Temporary Road

Last updated

Temporary Road
John Gorka-Temporary Road.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedDecember 8, 1992
Genre folk, singer-songwriter
Length45:53
Label High Street
Producer Steven Miller and Dawn Atkinson
John Gorka chronology
Jack's Crows
(1991)
Temporary Road
(1992)
Out of the Valley
(1994)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Temporary Road is the fourth album by folk singer-songwriter John Gorka. In 1992 there was some critical consensus that Gorka was one of the leading male voices of the "new folk" movement. [1] As titles like "Looking Forward" and "Gravyland" might imply, the album has an overall optimistic tone. High Street Records produced videos for the upbeat "When She Kisses Me" and "I Don't Feel Like a Train", both of which received some airplay on CMT.

Contents

Despite the upbeat tone of many tracks the album also contains some darker political commentary. The title track, and "The Gypsy Life" offer reflections on the first Gulf War. "Can You Understand My Joy?" is asked in an ironic, sarcastic way. The mix of moods in Gorka's songs helped earn him the description of "the dark optimist." [2]

Track listing

All songs written by John Gorka

  1. "Looking Forward" – 4:03
  2. "Baby Blues" – 3:40
  3. "The Gypsy Life" – 4;23
  4. "Vinnie Charles Is Free" – 4:27
  5. "Gravyland" – 3:38
  6. "Temporary Road" – 3:30
  7. "All That Hammering" – 3:21
  8. "I Don't Feel Like A Train" – 3:06
  9. "When She Kisses Me" – 2:44
  10. "Grand Larceny" – 3:24
  11. "If I Could Forget To Breathe" – 2:28
  12. "Can You Understand My Joy" – 3:17
  13. "Brown Shirts" – 3:52

Personnel

Notes and sources

  1. 1 2 Roch Parisien, "Review: Temporary Road", Allmusic , accessed August 5, 2008
  2. Anil Prasad, "John Gorka: The Dark Optimist", Interviews, January 19, 1992

Related Research Articles

<i>Souvenirs</i> (Dan Fogelberg album) 1974 studio album by Dan Fogelberg

Souvenirs is the second studio solo album by the American rock singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg. The album was released in late 1974, on the label Epic Records. The album reached No. 17 on the Billboard 200 in March 1975 and was certified double platinum by the RIAA. Joe Walsh produced the album and played on ten of the eleven tracks.

<i>Jubilation</i> (The Band album) 1998 studio album by the Band

Jubilation is the tenth and final studio album by Canadian/American rock group the Band. Recorded in the spring of 1998 in Levon Helm's home studio in Woodstock, New York, it was released on September 15, 1998. For the first time since the group reformed without guitarist and songwriter Robbie Robertson, there were more originals than covers. Songs include "Last Train to Memphis", featuring guest guitarist Eric Clapton, Garth Hudson's solo instrumental closer "French Girls", Rick Danko's "High Cotton" and the ode to Ronnie Hawkins, "White Cadillac".

<i>Playback</i> (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers album) 1995 box set by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Playback is a box set compilation by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, released in 1995. It contains popular album tracks, B-sides, previously unreleased outtakes, and early songs by Petty's previous band Mudcrutch.

<i>Out of the Valley</i> 1994 studio album by John Gorka

Out of the Valley is a 1994 album by contemporary folk singer-songwriter John Gorka. This is Gorka's fifth album and unlike the previous four recorded in various places in the northeastern United States, Out of the Valley was recorded at Imagine Sound Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. This is also the first of several Gorka albums to employ the talents of guitarist/producer John Jennings.

<i>Down the Road</i> (Van Morrison album) 2002 studio album by Van Morrison

Down the Road is the twenty-ninth studio album by Northern Irish singer Van Morrison. The album has a nostalgic tone, lyrically and musically, and its arrangements mix R&B and blues with country and folk, and, with a few exceptions, like "Georgia on My Mind," the music is most often rooted in 1950s and early 1960s popular music.

<i>Deltics</i> (album) 1979 studio album by Chris Rea

Deltics is the second studio album by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea. It was released in 1979 on Magnet Records. The album is named after the East Coast rail network's Deltic-class locomotives that were used in the 1960s and 1970s. The album is Rea's first album to chart on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number fifty-four. The single "Diamonds" peaked at number 44 on both the UK Singles Chart, and Billboard Hot 100, where it charted for eight weeks. The B-side of this single, "Cleveland Calling", was not included on the CD reissue of the album. The album producer Gus Dudgeon had made several early albums with Elton John.

