Styx And Night Ranger Singers... Together Again!

11/01/06 8:00pm

If the names Styx and Night Ranger induce queasiness when you hear them, we don't even know what kind of an effect a collaborative album from those bands' singers might have on your constitution. But we'll find out on Feb. 20, when Styx's Tommy Shaw and Night Ranger's Jack Blades reunite for the second Shaw Blades album, Influence.

The follow-up to 1995's Hallucinations features covers of popular songs from the '60s and '70s and was inspired by the duo's work together on a cover of Spirit's "Nature's Way," which appeared on Blades' self-titled solo album in 2004.

"We had so much fun doing it, so we thought, 'Wouldn't it be great if we could actually do a whole album like this?'" Blades told Billboard.com.

Among the songs chosen for Influence were Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze," The Zombies' "Time Of The Season," Emerson Lake & Palmer's "Lucky Man," The Mamas & The Papas' "California Dreamin'," The Hollies' "On A Carousel," Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" and Simon & Garfunkel's "I Am A Rock" and "Sounds Of Silence."

Shaw Blades will tour in support of the album in February and March, but no dates have been announced.

Blades is also working on a new Night Ranger studio album and a live effort taped in Tokyo in 2003. And to prove that he rarely stops motorin', he'll also produce a new album for Damn Yankees bandmate Ted Nugent early next year.

Here are the songs on Influence:

"Summer Breeze"
"Time Of The Season"
"Your Move"
"I Am A Rock"
"Lucky Man"
"Sounds Of Silence"
"California Dreamin'"
"On A Carousel"
"Dirty Work"
"For What It's Worth"
"Dance With Me"