Album Notes

Quakers on Probation is a trio of musicians , Daniel Craig , Graig Markel and Daniel Craig . Their tongue in cheek self described genre of “ TwanglePop” is a most accurate description of their style. QOP is the creative outlet for the lyric based, hooky pop songs of Daniel A. Craig . These songs were realized musically with the help of multi-instrumentalists Graig Markel and Daniel F. Craig ( the formers 15 yr old son ) . Recorded and produced in 2009 at Graig Markel’s Recovery Room Studios in Seattle, Wa. Their debut release “ Every Living Thing “ is a combo sound collection of beautiful songs that pull from the inspirations of everything from The Beach Boys and Burt Bacharach to Dylan , Gram Parsons and The Beatles . In short .. The pop, folk and country AM radio hits of the the 60’s and early 70’s . Craig’s lyrics draw off of life experiences that are at times , sad & poignant and other times sprinkled with quirky sarcasm and dry humor . . The sound is a combination sound at times simple and subdued and at other times full blown with lush tracks layered in strings, horns and the occasional down tempo or electronica synth riffs . Every Living Thing is a gorgeous record , an emotional rollercoaster that makes the rider/listener want to hop back on again and again for another ride !
The album features an appearance on 4 tracks from legendary Wrecking Crew session musician & Grammy Award winner , Larry Knechtel , whose credits on many hits of that period helped define the era. Sadly , Knechtel passed away during the making of the record, but Markel managed to capture him on about half the albums tracks .These were the final sessions in his brilliant career . Knechtel was arguably the most prolific session player of all time, his credits to name a just a few …… “ Pet Sounds “- Beach Boys - a Grammy for the arrangement on Simon & Garfunkel’s “ Bridge Over Troubled Water “- many hits by The Byrds, Mamas and Papas , The Doors , 5th Dimension , Ike & Tina Turner , Roy Orbison , Nillson , Bread and countless other major label acts of the 60’s and 70’s . More recently he worked with Neil Diamond , Elvis Costello and The Dixie Chicks . ( he has the distinct honor of having played with both Elvises )
The album also features Trent Moorman ( Head Like a Kite ) , Joe Patterson
( Animals at Night ) , Billy Joe Huels ( The Dusty 45’s ) and even a guest vocal appearance from NW folk legend Colin Spring on the albums fitting , final track , a cover of Sammy Johns 1974 smash hit “ Chevy Van “ which Knechtel originally produced .