True Myth - ST

Tracks

Side 1

		Track Name	Length
	1	Reach for the Heavens	06:09
	2	Light Years Before	06:13
	3	It's Got to Be	03:18

Side 2

		Track Name	Length
	1	Time and Time Again	04:55
	2	Space Promenade	04:29
	3	In the Mist	04:56
	4	Song of the World	04:53

Photos

Videos

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Information/Write-up

True Myth emerged from London, Ontario in 1977 as an outgrowth of a music industry class project at Fanshawe College. What began as a classroom collaboration quickly developed into a professional recording act. Keyboardist Tom Treumuth became the central organizing force, and with support from industry figure Gary Muth, the band secured a recording contract with Warner Bros. Records.

Released in 1979, True Myth (Warner Bros. TMD 2020) stands as one of the most significant technical milestones in Canadian recording history. The album was recorded live at Soundstage Studios in Toronto using a leased Soundstream two-track digital recording system under the technical production oversight of Jack Richardson. It is widely cited as the first digitally recorded rock album made in Canada and among the earliest commercially released digital rock recordings worldwide.

Musically, the record reflects late-1970s symphonic progressive rock, built around Treumuth’s keyboard palette — acoustic piano, electric piano, synthesizers, clavinet and Mellotron — alongside Tony Cook’s acoustic and electric guitar work, Steve McKenna’s bass and slide guitar, and the lead vocals of Bruce Cumming. The sessions also featured backing vocals by Ian Thomas and Marek Norman, electric string arrangements by The Armin Electric String Quartet, second guitar by Matt McKenna, and percussion contributions from Eric Cadesky. The album’s arrangements were credited to the band, with “Space Promenade” arranged by Paul Hoffert with assistance from Treumuth.

The lineup on the 1979 debut consisted of Bruce Cumming (vocals), Tom Treumuth (keyboards), Tony Cook (guitars), Steve McKenna (bass/slide guitar), and Brian Bolliger (drums).

In 1981, the band released its second and final studio album, Telegram, issued in Canada on Intercan/Hypnotic (IC 1015) and also released in Europe, including a Netherlands pressing on CNR. The album marked a stylistic shift toward streamlined classic rock and pop-rock songwriting. Malcolm McGuigan assumed the lead vocal role, Bob Stirajs joined on guitar, and Kirk Devereux and Brian Bolliger handled drums on the album. Bolliger performed on three tracks: “Give It Up,” “21st Century Man,” and “Growing Up.”

Following the band’s breakup, drummer and songwriter Brian Bolliger continued writing and performing, including work with Ian Wheatley’s group The Breakers. One of his compositions, “Radio,” was later recorded by Cherie Camp. Bolliger retained his publishing rights after royalty clarification through SOCAN.

Although True Myth’s recording career was brief, the 1979 debut has enjoyed sustained recognition within progressive rock circles. In 2010, the album was reissued in Japan by Belle Antique (BELLE 101734) as a limited-edition SHM-CD in papersleeve format replicating the original gatefold artwork. Licensed from Hypnotic International and manufactured by Marquee Inc., the reissue reaffirmed the album’s standing among international prog collectors and preserved its original seven-track configuration.

Following the band’s recording period, Tom Treumuth expanded his activities into a broader production and label enterprise. He established Hypnotic Studio and later launched Hypnotic Records, releasing over 100 albums across multiple genres through distribution partnerships including A&M and Universal. Over a career spanning more than four decades, Treumuth has produced over 60 albums, with eight achieving Gold or Platinum certification. His production and label work includes projects associated with Honeymoon Suite, Helix, Big Sugar, Anvil, Voïvod, Figgy Duff, Look People, GrimSkunk, and Chris Spedding, among others.

Treumuth also worked as a talent scout for RCA in New York and was signed as a songwriter to RCA Publishing. His management career has included Honeymoon Suite, Lee Aaron, U.S. rock group Steelheart, and Hamilton-born artist Kazzer, whom he signed to Columbia Records in New York. He also managed and co-produced Gypsy Rose, signing them to RCA in New York.

As of 2004, ownership of the Hypnotic Records catalogue transferred to Linus Entertainment, placing much of the imprint’s output within a larger Canadian catalogue framework.

True Myth occupies a distinct position in Canadian music history. Their 1979 debut remains a documented milestone in Canada’s early adoption of digital recording technology, while Telegram reflects the stylistic recalibration that marked the transition from late-1970s progressive rock into the early-1980s mainstream rock era.
-Robert Williston

Musicians
Bruce Cumming: vocals
Tom Treumuth: acoustic piano, electric piano, synthesizer, clavinet, mellotron
Steve McKenna: bass, slide guitar
Brian Bolliger: drums
Tony Cook: acoustic guitar (6- and 12-string), electric guitar (6- and 12-string)
Matt McKenna: second guitar
Eric Cadesky: percussion
Ian Thomas: backing vocals
Marek Norman: backing vocals
The Armin Electric String Quartet: strings

Songwriting
Reach for the Heavens: lyrics by Brian Bolliger, Tom Treumuth and Tony Cook; music by Tom Treumuth
Light Years Before: lyrics by Bruce Cumming; music by Tom Treumuth
It’s Got to Be: music and lyrics by Gary Furniss and True Myth
Time and Time Again: lyrics by Bruce Cumming; music by True Myth
Space Promenade: music by Tom Treumuth
In the Mist: lyrics by Bruce Cumming; music by True Myth
Song Of The World: lyrics by Bruce Cumming; music by Tom Treumuth

Production
Produced by Gary Furniss and True Myth
Produced by Tom Treumuth
Technical production by Jack Richardson
Engineered by Dave Greene, assisted by Jim Frank, Mike McCarty and Ringo Hrycyna
Arranged by True Myth except 'Space Promenade' arranged by Paul Hoffert, assisted by Tom Treumuth
Recorded at Soundstage, Toronto, Ontario

Manufacturing
Mastered at Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Don Mills, Ontario
Pressed at Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Don Mills, Ontario
Manufactured and distributed by WEA Music Of Canada, Ltd.
Printed by Shorewood Packaging Corp. of Canada Ltd.

Artwork
Artwork by Bart Schoales
Executive producer and art direction by Gary Muth
Inside photography by Myron Zabol
Outside photography by Fred Bird

Japan Reissue (2010 – Belle Antique BELLE 101734)
CD, Limited Edition, SHM-CD, papersleeve gatefold replica with obi and inserts
Licensed from Hypnotic International
Manufactured by Marquee Inc.
Phonographic copyright ℗ Belle Antique
Pressed by Almedio Inc.
Printed by Ichikudo Printing Co., Ltd.
Printed by Tokyo Denca Co., Ltd.
CD artwork coordination by Keiko Sakurai and Suguru Furuta

Liner notes
This album was recorded using the Soundstream digital recording process, a revolutionary and unique computerized method of recording music. Soundstream's advantages over conventional tape recorders are significant: digital recordings avoid conventional tape problems such as wow and flutter, hiss, noise, distortion and limited dynamic range. The first mechanical renderings of the recording (called the "lacquers") were cut at half speed directly from the digital recorders, thus allowing for a more accurate cutting of the grooves and effectively by-passing the use of tape altogether. Using this state of the art technology, the digital recording and mastering system allows for significant improvements in audio's century long quest for absolute perfection. Tomorrow's sound today.

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