Ranking the Studio Albums: New England
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ย. 2024
- Join Pete Pardo as he ranks the short discography of Boston based pomp/prog/hard rock act New England. #newengland
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New England was originally on Infinity Records, not Elektra, they were discovered by a former DJ Eugene Frisky, at a local Boston Bar, who was their first professional manager. A couple years later they eventually signed to a major label with Bill Aucoin.
New England started their career as Carot Time Cornucopia and then renamed themselves The Fossils, playing a mixture of "jazz-funk and progressive music in the mid-1970s". When they were discovered in a Boston area bar by former DJ Eugene "The Friskman" Frisky, their first professional manager, he suggested they rename themselves New England, which they did and toured locally for over a year Under the Name new England.
Soon after the band was at the center of a bidding war amongst record label giants including Clive Davis (Arista), Chris Wright (Chrysalis), Ron Alexenburg (Infinity/MCA), and Lenny Pietze (Epic). The band ultimately signed to Kiss manager Bill Aucoin and chose the production team of Mike Stone (Queen, Journey, Foreigner), Paul Stanley, and Todd Rundgren to produce their records.
In 1979, the band emerged on the international scene with the release of their self-titled debut album on Infinity/MCA. The group's success stalled when their record label Infinity Records went out of business and was absorbed by its parent company, MCA Records in 1980. It was then that the group moved to Elektra Records for their second album, Explorer Suite.
It's a shame that such a talented band slid between the cracks of other Aucoin projects.
Interesting did not know this. Only heard Don't Ever Wanna Lose Ya, Epic tune, always wondered what happened to them.
Thanks!
Sorry never heard of Eugene Frisky???? There might have been another band called New England for a minute but that was not us.I lived in Boston and never heard of another New England playing anywhere. We lost our label just before recording our second album due to bad management of its president, Ron Alexenbourg . It stalled our momentum to change labels and this was no fault of Bill Aucoin. Elektra promised us the world and then did nothing. Thanks for your kind words, much appreciated.
Great summary! Are connected to the band?
Anyone who is interested in checking out this wonderful band here's a link to their Discography on Spotify! It Has the 3 studio albums, a live album & an Archive box set release of demos and unreleased tracks. Enjoy!
The Self Titled Debut - New England 1979 - produced by Mike Stone & Paul Stanley.
2nd release - Explorer Suite 1980 - Produced by Mike Stone & John Fannon.
3rd release - Walking Wild 1981 - Produced by Todd Rundgren.
Live at the Regent Theatre 2014 - The original line-up of New England reunited a few years ago.
Demo's and unreleased tracks - The New England Archives Box: Vol 1.
open.spotify.com/artist/5F7iQzteoPwRVD95AK92sA
Growing up in New England I got to hear the debut album on radio a lot. Did not take long to buy it. Love it to this day. I also got to see them backing KISS on the 79' Dynasty Tour when it rolled into Providence, R.I.. It was my first concert and since they opened they are the first band I saw live. I have heard the 2nd album but it hasn't grown on me. I will give it another shot.
The second album is also great. The third, I struggle with a bit more.
I was at both of those shows at Providence! I would say probably 30% of that audience got the New England album after the shows. i knew so many people who listened to New England after that!
Loved New England. Have all their albums. I liked their variety of styles. Their first album is a favorite and the other two were good also. Another band which you could rate is Zebra. Similar sound but more energy, equally short lived. One other group in the same era which deserves a ranking is Charlie. Outstanding guitarist, melodic, harmonies, poppy, but had memorable hooks and should have been bigger.
Alone Tonight is phenomenal- great production Paul Stanley.....love New England
Loved their first two albums. Don’t Ever Want To Lose Ya.classic.
Saw New England open for Kiss July 7th, 1979 at the Capital Centre, in Largo, MD, Rocking concert!!!
This was a band that started extremely strong that should have gone much further. The music scene was changing rapidly, and many solid bands fell by the wayside. In addition to the bands you mention, they reminded me of British pop/vocal bands City Boy and Charlie. They sounded very British to me. I tend to rank their albums in chronological order, but that’s because I know them in that order.
I really miss this era of music, and I certainly miss being younger and having the whole world ahead of me, but I am grateful for your passion and knowledge of this music, Mr. Pardo - almost every kind of music, actually. Thanks for reconnecting me to music that is still very relevant to me.
