~ Mark Heard remembered... Singer-songwriter Randy Stonehill just released his 24th album, Spirit Walk, forty years after the release of his first album (Born Twice, 1971). In a recent interview with the Greater Than Magazine Stonehill talks about his work with Mark Heard:
Q: Who sharpens you musically? A: Certainly the late great Mark Heard. He reminded me of the power of delivering an honest, heartfelt performance. He helped me to be less self conscious about the fact that we were in the recording studio making a record. In so many unspoken ways he helped me to recognize what was valuable. He inspired me to dig deeper both as a writer and a communicator. He helped me to remember where the gifts came from and who you serve, just by the way he conducted himself with integrity and authenticity.
~ Two Mark Heard songs covered by Joan Baez
The Joan Baez recording Play Me Backwards was first released in 1992. The album, produced by Wally Wilson and Kenny Greenberg, featured songs by songwriters like Mary Chapin Carpenter (“Stones In the Road”), John Stewart (“Strange Rivers”), John Hiatt (“Through Your Hands”), the duo of Janis Ian and Buddy Mondlock (“Amsterdam”), and Ron Davies (“Steal Across the Border” and “The Dream Song,” co-written with Joan).
In the spring of 2011 the album was reissued as Play Me Backwards - A Collector's Edition (2CD/2LP Gatefold Sleeve). Adding historic provenance to this reissue is a second disc containing previously unreleased demos of 10 songs which were contemplated by Joan and her producers, heard here for the first time. Among the songs included are “Rise From the Ruins” and “Lonely Moon” written by Mark Heard. As well, the song “In My Day” co-written by Joan Baez and Greenberg’s wife Ashley Cleveland is included.
MARCH
~ Mark Heard remembered...
Paste Magazine's Andy Whitman recently did an interview with Buddy Miller (who's new album, The Majestic Silver Strings, features a guitarist’s dream band of Miller, Bill Frisell, Marc Ribot and Greg Leisz paired with a host of stellar guest vocalists). During their conversation Andy brought up the name of Mark Heard:
Paste Magazine: I think the first time I heard your voice was on a Mark Heard tribute album from 1994, where you and Julie sang Mark’s song “Orphans of God.” I know that for me, and for a few other folks, Mark Heard was something of a hero, an honest, articulate Christian who wrote poetically about faith and doubt. And then to hear his words coming out of that big, soulful voice of Buddy Miller was a revelation for me.
Buddy Miller: Well, thanks. He’s a hero to me, too. I have his console and a lot of his studio equipment in my house. I’m sitting in front of some of it right now. There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t think about Mark Heard... (Please visit Paste Magazine to read the rest of the interview.)
2010
OCTOBER
~ New Recording of Mark Heard Lyric The album Land of Plenty from Blind Records recording
group The Redemption
Center features the song "I'm Afraid of You," with lyrics
by Mark Heard and music by Steve Smith, the band's lead vocalist.
The lyrics were originally published in Hammers and Nails,
Heard's biography; Smith obtained permission from Janet Heard
to set them to music.
AUGUST
~ Michael Been : 1950 - 2010
Michael Been died of a heart attack August 19th backstage at
the Pukkelpop Music Festival, Belgium, where he was working
as sound engineer for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (a band featuring
his son Robert Levon Been). Been was known as the bassist and
front man of The Call, a band who made music that mattered in
the 80s, featuring socially conscious, spiritually aware lyrics.
He also contributed on a few CCM-related albums in the 70s,
like the Barry McGuire classic Lighten Up and the first
two releases by 2nd Chapter Of Acts. As well, in the 90s Michael
Been did play on two of Mark Heard's albums, Dry Bones Dance
and Satellite Sky, and is featured in a short glimpse
(probably shoot during the Satellite Sky sessions)
on this Mark Heard
video. As well, The Call did a passionate cover of Heard's
"We Know Too Much" as a part of the Strong Hand of Love
tribute project.
JANUARY
~ Thomas L Howard : 1950 - 2010
Composer, arranger, producer, and musician Tom Howard is no
longer with us. He had a heart attack January 29 while hiking
together with his wife Dori at Edwin Warner Park in Nashville.
Tom will be remembered for his sophisticated, but at the same
time gentle, pop albums like View from the Bridge (Solid
Rock Records 1977) and Danger in Loving You (NewPax
Records 1981) as well as a myriad of beautiful instrumental
albums (the last one, Piano Christmas: Fifteen Classic Piano
Carols was released by Kingsway Music just a few months
ago).
