[2019-11-22] New England "The New England Archives Box: Vol 1" 5CD box set (HNE UK)

Linda · **Posted:** Sat Sep 21, 2019 12:59 am

Description
The short lived New England originally formed around the Boston area in the late 1970s, featuring John Fannon on guitar and lead vocals, Jimmy Waldo on keyboards, Hirsh Gardner on drums and Gary Shea on bass guitar. After being discovered by famed KISS manager Bill Aucoin, their self-titled debut was issued by Infinity Records in 1979, and produced by KISS’s Paul Stanley, produced along with famed Queen, Asia and Journey producer Mike Stone. The tracks ‘Hello, Hello, Hello’ (UK No. 69) and ‘Don’t Ever Wanna Lose Ya’ (US No. 40) began to pick up plenty of airplay on AOR radio in the States as the band headed out on a major arena tour opening for KISS. Switching to Elektra Records, New England followed their debut in 1980 with “Explorer Suite”, this time co-produced by Mike Stone with singer and principle songwriter, John Fannon. The title track, plus ‘Livin’ In The Eighties’ were released as singles, but didn’t quite manage to capitalise on the airplay from the first LP. “Walking Wild”, their third and final album, also for Elektra, was released in 1981 and produced by Todd Rundgren. With ‘Don’t Ever Let Me Go’, ‘DDT’ and ‘Get It Up’ released as singles, the album had a more harder rocking approach, but unfortunately the band split up shortly after its release, in 1982.

Hirsh Gardner, Jimmy Waldo and Gary Shea would initially put together the short lived Warrior with Vincent Cusano (better known as KISS’s Vinnie Vincent), before Waldo and Shea joined Graham Bonnet in Alcatrazz in 1983, initially with guitar virtuoso Yngwie J. Malmsteen, and then Steve Vai, whilst Gardner went into production work, and eventually a solo career.

Despite the slim catalogue of work New England left in their short time together, thankfully they did leave behind plenty of demo recordings and outtakes, collected here for the very first time on “The New England Archives Box Volume 1”. Starting with 10 tracks recorded at Earmark Studios in Philadelphia in 1978, highlights of Disc One are ‘Alone Tonight’, ‘Hello, Hello, Hello’ and ‘Turn Out The Light’.

The first half of Disc Two was recorded at Blizzard Studios, and kicks off with ‘P.U.N.K. (Puny Undernourished Kid)’; the second half of CD2 returns to more recordings from 1978 Earmark Studios, plus ‘Familiar Faces’, a very rare track recorded at Intermedia Studios in Boston in 1975.

Disc Three features a rough mix of their self-titled debut, and closes with ‘Last Show’ and ‘Don’t Ever Wanna Lose Ya’ from London’s legendary Trident Studios.

Disc Four is made up of rough mixes for the second LP, “Explorer Suite”, plus ‘It’s Never Too Late’ mixed by Jim Boyer in 1980. The real treat is seven tracks from the band Target, featuring both John Fannon & Kenny Melle vocals, who would eventually transform into New England.

Disc Five is made up of mono versions and alternative demos, including ‘Back On The Streets Again’, ‘Headchopper’ and ‘Heat Of The Ocean’.

“The New England Archives Box Vol 1” has been drawn and compiled from the band’s own collections of tapes and personal recordings, and features a number of rare and never before seen photos and imagery.

[tracklisting][CD1]
Earmark Studios, Philadelphia 1978:
1. Alone Tonight
2. Nothing To Fear
3. Candy
4. I Will Be There
5. Shoot
6. Don’t Ever Wanna Lose Ya
7. Hello, Hello, Hello
8. Even When I’m Away
9. Searchin’
10. Turn Out The Light

[CD2]
Blizzard Tape, New England 1978:
1. P.U.N.K. (Puny Undernourished Kid)
2. Hey You’re On The Run
3. Shall I Run Away
4. I Let You Love Me
5. Bite The Bullet
6. You’ll Be Born Again
Earmark Studios, Philadelphia 1978:
7. Turn Out The Light
8. Searchin’
9. I Will Be There
10. Candy
11. Even When I’m Away
12. Nothing To Fear
13. It’s So Easy
Intermedia Studios, Boston 1975:
14. Familiar Faces

[CD3]
1978 Rough Mix Before Electric Lady:
1. Hello, Hello, Hello
2. Shoot
3. Nothing To Fear
4. Alone Tonight
5. Don’t Ever Wanna Lose Ya
6. Shall I Run Away
7. P.U.N.K. (Puny Undernourished Kid)
8. The Last Show
9. Encore
10. Turn Out The Light
Trident Studio Rough Mixes, London 1978:
11. Last Show
12. Don’t Ever Wanna Lose Ya

[CD4]
Intermedia Rough Mix:
1. Seal It With A Kiss
2. It’s Never Too Late
3. Livin’ In The Eighties
4. Hope
5. Conversation
6. No Place To Go
7. Hey Your On The Run
8. Honey Money
9. Searchin’
10. You’ll Be Born Again
11. Seal It With A Kiss
Jim Boyer Mix 1980:
12. It’s Never Too Late
Target Demos:
13. Rock Is Here To Stay (John Fannon & Kenny Melle Vocals)
14. Little Girl (John Fannon Vocals)
15. Is This What You Want (John Fannon & Kenny Melle Vocals)
16. Nothing To Fear (John Fannon & Kenny Melle Vocals)
17. Mixed Feeling (John Fannon & Kenny Melle Vocals)
18. Love Of My Own (John Fannon Vocals)
19. Goodbye Goodbye (John Fannon Vocals)

[CD5]
Additional Demos – Unreleased Compositions:
1. Angel (Mono)
2. Back On The Streets Again
3. Headchopper (Mono)
4. Heat Of The Ocean (Mono)
5. How Can I Let You Know (Mono)
6. ‘M In The Middle
7. I’m Not Down (Mono)
8. Love Never Stops (Mono)
9. Marlena (Stereo)
10. Marlena (Mono)
11. Take Another Ride (Stereo)[/tracklisting]

Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y4LNBW6/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Y4LNBW6/?tag=imwan-21

Walter P · 20 Sep 2006

WOW! This came out of nowhere. I saw them a couple of years ago in a small place in Massachusetts and they are still great! This is very interesting!

Walter P · 20 Sep 2006

Even better news...New England is touring again...briefly...to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first album. As far as I can see, they're only playing three shows:

October 25 in Plymouth, MA
October 26 in Shirley, MA
November 2 in Upland, CA

https://newenglandrocks.com/shows

I got my tickets! :yay:

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

I only have one album from these guys but like it. Need to investigate further.

eelkiller · **Joined:** 10 Dec 2006 **Posts:** 1681

Walter P wrote:

WOW! This came out of nowhere. I saw them a couple of years ago in a small place in Massachusetts and they are still great! This is very interesting!

Fannon still has the great voice plus the band features all of the original members, this is quite rare these days for an artist that has been around over 40 years.

So what I read in the original post is this is all unreleased stuff, that is fantastic news.

Walter P · 20 Sep 2006

I saw the show tonight and they were great...again. Sadly, the box set was not yet available at the show. According to one of the guys who works for the band, they wanted to have these sets available to sell at the shows, but they just weren't ready to get them in time. Hopefully, they'll still be ready to meet the planned release date. I'm really eager to get my hands on the set!

[2019-11-22] New England "The New England Archives Box: Vol 1" 5CD box set (HNE UK)

Who is WANline