Jerry Olson | Hey Lin, I Love You: Songs of Life and Love

Published: March 2, 2010

Helena folksinger and guitar player Jerry Olson has released an album of self-penned tunes that cover everything from humorous hard-luck stories to uplifting love songs. The retired Lutheran minister gets together here with long-time cohorts Bruce Anfinson (background vocals) and Gary Burgess (background vocals and lead guitar).

The toe-tappin’ first number, “Boulder Blues,” is a tale about the down-and-out Olson, just off the bus and looking for a job, and the friends he soon makes – Anfinson and Burgess, to be exact. They met while working at the Boulder River School and Hospital.

The men formed the Sand Coulee Band in the mid-70s and opened for Mission Mountain Wood Band and Pure Prairie League, as well as Doug Kershaw, back in the day. Ken Nelson adds bass and keyboards on the CD.

Olson’s likeable, straightforward baritone works through some talkin’ blues, and rapidly tumbles out the words to provide a visual statement. There are lots of references to small Montana towns where Olson spent time, like the aforementioned Sand Coulee and Boulder, and nods to broken-down rigs and trailer houses. Olson’s got a song about a hellish late-April snowstorm (“Bicentennial Blizzard”), and a saga about washing clothes, in which he rhymes Winnebago with San Diego (“Laundromat Song”).

The title tune, “Hey, Lin, I Love You,” is a gentle dancer which recalls how Olson met his future wife, an independent gal “rollin’ smokes and eatin’ artichokes.” Burgess bats out a nice country lead guitar on this one.

“Thoughts and Dreams” leads off with a tuneful piano intro by Nelson; and a pretty melody infuses “I Didn’t Say I Love You Yesterday,” in which our protagonist realizes his insensitivity might be driving his loved one away.

Olson says the last two songs, “I Am So Happy That You Are My Wife” and “Here with Me,” were written to help him cope with declining health and focus on what is important in his life.

The CD was produced by Anfinson at Last Chance Ranch Recording and mixed by Nelson at Cottage Recording, also in Helena. Anfinson and Nelson have provided good clean production on this effort. You can reach Olson by e-mailing him at .

– Mariss McTucker