NEW ENGLAND: 1978

New England

1978

© 2000 GB Music Ltd.

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

SPECIAL: 10% discount if you buy more than one copy of it today!

"JUST IN... Boston Mass..It has just been announced that New England will be performing live on 5/13/2006 at The Chevalier Theater just north of Boston. visit www.newenglandrocks.com for details.

notes

New England set the music world on fire with their AOR anthem Don't Ever Wanna Lose Ya in 1979. John Fannon (guitar & vocals), Hirsh Gardner (drums and vocals), Jimmy Waldo (keyboards and vocals) and Gary Shea (bass) broke out of the local Boston scene with the release of their self-titled album on Infinity/MCA in 1979. The album was produced by Mike Stone and Paul Stanley of Kiss, whom New England toured with for much of 1979 and 1980. For their sophomore effort, entitled Explorer Suite, the foursome once again called upon veteran knob-twirler Mike Stone. Highlights from this album are the orchestral title track, It's Never Too Late, and Conversation, which features New England's trademark lush background vocals. The touring never let us for the boys from Boston as they split their time on the Explorer Suite tour between headlining large clubs and sharing arena billing with Journey, AC/DC, Cheap Trick, and Kiss among others.

For the third album, Walking Wild, the legendary Todd Rundgren was at the helm. The results of these sessions were hard-driving tunes such as Don't Ever Let Me Go, L-5 (co-written by Fannon, Waldo & Rundgren) and the kick-ass rocker Holdin' Out On Me, which features Hirsh Gardner on lead vocals. The frustration over the lack of label support grew and the band parted ways. While Fannon & Gardner went on to successful careers as producers and Shea & Waldo former Alcatrazz with Graham Bonnet & Yngwie Malmsteen, nothing seemed to match the excitement of New England. The real strength of New England was the combination of four strong & diverse individuals: Fannon's lead vocals & songwriting, Waldo's whirling keyboards, Gardner's driving skin-pounding and high-pitched vocals and Shea's thunderous bass lines.


While the records speak for themselves, the fans are the reason New England lives. Waldo explains,"I would tour all over the world with Alcatrazz and every country we'd go to people would have New England albums for me to sign. It really shows you the power of music. We have fans all over Europe & Japan, places we never even toured. It's amazing."

1998 marked the 20th anniversary of the birth of New England. The first new music heard from New England in 15 years was released as part of the CD entitled 1978, which features the original versions of seven classic New England tunes plus three never before released songs. The CD was released worldwide along with the re-issues of Walking Wild and Explorer Suite. All titles are available on the GB Music label in the United States & Europe, and Maquee/Avalon in Japan.

It's 2003 and the members find themselves working on a variety of projects, however the demand for a full New England reunion CD and tour is strong.
"We all got together to record a song for my solo CD. Who knows where it will lead," Gardner quips. "We have been talking about a reunion album and world tour. We will take it one step at a time, but you never know."

reviews

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  • new england 1978
    author: Jimmy "DAWG" Laurino

    excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • author: Tom

    It sure is nice to hear something "new" from New England even if it is old. This site has CD's I never even heard of before. What a find! CD Baby can rock my cradle anytime.

  • author: McThrasher

    If you, like me, are a big New England fan and have the original three albums, this is the only way you're going to hear "new" songs from them...at least for now...? The clever and inventive layers, both vocal and instrumental, are already here on these early demos. Even at this stage, these guys were really great...and probably would be again. C'mon guys...I'm sure John has written some great new songs in the last twenty-five years...? No one is doing music like this anymore and the world is worse for lack of it.

  • Alot different from the debut version but well worth it.
    author: Charles

    Even though my wife preferred the debut version, New England still sounded great. Wish I had found out about the site sooner. Thanks.

  • AWESOME to see the ROOTS!
    author: Rik Fedyck

    have been looking for anything New England on CD and BOOM,, FINALLY! BOUGHT ALL CD's from CD Baby! this album is down to the roots of New England,, Listen to this and then listen to New England and hear the Paul Satnley influence! didn't even know this album existed? Great Surprise!

  • Great cd. These guys are great rockers
    author: Chip Ryle

    I added this cd to my collection of New england cds. I was very impressed with this Cd. I love it and have played it many times over all ready. Great addition to the New England Collection

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