New Train

Paul Pena | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 26, 2000)
• Original Release Date: September 26, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hybrid Recordings
• ASIN: B00004Y6R1
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #144,379 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Gonna Move

2. New Train

3. Jet Airliner

4. Wait on What You Want

5. Venutian Lady

6. Cosmic Mirror

7. Let's Move and Groove Together

8. Indian Boy

9. A Bit of All Right

10. Taking Your Love Down

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Paul Pena just passed away - give this forgotten masterpiece a listen, October 7, 2005

By 

Wolvie 1974 (Barcelona, Spain) - See all my reviews

This review is from: New Train (Audio CD)

As I was checking the music news today, I was shocked to learn that Paul Pena had died last week. Like many others, I only knew about Mr. Pena because he had written Jet Airliner, the much-loved Steve Miller Band classic.
Then in 2000 I happened to stumble upon his New Train album. I bought it out of instinct, without previously listening to any of the tracks, and five years later it sits proudly among my ten all time favorite recordings by anyone... yes it is that good.
We live in an unfair world and the record industry undoubtedly is a heartless monster - it is now and so it was more than thirty years ago, when this beautiful work was originally recorded, just to be immediately shelved due to business/management issues.
New Train contains highly inspired soul, blues, gospel and country. Pena was a tremendously gifted performer and composer - just listen to the gorgeous, uplifting Gonna Move!! Also the gospel tinged, pedal steel driven New Train and the CSN-esque Venutian Lady (both with Jerry Garcia guesting on guitar) showcase Mr. Pena's genius.
And the original bluesy Jet Airliner renders Steve Miller's version obsolete - and this comes from a SMB fan. The whole CD is a pleasure to listen, crammed with soulful, heartfelt immaculately performed tunes.
The fact that Paul Pena's life was burdened by blindness, disease and managerial mishandling makes the listening even more compelling.
May he rest in peace.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where has this record been all my life?, October 4, 2000

By 

Glenn Fink (Arlington, VA United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: New Train (Audio CD)

This may sound funny, but I've been a fan of Paul Pena for 28 years. My father was a synthesizer player in 1972, and he toured Venezuela in a show that included Paul Pena. When Paul's debut album came out in 1973, my dad gave me his copy, and I listened to it every day for about 2 years. (I was 7 years old at the time). I wrecked the cover playing drums to it. It's a great soul-filled, bluesy folk-rock album. I have grown up with its sounds haunting me, and they still do, every day. I still have the first album, even found a second copy in a used bin in the 1980's, and I am in the middle of converting it to a CD so I can play it everywhere again (now that tape decks and turntables are getting rare). I never even knew about the existence of this unreleased second album. In fact when I ordered this, I didn't bother reading the description, and I thought it was a return to the blues for him. I knew about Jet Airliner being a hit for Steve Miller but I thought this was a long-overdue version. I am beside myself, I'm so happy there's another album from the early 70's, with guests like Jerry Garcia, Merl Saunders and the Persuasions. "Gonna Move" will rock your socks off. BUY this album, do not deny yourself Paul Pena for another day.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars what a gift, July 19, 2006

By 

scott cassin (connecticut) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: New Train (Audio CD)

Anyone truly interested in and educated about rock/soul/r&b music will be glad to own this cd. Warning... it will be lost on someone who is looking for an album full of big hooks and snappy radio hits. Technology like the web and XM radio leads true music lovers into material like this which was never mainstreamed yet deserves to be heard and enjoyed. I purchased this cd after learning about Paul in Genghis Blues. As child of the 70's and big big Steve Miller fan I was shocked to learn that Paul had written Jet Airliner, one of the biggest radio hits of the 70's. Frankly the two versions are not even comparable. Steve made the song into a monster rock radio hit while the original is a 5 minute plus r&b jam. Every song on this cd is worth enjoying. His lyrics are very personal and autobiographical, his guitar playing is simply outstanding. If you have seen Genghis Blues and combine what you saw of Paul's talent and spirit with what you hear on this cd you cant help but become a fan. Bottom line, this guy should have been a star and deserved a much longer, smoother, happier ride. Rest in Peace, Paul.