Customer Reviews

Friend for Life

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

OK, so Bryan Bowers' singing isn't the best, but the instrumental work is outstanding. Several tracks stand-out for listening again & again. If you've ever had the opportunity to see this musician perform live, you'd love to have this album as a lasting memory...

This man is not to be believed. I say that because back in 1977,1978...I and a friend attended a concert by Bryan in Ch'ville, VA and it totally blew me away. The man is a complete artist and I dare anyone to say otherwise. For those that would be interested in the Autoharp, I mean, taking it up, as a hobby, this is the gentleman to be following. I "try" to play the 'harp like he does...and I do it service....but Bryan makes a 'harp sound like you are at the Heaven's Gates!!!

I wondered about the inclusion of some of the songs on this CD. And then it hit me while listening to Friend For Life. This is about the songs he learned in some special and memorable way. If you read the liner notes and listen well to the lyrics of the title song, you'll understand. I heard White Coral Bells on long trips in the car as a child. And it was my Mom and Dad who taught me how to sing it as a round. And thus my heart was also filled.
Now you'll have to go back and try to figure out who Bryan Bowers is thinking of with each of the offerings on this very special CD.
Enjoy!

I love this cd, but I'll be the first to admit that it has its weak moments. Bowers' singing is often pretty awful, and I don't know why he includes "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and "Frere Jacques". But yes, I love most of the cd. The title track is excellent, as are "Give Me The Roses", "Cluck Old Hen", "Shortening Bread", and "Crossing the Water."
In sum, when he's good, he's very good, and with the current technology it's easy to skip the howlers. If you like the autoharp, you'll most likely love this cd.

I bought this CD because of Bowers' reputation as an autoharp virtuoso, so I was more than a little surprised to find so many tracks on which the singing (I'll agree that some of it is mediocre) drowns out the instrument. I was hoping for more instrumental tracks. Despite my early reservations I've come to enjoy the CD, even Twinkle, Twinkle. If you're interested in plain and unpretentious singing, and you want to hear how amazing an autoharp can sound, I think you'll enjoy this CD.