New England - The New England Archives Box: Vol 1 (2019) [CD-Rip]

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’.

Tracklist
Disc 1 (37:51)
1. Alone Tonight (02:57)
2. Nothing To Fear (04:11)
3. Candy (03:53)
4. I Will Be There (03:08)
5. Shoot (04:11)
6. Don't Ever Wanna Lose Ya (05:33)
7. Hello, Hello, Hello (03:50)
8. Even When I'm Away (03:29)
9. Searchin' (03:05)
10. Turn Out the Light (03:34)

Disc 2 (59:13)
1. P.U.N.K. (Puny Undernourihed Kid)[Blizzard Tape, New England, 1978] (03:28)
2. Hey You're On the Run (Blizzard Tape, New England, 1978) (03:22)
3. Shall I Run Away (Blizzard Tape, New England, 1978) (06:56)
4. I Let You Love Me (Blizzard Tape, New England, 1978) (06:07)
5. Bite the Bullet (Blizzard Tape, New England, 1978) (06:22)
6. You'll Be Born Again (Blizzard Tape, New England, 1978) (02:40)
7. Turn Out the Light (Earmark Studios, Philadelphia, 1978) (03:41)
8. Searchin' (Earmark Studios, Philadelphia, 1978) (03:12)
9. I Will Be There (Earmark Studios, Philadelphia, 1978) (03:16)
10. Candy (Earmark Studios, Philadelphia, 1978) (04:01)
11. Even When I'm Away (Earmark Studios, Philadelphia, 1978) (03:32)
12. Nothing To Fear (Earmark Studios, Philadelphia, 1978) (04:24)
13. It's So Easy (Earmark Studios, Philadelphia, 1978) (03:25)
14. Familiar Faces (Intermedia Studios, Boston, 1975) (04:47)

Disc 3 (51:07)
1. Hello, Hello, Hello (1978 Rough Mix Before Electric Lady) (03:38)
2. Shoot (1978 Rough Mix Before Electric Lady) (04:04)
3. Nothing To Fear (1978 Rough Mix Before Electric Lady) (05:17)
4. Alone Tonight (1978 Rough Mix Before Electric Lady) (03:48)
5. Don't Ever Wanna Lose Ya (1978 Rough Mix Before Electric Lady) (05:30)
6. Shall I Run Away (1978 Rough Mix Before Electric Lady) (05:17)
7. P.U.N.K. (Puny Undernourihed Kid)[1978 Rough Mix Before Electric Lady] (03:24)
8. The Last Show (1978 Rough Mix Before Electric Lady) (04:01)
9. Encore (1978 Rough Mix Before Electric Lady) (03:23)
10. Turn Out the Light (1978 Rough Mix Before Electric Lady) (03:49)
11. The Last Show (Trident Studio Rough Mixes, London, 1978) (03:30)
12. Don't Ever Wanna Lose Ya (Trident Studio Rough Mixes, London, 1978) (05:26)

Disc 4 (01:12:32)
1. Seal It With a Kiss (Intermedia Rough Mix) (03:23)
2. It's Never Too Late (Intermedia Rough Mix) (03:49)
3. Livin' In the Eighties (Intermedia Rough Mix) (03:22)
4. Hope (Intermedia Rough Mix) (06:09)
5. Conversation (Intermedia Rough Mix) (04:13)
6. No Place To Go (Intermedia Rough Mix ) (04:06)
7. Hey You're On the Run (Intermedia Rough Mix) (03:42)
8. Honey Money (Intermedia Rough Mix) (04:17)
9. Searchin' (Intermedia Rough Mix) (03:03)
10. You'll Be Born Again (Intermedia Rough Mix) (02:39)
11. Seal It With a Kiss (Intermedia Rough Mix 2) (03:14)
12. It's Never Too Late (Jim Boyer Mix, 1980) (03:58)
13. Rock Is Here To Stay (Target Demo)[John Fannon & Kenny Melle Vocals] (03:21)
14. Little Girl (Target Demo)[John Fannon Vocals] (03:10)
15. Is This What You Want (Target Demo)[John Fannon & Kenny Melle Vocals] (03:34)
16. Nothing To Fear (Target Demo)[John Fannon & Kenny Melle Vocals] (04:03)
17. Mixed Feeling (Target Demo)[John Fannon & Kenny Melle Vocals] (04:47)
18. Love of My Own (Target Demo)[John Fannon Vocals] (05:09)
19. Goodbye Goodbye (Target Demo)[John Fannon Vocals] (02:33)

Disc 5 (42:25)
1. Angel (Mono Demo) (03:51)
2. Back On the Streets Again (Demo) (06:32)
3. Headchopper (Mono Demo) (02:27)
4. Heat of the Ocean (Mono Demo) (04:11)
5. How Can I Let You Know (Mono Demo) (03:03)
6. I'm In the Middle (Demo) (03:32)
7. I'm Not Down (Mono Demo) (03:30)
8. Love Never Stops (Mono Demo) (04:17)
9. Marlena (Demo) (03:43)
10. Marlena (Mono Demo) (03:22)
11. Take Another Ride (Demo) (03:57)