707 (USA)
Napísané: 20 Feb 2021, 19:01
707 - 707 (1980) (Rock Candy Remastered 2017)
Year : 1980 (Rock Candy Remastered 2017)
Style : Melodic Rock , AOR
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + scans
Size : 98 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.While most this genre acts of the era were powered almost exclusively by loud guitars, in their self-titled, debut album “707“, the quartet twist in style was the prominent use of grand piano as a lead instrument alongside the guitar.Amazingly, however, this didn’t in anyway compromise their power.Indeed, the piano became a method of musical propulsion that lent them a unique and instantly identifiable character – something that already Toto was doing.Formed in Los Angeles during the late ’70s, and led by guitarist / vocalist Kevin Russell and keyboard player Duke McFadden, this talented four-piece scored a coveted record deal with the Casablanca label, one of the hottest companies operating at the time.“707” made an instant impact, encouraging comparisons to Toto, REO Speedwagon and Chicago. The songs were well written, superbly performed and imbued with a sense of maturity far outstripping their relatively tender years of existence.It was also a record that took everyone by surprise, including their label, when the opening track, ‘I Could Be Good For You’, emerged as an unlikely hit single when radio stations in America’s heartland started to play the song of their own accord.But that’s not to say they were a one trick pony as the record contained a number of tremendous tracks that veered from power pop to hard rockin’ gems and everything in between.But, according to time (early ’80s) first album “707” also has a strong Pomp AOR essence.Those fans of this genre will find here all the trademark ingredients required like busy musicianship, tempo shifts, grandiose orchestral arrangements, bombastic choruses and a lot of guitar / keyboard interplay. The ‘big’ rhythm section reinforces this feeling with reverb drums.The aforementioned ‘I Could Be Good For You’ is one of the greatest singles appeared in the early ‘80s armed with a glorious chorus. ‘Let Me Live My Life’ is an uptempo rocker where McFadden’s piano made 707’s so unique and Kevin Russell’s guitar riffs are strong.We have a polished orchestrated ballad on ‘One Way Highway’, then on ‘Save Me’ and ‘You Who Needs To Know’ are where that lovely keyboard / guitar duel appear.‘Slow Down’, despite its title is pretty bombastic, while ‘Feel This Way’ is another energetic track plenty of biting guitar work and a killer AOR chorus.‘Waste Of Time’ has very original time changes, while closer ‘Whole Lot Better’ showcases 707 Pompy credentials again with keyboard runs, guitar solos and orchestrated passages.“707” is one of the most underrated and criminally unknown Pomp rock albums of all time.It’s plenty of sweet, commercial mainstream poppy melodies too, so why this band didn’t break into the major leagues is beyond me. Well, there were many troubles with the recording label, but that’s something to revisit into the band’s second album review.A very welcomed remaster by Rock Candy on this HIGHLY Recommended album.
Line-Up:
Kevin Russell – vocals, guitars
Duke McFadden – vocals, keyboards, acoustic guitars
Phil Bryant – bass, vocals
Jim McClarty – drums, percussion
Tracklist:
01. I Could Be Good for You
02. Let Me Live My Life
03. One Way Highway
04. Save Me
05. You Who Needs to Know
06. Slow Down
07. Feel This Way
08. Waste of Time
09. Whole Lot Better
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
Year : 1980 (Rock Candy Remastered 2017)
Style : Melodic Rock , AOR
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + scans
Size : 98 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.While most this genre acts of the era were powered almost exclusively by loud guitars, in their self-titled, debut album “707“, the quartet twist in style was the prominent use of grand piano as a lead instrument alongside the guitar.Amazingly, however, this didn’t in anyway compromise their power.Indeed, the piano became a method of musical propulsion that lent them a unique and instantly identifiable character – something that already Toto was doing.Formed in Los Angeles during the late ’70s, and led by guitarist / vocalist Kevin Russell and keyboard player Duke McFadden, this talented four-piece scored a coveted record deal with the Casablanca label, one of the hottest companies operating at the time.“707” made an instant impact, encouraging comparisons to Toto, REO Speedwagon and Chicago. The songs were well written, superbly performed and imbued with a sense of maturity far outstripping their relatively tender years of existence.It was also a record that took everyone by surprise, including their label, when the opening track, ‘I Could Be Good For You’, emerged as an unlikely hit single when radio stations in America’s heartland started to play the song of their own accord.But that’s not to say they were a one trick pony as the record contained a number of tremendous tracks that veered from power pop to hard rockin’ gems and everything in between.But, according to time (early ’80s) first album “707” also has a strong Pomp AOR essence.Those fans of this genre will find here all the trademark ingredients required like busy musicianship, tempo shifts, grandiose orchestral arrangements, bombastic choruses and a lot of guitar / keyboard interplay. The ‘big’ rhythm section reinforces this feeling with reverb drums.The aforementioned ‘I Could Be Good For You’ is one of the greatest singles appeared in the early ‘80s armed with a glorious chorus. ‘Let Me Live My Life’ is an uptempo rocker where McFadden’s piano made 707’s so unique and Kevin Russell’s guitar riffs are strong.We have a polished orchestrated ballad on ‘One Way Highway’, then on ‘Save Me’ and ‘You Who Needs To Know’ are where that lovely keyboard / guitar duel appear.‘Slow Down’, despite its title is pretty bombastic, while ‘Feel This Way’ is another energetic track plenty of biting guitar work and a killer AOR chorus.‘Waste Of Time’ has very original time changes, while closer ‘Whole Lot Better’ showcases 707 Pompy credentials again with keyboard runs, guitar solos and orchestrated passages.“707” is one of the most underrated and criminally unknown Pomp rock albums of all time.It’s plenty of sweet, commercial mainstream poppy melodies too, so why this band didn’t break into the major leagues is beyond me. Well, there were many troubles with the recording label, but that’s something to revisit into the band’s second album review.A very welcomed remaster by Rock Candy on this HIGHLY Recommended album.
Line-Up:
Kevin Russell – vocals, guitars
Duke McFadden – vocals, keyboards, acoustic guitars
Phil Bryant – bass, vocals
Jim McClarty – drums, percussion
Tracklist:
01. I Could Be Good for You
02. Let Me Live My Life
03. One Way Highway
04. Save Me
05. You Who Needs to Know
06. Slow Down
07. Feel This Way
08. Waste of Time
09. Whole Lot Better
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
