When Karin Bergquist was backing up Margo Timmins of Cowboy Junkies on Lilith Fair’s main stage in August of 1998, Sarah McLachlan approached Karin backstage after that first set of songs had just wound down in front of 18,000 people outside of Denver and said, “I had no idea you were here." Karin said, “Huh?" Sarah said, “Over the Rhine. You have an amazing voice." While Karin was glancing over her shoulder to make sure the popular kid at school wasn’t waving to somebody else, Sarah went on to explain at length that she had been exhausted after years of promoting Fumbling Towards Ecstacy and was suffering from pretty severe writer’s block as she struggled to even contemplate her next recording. Pierre Marchand, her producer, eventually played her some of the songs that ended up on Good Dog Bad Dog and in Sarah’s words, “They made me love music again. They let me begin writing again."

When Mike Timmins of Cowboy Junkies heard Good Dog Bad Dog while he was mixing at Abbey Road studios, he more-or-less invited Karin and Linford to join the band and lured Over the Rhine away from Ohio on the most extensive tour the band had experienced to date. Over the Rhine opened Cowboy Junkies shows in the U.S.A. and Canada for over four months in 1998, with Karin and Linford (and often Jack and Terri) joining the Junkies on stage for much of their set as well. Karin and Linford joined the Junkies for performances on Letterman, Good Morning America and Sessions at West 54th with David Byrne, and in 1999 toured Australia and New Zealand, and once again, much of North America as part of the Junkies ensemble.

When Mark McEwen of CBS This Morning heard Good Dog Bad Dog, he called Over the Rhine’s office directly, booked the band and said, “I don’t care if you’re signed or unsigned, this record touched me." Over the Rhine appeared on the show in December of 1998 and performed “All I Need Is Everything" as part of a profile on the group. Karin and Linford rolled their eyes as Mark McEwen joined so many in telling the world that Over the Rhine is one of America’s great undiscovered bands.

All this to say that this broken bouquet of a recording, the one with the playful name, has somehow survived. Good Dog Bad Dog has been passed secretly around the world and continues to find its way into some most unlikely places.

Good Dog Bad Dog has been hailed a quiet masterpiece by critics and fans alike. Songwise, for at least several years following its release, it became the heart and soul of the band's repertoire. It's hard to imagine the existence of Over the Rhine without Latter Days, All I Need is Everything, Etcetera Whatever, Faithfully Dangerous, The Seahorse, Poughkeepsie and Go Down Easy. To those of you who wrapped your arms around these songs, Over the Rhine offers immense thanks for your exceedingly generous encouragement and support. Seek wisdom. Pursue justice. Roll over. Good dog.