Safe Upon the Shore is the ninth and final studio album released by Canadian folk rock band Great Big Sea. The album was released on July 13, 2010.

Safe Upon The Shore
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 13, 2010
Recorded2009–2010 at Great Big Studio in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Various Tour Buses, dressing rooms and The Music Shed, New Orleans, Humber Valley Resort
GenreFolk rock
Length45:28
LabelWarner Music Canada
ProducerSteve Berlin
Great Big Sea chronology
Fortune's Favour
(2008)
Safe Upon The Shore
(2010)
XX
(2012)

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Long Life (Where Did You Go)"Séan McCann, Jeen O'Brien, Joel Plaskett3:12
2."Nothing But a Song"Alan Doyle, Séan McCann3:04
3."Yankee Sailor"Alan Doyle, Bob Hallett, Paul Lamb, Joel Plaskett4:10
4."Good People"Séan McCann, Paul Lamb2:35
5."Dear Home Town"Alan Doyle, Randy Bachman3:58
6."Over the Hills"Traditional, Arr. Bob Hallett3:09
7."Hit the Ground and Run"Alan Doyle, Russell Crowe3:02
8."Safe Upon the Shore"Séan McCann, Murray Foster3:28
9."Have a Cuppa Tea"Ray Davies3:12
10."Wandering Ways"Séan McCann, Greg Browne3:19
11."Follow Me Back"Bob Hallett, Jeremy Fisher, Jeen O'Brien3:21
12."Road to Ruin"Alan Doyle, Paul Lamb, Joel Plaskett2:23
13."Gallows Pole"Traditional, arranged by Robert Plant, Jimmy Page2:58
14."Don't Wanna Go Home"Alan Doyle3:46
iTunes Canada Deluxe Version [1]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."Protest Song"Sean McCann, Jeremy Fisher3:12
16."Nothing But A Song (Video)"Alan Doyle, Séan McCann3:14
17."Nothing But A Song (Demo) [Pre-Order Only]"Alan Doyle, Séan McCann3:44
iTunes US Bonus Track Version [2]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."Nothing But A Song (Demo) [Bonus Track]"Alan Doyle, Séan McCann3:44
16."Protest Song (Bonus Track) [Pre-Order Only]"Sean McCann, Jeremy Fisher3:12

Tracks 2, 3, 4, 7, and the bonus tracks were road tested before they recorded it in the studio. [3]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic      [4]

Commercial performance

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The album debuted at No. 2 on the Canadian Albums Chart, falling short to Eminem's Recovery. The album sold 7,000 copies in its first week, while Eminem placed first with 30,000 copies.[5]

Critical reception

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Greg Prato of allmusic gave the album mainly positive reviews, saying "there is more than meets the eye (or more fittingly, the ear) to this Canadian outfit. Great Big Sea has created a pure 'heartland sound' all its own."

Personnel

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  • Alan Doyle – Vocals, Guitars, Bouzouki, Mandolin, Banjo, Piano
  • Bob Hallett – Vocals, Accordion, Concertina, Whistle, Harmonica, Bouzouki, Mandolin, Fiddle, Banjo, Pipes
  • Séan McCann – Vocals, Guitar, Bodhran, Percussion

With

Guest Musicians

  • Sonny Landreth - Slide Guitar
  • Jeen O'Brien - Vocals
  • Steve Berlin - Keyboards, Melodica, Percussion
  • Washboard Hank - Washboard
  • Mark Mullins - Trombone, Arrangements
  • Craig Klein - Trombone
  • Greg Hicks - Trombone
  • J.P. Cormier - Mandolin, Guitar, Banjo, Fiddle
  • Shannon Powell - Tambourine
  • Jeremy Fisher - Guitar

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ "iTunes - Music - Safe Upon the Shore by Great Big Sea". Itunes.apple.com. 2010-07-13. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
  2. ^ "Archived copy". iTunes. Archived from the original on 2021-02-22. Retrieved 2022-07-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Archived copy". iTunes. Archived from the original on 2021-02-22. Retrieved 2022-07-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ Safe Upon the Shore at AllMusic
  5. ^ John Williams (2010-07-21). "GBS can't beat Eminem on charts | Music | Entertainment". Winnipeg Sun. Retrieved 2012-03-08.