Tom's musical contributions can be found on Mark Heard albums
like Appalachian Melody (Solid Rock Records 1979) and
all of Mark's studio albums released by Home Sweet Home Records
during the 80s (as well, Tom was among Mark's friends "featured"
on the front cover of Mosaics). Tom Howard also worked
with other Solid Rock artists like Randy Stonehill, Daniel Amos/Terry
Taylor and of course Larry Norman, and other Mark Heard connected
artists like Pat Terry, Phil Keaggy, The Choir, and Pierce Pettis.
Please visit
In Memory of Tom Howard for more info and audio clips.
FYI January 30
Solid Rock
Records published the following statement on their website:
"Our deepest sympathy goes out to Tom's family and friends,
and we hope to be able to help out in any small way we can.
Tom was one of the Solid Rock artists in the late 1970s and
we had plans to re-release his album View From The Bridge
later this year."
2009
DECEMBER
~ Appalachian Melody CD release
Mark Heard's 1979-album Appalachian Melody, originally
released on vinyl with a fold out cover, is finally available
on the CD format. This fine folk/folk rock-oriented album was
co-produced by Mark Heard and the Solid Rock boss Larry Norman
and features musicians like Tom Howard, Randy Stonehill, Al
Perkins, and the late great Jon Linn, among others. More info
to be found over at
Solid Rock Records.
JUNE
~ A new Mark Heard cover
Two old friends of the late Mark Heard,
Phil Keaggy
and
Randy Stonehill, just released a new album. The recording
entitled Mystery Highway features a great collection
of rock'n'roll songs written, produced and performed by Phil
and Randy (with John Sferra of
Glass Harp
fame behind the drums), as well as a cover of Mark Heard's "Love
Is Not The Only Thing" (from Mark's 1991 recording Second
Hand). Please visit
Phil Keaggy's webstore to check out audio samples.
As well, Popdose.com recently featured an interesting
interview with Phil Keaggy where he talks about the recording
of his classic 1988-release Sunday's Child which not
only featured the musical talents of Mark Heard but two of his
songs as well (the vinyl release featured "I Always Do" only,
but the CD release featured a cover of "Everything Is Alright"
as well).
Phil Keaggy: "You know, the thing is that, with Sunday’s
Child, it was a Myrrh release, and here’s the weird thing
about it: people from RCA/Victor heard the master of the album...it
might’ve been because of Jack Pig, who engineered and mixed
the album, who must’ve gotten it into the hands of friends of
his at RCA...and they flipped over it. They wanted to release
"I
Always Do" as the first single on RCA. But because of the
Myrrh/A&M deal, we couldn’t do it...and A&M did nothing with
the album. They didn’t care to promote it."
APRIL
~ An interview with Pierce Pettis
Back in June 26, 2008, Anne Williams at WNRN in Charlottesville,
Virginia, did an interview with singer-songwriter
Pierce
Pettis. In Part 1 of the interview Pettis does an excellent
live cover of Mark Heard's "Rise from the Ruins" from Mark's
brilliant 1990 recording Dry Bones Dance. Some of you
will know that Pettis covered this tune on his 2001 album
State of Grace as well. In the third and final part
of the interview Pettis gives us a story from his work with
Mark Heard who produced Pettis' Tinseltown).
WNRN - Pierce Pettis Interview,
Part 1
WNRN - Pierce Pettis Interview,
Part 2
WNRN - Pierce Pettis Interview,
Part 3
JANUARY
~ Pierce Pettis and Pat Terry
Four years in the making, January veteran singer-songwriter
Pierce
Pettis (myspace
site) released his 9th solo album, entitled That Kind
of Love (Compass Records). Since Mark's passing, Pettis
has included a Mark Heard tune on each and every of his
releases, and this time around he has included a cover of Mark
Heard's "Nothing But The Wind," a song originally featured on
Mark Heard's final studio recording Satellite Sky.
Check this fine album out at
Compass Records or at your local music store.
Some of you might remember singer-songwriter
Pat
Terry (myspace
site) from The Pat Terry Group in the 70s, or his years
as a solo artist in the 80s. Though Terry is still working as
a songwriter he hasn't released any new album since 1985, until
now....December 2008 Pat Terry finally released a new album
entitled Laugh For A Million Years, a name taken from
a song written by Terry not long after Mark Heard died. (That
song was played in tribute to Mark at the
memorial concert in
Nashville that year as well.) The new CD can be ordered
over at Pat Terry's official
website.
