Album Premiere ~ Floater: A Tribute to the Tributes to Gary Floater

"For those of you not in the music business, a tribute album is a way of saying "thanks for the songs but please don't sing them." - Gary Floater

On May 4th, Eight 30 Records will salute elusive singer-songwriter Gary Floater with Floater: A Tribute to the Tributes to Gary Floater. The eighteen-track collection features a veritable who's who of Lone Star state artists paying tribute to the man, the myth, and the legend via a musical journey of his classic tunes - simple, brutally honest, and laced with (oddball) humor and heart.

Divided into two sides, with a short pause containing a message from Eight 30 Records co-owner Jenni Finlay, Floater kicks of with Walt Wilkins' laying it all out on “Whatever Man” then segues right into Jamie Lin Wilson and Courtney Patton relaying a dose of political perspective on “That's When the Eagle Screams," while Jason Eady rallies for a night of revelry on the bluesy “Stand Back Boys I'm Fixing to Care," and Brennen Leigh covets a good meal in “Pull Over I Wanna Eat That.” And that's just side one.

Side two features additional forgotten treasures including Noel McKay expounding on the "joys" of performing on "Let's Get This Over With" and The Band of Apostles delivering the hard truths about a "Sad Mall," as Kelley Mickwee goes coastal on "Sunburn Lake," and Bonnie Whitmore welcomes a new "friend" on the jaunty "Hello Diabetes."

Singular, subtle, and slightly kooky, the songs of Gary Floater speak volumes while giving us insight into the genius who influenced many. Today, TDC is pleased to premiere Floater: A Tribute to the Tributes to Gary Floater in its entirety below. You'll smile, you'll laugh, you'll wonder where these gems have been all your life.....and you'll wanna press repeat 'til the button doesn't work.

SIDE ONE
Walt Wilkins • “Whatever Man”
The Band of Heathens • “The Dirty South”
Jamie Lin Wilson feat. Courtney Patton • “That's When the Eagle Screams”
Matt Harlan • “Let Me Kiss You Where It Hurts”
Jason Eady • “Stand Back Boys I'm Fixing to Care”
Matt the Electrician feat. Little Brave and Seela • “A Hero Never Learns”
Brennen Leigh • “Pull Over I Wanna Eat That”
Rod Picott • “That's What I'm Gonna Do”

SIDE TWO
Noel McKay • “Let's Get This Over With”  
Kelley Mickwee • “Sunburn Lake”
Chris Fullerton • “Holding On So Tight”
James McMurtry • “Grandpa's Promise”
The Band of Apostles feat. Jason Eady and Gordy Quist • “Sad Mall”
Bonnie Whitmore • “Hello Diabetes”
BettySoo • “Y'all Watch This”
Guy Forsyth • “Thanks Me”
The River Choir • “The River Flows”

The mysterious Floater, who is often a no-show at his own gigs, will embark on his 40-city “Drink a Forty for the Fortieth” tour later this year celebrating the 40th anniversary of his unforgettable 1978 landmark album Denim on Denim, which features several songs on the new tribute.

Floater: A Tribute to the Tributes to Gary Floater will be released on May 4.
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