Interview with Steve Butler, on the new
Smash Palace release 'Over the Top'

The new CD has what seems to be a mixture of songs old and new. Which songs are new ones?

Steve Butler: New songs are "Lucky Me" which I wrote with Mary Lee Kortes, "Wish I Knew How", "One Way Track", "It's Not Enough", "Stand Beside Me".

Was the Mary Lee song a leftover from her album or written with the band in mind? 

SB: "Lucky Me" will be on Mary Lee's new CD...a different version. I produced her new CD. It was written for her but I thought if would fit Smash Palace as well.

Fans that have followed the band over the years will immediatley recognize a track from the Quincy album ("Dime Store Lies") and one ("Juliet To Me") from the self titled album. There are also a few older ones that have never appeared on an album. Why did you decide to record these songs again and what was it like to revisit the past?

SB: "Steal Her Thunder", "I'll Be There", "Ordinary World" and "Beautiful Face" are songs we had written but never recorded on a CD. We liked the songs alot and felt we had never really captured them on a recording so we decided to try them again and were pleased with the results. Brian left the band half way through the recording process and I think that Brian was less inclined to revisit the older material like "Dime Store Lies" and "Juliet To Me" than I was. These were my favorites from that time period and since we do perform them live, and the original LPs are no longer in print, I thought it would be interesting to record them again. Also, Brian originally sang both songs, so now it was my turn to take stab at them, so to speak.

Brian no longer performs with the band live. Did he contribute to the recording much after his decision to leave the band?

SB: Brian didn't participate on about half of the CD. When he left, he left, although I imagine we will be writing again for the next CD.

Are you playing the older songs live as well? Will you ever add songs such as "Living on the Borderline", "Count the Days" or some of the Quincy songs to your setlist?

SB: Like I said, we play "Dime Store Lies" and "Juliet To Me" in the live show. These songs are a part of my history as a songwriter so I think its important to include them in a show. "Dime Store Lies" was a really important song for Brian and I at the time we wrote it. I think its one of our best and I know that ex-zombie guitarist, Paul Atkinson loved the song and it helped us get our first record deal at Columbia Records. Many of the other songs from our earlier records really don't fit in with what we're doing now so there not part of the show.

I remember a show a few years ago where someone yelled out Quincy and you said you wanted to go back and do an album of the older tunes.  Is "Over the Top" sort-of the album you were talking about then?

SB: If I ever get around to doing an album of older material, I don't think I'd include new songs. I didn't really think of this as an album of old material...just a couple of songs that we do live and I thought it would be nice to record them too. Another reason to record "Dime Store Lies" again is because I never liked the original recording of it...the same with "Juliet". I think the way the songs sound now, at least sonically, is much closer to what I had always heard in my head. Unfortunately, I've worked with some mediocre producers in the past.

Do you enjoy recording an album completely on your own terms, not having to deal with a label and all the pressure that comes with that?

SB: It is great to make the best recordings you can make without someone looking over your shoulder, worrying about if your appealing to the right demographic and that music business bull, so I think the CD is much more representive of what we are really about. Record companies can really change the way a band sounds, often times not for the better. Also having our own studio is nice because we can work when we're inspired and we don't have to watch the clock or worry about being over budget.

Could you ever see yourself on a major label again or on a nationwide tour?

SB: Major label no, but touring yes and I think it's a distinct possibility in the near future. I no longer work a day job so I can just pick up and go if necessary.

Why is the album called, Over the Top?

SB: The art work suggested the title rather than the other way around... It's Brians title. He designed the CD cover. He's an amazing artist and art has always been a huge passion in his life... equal to music. He often times drops the music and does art and then switches back... I think its a great way to re-inspire yourself. I do miss him though. We've been gigging and writing together since I was 12. It's kind of weird to look over and not see him up on stage with the band. He did come up and sing with the band at the release party... tons of fun... you should have been there!

Where can people purchase the CD?

SB: They can get the CD on amazon.com, cd baby, itunes, and other pay-for-download sites. You can also go to Tower Records, Abbie Road CDs in Collingwood, NJ, and 3 Beans in Haddonfield, NJ... or contact me directly at stephenguitar@yahoo.com.