From the first notes of its title track, Deric Ruttan's new album First Time In A Long Time roars out of the speakers with a cool confidence and hip swagger that both illustrate Ruttan's understanding of his craft, and underscore his commitment to its straightforward, honest delivery. With its sing-along, infectious chorus, "First Time In A Long Time" is like a wink to Ruttan's fans who know exactly how long it's been since he's delivered new music.
Reclining in a worn leather chair in a back room at Sony/ATV Publishing in Nashville, the singer contemplates the last few years. "I know it's been a while, but for me, it's always been about the songs -- not a pre-determined marketing schedule," says Ruttan, referring to the time between the release of his critically-acclaimed, self-titled debut disc, and the delivery of First Time In A Long Time. "I needed the songs to be right before I made another record." "And," he says, smiling, "I've been pretty busy."
That's a bit of an understatement. After the release of his debut Deric Ruttan, the Nashville-based singer found himself flying all over the continent, performing his music everywhere from clubs to county fairs to some of North America's biggest festival stages, sharing the bill with everyone from Brooks and Dunn to Randy Travis. He was invited, on three separate occasions, to perform on the Grand Ole Opry. Country audiences are drawn into his good humored, charismatic performances, while among industry insiders his self-penned songs and vocal style draw comparisons to Bruce Springsteen, Waylon Jennings, and Steve Earle.
Deric Ruttan was raised just outside Bracebridge, Ontario, on land where his great grandfather made moonshine in the 1930's. It was the perfect backdrop for the singer/songwriter, who grew up listening to everything from CCR to Gordon Lightfoot to Johnny Cash. After touring with several country bar bands, Ruttan moved to Nashville, and signed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Soon he had inked a recording contract with Disney's Lyric Street Records, and teamed up with veteran songwriter and producer Steve Bogard, to record his debut album. When the disc was released in Canada, the accolades and awards piled up quickly. The CD yielded 5 Top Ten singles, (including the hits, "When You Come Around", "Shine", and "Take The Wheel"), and earned him a "Best Album" nomination at the 2004 Canadian Country Music Awards. "Male Vocalist" and "Rising Star" nominations followed, as did the Grand Ol' Opry appearances, and a high-profile national tour. In 2004 he was named "Best New Solo Country Artist" at the Canadian Radio Music Awards. Stateside though, Ruttan's artist career was about to be eclipsed by his songwriting success.
Around the time Bogard and Ruttan were wrapping production on his debut CD, Ruttan's publisher asked if he would be interested in collaborating with another young Sony/ATV songwriter, Dierks Bentley. "My friend Brett Beavers and I had been writing together at Sony for about a year at that point," says Ruttan, "We'd written a couple of songs on my first album together -- 'I Saved Everything', and 'Shine'. When Dierks signed at Sony, the plan was that Brett would produce. The three of us started hanging out, drinking too much coffee, and writing songs."
One of those early collaborations, Bentley's debut "What Was I Thinkin'", was a 1 Billboard hit (the first 1 for all three songwriters), and helped set Bentley on the path to country stardom. To date, the Ruttan/Bentley/Beavers combination has produced 6 songs recorded by Bentley, including the Top 5 Billboard hit, "Lot Of Leavin' Left To Do." With Ruttan's Nashville songwriter cache increasing, he found his internal creative focus involuntarily shifting from recording his own next record, to writing songs for other artists. He continued to rack up cuts (over two-dozen to date) by artists like Gary Allan, Paul Brandt, Eric Church, and Aaron Pritchett. In 2004, Ruttan's "My Way", recorded by Canadian country artist Pritchett, was the most-played Canadian country song of that year. "Guys Like Me", (written by Ruttan and Eric Church), was a US Billboard hit for Church in the summer of 2007. In September of that year, Ruttan was awarded his first CCMA Award for Songwriter Of The Year (along with co-writers Aaron Pritchett and Mitch Merrett), for "Hold My Beer", recorded by Pritchett. "I'm very blessed," Ruttan says thoughtfully of his songwriting success, "Anytime another artist thinks enough of one of my songs to record it and put their stamp on it, I'm thankful."
After writing close to 100 new songs, and testing and retesting songs in front of his audiences, Ruttan decided it was time to head back into the studio. He enlisted the help of his friend and Grammy-nominated producer, Brett Beavers. As co-producers, the two set about the process of culling through Ruttan's catalog of songs, looking for the right ones to record. Musically, Ruttan and Beavers have crafted a very cohesive body of work. There is an energy and excitement that lives within the tracks on First Time In A Long Time, and all the songs, particularly the uptempo numbers, are framed within solid, 'E-Street-Band-infused-with-steel-and-fiddle' country-roots instrumentation.
"Good Time", the album's first single and a duet with Ruttan's friend Dierks Bentley, is a working class, feel-good anthem that preaches the importance of not only unwinding at the end of a long, hard week, but also of leaning on each other.
The equally rollicking "Marie" explores what happens when two small town dreamers find themselves back in their hometown, after the outside world did not live up to either of their expectations.
There is the raucous, tongue-in-cheek, "Lovin' You Is Killin' Me", which is destined to become a live performance favorite.
Ruttan's talent as a storyteller is well-showcased on songs like "Atlanta", a 'Nashville-specific' tale in which the singer cannot help but empathize with the pain his 'Nashville dream' has caused his young wife; and in the vivid, regret-tinged, "Almost Beautiful", where the singer expounds on missed opportunity from the back church pew at his former lover's wedding.
There are also the lyrically poignant, intimate moments for which Ruttan was praised on his debut album. On "maggie (cabin door)", a stripped-down, guitar-and-voice vignette written as a love song from Ruttan to his wife a mere 12 hours before the recording session, a returning lover proclaims to the one who waits on the other side of the door, 'I brought you roses, I brought you rain/diamonds on your windowpanes', and that if she opens the door, he will "Show her what these arms are for." On the convicted, "On The Inside", (co-written with east coast troubadour Jimmy Rankin), an addict underscores his commitment to not return to his addiction.
The Chris Isaak-infused "Right Where I Want You" is about as hard-rocking as a steamy love song can get, while "Who's Gonna Get Me Over You", (co-written with Rock'n'Roll Hall Of Famer Stan Lynch of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers), showcases Ruttan's smoky vocal delivery and range. There are classic country music themes at work, here. Lost love ("California Plates"), regret ("Almost Beautiful"), addiction ("On The Inside"), and most importantly, vindication ("First Time In A Long Time.")
Ruttan leans forward in his chair, taking a sip from a coffee cup on the table in front of him. His expression turns serious. "These songs have been a long time coming, and I'm extremely proud of this record. I can't wait to get out there and take this music to the people, because ultimately, that's all that matters, and that's where the fun is -- having your songs connect with real, live audiences."
Connecting with audiences seems to be what Ruttan's new album is all about. The first and second singles, “Good Time (with Dierks Bentley)”, and “First Time In A Long time” were both Top 10 hits in Canada, and their accompanying videos quickly ascended CMT Canada's video charts (“Good Time” - 1, “First Time In A Long Time” – Top 5). At the Canadian Country Music Awards in September, Ruttan was one of the most-nominated artists in attendance with a total of four nominations -- “Male Artist”, “Record Producer”, “Songwriter”, and, (most important to Ruttan), “Best Album”. The CCMA even called on Ruttan to close the show. Deric, (alongside fellow artist/CMT host Beverly Mahood), joined his old friend Randy Bachman (The Guess Who/Bachman Turner Overdrive), performing a song at the finale of the live broadcast.
With First Time In A Long Time in stores and a successful cross-Canada spring and summer tour under his belt, the future promises great things for Deric Ruttan.
