Ruthie Morris

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Ruthie Morris
Ruthie Morris guitar and vocals 2006.jpg
Morris performing with Magnapop in Belgium on April 21, 2006.
Background information
Birth nameRuth Mary Morris
Born (1964-03-05) March 5, 1964 (age 60)
West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
Origin Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • vocals
Years active1989–present
Website magnapop.com

Ruth Mary Morris (born March 5, 1964) is an American musician who is the guitarist for the rock band Magnapop. Her pop punk/power pop guitar style helped to define the band's sound and she has co-written their minor hit singles "Slowly, Slowly" and "Open the Door".

Contents

History

Morris is originally from West Palm Beach, Florida and began playing music there as a member of The Pockets after first learning guitar at the age of 20. [1] In 1989, she transplanted herself to East Atlanta, [2] where she met Linda Hopper—a member of the Athens, Georgia music scene in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The two became friends and began writing songs together, forming the core of Magnapop. [3] Magnapop went on to record four extended plays and three studio albums through the 1990s and released two minor hit singles on the Modern Rock Tracks chart—"Slowly, Slowly" and "Open the Door". The band also toured the music festival circuit and opened for major alternative rock acts such as R.E.M.

After the 1996 release of Rubbing Doesn't Help , Magnapop found themselves dropped by their record label, and unable to record for seven years due to contractual obligations. In this time, Morris moved to Seattle, Washington. [1] In 2004, she played with the one-off group The New Candidates with Curtis Hall [1] and released the 7" single "I'm Coming Down"/"Set It on Fire" on Mt. Fuji Records, with recording and mixing by John Randolph; recording, mixing, vocals, and percussion by Mike Jaworski; and bass guitar by Ben Larson. Hopper, Morris, and a group of Seattle musicians also demoed some Hopper/Morris songs during this period. [1] In 2005, Magnapop released their first album in nine years— Mouthfeel —on Amy Ray's Daemon Records. The re-formed group toured to support the record throughout the United States and the festival circuit in Europe and has continued to perform and record through 2010. The self-released album Chase Park was made available in late 2009.

In the 2009 Georgia floods, Morris lost much of her musical equipment, Magnapop memorabilia, and the first Compact Disc pressing of Chase Park . [4] Atlanta musicians—including former Magnapop bandmate Tim Lee and Amy Ray—threw a benefit concert to assist her in replacing her losses on December 15, 2009. [5]

In 1993, Juliana Hatfield wrote "Ruthless" in honor of Morris [6] after the two had a conversation about Camille Paglia [7] while touring in 1992 ("We're all gushin', but I swear we really mean it, man/We're all sucking up to Ruthie.") It appeared as a B-side on the Juliana Hatfield Three singles "Spin the Bottle" and "My Sister". [8]

Musical style

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
Open the Door
The chorus of "Open the Door" includes Ruthie Morris' guitar playing, which has been described on this song as "a flowing, chiming, Smiths/Johnny Marr guitar sound" that is uncharacteristic of her usual aggressive guitar playing.
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Morris is known for her particularly aggressive guitar-playing [9] and its interaction with Linda Hopper's pop-influenced vocals. [10] Critics have compared her style to punk acts like Ramones [11] as well as softer alternative rock musicians such as Johnny Marr. [12]

Discography

Morris' non-Magnapop releases include:

Sampled guitar
Guitar, songwriting, and vocals

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnapop</span> American pop punk band formed in 1989

Magnapop is an American rock band based in Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 1989, the band has consistently included songwriting duo Linda Hopper as vocalist and Ruthie Morris on guitar. Magnapop first achieved recognition in the Benelux countries of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg through the festival circuit and have remained popular in Europe throughout their career. After modest success in the United States in the mid-1990s with the singles "Slowly, Slowly" and "Open the Door" and a series of albums produced by Michael Stipe, Bob Mould, and Geza X, the band went on an extended hiatus due to the dissolution of their record label. They returned with a new rhythm section in 2005 on the Daemon Records release Mouthfeel. The band has continued to perform and record since this reunion and have self-released two more albums. Magnapop's musical style is noted for blending the pop vocals and melodies of Hopper with the aggressive, punk-influenced guitar-playing of Morris and her back-up vocal harmonies.

Oh-OK was an American musical group from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1981 with singer/lyricist Linda Hopper, bassist/vocalist/lyricist Lynda Stipe, and drummer David Pierce. Other members later included drummer David McNair and guitarist Matthew Sweet. The trio began practicing together at parties in the college community in the spring of 1981. Their first club performance break came when Stipe's brother, Michael Stipe of R.E.M., needed an opening band for a show at the 40 Watt Club.

<i>Magnapop</i> (album) 1992 demo album by Magnapop

Magnapop is the debut album by Magnapop, released in 1992 and re-released with bonus tracks on July 29, 1997.

<i>Hot Boxing</i> 1994 studio album by Magnapop

Hot Boxing is the second studio album by Magnapop, released in 1994. "Lay It Down" and "Slowly, Slowly" were released as singles. Music videos were created for "Lay It Down", "Slowly, Slowly", and "Texas". Having Priority release the album was a radical departure from the label's earlier emphasis on rap.

<i>Rubbing Doesnt Help</i> 1996 studio album by Magnapop

Rubbing Doesn't Help is the third album by Magnapop, released in 1996.

<i>Mouthfeel</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Magnapop

Mouthfeel is the fourth studio album by the pop band Magnapop. It was released in 2005 through Daemon Records, with European distribution through DevilDuck Records. The album is the band's first release since their last record in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnapop discography</span>

The discography of Magnapop—an American rock band from Atlanta, Georgia—consists of five studio albums, one live album, four extended plays, and six singles.