At Terry's blog ("A New CD...and me," 12/16/08) you will be
able to read more about the new album and Terry's connection
to Mark. (So Pat, when will your album trilogy produced by Mark
Heard in the first half of the 80s finally be available on CD??)
2008
NOVEMBER
~ The Lost Artifacts of An American Poet - Part II
The late Larry Norman's label Solid Rock Records have released
The Lost Artifacts Of An American Poet - Part II (as
pictured above), a CD featuring never before released recordings
by Mark Heard. In the words of Solid Rock Records: "This is
the follow-up to the very well received Mark Heard demos collection
we put out in 2007." Songs included on the CD are: Bluegill
On The Line / Cold Soaking Rain / Life's Ocean / October Farms
/ Second Best Friend / To Walk In The Wood / How Long / Not
Alone / Even So Come / Goes A Long Way / Bethlehymn. More info
featured over at
Solid Rock Records.
MARCH
~ New Mark Heard cover Ralston
Bowles continues the pattern of kicking off albums with
a Mark Heard cover. Rally at the Texas Hotel starts with
Ralston's take on "Satellite Sky." Check it out at
Amazon.com.
FEBRUARY
~ In Another Land...
Singer-songwriter Larry David Norman (4/8/1947 - 2/24/2008)
passed away Sunday morning February 24th.
Larry Norman
was known as a friend of Mark Heard as well as his mentor. In
1976 Mark met with Larry and Randy Stonehill and was offered
a recording contract with Solid Rock Records. An album, Appalachian
Melody, was released on Larry's Solid Rock label in 1979
before Mark moved on to Home Sweet Home Records.
Mark and Larry in studio
In
this interview from 2000 - a small clip from a yet to be
released movie about the late producer and musician
Gene "Eugene" Andrusco (of
Adam
Again) - Larry is commenting on Mark Heard as well Gene
Eugene and Terry Taylor (Daniel
Amos).
JANUARY
~ The Lost Artifacts of An American Poet
In December last year Larry Norman's label Solid Rock Records
released The Lost Artifacts Of An American Poet (as pictured
above), a CD featuring never before released recordings by Mark
Heard. In the words of Solid Rock Records: "When Mark Heard
died of a heart attack at age 41, the world lost a musical visionary
and Larry lost one of his closest friends. In his short lifetime,
Mark released 16 albums, but recorded many more songs which
were never released. Until now. A recent foray into the vaults
yielded several artifacts that Mark recorded during his time
at Solid Rock, some of them never before heard. We've included
them on this collection of songs written by a true American
poet, ten tracks filled with Mark's trademark wit and wisdom."
More info featured over at
Solid Rock Records.
2007
OCTOBER
~ Mark Heard featured at emusic
Under the heading "Mark Heard: Orphan of God," Michael James
McGonigal has written a nice
column on the music of Mark Heard over at emusic.
AUGUST 16
~ Mark Heard : December 16, 1951 - August 16, 1992
"In a perfect world Mark Heard would be mentioned alongside
such influential songwriters as John Hiatt, Tom Waits, Leonard
Cohen, Richard Thompson and Steve Earle."
[All Music Guide]
Mark Heard - Live at Cornerstone 1990
"I think that all the mystery in the world, all the wonder
in the world, all the tears of happiness, all the tears
of sadness, all the truth in the world - they have all been
rolled up into a big ball and thrown into a hole and boarded
up by society. All I'd like to do is just to punch a peep-hole
in that, so that somebody walking by might look in." [Mark
Heard]
For the record: Today, five years after the launch of
this website, The Mark Heard Tribute Project has been
visited by close to 22.000. We strongly encourage our visitors
to forward any
articles, reviews, etc., you may have, covering the work of
Mark Heard. Thank you for keeping the legacy alive.
MARCH
~ Mark Heard remembered...
Darryl Purpose, “America’s most original narrative story-teller
since Harry Chapin” according to Q Magazine, has released
a
CD as well as a
DVD featuring "Singer
Songwriter Heaven," a song originally written by Kevin Faherty.
Darryl Purpose is supported by
Julie
Beaver on these recordings. You could listen to some
mp3-samples over at CD Baby and read a nice
review as well.
~ Treasure video...
The «Treasure
of The Broken Land» video as featured on the Strong Hand
of Love Long Form Video (Fingerprint Records/Word 1994).
This song originally was featured on the 1992 album Satellite,
Mark Heard's final recording.
The video is almost prophetic as it shows the Twin Towers/
World Trade Center in New York and one of the video effects
makes it almost appear as if the towers are falling. As well
are the lyrics...