Thanks for highlighting New England! Very unique sound. Had the cassette of their first album back in 1980 and wore it out.
'Explorer Suite' is one o the best aor song's ever made imo.
Thank you for ranking the studio albums of New England.🎤🎸🎵🥁
Yet another suprise. First Angel and now New England. Hell yeah!
Paul Stanley produced first album.
Thank you for doing this video! I just listened to their debut album and really liked it. I’d never even heard of this band before. Thanks Pete!
Had their first album on 8 track back in the day- will purchase again someday soon; thanks for the rankings Pete.😎
I've been a HUGE fan of New England for years - so not fair they didn't reach the heights they deserved - SO GOOD!!
You are costing me a small fortune buying a lot of these bands tees and cds plus all the other great bands you are covering. Love it
Have the two first on vinyl. Think of them more like AOR, but hard to label them. Long time since I listened to them, but the first best as I remember.
I used to see Hirsh working at Daddy's Junkie Music here in Boston years ago. Awesome guy, really good band!
@@isahalim4119 I'm not sure to be honest. I only knew him from New England...and the music store.
Hirsch was a great drummer and vocalist. It's a shame he did do more lucrative stuff post-New England. He had a video series on drumming.
saw em at columbus agora, opening for john cougar.
we were there for new england and left quckly after john cougar started!
Forgot about these guys. Thanks for bringing them back to my attention.
1st album is on its way to me.
Awesome band first album produced by Paul Stanley I'm from New England and they got played a lot here in New England
Hello Pete,
my Wife and i have been Hard Rock and heavy Metal fans for 30 Years. We come from Hannover Germany (Schenker Town). We love your Show. You are doing a great Job. We would be very happy about a "Deep Cut Dive" Scorpions. Maybe that is possible. Warm Greetings from Germany . Keep rocking
Coming late next week actually!
@@seaoftranquilityprog we are looking forward to it
The debut was on Infinity, division of MCA Records. Their last 2 were on Elektra Records. The song "Don't Ever Wanna Lose Ya" went to # 40 (1 week) (Hot 100) in September of 1979!!
Touch from New York were another fantastic rock/pop/AOR band of the same period. They had a modest hit with ´don’t you know what love is’.
Hi Pete, would you consider doing a ranking or a general episode on East of Eden? Massively underappreciated band in my opinion and definitely worth checking out.
Much love from Germany, your channel is great!
Hi Christopher-I only have their debut album, haven't heard anything else, so I'm probably not the right guy to do a show on them. sorry!
@@seaoftranquilityprog Hey Pete, no problem at all. Their debut is great too, so you had the pleasure of listening to that! :) Thanks for your reply, much appreciated and I am looking forward to whatever you'll be doing in the future!
Thanks for this one, Pete. I loved New England, pre-NWOBHM. Still love the first two albums.
Anyone know why this band folded, and what John Fannon has done since then?
New England came out right on the heels of Van Halen turning everything upside down. I liked Fannon's playing, never tried to compare him to VH. Great rhythm guitarist with a thick tone. His lead playing was good and appropriate for the songs.
I only own their first album, produced by Paul Stanley, so found this particularly interesting. Thanks Pete.
Great band! There's an archival album called 1978 that has songs that would end up on the first two albums. Different production and heavier on the Mellotron. Check it out Pete, if you already haven't.
Literally thought I was the only surviving person who remembered them. Saw them for $1.01 at Warner Theater in Washington DC. The riff in the intro to Nothing to Fear crushes.
Dude. You cover everyone ! No “ rock “ goes unturned !
Drummer had huge hair !
I found this band recently and by pure chance. They are phenomenal. The live album from a few years back is an inceredible listen. Would give an arm and a leg to see them play live.
Saw them at Chicago fest. Great live band and had all their albums and now their discs.
My ranking would be the virtual opposite of yours, Pete, although my #1 and #2 would be close to a tie!
#1- Walking Wild (produced by Rundgren)
#2- New England
#3- Explorer Suite
Great Band, sorely overlooked!!
New England has a song called "Take Another Ride" on their 1978 Demo Anthology. Jimmy Waldo used the same keyboard melodies for Alcatrazz hit "Island In The Sun"(1983). Anyway great AOR/Melodic Rock band, I strongly suggest their Demo Anthology alongside their studio albums.
you're right- Island in the sun
Jimmy Waldo also went on to play in Blackthorne with Graham Bonnet, Chuck Wright, Frankie Banali, and Bob Kulick.
