Hit The Ground Runnin’ - A Band Who Sell Their Music For $2000

  Hit The Ground Runnin' was founded in the mid-80s in New Jersey (USA), however under another name - Free Delivery. They recorded the debut album under the current name and called it „Sudden Impact“. It was officially released by now defunct Canadian label Autograph Records in 1989.


The quintet who recorded „Sudden Impact“ was the following: Paul Piccari (bass guitar, vocals), Blair Rumsey (lead vocals), Alan Augunnas (guitar, vocals), Jimmy Katone (drums, vocals) and Rob Kay also known as Rob Knauss (keyboards, vocals). Most of tracks on this album are performed at mid pace. All lead melodies are played by keyboards and they are complemented by guitar parts. Tracks haven’t got sophisticated structure, they are rather simple and backed by soft sound. Choruses are sang by a few instrumentalists at some moments, however the most charismatic character is Blair Rumsey. One of the representative tracks are „Magic“ (it proves the crucial role of keyboards) and „Moment To Moment“ (classic AOR love song). The videoclip was shot to „Over & Over“ that was also performed on the TV show - Dance Party USA. All is catchy in this track - vocal lines as well as keyboard and guitar parts.

„Sudden Impact“ is a record-breaking release on auctions. Copies of this item were sold for $227, $292, and someone paid $1950! Another man bought this album on tape for a nice price coming to $250. Was it a madness or a respect to the art of music in its purest form? Everyone should reply to this question on his/her own. In my humble opinion, it was a great frenzy! I can sincerely recommend this release to those who like Styx, AKA, Journey, Starship, Danger Danger, Marathon (US), The Koo, Bourgeois Tagg, A=440 and musically related bands.

Coming back to the Hit The Ground Runnin' history... Unfortunately, the group disbanded in the year 1990. All the fans had to wait ten years for the second release of the band. „Control Yourself“ was officially released in 2000 by Smash Records. The songs were written in 1990, but, as I mentioned, we had to wait one decade to have them pressed on CD. Blair Rumsey, Paul Piccari, Rob Knauss and Alan Augunnas stayed on their positions, and the only newcomer was Craig Soma who substituted for Jimmy Katone on drums. The opener is the title track - a melodic rock tune founded on guitar sound and with fewer keyboard parts. This track proves how important role of backing vocals is in the band’s repertoire. Actually, it is the fixed feature of Hit The Ground Runnin’. „Back Again“ includes solid guitar playing (especially solo) and distinct keyboard parts. „Shanghai’d“ is distinguished by harder sound, but still with catchy choruses (it is the same in another track „I.C.V“). „Born To Be With You“ is a typical AOR song telling about man-woman relationships. Keyboards are still important, and its proof is „Holding“, however the core instrument of the album is guitar indeed. „Control Yourself“ CD is as hit as „Sudden Impact“, but some critics and fans consider the second album even better than the debut. Highly recommended to the fans of Skagarack and Aviator.

Hit The Ground Runnin’ have accustomed us to wait at least few years for their next albums, and it was so in the case of the third official stuff. It was self-titled and published in 2007 by Smash Records again. There are only two original members: Blair Rumsey (lead vocals) and Paul Piccari (lead vocals, bass guitar) and three new members: Vinnie Martello (guitars, vocals; Crystal Roxx), Kalah Higginbotham (keyboards, vocals) and Adam Ferraioli (drums; Britny Fox, Tangier, Thrust). Hit The Ground Runnin’ on the third release is different band that we know from the years 1989 and 2000. Many songs are slow and calm (a downtempo rock song „Make It Through“). Most of them have simple structure („Live Our Life“) and are grounded on modern sound (like in Monkees’ cover - „Steppin’ Stone“). There don’t lack good ballads („Lost“) and lively tracks („Perfect World“), however there are also some having a soporific effect („Get Ready For Me“). A kind of novelty is using of acoustic guitar in „All I Feel“ - the neglected instrument on the first two albums. My favourite tunes are „Sad“ and „Laugh“, since they musically refer to the debut. A distinguishing one is the bonus song „Overnight Sensation“. It is not strange, because it is an outtake track from „Sudden Impact“. It clearly differs from the rest tracklist and is the most vivid song on the stuff.

What Hit The Ground Runnin’ musicians are doing? Most of the members have been touring with a production called Get The Led Out (being considered the American Led Zeppelin) and they play Hit The Ground Runnin’ songs for the encores. When are they going to record the 4th studio album? God only knows!*

* Actually, it is not true. Not only does God know, but I also know there is another release in the works for 2010 with a surprize guest. And God only knows who this guest is:)