707 was an American rock band of the early 1980s, best known for the rock radio hits "I Could Be Good For You" and "Mega Force".
The original members included Phil Bryant (bass, Vocals), Jim McClarty (drums), Duke McFadden (keyboards/synthesizers, vocals), and Kevin Russell (Guitars, vocals).[1] Initially signed to Casablanca Records, they achieved significant rock radio airplay with "I Could Be Good for You", written by McFadden and McClarty. It peaked at No. 52 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was featured on their first album, simply entitled 707. McFadden left the band before their second album.[1] "I Could Be Good For You" was included in the Adam Sandler film, Grown Ups.
"Strings Around My Heart" failed to repeat their first single's success, but that did not stop The Second Album from hitting the charts, peaking at No. 159 in the Billboard 200 in 1981.[1] 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.
The third 707 album was recorded in 1981 after completing a tour together opening for REO Speedwagon. The line-up was Kevin Russell (guitar), Phil Bryant (vocals/bass), Jim McClarty (drums) and Todd Howarth (keys/guitar). The album was shelved until it was finally released in 2004.
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 did not 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. The label decided that 707 needed a single, distinguishable vocal front man,[citation needed] 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.[1] The album peaked at No. 129 in 1982. The title track, originally recorded as the theme to the motion picture Megaforce,[1] repeated the success of their first hit, reaching No. 12 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock charts and rising to No. 62 on the Hot 100.