By the time he recorded his debut album
I Know
,
John Gorka
was already a seasoned veteran and it showed. With excellent harmony vocals from
Shawn Colvin
and
Lucy Kaplansky
, who also cut their teeth on the New York City folk circuit,
recorded an album of original songs that had been road-tested and audience approved. The chorus of nearly every song is instantly memorable, and the simple, acoustic arrangements help bring out his powerful voice. The most impressive feature of this debut is the ability of
Gorka
to move easily from light-hearted humorous songs (
"Winter Cows,"
"Like My Watch"
) to serious songs about the complexities of relationships (
"Love Is Our Cross to Bear"
). The versatility in his songwriting and the expressiveness of his warm baritone would become his trademarks, and
has become a leader of the genre dubbed "contemporary folk." This stunning debut also established
songs in the folk canon, as his inspirational song
"Branching Out"
is often sung in elementary schools. ~ Vik Iyengar