Writing in the Margins

Infobox Album | Name = Writing in the Margins
Type = Album
Artist = John Gorka


Released = July 11 2006
Recorded =
Genre = Folk
Singer-songwriter
Length =
Label = Red House Records
Producer = Rob Genadek
Reviews = *"Acoustic Guitar" (favorable) Thomas, Mike, [http://www.acousticguitar.com/article/174/174,7334,PLAYLIST-1.asp "Review: John Gorka—"Writing in the Margins"'] , Acoustic Guitar", 174, June 2007] [http://www.acousticguitar.com/article/174/174,7334,PLAYLIST-1.asp link]
* "Billboard Magazine" (favorable) Van Vleck, Philip, "Billboard", 118:27, July 8, 2006 (Quotes: "Writing in the Margins" is a pleasure, a deftly mixed bag of a dozen tunes, including a pair of finely wrought covers."/"The title track is a poignant soldier's tale that's more personal than political, while "I Miss Everyone" has a pronounced country lilt worthy of Asleep at the Wheel and a nice backing vocal from Lucy Kaplansky."/"This is one of Gorka's most impressive outings.")]
*"Dirty Linen" (favorable) Geisel, Ellen, "Recordings: Writing in the Margins", "Dirty Linen", 126, October-November 2006, p.45]
*"FAME" (favorable) Schwartz, Roberta B., [http://www.acousticmusic.com/fame/p03856.htm FAME review: John Gorka—"Writing in the Margins"] , Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange] [http://www.acousticmusic.com/fame/p03856.htm link]
*"Fretplay" Rating|4.5|5 Kasten, Roy, [http://www.fretplay.com/review/g/gorka_john/discography-CD-B000FTCF9K-Writing-In-The-Margins.shtml "Review: John Gorka - "Writing in the Margins"] , "Fretplay"] [http://www.fretplay.com/review/g/gorka_john/discography-CD-B000FTCF9K-Writing-In-The-Margins.shtml link]
*"Goldmine" (favorable) Sylvester, Bruce, "New Releases: John Gorka—"Writing In The Margins", "Goldmine", 32:21:684, October 13, 2006, p.68]
*George Grahm (favorable) [http://georgegraham.com/reviews/gorka06.html link]
* "Hickory Wind" (favorable) [http://www.hickorywind.org/001133.php link]
*"No Depression" "Waxed-reviews", "No Depression", 67, January-February, 2007]
*"PopMatters" (6/10) Layman, Will, "John Gorka—"Writing in the Margins", "PopMatters", December 12, 2006] [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/8132/john-gorka-writing-in-the-margins/ link]
* "Rambles" (mixed) [http://www.rambles.net/gorka_margins06.html link]
*"Sing Out!" (favorable) Regenstreif, Mike, "Off the Beaten Track: John Gorka—"Writing in the Margins", "Sing Out!", 50:4, Winter 2007, p.109-110]
* "Twangville" (favorable) [http://twangville.com/348/john-gorka-writing-in-the-margins-reviewed/ link] | Last album = "Old Futures Gone"
(2003)
This album = "Writing in the Margins"
(2006)
Next album =

"Writing in the Margins" is the tenth studio album by folk singer-songwriter John Gorka. It was released on July 11, 2006 by Red House Records and debuted at number one on the "Folk Music Radio Airplay Chart". [http://folkradio.org/airplay/jul06.html Top Albums of July 2006] compiled by Richard Gillman from FolkDJ-L radio playlists.] One departure from previous recordings is the inclusion of a couple of cover songs that blend nicely with Gorka's own compositions. Gorka received some encouragement from Nanci Griffith to record Townes Van Zandt's "Snow Don't Fall",See interview with Helen Liecht on on "Live Friday's from XPN] and pays tribute to a personal hero by covering Stan Rogers' "Lockkeeper". Gorka also shares writing credit with his wife, Laurie Allman, on several tracks.

Many of Gorka's past collaborators also return to perform here. Nanci Griffith, Lucy Kaplansky, and Alice Peacock each lend their voices to various tracks. Meanwhile distinctive fretless bass player Michael Manring and multi-instrumentalist John Jennings also contribute their skills.

The album made a number of "best of 2006" lists and was nominated as a "Contemporary Release of the Year" by the North American Folk Music & Dance Alliance (an award that was given to the Wailin' Jennys for the album, "Firecracker").Ruehl, Kim, [http://folkmusic.about.com/od/awardsetc1/qt/FolkAlliance06.htm "Nominees for the Second Annual North American Folk Alliance Awards"] , folkmusic.about.com] [http://www.wfuv.org/music/best/bestof06_releases.html Best of 2006: New Releases] , WFUV Public Radio] The song "The Road to Good Intentions" was named by the Indie Acoustic Music Project to the list of "Songs of Note: 25 of the Best Songs from 2006". [http://www.indieacoustic.com/awards.html "Indie Acoustic Music Project: Award Winners"] ]

Track listing

# "Chance of Rain" (Allman, Gorka) – (3:59)
# "Broken Place" (Allman, Gorka) – (3:21)
# "Satellites" (Gorka) – (2:24)
# "Writing in the Margins" (Gorka) – (4:12)
# "Snow Don't Fall" (Van Zandt) – (3:00)
# "Bluer State" (Allman, Gorka) – (3:17)
# "Arms Length" (Gorka) – (3:34)
# "The Lockkeeper" (Rogers) – (5:09)
# "I Miss Everyone" (Allman, Gorka) – (4:13)
# "When You Sing" (Gorka) – (4:24)
# "Road of Good Intentions" (Gorka) – (3:49)
# "Unblindfold the Referee" (Gorka) – (2:25)

External links

* [http://www.johngorka.com/ John Gorka] , official web site
* [http://www.redhouserecords.com/194.html "Writing in the Margins" page] from Red House Records
* [http://www.folkalley.com/music/livefrom/gorkafrancey/ Live from Folk Alley: John Gorka and David Francey] , 39th [http://www.kentstatefolkfestival.org/ Kent State Folk Festival] November 11, 2005 (features Michael Manring on bass and interview)
* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6256240 Live Fridays from XPN: John Gorka in Concert] , from NPR's "World Cafe", October 13, 2006 (features Michael Manring on bass and interview with Helen Leicht)

Notes and sources