Words & Music
My first album was titled Treated Me Like Gold back in the early 90's. It was a cassette tape I sold off stage, it wasn't until 2016 when I finally reached a point to make releasing original albums a focus and achieved a goal I had always dreamed of. I have wrote and produced in many genres although, within all of these different styles you'll hear the thread of the style of singer/songwriter I am and my particular sound where I write every word, the music, melodies, arrange and produce it. My latest album is a collection of 18 songs that are my favorites pulled from 17 previously released albums plus 3 new songs.
Songs and Credits
1-CoCo’s Club (Slide That Way)
Originally on the album Life on a Small Stage- I wrote several stories happening is this hot nightclub scene.
Lyrics Video - HERE
Music, Lyrics Vocal, Piano, Organ ~ Hollie Olson
Bass ~ Bruce Seifried
Drums ~ Joe Melo
Lead Guitar ~ Jimmy McG
Rhythm Guitar ~ Mike Kelley
Harmony Vocals ~ Amy Jenkins & Janice Morgan
2-Blue Collar Love
Originally on the album Life on a Small Stage - the first of 2 songs on here where Mike Kelley brought me a demo of guitar chords in a pattern that I ran with to produce the final song. This is a story of Andy and Cindy attracted to each other while working in a warehouse. A grooving blues bass.
Lyrics Video - HERE
Music ~Mike Kelley (demo chords, guitar arrangements) & Hollie Olson (melody, additional music and arrangement)
Lyrics, Vocal, Organ ~ Hollie Olson
Bass ~ Mike Kelley
Drums ~ Oliver Kaiser
Lead Guitar ~ Mike Kelley
Rhythm Guitar ~ Mike Kelley
Harmony Vocals ~ Rebecca Marie
3- Wind
This one is new for this album. Based from a poem I wrote in 2008 after going through such a struggle of being in an abusive situation. Wind is about that person, who is still my best friend, who helped me take flight again.
Music Video - HERE
Music, Lyrics, Vocal ,Piano, Strings, Percussion - Hollie Olson
Bass, Acoustic Guitar – Derek Barlas
Drums – Chris Bouchard
Harmony Vocals - Giulietta Zardetto
4 ~ River
This song is new remix/remake for this collection. It is about my horrid marriage and the woman who came into my life and wanted my husband, ( if she only knew - see Your Man Now track 11 :) we traveled up a river until the crossing was so narrow he could step over and I let him leave with her.
Music, Lyrics, Vocals, Piano, Organ, Keybass, Percussions - Hollie Olson
Backup Vocals - Amy Jenkins
Lead & Rhythm Guitars -Francois Graiouf
Drums - Frederic Osuch
5-Man Has Left His Wife
Originally on the album Life on a Small Stage - the 2nd song on here where Mike Kelley brought me a demo of guitar chords in a pattern and arrangement, the wonderful thing with writing the melody and arranging this was I had wrote song lyrics from the early 90's that had no repeat chorus's and simply told this story and they fit on top perfectly, I didn't have to rewrite a thing.
Music Video - HERE
Music ~Mike Kelley (demo chords, guitar arrangement) & Hollie Olson (melody, additional music)
Lyrics, Vocal, Organ ~ Hollie Olson
Bass ~ Bruce Siefried
Drums ~ Joe Melo
Lead Guitar ~ Mike Kelley
Harmony Vocals ~ Amy Jenkins & Janice Parsons
6- Supernaturally Bad
Originally on the album Life on a Small Stage- A story of a girl as she grow's up in a small town with supernatural powers. The real icing on the cake was the music video and the amazing dancer/actress who played the lead.
Music Video - HERE
Music, Lyrics Vocal, Piano, Organ, Percussion ~Hollie Olson
Bass ~ Bruce Seifried
Drums ~ Joe Melo
Lead Guitar ~ Jimmy McG
Harmony Vocals ~ Amy Jenkins, Denise Jarrell, Rebecca Marie
7-Cry Over You feat Joe Melo
Originally on the album Life on a Small Stage- I wrote this song in the early 90's, one that had appeared on my cassette album, I'd always wanted to remake it with high end modern technology. Joe Melo who had played drums on CoCo's Club, Man Has Left his Wife, and Supernaturally Bad in the studio suggested it would make a good duet. He was right. I tweaked the lyrics and he sang the song with me. The fact that we have a music video for it is extra special to me as this talented musician I had known since I was 17 and performed with through the years died of Covid in 2021. Rest in peace, Joe, you are missed.
Music Video - HERE
Music, Lyrics, Vocal, Strings Synth ~Hollie Olson
Vocal ~ Joe Melo
Acoustic Guitar ~ Mike Kelley
8 ~ Last Day On Earth
I wrote this song for my unplugged duo and for our album, Juniper Rose, this song maintains more of the unplugged sound of the act.
