Carla Olson: "For Pete's Sake" (2026) CD Review

Pete Brown is known for co-writing several of Cream's best songs, including "Sunshine Of Your Love," "White Room," "SWLABR," "Politician" and "I Feel Free." And he was known as a poet before collaborating with Jack Bruce. Carla Olson, who has collaborated with Gene Clark and Mick Taylor (among many others) began writing with him in 2019, and she actually details some of their process in the liner notes of her new album, For Pete's Sake, an album featuring lyrics by Pete Brown. He would send her a set of lyrics, and she would send back a demo, and they'd proceed from there. Things then got weird when the pandemic changed the world and particularly the music scene. Carla Olson was fairly busy soon after that initial round, working on Americana Railroad and Ladies Sing Lightfoot. And then in 2023, the year that Carla Olson produced Robert Waller's See The Big Man Cry, Pete Brown died. As Carla mentions in the liner notes, she was determined to get proper recordings of all these songs. And those recordings make up For Pete's Sake. Joining her on this album are Joe Read on guitar, bass and organ; Todd Wolfe on guitar and dobro; Mikal Reid on guitar, bass, harpsichord, organ and percussion; and Ben Lecourt on drums and vibes. Tom Jr. Morgan provides the horns and also plays piano. There are also special guests on various tracks. And the album features a second version of "With My Black Cat By My Side," this one coming from Pete Brown's own The Shadow Club album, and featuring Carla Olson on backing vocals.

The album opens with "Education," which, as Carla Olson mentions in the liner notes, was the first set of lyrics that Pete Brown sent her. It has a groovy, bluesy rock vibe, and features the horns. "I sure didn't know a whole lot 'til the time we collided" is certainly a good first line for an album that is a collaborative effort. There is a full, vibrant sound. Rick Hemmert plays drums on this one. And I love the guitar work, particularly at the end. "You were my education/So much information." The album's second track, "Careless Dancing," was also the second set of lyrics that Pete Brown sent Carla Olson. There's a cool, kind of jazzy vibe to this one. It has me right from its first lines: "One night we danced/Right over a cliff." I love how the first line makes us believe things are going in one direction, and how that changes completely with the second line, a nice surprise early on that grabs us. This one also features some strong guitar work. Jake Carmona is on percussion.

"With My Black Cat By My Side" is the song that Pete Brown included on his own album. There are two versions of the song included on this disc, the first being the Carla Olson recording. It has a wonderful, welcoming feel. "Sometimes I don't do so well/But I always keep on tryin'/Even when the world is hell/I can barely stop the slide." Those opening lines are ones I bet we can all relate to, and Carla gives a tremendous vocal performance here. Skip Edwards joins her on organ and piano on this track, delivering some great work. This track also features some good drumming. "I always want to believe/The future promised paradise/But there's no tricks left up my sleeve/Down here hoping for a ride." Then "Read Me My Rights" comes on strong. "All my good words had become bad lies/My loves were turning into hates." There is a great energy and power to this song, especially to Carla's vocals. This track also contains some really nice stuff on keys, and an excellent bass line. "I was living down among the wrecks."

A more easygoing groove is established with "Racing Against The Sand," and Carla's voice seems to speak for all of us as she begins, "Searching for something, I'm not sure/Something clean and something pure/Been around the world so many times." This track builds in power as she sings, "It's a race against skies/That are falling down." This one features the horns, and it is ultimately a positive number, lifting us up together. It is one of my favorites. "I'm still in the band/Hear me scream and shout." And I love what Carla does vocally on "You Heard Me." Just listen to the way she delivers a line like "This is no way to drive a train." Can't you feel her attitude coursing through your own blood? This is a fantastic track, in large part because of her vocal work. And check out these lines: "There's avenues that we hoped to explore/Before yesterday became the law/And they closed the door." There is some good work on guitar too. Victor Bisette (who plays on my favorite Los Lobos album, Kiko) plays drums on this one. It is another of the album's highlights.

There is a gentler vibe to "Don't Leave Your Love Behind" as it starts. There is a beauty to this one, even as it grows in power. "You've been lost to me for so long/All those hard roads you have traveled on/Fighting through all that wilderness/Times you won, and times that led to less."  I love the guitar lead toward the end. That's followed by "Lost And Found In Lockdown." This one features lyrics written by Carla Olson, with music by Joe Read. It's a song about the time of the pandemic, the time when they were working on the songs of this album. I know I've said this before, but I hope someone writes a comprehensive book about the music that came out of the pandemic. "Lost and found in lockdown/Thankful for my friends/All of us in the sinking boat/Kindred spirits 'til the end." This one has its own special beauty.

Carla Olson then changes gears with "Nine Lives," which has a wonderfully raw and intimate feel, a slower number, delivered on vocals and guitar, though at first with no lyrics, but rather some humming. Then in the second half, Carla sings, "Black cat, black cat," and we realize it's a riff on "With My Black Cat By My Side." It's like we're privy to her working out that song. So if you count this track as another take on "With My Black Cat By My Side," then there are three versions of the song included here. The album concludes with the other version of "With My Black Cat By My Side," this one from Pete Brown's album, with him on lead vocals. In addition to Carla Olson on backing vocals, Pete Brown is supported by John Donaldson on keyboards, Clem Clempson (of Humble Pie) on guitar, Malcolm Bruce on bass, Richard Bailey (who has played with Jeff Beck and Steve Winwood) on drums, Graeme Flowers on trumpet, Alan Barnes on saxophone and Greg Heath on saxophone. Chantelle Duncan, Helen Hardy and Jackie Rawe also provide backing vocal work. I'm glad this track is included here, though it is making me realize I need to get myself a copy of The Shadow Club.

CD Track List

1. Education
2. Careless Dancing
3. With My Black Cat By My Side
4. Read Me My Rights
5. Racing Against The Sand
6. You Heard Me
7. Don't Leave Your Love Behind
8. Lost And Found In Lockdown
9. Nine Lives
10. With My Black Cat By My Side

For Pete's Sake is scheduled to be released on November 13, 2026 on Sunset Blvd. Records.