Thrift Store Music: 707

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

707 - s/t

Name: 707
Album: s/t
Year: 1980
Style: Power Pop, Light Rock
Similar Bands: Hawks, Producers, Shoes, Journey, Styx, Kansas, Nick Gilder, Foreigner, Ben Folds
"One-Word" Review: Piano Heavy Harmonic Pop
Based Out Of: LA, CA & Detroit, MI
Label: Casablanca Record & Filmworks Inc.

Cover & Record

Back & Record

707 (1980)

I Could Be Good For You 4:46 (single #52 BB Hot 100)
Let Me Live My Life 2:46
One Way Highway 4:17
Save Me 2:49
You Who Needs To Know 4:59 /
Slow Down 3:19
Feel This Way 3:49
Waste of Time 4:51
Whole Lot Better 6:37

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:

Phil Bryant - Bass, Lead & Backing Vox (Sax Maniacs)
Jim McClarty - Drums, Percussion
Duke McFadden - Keys, Lead & Backign Vox, Acoustic Guitar (Chi Coltrane)
Kevin Russell - Guitars, Lead & Backing Vox (Brian & the Sensations, Rick Derringer, Clarence Clemons, Whitesnake, Phantom-Rocker&Slick, Kokomo, NYC, Taxxi, Frank Marino, Leslie West, Jimmy Dillon, Ted Nugent, Stu Blank, F Machine Sea Hags, Nils Lofgren, Rod & The Shotgun Blues, Ruminators)
David Carr - Piano, Arrangements (Simeon, Janine Maunder, Rich Mountain Tower, London, Tim Steen, Judty McComb, Kyle Vincent, Sarah Sarah, Paul Colman, Acetylene, Antiskeptic, Naked Raven, Steph Atkins, Guy Sebastian, Cilla Jane, Solicitors, Joe Cannon)
Norman Ratner - Producer
Fred Ruppert - Executive Producer
Bob Stringer - Engineer, Mixing
Steve DeGennaro - Production Assistant
Bess Gilbert - Production Assistant
Russell Schmitt - Asst. Engineer
Dan Everhart - Asst. Engineer
Mike Saunders - Asst Mixing Engineer
Ed Schreyer - Mastering
Ross Warren - Album Design & Execution
Gribbitt - Graphics

Unknown-ness: Never heard of 707. On one hand, they look like a power pop band, but i've also seen where this sort of album design means they are a jazz fusion band. The liner notes on the back do suggest there are three singers, so most likely not a jazz band, and their photographs on the band steer them clear from any sort of new wave act.

Album Review: The band had success with their lead off song from this album, and after two more albums, one recorded in 1981, but never released until 2004, they left their label and recorded their biggest record Megaforce, who's title track was the theme for the film of the same name in 1982. For that album, their new label wanted one single front man, instead of a shared mix of various leading vocalist. McFadden passed away in 2005, and Russell tried to continue in the spirit of 707 with new material which fell apart to the degree he is now just leaving it in the past. The name 707 was considered a catchy name, and was also Russell's birthdate. This record is mostly light power pop, lots of harmonies and piano support that reminds me of Ben Folds at times.

Stand Out Track: Let Me Live My Life

Links:

full album spotify
Wiki