To listen to samples and buy or download the album, click the CD Baby button to the right.

 

The plot of The Sound of Songs Across the Water revolves around an album of songs written by Riley Oliver and recorded in Will Taylor’s studio in the summer of 1995. Those songs exist in real life as well, and have been recorded in Portland for an album entitled Sing With Me, Brother, For We Have Sinned.

 

The title comes from an encounter Riley has with a homeless guy who washes windshields while crooning standards. He wears a sign with those words, and Riley gives him a couple dollars to sing “Old Man River.”

 

 

For the real-life album, Rob Yardumian wrote the songs, and he sings and plays guitar on the record. Also contributing their immense talents are a couple of Portland friends:

 

Singer/songwriter extraordinaire David E. Lane  produced the record and played bass and electric guitar. David plays around town regularly; you should go see him, if you’re local. The “E” stands for outstanding.

Michael Jarmer of the fabulous local pop duo Here Comes Everybody played the drums. Michael is also a terrific writer in his own right. You should get his novel Monster Love.