Memorable originals
author: Dan Forte - Vintage Guitar Magazine
Vintage Guitar
Nov 2005
Jay Ruffin, Skeleton Key
Ruffin supplies vocals, bass, keyboards, and twangy guitar, on this set of
memorable originals, which he co-produced with label head Nancy Apple, who
sings backup here (with Reba Russell) and is in the Memphis songwriter's
all-female (?cant' read word) Jay Ruffin & The Luv Muffins. A potent
combination. -DF
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It’s rock, but with a taste of that ol’ Memphis soul at times. Quite nice.
author: Nightflying Magazine
SKELETON KEY
Jay Ruffin
Ringo
Hello information, give me Memphis, Tennessee ... oh wait, I’ve got the number right here: 901-213-9726 ...yep, that’s the number to call if you want to find out more about Ringo Records and/or Jay Ruffin Harrington. Most of the tunes on this disc were cut with just Jay and one or two others and yet they have plenty going for them. It’s rock, but with a taste of that ol’ Memphis soul at times. Quite nice. Nancy Apple co-produced along with Jay and even joins in on vocals some. Mostly he gets percussive help from Jason Hatcher. Barry Bays adds some bass work and Johnathon Treeby handles organ on a couple cuts and Reba Russell adds background vocals. Other than one cover, Jay wrote all the songs.Â
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Jay is my hero!
author: Mark Wehner
Born on the Mississippi Delta, Jay Ruffin has more than enough heart and soul to make his debut disc, Skeleton Key, a memorable experience. He's also figured out the trick to the grueling life of being a musician on the road: The Luv Muffins is an all girl band. Jay ... you're my hero!
Mark Wehner - Americana Tonight, Nashville
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a straight-up rocker, one whose sound bounces agreeably from the vaguely rootsy
author: Chris Herrington - Memphis Flyer
Sound Advice
The Flyer's music writers tell you where you can go.
A longtime sideman and collaborator for local roots-music queen Nancy Apple, Jay Ruffin goes solo this month with Skeleton Key, the first release on Apple's Ringo Records not by Apple herself. Ruffin has recorded solo before, under the name Jay Harrington (Ruffin is his middle name), but with Skeleton Key the ostensible alt-country player has undergone a skillful, convincing makeover as a straight-up rocker, one whose sound bounces agreeably from the vaguely rootsy (think Steve Earle or Tom Petty) to the poppy (Marshall Crenshaw) to slightly harder, more electric stuff ('80s/early-'90s college rock).
The guitars on Skeleton Key cut more than jangle, but it's the songcraft that stands out: Some songs -- "Dirty Little Town," with its background vocals and big guitar solo; "Common Ground," with its growling vocal, blues-rock guitars, and organ fills --fit into the classic-rock vein. But the best-sounding songs --"Run Virginia Run" or the uptempo "Never Be the Same" -- have the pop gallop of vintage Crenshaw. As a transition from alt-country to straight-up rock, Skeleton Key bears some musical resemblance to the Old 97s' breakout albums Fight Songs and Satellite Rides, though Ruffin's lyrics aren't in the same ballpark as Rhett Miller's best.
Ruffin will celebrate the release of Skeleton Key at Paddy's Irish Pub, inside the Edge District's Stop 345 space, Saturday, April 16th. Helping him out will be his all-female backup band, The Luv Muffins.
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