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OVERVIEW
Americana and Power Pop artists reinterpret and record 13 songs
originally performed by the classic rock band STYX.
HYPOTHESIS
By rethinking the arrangements of these STYX songs, and avoiding the
triple-tenor harmony vocals, progressive rock instrumentation, double-lead
electric guitar solos, and theatrical leanings of the original recordings,
the organic core of each song can be revealed and appreciated.
APOLOGY TO TODD
Salt Lady Records offers an apology to TODD SUCHERMAN,
the drummer for STYX. We forgot to thank him in the album credits! Sorry, Todd! We certainly didn't mean to leave you out. You rock.
PRESS INFORMATION
Are you a journalist who is interested in reviewing this album? If so,
please email executive producer Jonathan Rundman at saltlady@saltlady.com with your publication credentials.
Download the PRESS KIT for the album in PDF format:
RECORD REVIEWS
Below are some links to the many reviews of the album that are appearing
on various websites. Find the text to other non-web reviews posted on the Message Board.
Journalist Robert Pally posts comments from Styx Tribute artists at Swiss Records and Fufkin.
Mike Bennet's review at Fufkin.
Jody Serner's detailed review at 411 Mania.
Par Winberg's review at Swedish music page Melodic.net.
Scott Iwasaki's review in Deseret News.
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TOO MUCH TIME ON OUR HANDS:
A STYX TRIBUTE ALBUM
Singer/songwriter Jonathan
Rundman spent his elementary school days listening to albums by FM
radio arena-rockers STYX. As a
25-year-old in the late-90s, Rundman moved to Chicago, STYXs hometown, and
began a career as a full-time traveling musician. While playing club gigs in
Chicago, Rundman met Thomas Dunning, host of the infamous Hoot Night show
at Schubas Tavern. Dunning had recently released I Wanna Be Kate: The Songs
of Kate Bush, a tribute album on
his own independent label featuring contributions from Midwestern bands.
This Kate Bush Tribute CD provided a catalyst and inspired Rundman to pursue
a STYX Tribute project.
Little did Rundman know that executive
producing a compilation album with submissions from various bands across the
country would take nearly two years to complete. Back in the Summer of 2001
initial invitations went out to artists that Rundman thought might be
interested. After getting shot down by some big-time acts like Alison Krauss,
Rundman got interest from numerous indie rock and alt-country bands who had been
closeted STYX fans since the 1970s. As song submissions arrived Rundman was
amazed at the way the musical arrangements had evolved beyond the original
STYX album versions.
Pacific Northwestern female-fronted punk trio HEART BEATS RED turned in a
ferociously garagey interpretation of THE GRAND FINALE, ALVA STAR of Minneapolis channeled
Prince in their dreamy take on LADY, fellow Minnesotans ECHELON
modernized the rock classic RENEGADE, power-vocalist BEKI HEMINGWAY out-emoted the
original Dennis DeYoung composition DONT LET IT END, acoustic duo LOST AND FOUND made THE GRAND ILLUSION sound like Simon And Garfunkel, college-town troubadour JERRY CHAPMAN growled his way
through MAN IN THE WILDERNESS and JONATHAN RUNDMAN
himself teamed up his cousin BRUCE RUNDMAN and producer/drummer ANDY DEITRICH to record
the STYX staple COME SAIL AWAY and the obscure gem QUEEN OF SPADES.
Throughout 2002 Rundman received submissions from some of his favorite
musicians from across the American rock & roll landscape:
+ BLUE COLLAR MAN by TOM FREUND,
acclaimed LA singer/songwriter who has also played bass for Ben Harper, The
Silos, Graham Parker, and Victoria Williams, and has contributed to various
film scores including Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. Performing with Freund on the recording is JON BRION, multi-instrumentalist
and producer for Aimee Mann, Fiona Apple, Rhett Miller, and the Magnolia
Soundtrack.
+ TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS by DAG
JUHLIN, songwriter for long-time Chicago pop band The Slugs, and lead
guitarist for numerous national acts including Poi Dog Pondering, John Wesley
Harding, and Syd Straw.
+ BOAT ON THE RIVER by JEFF
KREBS, Upper Michigan native who began his critically lauded career
in San Francisco in the late-80s co-leading the pioneering alt-country band The
Easy Hoes with future-Everclear frontman Art Alexakis.
+ LIGHTS by BILL DANKERT,
drummer and songwriter for legendary Minneapolis country-rock heroes The Gear
Daddies, now fronting and playing guitar in The Real Austinaires.
+ BABE by JIM ROLL, Lower
Michigan-based singer/songwriter who has collaborated with The Silos and Chuck
Prophet on his most recent studio releases, and has composed music for lyrics
written by Hollywood screenwriters Denis Johnson (Jesus Son) and Rick Moody (The Ice Storm).
+ QUEEN OF SPADES featuringTHE ROSTENKOWSKIS, a pseudonym for Mike,
Matt, and Mark, the bassist, drummer, and lead guitarist for the Chicago
roots-rock band DOLLY VARDEN.
This rhythm section has powered some of the finest American rock albums of the past
few years, and Dolly Varden has played shows in Europe and the USA with many
diverse acts including Whiskeytown, Govt Mule, Rodney Crowell, Freedy
Johnston, Michael Hall, and Bennet & Burch.
Rundmans STYX Tribute Album was initially scheduled for release on his
own Salt Lady Records label in
the Fall of 2002, but Rundman came upon an opportunity to move to Minneapolis
from Chicago, so the relocation put the album on hold for a few months.
Finally in the Spring of 2003 the songs were assembled and mastered.
The CD artwork was created by painter/designer KELLY NEWCOMER, who brought
her peaceful technology themes to the project.
In the Summer of 2003, TOO MUCH TIME ON OUR HANDS: A STYX TRIBUTE
ALBUM was finally released. Coincidentally, the band STYX was
simultaneously launching a national tour (with Journey) in support of a new
studio album.
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for this tribute CD!
SONGS AND ARTISTS
Renegade
ECHELON
Lady
ALVA STAR
Blue Collar Man
TOM FREUND
The Grand Illusion
LOST AND FOUND
Boat On The River
JEFF KREBS
Don't Let It End
BEKI HEMINGWAY
Too Much Time On My Hands
DAG JUHLIN
Babe
JIM ROLL AND THE FAMOUS AUTHORS
Man In The Wilderness
JERRY CHAPMAN AND HIS EVIL HERBIVORES
Come Sail Away
JONATHAN RUNDMAN
Lights
BILL DANKERT AND THE REAL AUSTINAIRES
Queen of Spades
BRUCE AND JONATHAN RUNDMAN with THE ROSTENKOWSKIS
The Grand Finale
HEART BEATS RED
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