Reminded me of ELO at times. Especially on “Living in the Eighties”.
I’m a MA, native and I’ve never heard of them lol. Will definitely have to check them out.
Pete, really enjoying all these 70’s (plus or minus) bands you have been covering recently. You and your followers continue to give great information on the bands, many of which I never heard before. Thanks!
I think I would have to agree on the rankings....As the Debut album & Explorer Suite are so nose to nose as being #1......I have to give the nod to Explorer suite for 2 reasons....The title track (A masterpiece) & the song "Hope"....the ending of hope is just pure guitar rocking shit.....Walking Wild..although a very good CD is really on the pop side. I really wish they would of stayed together...I think they would of made it big one day.
Thank you for your review of New England, I am a new fan and I hear a lot of Angel in their music along with the others you listed.
Love this,new england was great! Should like if you did a rank on the awesome kanadian band Streetheart. Very much in the same bag as New england and was a forerunner to loverboy..
Great band! Hooks and harmonies. Drummer/vocalist/songwriter Hirsh Gardner has a band ( the Hirsh Gardner Project) and was gigging pretty regularly around New England and elsewhere pre-Covid. He’s got a couple of excellent, melodic solo records , one that’s fairly recent, worth getting especially if you like the New England records.
I bought new England's 1st album when it came out because I liked the cover and I was blown away awesome album. That was when music was great
I saw them open for Kiss (Dynasty tour) at MSG in 79, they were excellent! I bought their first album the next day at Kmart, loved it, still have the first album.
Love this band! Discovered them post high school. Would rank 1. Explorer Suite 2. Debut album 3. Walking Wild. Their newer live album is awesome for being 40 years after their breakup. Wonder why they did break up? Very underrated band! Thanks for reviewing.
fantastic mr pete !!! ty so much for this now i know.....
Wow! Great stuff. Who rates New England album’s and owns all 3!
I own all 3...Plus a Demo Cd called "1978"...PLus a live CD from Chicago......Great band. John Fannon is an excelent songwriter.
I have the three LPs and expected them to go further. Just ordered the box set. Had no idea they had one until someone mentioned it here.
I had all 3 of their LPs. Still do, in storage. I'd have to rank them in chronological order, first to third. Loved the first two; Walking Wild, not so much. Saw this band twice: opening for KISS in 1979, opening for Thin Lizzy in 1980.
Thank you, Pete, for ranking the albums. This band deserved more attention.
I remember this group. Yep, loved 'em.
I really like the first Album.
Had the debut on vinyl back in the day almost forgot about them. Great band should have been huge. Thanks for refreshing my memory going to revisit their catalog.
These guys were great. How can you not love Neal Schon, & Johnathan Cain collaborating with John Waite?
I didn't know New England had more than one album.
Heard P.U.N.K on UK radio as a kid, bought the single in green vinyl. Had to order the album, wore it out. Disappointed that they didn't have spiky hair. Still love the album.
Aviary and Trillion are killer Aor Prog Hard Rock Pop blended bands from the USA. Explorer Suite I agree was their best overall album.
Got em all, but never have gotten into depth on Explorer Suite; I'll have to remedy that.
The first is great, but Walking Wild is a favorite. The riffage on She's Gonna Tear You Apart absolutely crushes, and Holdin' Out On Me, if I'm not mistaken, was sung by Hirsch Gardner. Wish this band had been able to take it a few albums farther. The Queen influence was obvious from note one.
I'd love to see a Little River Band ranking. Great pop tunes with great harmony vocals.
Grew up in Massachusetts and never heard of these guys.
Have U checked out their box set? It's a pretty cool set with tons of alternate recordings, demos, etc.
Wow, cool. Didn’t know there was one! Just ordered it. Thanks so much for the tip! I have their three LPs and would love to have this overlooked band on CD also.
@@WarpedRecord I'm glad I could be helpful. I only have the first one on CS and a 7" to "Don't Ever Wanna Lose Ya" in addition to the box. I hope to pick up the 3 LP's.
You got it right. Explorer Suite is the GOAT
Walking Wild is the only album of theirs that I know (plus a couple of singles). I'm a big fan of Todd Rundgren and he produced Walking Wild, so I own it! I like it, but it's not something I listen to much.
