707 (band)

707

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".

I Could Be Good for You

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," which peaked at #52 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single, written by McFadden and McClarty, was featured on their first album, simply entitled 707. McFadden left the band before their second album.

The Second Album

"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.

Mega Force

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. With Gregg Rolie's departure from Journey, Steve Perry had taken the front man role in that band, to their increased success. 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, the 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.

Other work

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 (1994) 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 in 2006 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.

Discography

Year	Album	Label
1980	707	Casablanca
1981	The Second Album	Casablanca (US #159)
1982	Mega Force	Boardwalk (US #129)
2000	Trip to Heaven	Bedrock
2004	The Bridge	MTM Music & Publish (2004); Renaissance (2006 re-release)
2005	Greatest Hits Live	Renaissance
2006	The Fourth Decade	Renaissance

References

• Allmusic

External links

• http://www.kevinrussell.com
• http://www.todhowarth.com/
• http://www.cliquerecords.com/ (Kevin Chalfant)
• http://www.salvationbygrace.org (Jim McClarty)