Music, Lyrics, Vocals, Piano, Organ, Keybass, Cajon, Percussions - Hollie Olson ~
Backup Vocals - Amy Jenkins
Lyrics Video - HERE
9-Too Soon
Another of my story songs from the Life on a Small Stage album. 2 people in a bar and you believe they are each trying to meet someone after a divorce but actually they are the divorced couple.
Lyrics Video - HERE
Music, Lyrics, Vocal, Piano, Organ ~ Hollie Olson
Bass ~ Brian Mayberry
Drums ~ Richard Bell
Lead Guitar ~ Mark Watson
Rhythm Guitar ~ Jim Lawlor
10 ~ Eyes on Paradise
From the album, Juniper Rose. I wrote this many years ago. From a dark place in a terrible marriage and believing there is a light at the end of the tunnel. My musician friend, Brian Henry not only played drums but did a cool remix which landed as my foundation for wrapping it up.
Lyrics Video - HERE
Music, Lyrics, Vocals, Piano, Organ, Keybass - Hollie Olson
Backup vocals - Amy Jenkins
Drums, Synth, Remix -Brian Henry
11-Your Man Now
This song was originally on Life on a Small Stage, but was one I felt I could remake better than before. So this new version is so much stronger. Along with Eyes on Paradise, while in a bad marriage, followed my River, where this other girl came into his life, this song is a true story of letting her happily take him, and the song Wind, where I found my way up and out, concludes this rock opera.
Music, Lyrics, Vocal, Piano, Organ ~Hollie Olson
Bass ~ Ambrose Newton
Drums ~ Brian Henry
Lead Guitar ~ Rick Galarneau
Backup Vocals- Giulietta Zardetto
12 – Knockin' About
The 2nd of two new songs for this collection. I thought of the phrase Knockin' About while walking my dog and wrote 4 verses of story vignettes of what this positive message could be for each.
Music, Lyrics, Vocal, Piano, Organ, Keybass - Hollie Olson
Jim Lawman – Guitar
Tony Gee - Trumpet
Brian Henry ~ Drums
Backup vocals - Giulietta Zardetto - CJ Mickens
13-Her Last Breath
Original on my Forest of Glass album, I wrote this song after a friends wife committed suicide. It is dark but I try to convey there is hope. I was very happy to have a fully produced music video for this.
Music Video - HERE
Music, Lyrics, Vocal, Piano, Strings - Hollie Olson
Bass, Guitars -Dave Palmer
Drums - Robert Cudmore
14 ~ I Do
I wrote this fun song for the Juniper Rose album so it relies heavily on percussion. It's how I really feel about getting married again.
Music, Lyrics, Vocals, Piano, Organ, Keybass, Percussions , Bongos - Hollie Olson
Backup Vocals - Amy Jenkins
Mandolin - Derek Barlas
Drums - Chris Bouchard
Acoustic Guitar - James Fraser
Lyrics Video - HERE
15-Life on a Small Stage
Title track from that album. An autobiographical song along with a music video with some old live footage mixed in.
Music Video - HERE
Music, Lyrics, Vocal, Piano ~ Hollie Olson
Bass ~ Mike Eccleson
Drums ~ Oliver Kaiser
16 ~Love Not Money
This song has been around for a long time and first appeared on my old cassette album in the early 90's. Time jump 25 years it was remade for Life on a Small Stage, then a light remix for my blues collection album, Them Blues, it is that mix that finds its way on to this collection. While not a traditional blues chords progression, it still lands firmly in that genre.
Lyrics Video - HERE
Music & Lyrics, Vocal, Piano, Organ - Hollie Olson
Bass - Mike Eccleson
Drums -Oliver Kaiser
Lead Guitar - Jimmy McG
Rhythm Guitar - Mike Kelley
17-Minor Role
I am very proud of this one, I had these words and melody in my head for years before finally producing it. It's the story of being scared to enter a relationship but takes place in the world of a live theater. I hope that you really listen to the words. I produced it with a sound and vibe that I feel could be part of a stage production. It originally appeared on my Forest of Glass album.
Music, Lyrics, Vocal, Piano, Strings - Hollie Olson
Electric Guitars - Dave Palmer & Tim Ryall
Acoustic Guitars - James Fraser
Bass - Jayce Allan
Drums - Frederic Osuch
Backing Vocals - Christine Yvette
18-Privileged White Girl Blues
Originally on my Life on a Small Stage album. A story song that lets you know what's its about from the title plus some humor all along with it. This song was featured and played on air during my interview with blues and jazz radio station KBOO in Portland OR in 2019.