<i>Spectral Mornings</i> 1979 studio album by Steve Hackett

Spectral Mornings is the third studio album by English guitarist and songwriter Steve Hackett, released in May 1979 on Charisma Records. It is his first to feature members of his touring band, which many Hackett fans consider as the "classic line-up". The musicians are his brother John Hackett, Nick Magnus, Dik Cadbury, John Shearer, and Pete Hicks.

<i>Trust in God</i> 1984 studio album by Al Green

Trust in God is a studio album by soul singer Al Green, released in 1984. It is a collection of cover songs, performed in the style of gospel music.

<i>Im in You</i> 1977 studio album by Peter Frampton

I'm in You is the fifth studio album by Peter Frampton. It was released on 3 June 1977, almost a year and a half after his blockbuster 1976 live album Frampton Comes Alive! It was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York, where Frampton's Camel had been recorded four years earlier.

<i>Farewell Aldebaran</i> 1969 studio album by Judy Henske and Jerry Yester

Farewell Aldebaran is a 1969 album by American musicians Judy Henske and Jerry Yester. Originally released on Frank Zappa's Straight record label, it contains an eclectic mix of songs in a wide variety of styles and is also notable for its early use of synthesisers. AllMusic describes the album as "a fusion of folk music, psychedelia, and arty pop, though that only scrapes the surface of the LP's stylistic complexity." Although the album got some good reviews it failed to sell in large quantities, purchasers possibly confused by its eclecticism.

<i>Reality vs. the Optimist</i> 2007 studio album by Kiss Kiss

Reality vs. The Optimist is the debut album by American indie rock band Kiss Kiss. It was released on February 6, 2007 on Eyeball Records.

<i>Grasshopper</i> (album) 1982 studio album by J. J. Cale

Grasshopper is a 1982 album by J. J. Cale. It was his seventh studio album since his debut in 1971.

<i>The Holy Pictures</i> 2008 studio album by David Holmes

The Holy Pictures is a 2008 studio album by David Holmes. The album departs from the eclectic soundtrack-to-an-imaginary-film style of his previous studio albums, in favour of a more personal approach. It was nominated for the 2008 Choice Music Prize, awarded to the best Irish album of the year. The tracks "I Heard Wonders" and "Holy Pictures" were released as singles.

<i>The Empyrean</i> 2009 studio album by John Frusciante

The Empyrean is the eighth solo album by American musician John Frusciante, released worldwide on January 20, 2009 through Record Collection. Frusciante did not plan on a following tour, as he instead wanted to focus on writing and recording. The Empyrean peaked at number 151 on the US Billboard 200 as well as number seven on the Top Heatseekers. On release it made number 105 on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Shades</i> (J. J. Cale album) 1981 studio album by J. J. Cale

Shades is the sixth studio album by J. J. Cale, released in February 1981.

Fandango was an American pop rock band which began as a four-piece, playing in the local clubs in the Tri-state area: New Jersey, New York, Connecticut before adding three more members prior to their first recording contract being signed in March 1977. It was fronted by vocalist Joe Lynn Turner. Larry Dawson, one of the band's keyboardists, would later play for Uli Jon Roth.

<i>Re-creation</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Steven Curtis Chapman

Re:creation is the 16th album by the contemporary Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman. Released on August 9, 2011, the album has eight new mixes of some of Chapman's songs, as well as five new songs and a Christmas hymn. Re:creation received general critical acclaim upon release, and entered the Christian Albums chart at No. 2.

<i>Welcome to the Fishbowl</i> 2012 studio album by Kenny Chesney

Welcome to the Fishbowl is the fourteenth studio album by American country music singer Kenny Chesney. It was released on June 19, 2012 as his first album for Blue Chair and Columbia Records. The album includes a live version of "You and Tequila" with Grace Potter.

<i>Nation of Two</i> 2018 studio album by Vance Joy

Nation of Two is the second studio album by Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy. The album was announced on 12 January 2018. The album serves as a follow-up to his 2014 album Dream Your Life Away (2014). with Vance Joy explaining: "Nation of Two describes a perfectly self-contained couple; their world beginning and ending at the bed they share, the car they ride in, or any other place where they're together... the idea that their love for each other gives them their bearings; a point of reference that makes sense of life." The concept originally appeared in the Kurt Vonnegut novel Mother Night.

<i>I Cant Imagine</i> (album) 2015 studio album by Shelby Lynne

I Can't Imagine is the thirteenth studio album by American country music singer/songwriter Shelby Lynne. The album was released on May 5, 2015 by Rounder Records. It peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Folk Albums chart.