01 Spanish Ladies 2.45

02 Bella Donna                 2.41

03 Chicken Blues 4.05

04 Mr. Worldlywiseman 3.58

05 Fish fight south of Pecos 4.59

06 W.C. Disco 4.02

07 Southern Blues 2.42

08 Maxie's Urlaub 3.21

09 A Second Travelling Song 3.04

10 His story of The Blues 8.23

11 Strangers' smiles 3.22

Total running time: 44.40

LIVING THE LIFE

K&M Verlag 1987: 100 006 (Lp.)

Paul Cowlan reminds us there are still singer-songwriters who can trust simply to a clear voice and a guitar. In a world where Gigantomania seems to be the rule one should encourage those artists who don't measure success by the size of the concert halls they can fill. 

Frankfurter Rundschau. Germany

Early in April 1987 I drove down to Switzerland to do a short tour and record this album. I had vague expectations of green pastures, blue skies and the lazy clonking of cattle bells among spring mountains; expectations, I should say, based firmly on past experience. After all it was April. There were even stars and a crescent moon overhead as I parked the car in Sufers, a little village not too far below the San Bernadino Pass, to begin my stay as the guest of Paul Rostetter of Brambus Records, unflagging mentor and genial host of many a wandering musician. However the next day it snowed, and the following night it took us four hours to drive the forty miles home from a concert in Davos where, despite the weather, the spontaneous warmth of the audience was the best omen we could have wished for. Using a couple of old slates found by the roadside we dug ourselves out of persistent ice and snowdrifts: the wheels spun, Paul pushed and ran, frequently vanishing astern into the darkness shouting encouragement, until finally at 5.30 a.m. the snow-ploughs came through and saved our bacon, enabling us to tumble thankfully into our beds as the birds and the local farmers were just leaving theirs. After this baptism of ice the weather improved noticeably, and there was even the occasional clonking of a cowbell from time to time; but the mountains had made their point. The ten tracks presented here were recorded on April 10th in the 'Altes Kino' , Mels, where the audience were every bit as loveable as they sound, and yes, it snowed again on the way home. So here it is, a 'live' album; as Swiss as Emmentaler cheese but better suited to a turntable than a breakfast plate. True, the cheese may boast a larger number of holes but with any luck the Lp. will stay fresh a lot longer. Snow and sunshine, music and good friends, laughter and dreams, and the road calling ..... Living the Life. 

'Early morning in a strange town, 

wishing the clouds would draw away.

Down by the market the fountain’s playing 

and the chestnut candles light the day.

Oh and the ladies they look so fine, 

beautiful faces and strangers’ smiles.

I would be ready to sell my soul 

for a dream at the market with lonely eyes.'

From: Strangers' Smiles