I'm a total lurker on this forum, but a HUGE OTR fan in Dallas.

I just produced a CD with Texas singer-songwriter (and New Thought minister/philosopher/teacher/author) David Howard, and we covered "Spark" from "Drunkard's Prayer".

Please check it out. We would love to hear what Orchard members think!

You can hear the first 2 minutes at CD Baby and it's also downloadable at iTunes.

Incidentally, "Spark" also became the name of the album.

I don't think anyone has played the title song on the radio in Ohio yet, but another cover on "Spark" -- an unpublished Woody Guthrie song set to new music by Austin singer-songwriter Slaid Cleaves, "This Morning I Am Born Again" -- has been getting airplay from Michael Grayson and Lori Holladay at WNKU/89.7FM!!!

Longtime Karin & Linford photographer Michael Wilson also just happens to be a friend of our photographer friend Allison V. Smith here in Dallas. Both David and I have admired Michael's photos for OTR, as well as fellow Texan Lyle Lovett and others for some time, so we got in touch, and while visiting my sister's family in Cincinnati last December (2006), we got together with Michael at the abandoned (and VERY chilly!) Old St. George's cathedral in Clifton, where he shot the gorgeous cover photo for the project.

We'll be back in Cincy in October, and WNKU has invited David to visit their studios for an interview. We should have an Ohio/North Kentucky gig lined up by then, too. I'll will post an update as we get closer to...

FYI, much more info about David at www.DavidHoward.com

wow! some beautiful work there. just beautiful.

the Dog & Pony Show pics are GREAT!!!!

Yes, really fantastic work!

Wow, it's sort of like Julio Iglesias for the Christian set. The cover is a little wooden IMO, but the guy has a good voice. It's weird hearing a guy sing it after hearing Karen sing it for so long. I just wish it flowed a little better. Hope this opinion helps.

Honest opinion.... I didn't like it.

1. Don't care for his vocal style.
2. The arrangement seems pressed or manufactured or something.
3. The vocals seem somewhat "boxy" in the recording, to me. Not hearing much "life" in them.

Having said all of that, I love the fact that dude had the guts to cover Spark. Kudos, myman.

Normally I try to keep things positive, but I hope these comments help. I wish you both much good fortune in your endeavors. You've come a long way already!

Congratulations!
John

ok, i'll be honest too (no offense meant tho), i also didn't care for it. at all. it's (imho) overwrought, poorly (wrongly?) "phrased" and kind of "generic."

from his liner notes, i think he completely missed the point of the song and it comes across in his reading of it. a ) it is not simply a "tribute to John Lennon and his ardent voice in the peace movement." yes, it beautifully and respectfully references john (and "imagine"), and his stance and calls for peace. but, b ) this song (imho), more than anything else is a deeply political, angry song, calling out, with great passion, those who have put our world at risk by spreading fear, war and hatred in return for their own personal & political power and financial gains. c) i think it is more about addressing those that are causing the problems, that are the problem, rather than simplistic statement of the problems/solutions.

and that passion and anger is even more obvious if you have ever seen her do it live.

and not to get political, only making my point by quoting karin (not karyn) as she introduced this song several times during the drunkard's prayer tour... "this one is for george."

For the record, Bill's referring to a typo on the David Howard site for the album Spark. In the explanation that accompanies the credits and lyrics, her name is misspelled. It was spelled correctly in the credit, however.

Yikes! Thanks for the heads up! We fixed the spelling of Karin's name on David's site.

This comparison is making me laugh. Thanks for giving a listen. Technically, however, David is not a Christian, though I think he does believe the recorded/reported teachings of Jesus -- "Sermon on the Mount", etc. -- are central to finding peace with oneself in this world and the key to human survival.

Well, I think I would have to agree with John on this.
Maybe I have been spoiled by Karin's voice, but I just don't get the same feeling or the impact that Karin puts into it. The guitar in the song is almost too "rockish". I'm not feeling it all.

Wow, this is kinda twisted, but I understand it. I would think a person for whom the recorded/reported teachings of Jesus are central to finding peace and the key to human survival is the very definition of a Christian. Of course, given the reputation some Christians are earning these days, I completely understand why one would want to shy away from the term itself, even if only technically.

That said, best of luck with the album.