The Music of
JACK RUGAN

Dating back to 1980, "City Western" is the 26th solo album from the ultra-prolific singer/songwriter, Jack Rugan.

FROM JACK
“City Western” is a very honest and personal record. As with many songwriters, my life experiences have influenced most of my writing. The only songs in this collection that are fictional are “All night drinkin’”, “Rhymes with girl”, and “Campfire!”. All the other tunes in some way, shape, or form, are based on the ups and downs of the past 15 years or so. It’s an album about various types of loss, missed opportunities, missed connections, missteps, and ultimately accepting where one is at in their life. 

I’ve always been a fan of the “pop country” music of the 60’s and 70’s. I’m talking the likes of Glen Campbell, Jimmy Webb, Charlie Rich, Mac Davis, and several others. Those country crossover hits of that time shined on top-40 AM radio because they were simply well-crafted tunes! With “City Western”, I wanted to honor that style of music. There's also nods to folk rock/pop greats such as Neil Young, The Byrds, and Gordon Lightfoot. 
The initial instrumentation/backing tracks for some of the songs on this record date back as far as 2007, just waiting to be part of cohesive collection of tunes that fit into that genre. It’s taken many years, but it has finally happened!

I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to have a listen. I'm pretty damn confident you will enjoy this one!

Much thanks to Paula Elser Clare Ciminero for her accompanying vocals on several songs, and Rick Christyson for the amazing additional rhythm guitar work and soaring solos!