Dear music lover
Most of you know that 25 years ago Elvis sadly "left the building" for the last time, but very few know that another "king" - Mark Heard, singer-songwriter extraordinaire - passed away on the very same day 10 years ago. So it's with great pleasure to announce to you the launch of the brand new non-commercial web site THE MARK HEARD TRIBUTE PROJECT
The late Mark Heard (1951-1992) was a singer-songwriter, a multi-instrumentalist and producer. But even more so, Mark was a poet to the poets - a man who recognized the day's issues before the rest of us, and framed them in lyrics that were often haunting and rarely ordinary. His music has been praised by well-known artists like Bruce Cockburn, Victoria Williams, Sam Phillips, Phil Keaggy, Buddy Miller of Emmylou Harris band, Michael Been of The Call and this years Grammy winning artist and producer, T-Bone Burnett.
Mark's music, in his lifetime, never caught the attention of a large music-buying public - Mark was an artist more concerned with telling the truth than selling the truth. During his short lifetime, Mark Heard released 16 studio recordings, and contributed as an instrumentalist, engineer or producer on more than 50 albums. The Mark Heard Tribute Project kindly provides you with lyrics, reviews, interviews and articles on Mark's stunning legacy of work. Don't miss out on the opportunity to get to know a truly unique artist, and one of the great singer-songwriters of our time.
sincerely,
The Mark Heard Tribute Project
August 16, 2002
click on the banner to enter the tribute website
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 | Mark Heard
Dry Bones Dance
Fingerprint Records 1990 (CD)
The first of Mark Heard's final trilogy of albums. His songwriting became as honest, seeking, truthful, and raw as it ever had been on these three final works. On 'Dry Bones Dance', he revels in an earthy Americana that borders on twinges of country rock, complimenting the wry honesty of the lyrics. Powerful, emotional, truthful. |  | Mark Heard
Second Hand
Fingerprint Records 1991 (CD)
Plaintive, passionate, heartbreaking and hopeful music is colored by warm, acoustic production reminiscent of his earlier recordings, all of which dims in comparison to the lyrics, some of the best pure songwriting ever put on tape. Includes provocative ballads such as "Nod Over Coffee," "Lonely Moon" and "Look Over Your Shoulder." |  | Mark Heard
Satellite Sky
Fingerprint Records 1992 (CD)
Mark's last recording. 15 songs, electrified and heartfelt. Handling his guitar,
accordion and 1939 National Electric Mandolin like they were his last hope for redemption, Mark developed a sound that matched his frenetic lyrics. Produced by Mark Heard, and co-produced by Dan Russell and Jim Scott. |  | Mark Heard
High Noon
Fingerprint Records 1993 (CD)
A compilation from Mark's three albums released on Fingerprint Records, as seen above, including three previously unreleased songs. The recordings include the talents of brilliant musicians such as Buddy and Julie Miller, Sam Phillips, Byron Berline (an associate of the Flying Burrito Brothers), Burleigh Drummond of Ambrosia, stick-player Fergus Jemison Marsh (a long-time associate of Bruce Cockburn) and Michael Been of The Call, as well as many other great musicians. Co-produced by Dan Russell and Buddy Miller. |
Strong Hand Of Love
Down peppers the rain from a clear blue sky
Down trickles a tear on a youthful face
Feeling in haste and wondering why
Up struggles the sun from a wounded night
Out venture our hearts from their silent shrouds
Trying to ignite but wondering how
We can laugh and we can cry
And never see the strong hand of love hidden in the shadows
We can dance and we can sigh
And never see the strong hand of love hidden in the shadows
Young dreamers explode like popped balloons
Some kind of emotional rodeo
Learning too slow and acting too soon
Time marches away like a lost platoon
We gracefully age as we feel the weight
Of loving too late and leaving too soon
We can laugh and we can cry
And never see the strong hand of love hidden in the shadows
We can dance and we can sigh
And never see the strong hand of love hidden in the shadows
from the album Dry Bones Dance [1990]
Treasure Of The Broken Land
I see you now and then in dreams
Your voice sounds just like it used to
I know you better than I knew you then
All I can say is I love you
I thought our days were commonplace
Thought they would number in millions
Now there's only the aftertaste
Of circumstance that can't pass this way again
Treasure of the broken land
Parched earth, give up your captive ones
Waiting wind of Gabriel
Blow soon upon the hollow bones
from the album Satellite Sky [1992]
lyrics written by Mark Heard © 1990-2002 Ideola Music/ASCAP
If you would like to help perpetuate the legacy of Mark Heard's work, please forward this e-mail to your friends
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