<i>Kiss My Mouth</i> 1993 EP by Magnapop

Kiss My Mouth is a 1993 EP by Magnapop released in Europe by Play It Again Sam Records on Compact Disc and 12" gramophone record Two of these tracks would later be re-recorded for their 1994 studio album Hot Boxing.

<i>Big Bright Cherry</i> 1994 EP by Magnapop

Big Bright Cherry is a 1994 EP by Magnapop released promotionally in the United States by Play It Again Sam Records on Compact Disc and 10" gramophone record red vinyl Several of these songs also appear on the studio album Hot Boxing.

<i>Fire All Your Guns at Once</i> 1996 EP by Magnapop

Fire All Your Guns at Once is a 1996 EP by Magnapop released in the United Kingdom by Play It Again Sam Records on Compact Disc and 7" gramophone record In the United States, it was issued by SideOneDummy Records on purple vinyl (603967000979) on April 1, 1998, and as a promotional Compact Disc by Priority Records in 1996. Two of these tracks are also featured on their studio album Rubbing Doesn't Help.

<i>Magnapop Live at Maxwells 03/09/2005</i> 2005 live album by Magnapop

Magnapop Live at Maxwell's 03/09/2005 is a 2005 live album by Magnapop, released through online music providers including eMusic, the iTunes Store, and Rhapsody.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slowly, Slowly (Magnapop song)</span> 1994 song by Magnapop

"Slowly, Slowly" is a 1994 single by Magnapop from the album Hot Boxing, released by Play It Again Sam Records on CD and 12" gramophone record, as well as a limited-edition white vinyl version A promo CD edition was released by Priority Records as DPRO 50804. A recording of the song is also featured on the live album Magnapop Live at Maxwell's 03/09/2005. A music video was created for the song in 1994 and it was featured on the 1995 soundtrack to the film Mad Love.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lay It Down (Magnapop song)</span> Single by Magnapop

"Lay It Down" is a 1994 single by Magnapop from the album Hot Boxing, released by Play It Again Sam Records on CD and 12" gramophone record A promo CD edition was released by Priority Records as DPRO 50820. A live recording of the song appears on the German edition of 2005's Mouthfeel and the song also appears on 1993's Kiss My Mouth. A music video was created for the song in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Open the Door (Magnapop song)</span> 1996 single by Magnapop

"Open the Door" is a 1996 single by Magnapop released by Play It Again Sam Records as a CD maxi-single, two-track CD and 7" on red viny. A promotional CD and 10" were released by Priority Records. Live recordings of the song appear on the German edition of 2005's Mouthfeel and the live album Magnapop Live at Maxwell's 03/09/2005. A music video was created for the song in 1996.

<i>Sugarland</i> (EP) 1992 EP by Magnapop

Sugarland is a 1992 EP by Magnapop released in Europe by Play It Again Sam Records on Compact Disc and 12" gramophone record The former two of these tracks are also featured on their debut album Magnapop and the latter two were added on to the 1997 re-release of the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merry (song)</span>

"Merry" is a song by American power pop band Magnapop. It was initially released in 1990 as the B-side to a 7" through Safety Net Records under the band's original name of Homemade Sister. The song was re-recorded and released again on the EP Sugarland as well as the band's self-titled debut album in 1992 on Solid Records (527.9013.40.)

<i>Chase Park</i> 2009 studio album by Magnapop

Chase Park is the fifth studio album from Magnapop, released on September 4, 2009. The recording is the first from the band released independently on the vanity label The Kraft Records. Lead songwriters Linda Hopper and Ruthie Morris began writing for the album after they ceased touring for Mouthfeel in 2006 and the track "Future Forward" debuted on the 2005 live album Magnapop Live at Maxwell's 03/09/2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linda Hopper</span> American singer and songwriter

Linda Elizabeth Hopper is an American singer and the vocalist for the Atlanta, Georgia-based rock group Magnapop. Her pop punk/power pop vocal style helped to define the band's sound and she has co-written their minor hit singles "Slowly, Slowly" and "Open the Door". Prior to the formation of Magnapop, Hopper was a member of the Athens, Georgia music scene in the early 1980s, which included R.E.M., The B-52s, and her own band Oh-OK.

<i>The Circle Is Round</i> 2019 studio album by Magnapop

The Circle Is Round is the sixth studio album by American alternative rock/pop punk band Magnapop.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Cokyuce, Ozgur (December 2008), Magnapop/Ruthie Morris, Punk Globe , retrieved June 29, 2009
  2. ↑ Verrico, Lisa (April 1994), "Magnapop", Vox
  3. ↑ Gross, Jason (July 2001), "Linda Hopper: Oh OK", Perfect Sound Forever
  4. ↑ Radford, Chad (December 15, 2009). "Ruthie Morris benefit tonight at the Earl". Creative Loafing . Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  5. ↑ Harrison, Shane (December 10, 2009). "Live music picks, Dec. 11–17". Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Archived from the original on February 1, 2010. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Juliana Hatfield Interview", Sassy , September 1993
  7. ↑ "White Hot Band", Sky , January 1994
  8. ↑ Larkin, Colin (August 20, 2007), The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music , vol. 4 (2 ed.), Guinness Publications, originally from the University of Michigan, p. 2,669, ISBN   978-1-56159-176-3
  9. ↑ Warminsky, Joe (February 2, 2005). "Quick Spins". Washington Post . Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  10. ↑ LaBrack, Jill (February 10, 2005). "Magnapop: Mouthfeel". Pop Matters . Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  11. ↑ Pareles, Jon (November 5, 1992). "Pop and Jazz in Review". The New York Times . Retrieved June 24, 2009.
  12. ↑ Boehm, Mike (July 27, 1996). "Well-Traveled Territory Revisited". L.A. Times . Retrieved June 29, 2009.
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