The Salvation Blues

The Salvation Blues
The Salvation Blues
Studio album by Mark Olson
Released	June 12, 2007
Recorded	October 7–9, 2006, Infrasonic Sound, Los Angeles, CA
Genre	Alternative country
Length	36.09
Label	Hacktone Records
Producer	Ben Vaughn
Mark Olson chronology

The Salvation Blues is the debut solo album by singer/songwriter Mark Olson, released in 2007.

Olson's 10-year marriage to Victoria Williams had ended in divorce and he subsequently suffered from depression. He wrote the songs for the album while recovering in Cardiff, Wales. He recorded demos in Wales, Norway, Poland and Minnesota as well.^[1]^[2] Olson and the making of the album were the subject of a half-hour documentary, The Salvation Blues, released by Grain Pictures.^[3]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[4]

Writing for AllMusic, music critic Thom Jurek praised the Olson's songwriting and wrote "Ultimately, it comes down to the songs, though. And Mark Olson has them here in spades. with the presentation being so utterly simple, a lot of weight rests not only on the singer, but on the lyrics and melody. And Olson delivers, though the often shining optimism of his offerings has been tempered in places by grief, loss, and the workaday living of everyday life that blends dream and reality as time rushes forward; still he champions humble human nobility in choosing life over death each and every morning... Salvation Blues is stripped down, modern desert country music at its very best."^[4]

Track listing

All songs by Mark Olson unless otherwise noted.

"My Carol"
"Clifton Bridge"
"Poor Michael's Boat" (Olson, Louris)
"National Express" (Olson, Williams, Russell)
"Salvation Blues"
"Keith"
"Winter Song" (Olson, Williams)
"Sandy Denny"
"Tears from Above"
"Look into the Night"
"My One Book Philosophy"

European bonus tracks

"Copper Coin"
"Your Time Will Come"

Personnel

Mark Olson – vocals, acoustic guitar, Wurlitzer on "My One Book Philosophy"
Tony Gilkyson – electric guitar
Greg Leisz – pedal steel, dobro, mandolin
Zac Rae – piano, organ, Wurlitzer, vibes, Chamberlain, Mellotron
David J. Carpenter – bass
Danny Fankel – percussion, bongos
Michele Gazich – violin
Kevin Jarvis – drums
Ingunn Ringvold – acoustic guitar
Cindy Wasserman – harmony vocals
Gary Louris – harmony vocals

Production notes

Pete Lyman – engineer
Kevin Jarvis – engineer
Alfonso Rodenas – engineer
Ben Vaughn – producer
Joe Gastwist – mastering

References

^ Kamm, Herbert (November 17, 2007). "Mark Olson: 'I never meant to kill her dog'". The Independent. London: Independent Print Limited. Archived from the original on 2022-06-18. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
^ Ray, Linda. "Pick me up on your way down". No Depression. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
^ "Film at 11: Mark Olson". Magnet. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
^ ^a ^b Jurek, Thom. "The Salvation Blues > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved June 15, 2011.

[1] Kamm, Herbert (November 17, 2007). "Mark Olson: 'I never meant to kill her dog'". The Independent. London: Independent Print Limited. Archived from the original on 2022-06-18. Retrieved February 15, 2016.

[2] Ray, Linda. "Pick me up on your way down". No Depression. Retrieved February 15, 2016.

[3] "Film at 11: Mark Olson". Magnet. Retrieved February 15, 2016.

[AM-4] Jurek, Thom. "The Salvation Blues > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved June 15, 2011.

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