I just got this cd a few weeks ago and all I can say is "Helpless" is AMAZING!!! I can't stop listening to it!!! Gives me chills.

Also the acoustic version of "GIve Me Strength" I'm SO glad this is on this cd because I never cared for the version on "FFR" at all...this solo sounds much more Karin and much less "Dido". Mmm.

Yes, I agree - I just got the cd last night and couldn't believe that version of Helpless. Absolutely mind-blowing. I have a question about it== my cd didn't come with the insets, got it at a second-hand music store in Santa Barbara: could you tell me who else is singing with Karin on that track?
- Cheers, Robby (RhinelanderRogue)

Yeah, that song wears me out. I don't have the CD in front of me, but I do know Buddy and Julie Miller are singing but I don't rememebr who else.
Do you know the story behind it? 9/11/01, they had to take Karin's mom to the hospital and while there, well, 9/11 happened. The only song going through her mind at the time was Helpless. To me, it makes it that much better knowing the story behind it.
I am pretty sure I am accurate with my recollection but if I am wrong, please correct me.

Yep, that's the story.

Erin Mckeowen (I'm sure I butchered her spelling) sings on it too.

Nope you spelled it right :-D and I believe Kim Taylor is singing on it but I don't know who that is lol.

Julie and Buddy, huh! I know them through Patty Griffin. And Erin, I've seen perform live, when she did the Women on the Verge tour with Jess Klein! Not sure who Kim Taylor is, but the name does sound familiar.

Incredible story about Karin's mom and 9/11 being the inspiration for their doing the song -- thanks, Russ! -R

Yeah I learned of Julie MIller through Patty Griffin too. Erin is great live. That tour with Jess Klein (and others) was the Voices on the Verge tour...there's a live cd out from them.

awesome song... i still like Neil Young's original though...

Ya know, I never heard Neil's version until after I heard OtR do it. To me, it falls kind of flat compared the textures woven into the OtR and gang version.

You were close... It's McKEOWN. And she's delightful. Check out the amazing "Grand", and the equally lovely "Distillation".

Also, Buddy & Julie Miller are *amazing.* Love them as musicians, love them as people.

And yeah, who is Kim Taylor? Tell me more...

Matt

I wrote in my bio a few weeks back when I joined that I was hoping to expand my collection from Ohio, GDBD, and Films. I just got CRF into my player on Friday and I was up until 4 AM listening! "Helpless" is the true highlight, but there are some other classics as well. I am big fan of Linford's SUPER mellow work on "Happy and Free" and due to the fact that I have the original indie GDBD, I was not familiar with "It's Never Quite What it Seems." Smokin!

Any to get to the point of this thread (sorry!), I think this version blows away Neil Young's. This is partly because I hate Neil Young, though I recognize the general quality of the song he wrote. I agree that Young's version simply seems hollow up against OTR's. In many ways, I wish the original didn't exist so there could be no comparing. What Karin does to that piece of music is a thing of beauty--no matter where it comes from.