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Mark Shepard Sings

A Life In Song: 4 Decades of Original Music

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All Along The Watchtower-Bob Dylan Cover

February 27, 2019 · A Life In Song, cover songs, Life In Song 2010's, Political Songs, Recording Process, Videos

Or is it a Jimmy Hendrix Cover? or a Michael Hedges Cover? or a John Mayer Cover or a Dave Matthews cover? This post is about how it became a “Mark Shepard Cover of All Along The Watchtower by Bob Dylan.”

The other night I watched Dave Matthews totally and completely SHRED this song… and then I experienced John Mayer’s version and I remembered being in a tiny club and hearing Michael Hedges live acoustic version in a strange and wonderful open tuning…

For the record I have NEVER been able to listen to Dylan’s version. And for this project I did NOT listen to Hendrix.

I’d had enough of other people singing this song. All I knew was that somehow I was SUPPOSED to sing this and explore this song. Don’t know why. Normally I have no desire to sing other people’s songs. That’s why I’m a SONGWRITER. If I liked most other songs, I would sing them. But I don’t. Maybe it’s a character flaw. Or maybe I’m just a freaking songwriter. LOL…

But I’m also a singer. and as it turns out I am LOVE, LOVE, LOVING this new world of playing all the tracks and creating my own arrangements. I know their not as polished as my beloved Joe Mennonna’s virtuoso arrangements. And I miss having my dear friend Gene Moore’s legendary eletric lead guitar work… but I LOVE playing all the damn instruments. so here is the process.

Step One: I played the song about 10 times and figured out the very simple chord structure. And started imagining what I wanted to play.

Step Two: I found a click track tempo that felt just right.

Step Three: I recorded a “live” pass in what I thought would be the right Key Bm.

Step Four: laid down a few ideas with piano, organ and simple percussion. Making sure I was really locking in with the Bass drum or Djun-Djun.

Step Five: Listen. Watch. Listen again. Step back. Take a few days off. I went up to  my dad’s and found myself playing the song over and over for 3 days. Discovered the key of A minor was a little easier to sing as it wasn’t all the way up against the wall of my vocal range.

Step Six: Got back from my dad’s, copied all the percussion tracks. Rerecorded the vocals and other instruments in the new key. Videoing (is that a word?) each instrument as best as I could. (forgot to hit record a few times but got a lot of the various drums and percussion visually.

Step Seven: Mix and listen.
Here’s a version of that –

Step Eight: Got my BIG drums out of my utility trailer where they’ve been sitting for 10 years and started attempting to get the “sound in my head” onto “tape” (we don’t use tape anymore but haven’t changed how we tawk about recording)… Tried the durms lit (which is one pitch) and unlit (which sounded better to my ear for this track).

Step Nine: mixed and listened. Began putting the various video shots with the music. got some great shots and started mixing them in with the lead vocal… I discovered that one of the lead guitar tracks was NOT on a video. So I decided to re-record and video tape another lead.

Step Ten: Borrowed my electric guitar back from a long term friend loan.

Step Eleven: Re-recorded the electric guitar lead.

Step Twelve: Mix and listen. Add the new video to the visual edit.

And shazaam! Two weeks and something like 10 mixes and 7 video edits later.

Here’s what I came up with.

I hope you enjoy this.

and now back to my OWN damn songs… They are getting impatient.

Thank you so much for finding my music and sharing it with others you know who might enjoy it.

– Mark

Filed Under: A Life In Song, cover songs, Life In Song 2010's, Political Songs, Recording Process, Videos

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Some reviews & testimonials

I Love listening to all your songs…

Mark, you really are an amazing songwriter! I Love listening to all your songs and sitting in the creative aura they create!

Cheri

Love the “Key To Your Cage” album…

Love the “Key To Your Cage” album. I hear so many different influences and styles woven throughout the songs, really keeps it interesting from start to finish!

Dan Z

They love (your song) and ask to listen to it, ALWAYS.

My name is Cecile. I teach kindergarten at OMSD. I had the pleasure of using your song Together We Can Change The World to help my students make a difference in this wonderful world! They love it and ask to listen to it, ALWAYS.

Cecile Arvizo

Love your lyrics!

Love your music! Love your lyrics!

Robin Bridgeford

Enjoying your songs so much…

Hello Mark. I am enjoying your songs so much! I’d love to see you play live somewhere.

Marianne

I loved the song and listened to it 3 times….

Hi Mark, I just had to tell you this. I emailed my 3 granddaughters the song you wrote who are sisters with the youngest being 11 years old, has cerebral palsy and is very smart, is able to talk, very funny, uses a computer, is able to write, now is learning to play drums, emails me ‘Thanks. I do.’ I loved the song and listened to it 3 times.

Gail Russ

Your lyrics embody everything we hold sacred…

Your lyrics embody everything we hold sacred and dear as a faith community.

Gina Sullivan, Sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph

Been singing the chorus since the first day I heard it…

I sh*t you not when I say I’ve been singing the chorus to Honest Rock since the first day I heard it. I sing this every single day. Many times a day. Seriously. It’s like a mantra to me. It soothes me:-)

Gene Moore

Just awesome…

Your music is taking over my life and it’s awesome!

Eric

Never fails to move me…

Your incredible music never fails to move me. Thank you, Mark.

Paula

Total awesomeness!!!

‘Let’s Run’ is MY FAVORITE so far.. I LOVE THIS ONE.. great job.. total awesomeness!!! I thank Jana Stanfield for introducing me to your gifts. I am grateful.

Merril

Your song was just perfect to start my day…

Mark, your song ‘Freedom (It’s Been  Long Road)’ was just perfect to start my day. I LOVE IT!  Thank you, Thank you.  Blessings to you and much gratitude for your musical gift.

Judy

You write some great songs!

Hi Mark, You write some great songs! I really enjoyed listening to all of them on Spark and Flame. Thank you for all that you do. Keep up the good work! All the best.

Susan

For me these songs are transformational lessons in self-love…

Dear Mark, THANK YOU for sending *Spark & Flame*!!!! This CD certainly is a compilation of Conscious Love Songs! As I listen I am transported to memory after memory past, present and future, fulfilled and unfulfilled. I was flooded with many different emotions. I cried, laughed, held my breath and also breathed deep heart-centered breaths of connection to the Divine. I feel joy, grief, sadness, compassion, love, awe, freedom, kindness, gratitude and appreciation. For me these songs are transformational lessons in self-love, releasing, acceptance for what was, what is and who I am. Knowing that I am enough and that I am Divinely Loved.

J

Brilliant!

Brilliant! I LOVE seeing the words to all these beloved songs, thanks!

Mary F.

You have put a grown man in tears…

Mark, this song and message really hit home for me today. You have put a grown man in tears. Thank You for what you do. Sometimes I think you sound kind of cheesy, and then others, I think you are a genius, and I’m beginning to realize that you actually care about helping people. So hard to “get out of your own way” sometimes…thanks for the reminder.

Jeremy

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