General template (node.tpl.php) being used instead of specific template (node-article.tpl.php)
Are you using Drupal 7? If so, you should just leave node.tpl.php as it was originally and call your customized version node--article.tpl.php.

If you are using D6 you are naming the file right, you should just leave a copy of the original node.tpl.php in your subtheme folder.