BIO

American Soul is a fitting brand for Mark Joseph; since his 2017 album by that name, he has charted a relentless and soulful course through America, and Americana, from blues to country to psychedelic rock and everything in between. This man is as authentically American as you would want, and as heartfelt and passionate as you can get. Joseph dings all the bells on any given night, indeed darn near every night, chalking up 200+ shows a year, criss-crossing the heartland, from CO to MS, from NY to LA, as the hardest working family music man you will ever know. He is also piling up the albums, roughly one a year, churning out consistently high quality product.

Mark Joseph has worked every gig in the business. As a promoter he has shepherded mega shows like Revival Fest booking Phil Lesh, Leftover Salmon, Jon Cleary and others; as a road manager he’s tackled logistics for Stokely Williams and Mint Condition; as a sideman  he’s been the youthful guitar slinger in The Big Wu. All the while he is studying and absorbing every aspect of the music industry, meeting the people on each level, and finding his unique voice as an artist.

And found it he has. Lord can this man sing. He’s got a range Gregg Allman dreamed of, with a tone and character rivaling Chris Stapleton. He digs low for the lows, and soars with the highs, all with his genuine Northfield MN gravel. It’s a voice that wraps its everlasting arms around you and won’t let go, because he is as loyal to his fans as he is to his own family.  If you are in his circles, Mark Jospeh has got you.

He also shreds on guitar, a la Clapton with Cream, a brilliant round tone with vibrato and touch. At times you’d swear you’re hearing Garcia, at others some ancient Delta bluesman, long forgotten, but for the DNA of the soul of America.

On this, his forth full length Mark Jospeh album, “Palisade Peach,” he is again joining forces with producer and slide guitar sensei Steve McCormick, (Musician and the Muse) and cultivating synergy from LA session cats like Stanley Behrens (War, Canned Heat, Willie Dixon) , Jerry Jemmott (Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett), Tony Austin (Kamasi Washington), Michael Jerome Moore (Better Than Ezra, Blind Boys of Alabama, Richard Thompson) and Heather Donavon (Kev Mo, Melody Gardot), while also including his MN people, soul sisters Steph Devine and Jill Mikelson, and the silky vibes of Alex Steele.

The material is a cross between neo-classic originals, “Palisade Peach” and “Daisy Train” (featuring legendary chicken picker Albert Lee) and public domain blues like Back-Water Blues (Bessie Smith), Come On In My Kitchen (Robert Johnson) and Deep Ellum Blues (featuring Melvin Seals from the Jerry Garcia Band), with toe tapping surprises at every turn.

For a guy hitting his stride as a contender in American music, this record arrives at the perfect time.

TRACK LISTINg

SIDE A (20:21)

#1 Back-Water Blues ft. stanley behrens (4:34)

#2 Whole Worlds Got the Blues (4:32)

#3 Come On In My Kitchen ft. love me in the dark (4:11)

#4 I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom (3:09)

#5 Palisade Peach (4:35)*

SIDE B (16:54)

#6 Deep Ellum Blues ft. melvin seals (4:55)*

#7 Daisy Train ft. albert lee (4:36)*

#8 Venice Grind (3:18)

#9 Sad Mississippi Blues (4:45)

All tracks FCC clean.

*Recommended tracks

Executive Producers:  Scott Senft / Tomas Magic Productions / Mark Joseph Music

Produced by:  Steve McCormick

Engineered by:  Kevin Smith

Additional Engineering by:  Michael “B” Birrenbach / John Puzan / Craig Wasner / Thomas “Tomcat” McCree

Mixed by:  Kevin Smith

Mastered by:  Ron Boustead

Album Art / Photos by:  Josh Stewart for Mixed Hype Media

Logo by:  Ali Bench

Production Assistants:  Steph Devine and Rich Waryan from Minnesota Organ Service

Palisade Peach was recorded at:

McCormick Audio – Los Angeles, CA

Honey Hive Records – Perdido, FL

Steeple on Main – Maple Plain, MN

Wasner Audio – Northfield, MN

Tomcatmusik Group – San Fransisco, CA

Palisade Peach Musicians:

Stanley “The Baron” Behrens – Harp / Sax on entire album

Mark Joseph – Lead Guitar / Vocals (Bass on #4)

Steve McCormick – Rhythm / Slide / Cry Baby Guitars / Backing Vocals on entire album

Jerry Jemmott – Bass (#2 / #5 / #8 / #9)

Tom Freund – Bass (#1 / #6 / #7)

Ricky Cortes – Upright Bass (#3)

Tony Austin – Drums (#1 / #4 / #6 / #7)

Michael Jerome – Drums (#2 / #5 / #8 / #9)

Toby Lee Marshall – Hammond Organ (#1 / #2 / #4 / #5 / #7 / #8 / #9) and Piano (#9)

Heather Donavan – Backing Vocals (#1 / #2 / #3 / #5 / #6 / #7 / #8)

Steph Devine – Backing Vocals (#1 / #2 / #5 / #6)

Jill Mikelson – Backing Vocals (#1  #2 / #5 / #6)

Alex Steele - Backing Vocals (#1  #2 / #5 / #6)

Ryan Balthrop – Backing Vocals (#2 / #6)

Doug Christianson – Percussion (#6)