Customer Reviews

New Train

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Sometimes you have to wonder how many great artists just never get heard by the general public? Even after the tracks of this album were laid down so well, it still took 27 years to get out and get heard. Other reviewers have commented on the brilliance of Paul Pena's musicianship (he's incredible), so I won't. I can't help but think about the influence Paul's music would have had on young musicians growing up over the last 3 decades. This CD is technically beautiful, warm, bright, uplifting and has the driving spirit lacking in so much of todays mass produced pabulum. Buy this CD and along with the rest of us you can realize that you are playing a small part in getting Paul Pena into his rightful spot as one of the truly great talents of his generation. Then maybe, finally, his music will get airplay all over and everyone can bask in its warm light. Hopefully we won't have to wait another 27 years for his next album.

This album works on several levels. First of all, it's a tribute to a talented and neglected artist. Who knows what would have happened had this album been released right after it had been recorded. It might have made Paul Pena a household name or it might have quickly disappeared, like so many fine albums.

Secondly, this album serves as a time capsule of what was going on musically in the early 1970's. It's a synthesis of several musical genres. One can hear a marvelous blend of rock, country, reggae, blues and R&B throughout the album.

The ten track CD gets off to a fine start with "Gonna Move." This soulful number (with wonderful background vocals by the Persuasions) will have you snapping your feet and/or tapping your toes in no time. It has a wonderful loose feeling like a jam session that is so refreshing to hear. The title track follows and keeps a nice pace going. Pena's rocking pre-Steve Miller version of "Jet Airliner" quickens the pace a bit. "Wait on What You Want" then takes the listener into a more psychedelic mode.

Things mellow slightly with "Venutian Lady," then move back into the psychedelic mode with "Cosmic Mirror," before settling down into "Let's Move and Groove Together." The latter is a cover of Johnny Nash's Number 4 R&B hit of 1965. It's one of only two songs on the album not entirely written by Pena.

"Indian Boy" follows in fine form followed by "A Bit of All Right." In the latter reggae influenced song, one gets to experience Pena's piano playing (he sings and plays guitar on all tracks).

The set closes with the country flavored "Taking Your Love Down" (a/k/a "Bringing My Love Down"). It'll make you want to tap your feet also. At just under three minutes, it's the shortest track on the CD. It leaves you wanting more.

Pena is a gifted vocalist with a warm, somewhat raspy tone. His singing possesses a feeling of emotion so rarely heard in contemporary popular music. Also, he's a fine songwriter with lyrics that stay with you. As a footnote, both "Venutian Lady" and "New Train" feature Jerry Garcia on steel guitar.

In short, NEW TRAIN is a CD for people who like music. Not homogenized pop fodder, but music with texture, feeling and depth. The kind of music that was heard everyday in the 1970's. In other words, real music played by real musicians.

Hopefully, there won't be as long a wait for Pena's next album. In the meantime, check him out in the very entertaining documentary, GENGHIS BLUES.

This the absolutely the only album I would take on a desert island. It's unbelievable that such music ever was shelved. Probably bad luck. And now, after 27 years time has come to support Paul and give him the recognition he deserves. Buy this album!

I have had the pleasure of owning a tape of this unreleased record for the last ten years and have played it often, each time pausing almost breathless at the pure spirit that is Paul Pena as expressed in his music. For me, the Blues is basically dead. Only Honeyboy Edwards, John Lee Hooker, and some of those wildmen from Mississippi play it right. Paul Pena is one of the only true acoustic blues players left standing in this world and FINALLY you can get a hold of his own recordings (though the Genghis Blues soundtrack is obtainable on line and is worth the effort as well.) New Train is more than just blues however, and features A Capella players, Reggae players, strings, saxophones and the smooth Soul of Merle Saunders keyboards and the inscrutable presence of Jerry Garcia with some somewhat rare pedal steel guitar. Unclassifiable, this is music of deep human achievement. Paul is nearly three decades down the line from these tracks, though, and you should endeavor to hear him play, see the movie Genghis Blues (avail. Dec 5, 2000) and go to paulpena.com and genghisblues.com and find out all you can about this unique American genius who jammed with T-Bone Walker, Muddy Waters, and penned Jet Airliner, which you simply have to hear in its original version. Take it from me, you deserve NEW TRAIN.

I recently purchased this album - months after reading about Pena's death. What a shame that this album was on the shelves for 27 years before finally being released in 2000. Incredible album! Had it been released in 1973, Pena surely could have cut some more beautiful music - a great loss to all. Too bad Pena never got a chance to cut additional albums. Pena kinda reminds me of Rory Gallagher - great musician, but completely off the radar screen. You should purchase "New Train" to hear Pena's wide range - you will not be disappointed.

I was not sure what to expect when I ordered this, but I so loved Genghis Blues that I had to hear it. This is an amazing album. These songs are all winners. What a gift it is, and such a shame there will not be more to come.

Paul Pena is an intelligent blues player (he's also blind, for those who don't know) and this collection of powerful blues songs attest to his perseverance and skill at overcoming his personal obstacles to create wonderful music. I was also particularly excited when I found out that Jerry Garcia was playing on these tracks, which sealed the deal for me. THis is one of the best new releases in a long time, it is a classic album, and if you are a fan of classic rock and blues you absolutely need this cd. As others have said, its a gem. Also, Paul's song "jet airliner" absolutely kills the steve miller cover version!