Description
Strong Hand of Love: The Radio Special is a multi-artist tribute compilation featuring music written by the late singer-songwriter Mark Heard (December 16, 1951 – August 16, 1992), released on Fingerprint Records in October 1994.
The Strong Hand of Love Radio Special was aired on WXPN’s World Cafe in 1994 (Philadelphia, PA/PRI – Public Radio International). This 70 minutes tribute includes music by Mark Heard, as well as interviews with artists such as Bruce Cockburn, Sam Phillips, Michael Been of The Call and Bill Mallonee of Vigilantes of Love, among others. Bruce Cockburn’s acoustic version of “Closer To The Light”, written in memory of Mark, is available on this disc only.
SUMMARY: This special radio broadcast celebrates the art of the late musician Mark Heard. Host David Dye plays selections from a recent Heard tribute album called “Strong Hand of Love,” as well as reminiscences from fellow performers who recall the honoree and his music. Music and highlights include: “Strong Hand of Love” (Bruce Cockburn); Cockburn recalls initially hearing Mark Heard’s music; “Dry Bones Dance” (Mark Heard); “What Kind of Friend” (Victoria Williams); “Freight Train to Nowhere” (Vigilantes of Love); a member of the Vigilantes of Love comments on their Mark Heard cover version; Pierce Pettis recalls Heard’s “nasty, honest” streak; “Not Over Coffee” (Pierce Pettis); “Worry Too Much” (Jason Harrod and Brian Funck); Sam Phillips – who sang background for Heard – recalls the late singer’s sense of humor and his talent as a rug weaver; “Love Is So Blind” (Mark Heard); T-Bone Burnett remembers Heard as “the Cyrano de Bergerac of rock and roll”; Cockburn explains how Heard’s passing inspired his new song “Closer to the Light”; “Closer to the Light” (Bruce Cockburn, live version); Dan Russell recalls the portentious nature of Heard’s lyrics; “I Just Wanna Get Warm” (Dan Russell); Michael Been, a member the Call, shares how he became involved with the tribute album; “We Know Too Much” (Michael Been); and “The Orphans of God” (Mark Heard).
CD tracklist:
Part One Features: 16:05
1.1 Bruce Cockburn – Interview and performance of “Strong Hand Of Love”
1.2 Mark Heard – Performance of “Dry Bones Dance”
1.3 Victoria Williams – Performance of “What Kind Of Friend”
1.4 Bill Mallonee – Interview and V.O.L. performance of “Freight Train To Nowhere”
Part Two Features: 19:07
2.1 Pierce Pettis – Interview
2.2 Mark Heard – Performance of “Nod Over Coffee”
2.3 Jason Harrod and Brian Funck – Performance of “Worry Too Much”
2.4 Sam Phillips – Interview
2.5 Mark Heard – Performance of “Love Is So Blind” (Backing Vocals: Sam Phillips, Performer [Cameo]: T-Bone Burnett)
2.6 Bruce Cockburn – Interview
2.7 Bruce Cockburn – Performance of acoustic version of “Closer To The Light” (Recorded on his 1994 Columbia release Dart To The Heart)
Part Three Features: 18:14
3.1 Dan Russell – Interview and performance of “I Just Wanna Get Warm”
3.2 Michael Been – Interview and performance of “We Know Too Much”
3.3 Mark Heard – Performance of “Orphans Of God”
3.4 David Dye – Closing
Part Four: 3:19
4. Bruce Carroll – “Castaway”
Part Five: 5:17
5. Pat Terry – “Mercy Of The Flame”
Part Six: 4:23
6. Buddy and Julie Miller “Orphans Of God”
Part Seven: 4:21
7. Phil Keaggy – “Everything Is Alright” (Originally released on Phil Keaggy and Sunday’s Child, 1988)
A press release, picked up via THE LIGHTHOUSE electronic MAGAZINE:
Nashville, Tenn. – The music of the late Christian music pioneer Mark Heard is becoming increasingly popular beyond the boundaries of the contemporary Christian music industry where he did most of his work. Through the efforts of admirers such as Columbia recording artist Bruce Cockburn, who claims Heard as his favorite songwriter, many in the world of mainstream rock and pop music have been introduced to Heard’s music.
Recently, World Cafe, the daily two-hour music show which airs nationally on American Public Radio, featured the music of Mark Heard. The program, extremely popular with adults aged 20-45, featured Strong Hand of Love, the tribute to Mark Heard’s music released this summer by Myrrh Records/Fingerprint Records. In addition to the music, the radio special included interviews with friends and admirers of Heard, such as Cockburn, Virgin recording artist Sam Phillips and Bill Mallonee from Capricorn recording artist Vigilantes of Love. Previous subjects of World Cafe radio specials have been such outstanding artists as Cockburn, Bonnie Raitt, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Indigo Girls, U2 and Counting Crows. World Cafe airs nationally on 80 radio stations.
Says Bruce Raines, producer of World Cafe, “I knew very little about Mark Heard before we did the special, and now I’m a committed fan. I just wish I could have known him while he was still with us.”
Throughout the months of November and December, Christian radio stations across the country will be re-broadcasting the World Cafe radio special.
Strong Hand of Love is available in CD, cassette and video. Strong Hand of Love and High Noon, a collection of the best from Heard’s own projects, are all available on Myrrh Records/Fingerprint Records.
Mark Heard documentary: Strong Hand of Love
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