FEBRUARY
~ iDEoLA...
The «Is
It Any Wonder» video from the Tribal Opera album
by iDEoLA (a.k.a. Mark Heard), originally released in 1987 on
A&M/What? Records.
JANUARY
~ An animated tribute video...
The new year kicks of with a beautifully crafted animated tribute
video by Rayvon Pettis featuring Mark Heard's 1991-masterpiece
«Lonely
Moon». Enjoy...
2006
DECEMBER
~ Mark Heard quoted...
In the liner notes of Greatest Hits: The Atlantic Years
by the multimillion-selling nu-metal act P.O.D., Mark Heard
was remembered...
Mark Joseph writes ..".The group’s Atlantic Records debut,
The Fundamental Elements Of Southtown, proved that Sonny,
Wuv (drums), Traa (bass), and Marcos (guitars) could rock with
the best of them, and their music skillfully wove in elements
of rock, rap, and reggae. But a whole new storm would soon erupt
when some devout fans, spooked by the album’s surreal cover
art, demanded that the record be removed from certain retail
stores. Others of a more secular nature decried the band’s refusal
to keep their faith out of their songs. And the battle for the
soul of P.O.D. was on: In the words of another singer named
Mark Heard, who once fought a similar battle with his
own music, they were too saved for the sinners, and the saved
didn’t want them around. P.O.D wasn’t going to move, but America
was about to..."
OCTOBER
~ "All My Tears" featured on the new album by Jars of
Clay Good Monsters, the new studio album by
Jars of
Clay, features a cover of
Julie
Miller's "All My Tears," a song that has been a long-time
staple of Jars of Clay's live shows. In the
words of Jars' Dan Haseltine: "That was a scary song to
try to do. We thought we had to tailor it to make it a little
more rock and roll, and we were really scared because we wanted
to honor how the song was originally written, about [singer/songwriter]
Mark Heard and by Julie, who's experienced so much chronic pain
in her life."
AUGUST 16
~ another year has passed...
These days
We put on cars like shoes
And walk faster
We form lines and remain mute
Almost unaware of the walkers around us
As we transcend space
We put on wings like a coat
And spend morning and evening in separate worlds
Instant schizophrenia
As we transcend time
Maps hide cities
Cities hide houses
Houses hide faces
Faces hide hearts
But hearts still beat quietly
Few feel even their own pulse
But hearts are made to beat
We can drown them out with more accessible rhythms
But they continue the counterpoint
Hearts are made to beat
Our souls are still within us
Our Creator waits for us to notice
As our geographical boundaries
Are chased around the sun by time
Decaying in a fashion some call normal
[from Mark Heard's journal]
For the record: Today, four years after the launch
of this website, The Mark Heard Tribute Project has been
visited by more than 16.000. We strongly encourage our visitors
to forward any
articles, reviews, etc., you may have, covering the work of
Mark Heard. Thank you for keeping the legacy alive.
JUNE
~ Mark Heard remembered by Paste Magazine
In Paste
Magazine's #22 June/July 2006 - a Special Collector's Issue
featuring the 100 "Best" Living Songwriters - the late
Mark Heard was remembered as well:
~ "Worry Too Much" - Song of the Year at
the 2005 Americana Music Association Awards
At the 4th Annual Americana Music Association Honors & Awards,
the Ryman Auditorium Friday September 9,
Buddy
Miller received the Album of the Year Award for his Universal
United House of Prayer, and the opening cut of that album,
Mark Heard's "Worry Too Much," won the Song of the Year Award.
As some of you might know, "Worry Too Much" was recorded by
Mark Heard on his album
Second Hand,
released back in 1991.
~ Friends of Mark Heard...
Another year gone by...it's already 3 years since The Mark
Heard Tribute Project was launched on August 16th 2002,
and so far the tribute website has been visited by more than
11.000... thanks for your effort to keep Mark Heard's music
alive!
For those of you who would like to discuss the works of Mark
Heard, feel free to visit the Mark Heard Music Zone at
Yahoo! Groups (a place to share photos, links, music and
info on the works of Mark Heard) and the new forum at
markheard.blogspot.com
(dedicated to readers of Hammers & Nails: the Life and Music
of Mark Heard by Matthew Dickerson,
Cornerstone
Press Chicago, 2003)
2004
OCTOBER 26
~ Buddy Miller's Worry Too Much video available
Buddy Miller has recorded a
video for his cover of Mark Heard's "Worry Too Much" featured
on Miller's new album Universal United House of Prayer.
