Company You Keep

Company You Keep

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
By turns philosophical, whimsical, and nakedly confessional, John Gorka's ninth album keeps to fairly safe, well-traveled singer-songwriter terrain but finds a few revelations along the way. Gorka calls in friends Ani DiFranco, Patty Larkin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Lucy Kaplansky, though their contributions are rarely more than light shadings for his unpretentious songs of recovered faith and earned fellowship. If Gorka can't always resist playing the armchair therapist--dispensing advice to himself and others--his self-deprecating humor undercuts any preachiness. "Shape of the World," especially, has a bemusement worthy of John Prine, and the word play of "Wisheries"--"I cast pearls before the parliament / Got some girls for the ex-president"--has a charming, absurd intrigue. Gorka isn't exactly breaking new ground, but he remains one of the most consistently intelligent singer-songwriters working today. --Roy Kasten

Tracks:

What Was That
A Saint's Complaint
Oh Abraham
When You Walk In
Shape Of The World
Morningside
When I Lost My Faith
Joint Of No Return
Let Them In
Over There
Hank Senior Moment
Around The House
Wisheries
People My Age

Amazon.com

By turns philosophical, whimsical, and nakedly confessional, John Gorka's ninth album keeps to fairly safe, well-traveled singer-songwriter terrain but finds a few revelations along the way. Gorka calls in friends Ani DiFranco, Patty Larkin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Lucy Kaplansky, though their contributions are rarely more than light shadings for his unpretentious songs of recovered faith and earned fellowship. If Gorka can't always resist playing the armchair therapist--dispensing advice to himself and others--his self-deprecating humor undercuts any preachiness. "Shape of the World," especially, has a bemusement worthy of John Prine, and the word play of "Wisheries"--"I cast pearls before the parliament / Got some girls for the ex-president"--has a charming, absurd intrigue. Gorka isn't exactly breaking new ground, but he remains one of the most consistently intelligent singer-songwriters working today. --Roy Kasten

Customer Reviews:

JG Sing on!.......2006-06-16

Terrific collection of tunes, tales, and timeless messages. John sings of Abe Lincoln, best friends, old age, younger days, heaven, hell, and dreams. My favorite cut would have to be Morningside...a simple melody, poignant chorus that serves to inspire me with each additional listen. Listen to this man and what he has to say and then share the music with everyone you know. But there is an art of listening to Gorka...you can't skip over any song of his after the first listen. Keep on listening...try to hear the stories he tells...they are not unlike the ones you carry around with you in your heart and mind. Sing On JG!!

Excellent.......2004-11-08

"When You Walk With Me", "Oh Abraham," "When I Lost My Faith" and "People My Age" are the best tracks. "Let Them In" is also very well done. Gorka again succeeds on the honesty and compassion scale. If Christ comes back, he would look and act a lot like John. There is a very special magic to this man's music.

Good Medicine!.......2004-03-27

I considered this a truly wonderful CD. As a middle-aged adult, I don't often find a record that I enjoy like those from college days where I'd damn near wear the grooves out. For me this CD falls in that select category. I keep it in the car to be used for medicinal purposes after a particularly ugly workday.

Company You Keep.......2003-09-28

I love Gorka's rich and resonant voice, and some great harmonizing female singers with him (see especially "Let Them in"). The lyrics are psychologically and spiritually meaty... full of hope, while not hesitating to talk of pain and vulnerability. I plan to buy more Gorka records, and I hope I can see him play live somewhere near Toronto!

Great Modern Folk.......2003-04-13

This was the first John Gorka CD I bought, purchased after hearing at a book store. His voice is a soothing mellow baritone that is comforting. I find that listening to the CD is so relaxing after a stressful day at work, even if I don't listen to the words and just chill out to the great guitar playing.

I am convinced that music like this would get much greater airplay if is was promoted differently, but apparently the recording industry is only interested in flash-in - the -pan artists, rather than those who can stand the test of time.

The Company You Keep
Average customer rating:
The Company You Keep
The Morning Pages
Manufacturer: Velour Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
General | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000QUCQF6
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

With the Lord
Don't Ask Me
It Makes Me Cry
No One by Your Side
Lights Burn Brighter

Average customer rating:

Broadway: Love & Laughter

Manufacturer: Eroica Classical
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005S0L9
Release Date: 2001-10-01

Tracks:

If I Were a Bell
Heres That Rainy Day
I Cant Say No
Bewitched
I Feel Pretty
I Hate Men
He Loves Me
Song on the Sand
The Physician
Before I Gaze at You Again
Show Me!
My Ship
To Keep My Love Alive
Bill
You Could Drive a Person Crazy
How Long Has This Been Going On?
A Wonderful Guy
But Not for Me
I Can Cook, Too
Little Girl Blue
Adelaides Lament
Losing My Mind
They All Laughed

Album Description

“Broadway: Love & Laughter” is terrific. Singer/actress Eileen Mager performs twenty-three of the greatest songs from Broadway musicals in a way you won't soon forget. There are some real oldies, as well as more current songs, and everything from tear-jerkers to laugh riots. They have great lyrics (and you'll understand all the words) and great tunes. She'll have you laughing and crying and having a ball. Ellen Brown's accompaniments offer just the right touch -- for example, “Little Girl Blue” has a great blues sound to it. This is a CD not to be missed, and perfect gift for friends and family.

Broadway musicals have always been about love in its infinite forms. This has resulted in a huge crop of wonderful love songs — joyous, sad, flirtatious, angry, passionate, mischievous, touching. They range from the deeply serious to the out and-out hilarious, as, come to think of it, does love itself.

So in this recording, West Side Story's Maria proclaims her joy in “I Feel Pretty” and South Pacific's Nellie Forbush displays similar feelings in “A Wonderful Guy.”

We also have Guys & Dolls's Adelaide singing “Adelaide's Lament” about the cold she's developed because of the frustration of a 14-year engagement to Nathan Detroit that seems destined never to result in a wedding.

Pal Joey's Vera, a sophisticated “older” woman, who knows Joey isn't worth it, sings about finding herself nonetheless “Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered.”

Of course, Kate of Kiss Me, Kate, in no uncertain terms, announces “I Hate Men,” while Oklahoma's irrepressible Ado Annie sings “I Cain't Say No.”

On the Town's lady taxi driver, Hildy, tries to convince us of her total desirability with the madcap seduction of “I Can Cook, Too,” while Sally of Follies sings of her total immersion in her love in one of Broadway's most touching love songs, “Losing My Mind.”

Just Passing Thru
Average customer rating:
Just Passing Thru

Manufacturer: Cbmayard Record Company
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000AMZJBS
Release Date: 2004-03-23