Year : 1980 (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. The rightfully titled "Mega Force" is the last from the bunch, a terrific slice of pure American '80s AOR, reissued by Rock Candy with 6 bonus tracks.Nearly every band back in the day experienced a never ending stream of difficulties, a series of ups and downs that made even basic existence almost impossible. For 707 the situation was no different.Their debut album produced an unexpected hit single, but Casablanca Records failed to fuel the fire and by the time they released a follow up album they were hearing rumours about the label’s unstable financial position.Indeed, a third album was recorded but had to be shelved when Casablanca finally crashed and burnt (it was finally released 2 decades after unser the title 'The Bridge').Amazingly, a life line was thrown by their old label boss Neil Bogart when he set up a new company, Broadwalk Records, and offered the band a fresh start.With the addition of talented keyboardist / guitarist Tod Howarth (clearly demonstrating his influence on the record also co-writing) and recruiting a new lead vocalist / frontman, the incredible Kevin Chalfant, the band also received a leg up when they were asked to write songs for a new action movie, ‘MegaForce’, helping to give them much needed promotion and exposure. It was a tremendous opportunity, spoilt only by the movie’s lacklustre box office performance.Opting to continue in a more forceful direction, the band’s sound evoked comparisons to Journey and Night Ranger, placing the emphasis on sharp riffs, keyboard flourishes and of course catchy choruses.Speaking of true early '80s AOR, "Mega Force" includes really memorable songs.Title track 'Mega Force', simply put, is one of the greatest AOR anthems of all times. Howarth's keyboard / synth runs are all over, the guitars bite, the chous is a blast and the lead vocals, oh my, Chalfant is a King here setting the tone for the rest of album.'Can't Hold Back' is just another pearl with a melodic rock heart, a song destined for packed arenas.More rocking is the punchy 'Get To You', then 'Out Of The Dark' slows things for an exquisite midtempo AOR melody and Chalfant's soaring work.'Hell Or High Water' borders hard rock with an intense guitar / keyboard interplay, 'We Will Last' is another 24 Karat golden tune, while 'Hello Girl' is fresh and catchy with a terrific keyboard solo in the middle.Another fantastic hook drive 'Write Again' to its terrific chorus, we have, again, an anthem in 'No Better Feeling', and a smooth classy ballad on 'Heartbeat'.The addition of the awesome Kevin Chalfant and talented Tod Howarth plus a solid songwriting focused into mainstream AOR, resulted in "Mega Force" being 707's most successful album, reaching #129 in 1982. The band played for stadium crowds as the opening act for several successful acts at their commercial peak, including Loverboy, Scorpions, Rainbow, Ted Nugen and REO Speedwagon."Mega Force" is now regarded as a true underground classic, harbouring, as it does, a prime, melodic AOR sound to die for. This was a much needed remaster, including some juicy bonuses and a bright, balanced sonic treatment.A Cult CLASSIC!!
Line-Up:
Kevin Chalfant - vocals
Kevin Russell - guitars, vocals
Tod Howarth - keyboards, guitars
Phil Bryant - bass
Jim McClarty - drums
Tracklist:
01. Mega Force
02. Can't Hold Back
03. Get to You
04. Out of the Dark
05. Hell or High Water
06. We Will Last
07. Hello Girl
08. Write Again
09. No Better Feeling
10. Heartbeat
11. Eagle One (Bonus Track)
12. Mega Stomp (Bonus Track)
13. Mega Force (Alt Version) (Bonus Track)
14. Eagle One (Instrumental) (Bonus Track)
15. The Float (Bonus Track)
16. Mega Force (Live) (Bonus Track)
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