Mark Heard was mentioned in an interview with
Buddy
Miller featured in the latest issue of No Depression
magazine (Issue #53 September-October 2004).
AUGUST 16
~ Ladies and gentlemen...
August veteran singer-songwriter
Pierce
Pettis released his 8th solo album, entitled Great Big
World. Since Mark's passing, Pettis has included a Mark
Heard tune on each and every of his releases, and this
time things push off with a cover of Mark Heard's "Another Day
In Limbo." Check this fine album out at
pastemusic
or at your local music store. This guy simply deserves your support!
But Pettis is not the only one to cover Mark these days...Buddy
Miller has recorded "Worry
Too Much" for his upcoming album entitled Universal United
House of Prayer, to be released on New West Records next
month. Be sure to pick up this Americana jewel as well.
FYI: The Mark Heard Tribute Project was launched on August
16th 2002 - on the very day 10 years after John Mark Heard sadly
passed away - to help perpetuate the legacy of Mark's stunning
work. During our first year the tribute website was visited
by more than 3500, and today, by the end of our second year
on the web, we're approaching 7000 visitors. Thanks for your
effort to keep Mark Heard's music alive!
APRIL
~ New Mark Heard cover
Singer-songwriter
Ralston
Bowles' debut album Carwreck Conversations starts
off with a
cover
of Mark Heard's "What Kind of Friend." The album is produced
by Marvin Etzioni (ex-Lone Justice) who did the amazing take
on "Hammers and Nails" featured on Fingerprint Records 2CD-tribute
Orphans of
God. In the words of Brett Hartenbach's All Music Guide
review: "Carwreck Conversations, Ralston Bowles' debut,
is a mature, thoughtful portrait of age, youth, and the place
"where dreams and truth collide..".Along the way he aims more
questions inward than at the outside world, without ever falling
prey to easy rationalizations or self-pity." Check it out at
pastemusic,
and look for Orphans of God as well...
2003
SEPTEMBER
~ Greenbelt 2003
Late August singer-songwriters
Pierce Pettis and
Juliet
Turner had the honor of opening the 30th Greenbelt Festival
with Mark Heard's "Satellite Sky..".
AUGUST 16
~ first year on the web...
August 16th 2002, 10 years after John Mark Heard passed away,
The Mark Heard Tribute Project was launched to help perpetuate
the legacy of Mark's stunning work. One year after the official
release, the tribute website has been visited by more than 3500.
The Mark Heard Tribute Project strongly encourage
our visitors to forward
any articles, reviews, etc., you may have, covering the work
of Mark Heard.
JULY 1
~ HAMMERS & NAILS
The new Mark Heard album
Hammers
& Nails (as well as every Mark Heard album still in
print) is now available at
PasteMusic.com.
A limited number of Tribal Opera, the critical acclaimed
one-man project Mark Heard released under the name of iDEoLA,
is for sale as well (NB! vinyl-version only). Get it while you
can!
The
Phantom Tollbooth has published a
review of
Matthew Dickerson's book "HAMMERS & NAILS: the Life and Music
of Mark Heard" (Cornerstone Press 2003).
Please visit Cornerstone Press' website
Hammers and Nails, dedicated to the Mark Heard biography.
For those who want to discuss the various topics included in
the book, an online-forum is included on the website as well.
APRIL 12
~ The Tribute Project Relocates
The MARK HEARD Tribute Project is soon to be
relocated to the following URL: www.markheard.net
Bookmark today!
APRIL 9
~ HAMMERS & NAILS: the Life and Music of Mark Heard
The Mark Heard biography written by Matthew Dickerson is finally
ready for pre-ordering (release-date: June 12, 2003).
Order today at
Cornerstone Press
Cornerstone Press says: Please remember that all royalties from the sales of this
book go to Janet and Rebecca Heard! This is very important.
This project is a labor of love in honor of Mark's memory and
in dedication to the family. By pre-ordering the First Edition
you're also making a contribution to insure more copies of this
book in the future!
~ HAMMERS & NAILS - the album!
Paste Records has made agreement with Dan Russell, Janet Heard
and Fingerprint to become the new home for Mark Heard's music.
This includes the release of a new CD, Hammers & Nails,
which includes 10 new songs, plus some bonus material.
Additionally, Paste will be remastering and re-releasing
Satellite Sky and bringing "She's Not Afraid" over from
the High Noon-compilation. The new label says "Paste
will also ensure that Second Hand & Dry Bones Dance
stay in print."