Thanks, Pete!
I used to own the single "Puny Undernourished Kid" on green vinyl . I was 10 years old ,used to hunt in the 49 Pence rack every Saturday morning 😊
Somewhere between Moody Blues And Queen. It works.
never heard them i will give them a shot
@
bengalgangster Here's a Spotify link to there discography! open.spotify.com/artist/5F7iQzteoPwRVD95AK92sA
Perez great day , you hit 3 bands that I am big fans of. Enjoyed the Deep Purple, Moxy and New England.
Very Sweet influenced also, you can hear it
How about ranking the studio albums of Ultimate Spinach?
Never listened to them...
American Tears was another killer band that blended all the genres.
Didn't even know they had more than that 1 LP. Liked it and play it sometimes. Still have my LP's. 59, so....
More Kiss stuff, Vinnie pre kiss also had a band Warrior w/ New England minus john Fannon.....Vinnie sang and played guitars / songwriter. Vinnie should have went w/ them after his kiss Days, they would have been huge imo.. Check them out on you tube...great stuff! Love New England saw them twice once w/ the outlaws and once w/ Kiss. You should do an Angel review, unless you have and I mised it? Danzing/ Oasis/ Noel Gallageher/Manilow / Rod stewart would also be great!
I looked thru rants for best covers. Could not find it, Pete. Help?
I saw these guys when they opened for Kiss in Pittsburgh on the Dynasty tour. Even though I already knew who they were, I would have rather seen Judas Priest or Cheap Trick open like the rest of the states did.
Hey, Pete. What do you think of Steve Perry's solo material?
Hey Pete! I got that same shirt but does yours have the photos from the back of the album cover and track listing (25 year anniversary)? I am definitely compelled to check this band out, especially since my onscreen identity is in reference to the New England states
Nope, nothing on the back.
I also liked your use of the word “infiltrated”
@
Beanchowder Here ya go a Spotify link to New Englands Discography! Enjoy!
open.spotify.com/artist/5F7iQzteoPwRVD95AK92sA
@John Bernard WOW Thanks for the link. You probably hear from people all the time that they can identify songs but not the bands. I’m usually the opposite but this turned out to be the rare exception for me, probably because I haven’t heard Don’t Ever Want to Lose Ya in about 40 years. Hmmmmm Interesting, they also sound kinda Styx-ish in spots as well as influenced by Sweet. Very cool, John
@@MochaDaisy8645 NP, glad to share, glad you enjoyed it.
New discovery, like it. Sounds Beatlesish first song Debut album
I agree with Pete...their first lp is good but explorer suite is a little more mature
I had their first lp. They were ok to me
Good stuff. A little like Angel imo
Please. Pete, Ranking the Studio Albums of Enslaved and Amorphis. Please, please, please.
can you do a ranking studio album of andromeda uk heavy blues rock band
Check out Irish prog legends Fruupp. Keep up the great work,!!
i hear gentle giant and yes in new england's first album
... and other times they sounded like they listened a lot to the Babys
cool!
mink devilleand willy deville please- great artist!
Same ranking for me.
i also hear ambrosia as well
Pete Struggling with Northeastern region of United States, New England = Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
Well aware, just didn't think I had to name them all. Mass is what I really wanted to highlight cause that's where the band is from.
Explorer Suite was much better than the debut IMHO. Too much wall-to-wall big keyboards, although "Shoot" was a good gutsy poor-man's Sweet style Rocker. P.U.N.K. might've been okay, but Queen gave us the only Prog-Rock nod to the Punk movement we'll ever need with "Sheer Heart Attack" 😉
what, no mention that Todd Rundgren produced Walking Wild ? he also wrote what I think is the best song on the album "L-5". how about an album ranking of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band (7 albums total plus 1 without Alex Harvey, just the band, which is actually quite good).
It's on the list to happen eventually.
@@seaoftranquilityprog thanks, Pete can't wait for that, definitely one of my favorite bands from the fantastic and creative 70s era !!
Thanks for mentioning Todd Rundgren’s involvement with this album and the song he wrote. Longtime Todd fan here but I had not heard of this. Even though it was third on Pete’s list, I’ll listen to this first because of Todd. Thanks again.
Ah yes New England the most underrated/extremely unappreciated hard rock band to live
Not my style, more girly stuff that got in the way of hard rock, prog & fusion.
Says the guy that wears panties