Bob Ryan
The Spirit of Andy Devine
© 2007 Bob Ryan (700261216201)
CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.
SPECIAL: 20% discount if you buy more than one copy of it today!
a beautifully-produced and thoughtfully arranged set of songs -- lyrically rich and steeped in classic, iconic American imagery. Co-produced by grammy award winner Billy Williams (The Road to Ensenada/Lyle Lovett)
tracks
try this
albums you will love
genres you will love
By Location
Recommended if you like ...
notes
The Spirit of Andy Divine
Bob Ryan began performing professionally at the age of 11 and was a member of a working band by the time he was 14. He began writing songs at about the same time.
As the son of a military family he crisscrossed America a dozen times in his first 20 years. That experience of rolling across the vast American landscape on lonely 2-lane highways during the 1950’s and 60’s left an indelible stamp on his life, and on his songwriting. The rivers, roads, mountains and plains of the American heartland, and the iconic images of American culture are woven deeply into his storytelling.
With a voice and style that defy easy classification, lyrics that are both unambiguous and poetic, and a gift for memorable melody, Bob Ryan shares moments of faith, doubt, love, and regret through songs full of heart and humor.
Like a good journalist, his chronicles of his own journey “down here on the surface” probe the universally shared experiences of the human heart – always anchored to the earth while keeping an eye Heaven.
In “The Spirit of Andy Devine,” Bob takes a long, lingering look at life’s impermanence ... from childhood memories and misplaced love affairs to heroic icons and the once-romantic image of the great American West. Or maybe western culture itself.
In the album's title song, Ryan looks at the West as a boarded up old boom-town, creaking and teetering and longingly searching the vast empty plains for a glimpse of the great heroes of the past. And hovering over them, Andy Devine, the hero’s great comic sidekick, sadly forgotten by time.
In these 14 tracks, we catch glimpses of Elvis and Patsy Cline, roadside taverns and long, unbending highways, freight trains, dusty farms and life on the Mississippi. Ryan introduces us to characters like the bitter Texas Jim, whose eyes are “... as wide and empty as the prairie south of Broken Bow Nebraska in the fall,” and drifts us back into childhood, with its "long, slow days / the open-ended time.."
But it’s not all endings and lost chances. This album is, as the closing track claims, “... a song that comes out hopeful in the end.”
reviews
Please log in to review this album.
the spirit of andy devine
author: Marty RudnickThis is one of those recordings that first captures your attention, and then your imagination. There’s something incredibly genuine and authentic about Bob Ryan…whether it’s the sincerity in his voice, the vivid imagery of the words and the story it tells…each song is like a Remington painting and a Zane Grey novel. It stands up nicely against any of the classic releases from the Asylum label.
the spirit of andy devine
author: Toni ThompsonInspiring, refreshing, and straight from the heart, the music and lyrics of Bob Ryan are perfect listening for my travels across the countryside, across town, or just for traveling in my own space. Bob's lyrics make me think and feel, and his crisp, brilliant music wraps around the soul. Clear and simple, but not siplistic. Complex and deep, but far from complicated. Enjoy Bob Ryan's music and messages...
the spirit of andy devine
author: laura gazawayI really loved it. I smiled and cried as it brought back memories of loved ones and good times. The lyrics are thoughtful and inspiring.
Beautifully arranged set of original tunes with heart-felt lyrics.
author: Dan RutlandOn a recent drive across the Navajo nation in N.E. Az., this cd played the perfect soundtrack. A nice feel throughout, relaxing, sometimes humorous. Impeccable instrumentation and arrangements. Brilliant harmonies. We listened to it twice in a row. Ryan's style is a marvelous amalgam of his many influences.
Heartfelt ride down Route 66
author: Jeff Del NeroI have listened to this CD about 7 times now, and each time it brings me back to the times I have traveled along I-40 and Route 66 from Flagstaff to Needles. Especially around the area that inspired the title track - The Spirit of Andy Devine. The production and performances on these tracks are superb. I recently took it on two road trips and it flowed along with the highway. Great work!
Classic, lyrically rich songwriting, interesting arrangements and beautifully pr
author: CJ DockerThe Spirit of Andy Devine is a beautifully-produced and thoughtfully arranged set of songs -- lyrically rich and steeped in classic, iconic American imagery. There's not a weak track in the bunch. The title track itself is a classic piece of americana, enhanced by a sweet, yearning steel guitar and backround vocals that are softy reminiscent of the Sons of the Pioneers. Other standouts are "Just Like You Mean It," featuring some achingly beautiful backing vocals by Amy Quinn; "Rachel" with its haunting cello and violin; and "Never Want to Go," which moves along at a fine clip with some excellent gut-string guitar by co-producer Billy Williams.