December's Child


December's Child is the fifth album from The Original [Harmony Ridge Creekdippers] released in 2002.

Reception

Writing for Allmusic, music critic Steve Kurutz praised the album's "minimalist approach" and wrote "Whether singing about around-the-clock meth labs or newspaper roses sold by the side of the road, he creates fully realized worlds within each song on December's Child. The lo-fi folk vibe of the earlier self-released Creekdippers recordings and 2000's My Own Jo Ellen remains... but the electricity and amplification have been turned up a bit, too—rather than deliberately eschewed as he seemed to prefer after first going relatively solo."

Track listing

All songs by Mark Olson except as noted.
  1. "How Can I Send Tonight " – 3:46
  2. "Still We Have a Friend in You" – 3:52
  3. "Alta's Song" – 3:49
  4. "Back to the Old Homeplace" – 2:29
  5. "December's Child" – 4:21
  6. "Nerstrand Woods" – 4:38
  7. "Cactus Wren" – 4:41
  8. "Climb These Steps " – 3:24
  9. "How Can This Be" – 3:18
  10. "Say You'll be Mine" – 4:01
  11. "One Eyed Black Dog Moses" – 5:59

    Personnel

  • Mark Olson – vocals, banjo, bass, dulcimer, guitar, piano
  • Danny Frankel – drums, percussion
  • Don Heffington – drums, background vocals
  • Gary Louris – guitar, vocals on "Say You'll be Mine"
  • Michael Russell – bass, mandolin, viola, violin, background vocals
  • Victoria Williams – banjo, guitar, harmonica, background vocals
  • David Wolfenberger – bass, background vocals
  • Jon Birdsong – trumpet

    Production notes

  • Mark Olson – producer
  • Charlie McGovern – engineer, mastering, mixing
  • Jeffrey Reed – engineer