Lyrics Video - HERE
Music, Lyrics, Vocal, Piano, Organ ~ Hollie Olson
Bass, Lead Guitar ~ Mike Eccleson
Drums ~ Oliver Kaiser
Rhythm Guitar ~ Michael Roe
Originally on the album Life on a Small Stage- I wrote several stories happening is this hot nightclub scene.
Lyrics Video - HERE
Music, Lyrics Vocal, Piano, Organ ~ Hollie Olson
Bass ~ Bruce Seifried
Drums ~ Joe Melo
Lead Guitar ~ Jimmy McG
Rhythm Guitar ~ Mike Kelley
Harmony Vocals ~ Amy Jenkins & Janice Morgan
2-Blue Collar Love
Originally on the album Life on a Small Stage - the first of 2 songs on here where Mike Kelley brought me a demo of guitar chords in a pattern that I ran with to produce the final song. This is a story of Andy and Cindy attracted to each other while working in a warehouse. A grooving blues bass.
Lyrics Video - HERE
Music ~Mike Kelley (demo chords, guitar arrangements) & Hollie Olson (melody, additional music and arrangement)
Lyrics, Vocal, Organ ~ Hollie Olson
Bass ~ Mike Kelley
Drums ~ Oliver Kaiser
Lead Guitar ~ Mike Kelley
Rhythm Guitar ~ Mike Kelley
Harmony Vocals ~ Rebecca Marie
3- Wind
This one is new for this album. Based from a poem I wrote in 2008 after going through such a struggle of being in an abusive situation. Wind is about that person, who is still my best friend, who helped me take flight again.
Music Video - HERE
Music, Lyrics, Vocal ,Piano, Strings, Percussion - Hollie Olson
Bass, Acoustic Guitar – Derek Barlas
Drums – Chris Bouchard
Harmony Vocals - Giulietta Zardetto
4 ~ River
This song is new remix/remake for this collection. It is about my horrid marriage and the woman who came into my life and wanted my husband, ( if she only knew - see Your Man Now track 11 :) we traveled up a river until the crossing was so narrow he could step over and I let him leave with her.
Music, Lyrics, Vocals, Piano, Organ, Keybass, Percussions - Hollie Olson
Backup Vocals - Amy Jenkins
Lead & Rhythm Guitars -Francois Graiouf
Drums - Frederic Osuch
5-Man Has Left His Wife
Originally on the album Life on a Small Stage - the 2nd song on here where Mike Kelley brought me a demo of guitar chords in a pattern and arrangement, the wonderful thing with writing the melody and arranging this was I had wrote song lyrics from the early 90's that had no repeat chorus's and simply told this story and they fit on top perfectly, I didn't have to rewrite a thing.
Music Video - HERE
Music ~Mike Kelley (demo chords, guitar arrangement) & Hollie Olson (melody, additional music)
Lyrics, Vocal, Organ ~ Hollie Olson
Bass ~ Bruce Siefried
Drums ~ Joe Melo
Lead Guitar ~ Mike Kelley
Harmony Vocals ~ Amy Jenkins & Janice Parsons
6- Supernaturally Bad
Originally on the album Life on a Small Stage- A story of a girl as she grow's up in a small town with supernatural powers. The real icing on the cake was the music video and the amazing dancer/actress who played the lead.
Music Video - HERE
Music, Lyrics Vocal, Piano, Organ, Percussion ~Hollie Olson
Bass ~ Bruce Seifried
Drums ~ Joe Melo
Lead Guitar ~ Jimmy McG
Harmony Vocals ~ Amy Jenkins, Denise Jarrell, Rebecca Marie
7-Cry Over You feat Joe Melo
Originally on the album Life on a Small Stage- I wrote this song in the early 90's, one that had appeared on my cassette album, I'd always wanted to remake it with high end modern technology. Joe Melo who had played drums on CoCo's Club, Man Has Left his Wife, and Supernaturally Bad in the studio suggested it would make a good duet. He was right. I tweaked the lyrics and he sang the song with me. The fact that we have a music video for it is extra special to me as this talented musician I had known since I was 17 and performed with through the years died of Covid in 2021. Rest in peace, Joe, you are missed.
Music Video - HERE
Music, Lyrics, Vocal, Strings Synth ~Hollie Olson
Vocal ~ Joe Melo
Acoustic Guitar ~ Mike Kelley
8 ~ Last Day On Earth
I wrote this song for my unplugged duo and for our album, Juniper Rose, this song maintains more of the unplugged sound of the act.
