Clean recording: How it's done

Well, here you go, a little snippet of what it's like to build a song from the ground up. First some 'garage' recording like the one you've already got, then, if you want to spruce it up, you send it off to a studio, see what magic those musicians can perform.
 
The guitar track is good, I think, but I'm not happy with the opening 'riff' which has a slide, steel guitar, and it should be pure acoustic, gentle.  Just like all of that sawdust floating around.
 
And then the vocal got added and before you know it, I've got myself a brand new country commercial hit if I want it.  Problem is, it's not what I wrote, not the right feel for this song.  What do you think?  Has it been altered, your first impression, of Sawdust Sunlight?
 
Shall I keep the demo or toss it?  Ok, I'll give you more than just a clip to work with.  As the writer, you always have to make sure you don't give too much away, permit too many liberties with your creation,  yet, still, you want to allow for original vocal interpretation.
 
So, how did this vocalist do with my song?