Album Notes

Beyond the Straits – Songs of the Blue Water Ramblers
The Blue Water Ramblers travel all around Michigan sharing our music and our experiences with friends far and near. Beyond the Straits is a bouquet of descriptions of those travels and events from the 2008 and 2009 tours.

Coming Home by California Dan Lynn
California Dan prefers coming home to his family to leaving them, but his love of sharing music takes him on the road. He melodically traces out the Ramblers' musical year festival by festival.

Driving Song by Banjo-Jim Foerch
Banjo-Jim came of age in the middle of the 20th century in the Motor City. Young men then and there drove their troubles away. By some strange coincidence every time life went south and it was time to drive – girl troubles, police problems, you name it – it was always a dark and stormy night.

Wildcat Road by Bear Berends
Wood's Edge Herb Farm is a healing place where musicians are free to relax and recharge. Bear describes our friends Dave and Connie to a 'T'.

Death of a Beast by Banjo-Jim Foerch
For years the band traveled in a rusty Chevy Suburban gas hog. We poured way too much gas, oil and money into that beast to keep it going, but it finally died real dead six miles from nowhere.

Beyond the Straits by Bear Berends
Bear and his wife used to take their 7 children camping in the U.P. every summer. Beyond the Straits is his love song to the forest, fields, waters and people of our glorious Upper Peninsula.

Over the Waterfall, a traditional fiddle tune
The Blue Water Ramblers joke about the slippery slope to olde timey string band music, and this shows we're well on our way.

Pilgrim by Bear Berends
Bear's paean to the greatest generation, our parents. They were giants who “touched the sky.”

Bus Trip by California Dan Lynn
When California Dan was twelve he chaperoned his little sisters by bus from Phoenix to Boston. It was an adventure you probably wouldn't want your kids to have now days.

Angeline the Baker by Stephen Foster
Stephen Foster wrote this melody in the 19th century and Banjo-Jim's interprets it in the 21st.

One Too Many Times by California Dan Lynn
Bad decisions lead to hard choices as California Dan found out. Heed his warning!

O Sheila by Banjo-Jim Foerch
This is a rock and roll original created for that most un-rock of instruments, the five-string banjo. The Twist is the right dance for this '50's style rocker.

She Loves Country-Western Music by Banjo-Jim Foerch
In 1975 Banjo-Jim tried and failed to win the love of a bee-hive country queen. She is still on his mind.

Gospel Train by Banjo-Jim Foerch
The New Year's Eve party was going strong January 1 at 3 in the afternoon and Banjo-Jim was feeling no pain and very righteous. It's time to get on board that Gospel Train, Brothers and Sisters!

Tegan's Song by Bear Berends
Bear's grand-daughter, Tegan Adira Chesser, was born at home on September 21, 2007. Four generations gathered in the great room only a few hours after delivery to play "pass the baby". Amen!