo and group projects, and has stepped in as temporary lead vocalist for Journey (1993) and The Alan Parsons Project (2003).Tod Howarth enjoyed success with Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley's solo outing, along with stints in Ted Nugent's band, his own solo career, and as a longtime touring keyboardist for Cheap Trick. During Howarth's tenure, Frehley's Comet reworked the 707 song "Mega Force"; re-titled "Calling To You", this version (coincidentally released on Megaforce Records) features altered lyrics, with Jonathan Cain's writing credit removed and Frehley's added.Kevin Russell fashioned a successful career as a record producer and guitar slinger for numerous acts, including Rick Derringer, Clarence Clemons, and Whitesnake.After parting from 707, Jim McClarty worked in television and audio production before devoting himself to the ministry. He is currently a pastor near Nashville, Tennessee. In 2006 he returned to his 707 roots, mastering the band's album The Fourth Decade for Renaissance Records.Duke McFadden died on April 5, 2005 from heart complications.In 2000, 707 regrouped around guitarist Russell and recent independent-label releases have featured early demos, live tracks, and new material, as well as CD re-releases of their '80s albums.
Album:
Specialists at Rock Candy Records have ‘Remastered & Reloaded” all-three first albums from American melodic rockers 707, one of the most distinctive sounds of any band emerging from the late ’70s. For their second LP, simply titled “The Second Album”, 707 considerably changed their musical delivery, to a more straight, mainstream AOR sound.There was some sound quality issues with this release, and seems Rock Candy ordered a second CD press. As requested, here it is.Enlisting the assistance of producer Jai Winding (Le Roux, Stephen Crane) and recorded in Los Angeles, the band’s sophomore album solidified 707’s potential, albeit with the loss of pianist Duke McFadden who left the band for pastures new.His departure was quite a traumatic blow but they weren’t holed beneath the waterline because the other members rose to the challenge with a defiant show of force.Now reduced to a trio, this ‘new’ 707 showcased a noticeable forceful approach, something more in keeping with the AOR zeitgeist of the day and evoking comparisons this time around with Journey, Foreigner and Cheap Trick.Showcasing this harder edge, tracks such as ‘Tonite’s Your Nite’, ‘Rockin’ Is Easy’ and the glorious ‘Strings Around My Heart’ put 707 on the verge of major success.If it wasn’t for the implosion of Casablanca Records just the same month the album was released leaving it with zero promotion, the record could’ve have been a huge commercial success.“The Second Album” is a different 707 beast; most the Pomp is gone in favor for a vital, energetic melodic rock / AOR with all that early ’80s magic.Another greatly welcomed Rock Candy remaster.
Line-Up:
Kevin Russell – vocals, guitars
Phil Bryant – bass, vocals
Jim McClarty – drums, percussion
with:
Andy Celley – keyboards
Cherie Curie, Reed Kalling – backing vocals
Tracklist:
01. Tonite’s Your Nite
02. Millionaire
03. Live With the Girl
04. Strings Around My Heart
05. Pressure Rise
06. Rockin’ Is Easy
07. City Life
08. Live Without Her
09. Love On the Run
10. The Party’s Over
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