Music, Lyrics, Vocals, Piano, Organ, Keybass, Cajon, Percussions - Hollie Olson ~
Backup Vocals - Amy Jenkins
Lyrics Video - HERE
9-Too Soon
Another of my story songs from the Life on a Small Stage album. 2 people in a bar and you believe they are each trying to meet someone after a divorce but actually they are the divorced couple.
Lyrics Video - HERE
Music, Lyrics, Vocal, Piano, Organ ~ Hollie Olson
Bass ~ Brian Mayberry
Drums ~ Richard Bell
Lead Guitar ~ Mark Watson
Rhythm Guitar ~ Jim Lawlor
10 ~ Eyes on Paradise
From the album, Juniper Rose. I wrote this many years ago. From a dark place in a terrible marriage and believing there is a light at the end of the tunnel. My musician friend, Brian Henry not only played drums but did a cool remix which landed as my foundation for wrapping it up.
Lyrics Video - HERE
Music, Lyrics, Vocals, Piano, Organ, Keybass - Hollie Olson
Backup vocals - Amy Jenkins
Drums, Synth, Remix -Brian Henry
11-Your Man Now
This song was originally on Life on a Small Stage, but was one I felt I could remake better than before. So this new version is so much stronger. Along with Eyes on Paradise, while in a bad marriage, followed my River, where this other girl came into his life, this song is a true story of letting her happily take him, and the song Wind, where I found my way up and out, concludes this rock opera.
Music, Lyrics, Vocal, Piano, Organ ~Hollie Olson
Bass ~ Ambrose Newton
Drums ~ Brian Henry
Lead Guitar ~ Rick Galarneau
Backup Vocals- Giulietta Zardetto
12 – Knockin' About
The 2nd of two new songs for this collection. I thought of the phrase Knockin' About while walking my dog and wrote 4 verses of story vignettes of what this positive message could be for each.
Music, Lyrics, Vocal, Piano, Organ, Keybass - Hollie Olson
Jim Lawman – Guitar
Tony Gee - Trumpet
Brian Henry ~ Drums
Backup vocals - Giulietta Zardetto - CJ Mickens
13-Her Last Breath
Original on my Forest of Glass album, I wrote this song after a friends wife committed suicide. It is dark but I try to convey there is hope. I was very happy to have a fully produced music video for this.
Music Video - HERE
Music, Lyrics, Vocal, Piano, Strings - Hollie Olson
Bass, Guitars -Dave Palmer
Drums - Robert Cudmore
14 ~ I Do
I wrote this fun song for the Juniper Rose album so it relies heavily on percussion. It's how I really feel about getting married again.
Music, Lyrics, Vocals, Piano, Organ, Keybass, Percussions , Bongos - Hollie Olson
Backup Vocals - Amy Jenkins
Mandolin - Derek Barlas
Drums - Chris Bouchard
Acoustic Guitar - James Fraser
Lyrics Video - HERE
15-Life on a Small Stage
Title track from that album. An autobiographical song along with a music video with some old live footage mixed in.
Music Video - HERE
Music, Lyrics, Vocal, Piano ~ Hollie Olson
Bass ~ Mike Eccleson
Drums ~ Oliver Kaiser
16 ~Love Not Money
This song has been around for a long time and first appeared on my old cassette album in the early 90's. Time jump 25 years it was remade for Life on a Small Stage, then a light remix for my blues collection album, Them Blues, it is that mix that finds its way on to this collection. While not a traditional blues chords progression, it still lands firmly in that genre.
Lyrics Video - HERE
Music & Lyrics, Vocal, Piano, Organ - Hollie Olson
Bass - Mike Eccleson
Drums -Oliver Kaiser
Lead Guitar - Jimmy McG
Rhythm Guitar - Mike Kelley
17-Minor Role
I am very proud of this one, I had these words and melody in my head for years before finally producing it. It's the story of being scared to enter a relationship but takes place in the world of a live theater. I hope that you really listen to the words. I produced it with a sound and vibe that I feel could be part of a stage production. It originally appeared on my Forest of Glass album.
Music, Lyrics, Vocal, Piano, Strings - Hollie Olson
Electric Guitars - Dave Palmer & Tim Ryall
Acoustic Guitars - James Fraser
Bass - Jayce Allan
Drums - Frederic Osuch
Backing Vocals - Christine Yvette
18-Privileged White Girl Blues
Originally on my Life on a Small Stage album. A story song that lets you know what's its about from the title plus some humor all along with it. This song was featured and played on air during my interview with blues and jazz radio station KBOO in Portland OR in 2019.
Lyrics Video - HERE
Music, Lyrics, Vocal, Piano, Organ ~ Hollie Olson
Bass, Lead Guitar ~ Mike Eccleson
Drums ~ Oliver Kaiser
Rhythm Guitar ~ Michael Roe