John Gogo
Canadian singer song writer and alternative country recording artist
alternative country singer John Gogo
- Pop/Rock-Nanaimo, B.C.'s John Gogo follows up a successful debut
disc with the new Leave a Light On (Page). Produced by Wayne Lorenz
with Gogo and David Kershaw, the album is a shining showcase
For the singer's crisp, melodic love songs accented with mandolin, accordion
and Mellotron. Comparisons to Tom Petty would not be out of line.
- John Gogo's Leave a Light On is a solid fix of heartfelt, focused
songwriting, sautéed with excellent musicianship, carefully crafted
hooks, imaginative, flowing arrangements, lots of texture and nice production.
There's also a wonderfully honest vibrance in John's vocals and subliminal
edge in his lyrics which touched me.
- Singer-songwriter John Gogo's new CD, Leave a Light On, is an impressive
display of original song craft and studio smarts. Co-produced with Daniel
Lanios's compatriot Wayne Lorenz and featuring a team of superb musicians,
Leave a Light On showcases Gogo's wise, poetic narratives and effective,
melodious vocals. The 10, clever original tunes and a thoughtful version
of Tom Waits Cold Cold Ground produces a mood, dreamlike song cycle
of love, loss, and longing peopled with unforgettable characters and
equally memorable poetic lyrics. The cousin of noted bluesman Dave Gogo,
John Gogo really establishes his musical credentials with this strong
collection of songs and expressive performances. Special mention should
also go to Lorenz, co-producer and multi-instrumentalist David Kershaw,
bassist Brian Minato (Sarah McLachlan Band), drummer Paul Brennan (Odds,
Big Sugar), guitarist Sean Norsworthy Ashby, and Dan Lapp (who offers
a haunting trumpet solo on The Party Is Over). Gogo and company have
created a Lanios-influenced, atmospheric pop gem. Give this a listen,
and go check out his live show. Highly recommended.
- Gogo; the folky of the family - A recognizable last name, some strong connections in Vancouver's music scene - the combination of these advantages don't necessarily lead to a record like John Gogo's Leave A Light On. But Gogo has an independent musical personality - he'll take those advantages, but his own music will always shine through. The result, in the case of Leave A Light On, is a collection of folk/pop tunes that recall American singer/songwriters like Tom Petty or Jackson Browne. It's not what you might expect after a glance at the contributors list; the presence of members of the Odds and Sarah McLachlan's band might point to a more groove-oriented, heavier feeling than this pared-down recording exudes. And it's not what Edmontonians might expect when they hear the name Gogo. John Gogo, a Nanaimo native, did play Edmonton a few years ago but, more recently, the Vancouver Island family has been represented with much aplomb by his cousin, blues guitarist David Gogo. Also, John's brother Paul has been playing with classic rockers Trooper for a couple of years. John admits he was always the folky of the family, "That first cassette I did several years ago, it definitely had a much more acoustic feel," he said. Since then, there have been two CDs, both release independently. Gogo is keen to start work on the next. "We'll be playing songs from Leave A Light On at the Sidetrack, but we'll also be playing lots of new stuff."
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Leave A Light On Released August 1997, this album was produced by Wayne Loronz (Daniel Lanois, Emmylou Harris, Slingblade soundtrack), David Kershaw (Sarah Mclachlan, Wild Strawberries) and John Gogo. |
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Song List
- 1) Brown Eyes (John Gogo/Shaun Wilson) 3:48
- 2) Silent Partner (Gogo/Wilson) 4:11
- 3) Kimberley (Gogo/Wilson) 4:20
- 4) Blowin' Me a Kiss (Gogo) 4:52
- 5) One Nothing (Gogo/Wilson) 3:14
- 6) Come Clean (Gogo) 4:21
- 7) Jane Blue (Gogo) 6:59
- 8) The Party is Over (Gogo/Wilson) 4:26
- 9) Cold Cold Ground (Tom Waits) 4:30
- 10) Hereafter (Gogo) 5:51
- 11) Try to be True (Gogo/Wilson) 2:41
- Album Info
- The majority of the album was recorded October 16-29 1995 with Sean
Ashby (electric guitar, lap steel guitar, mandolin), Paul Brennan
(drums, percussion), John Gogo (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric
12 string guitar), David Kershaw (B3 organ, Wurlitzer piano,
accordion, percussion) and Brian Minato (bass guitar, string
bass, Wurlitzer piano).
These 5 musicians were joined for the two weeks by Wayne Lorenz. Additional recording took place later with Luke Doucet (electric guitar),Tommy Gogo (vocals, Mellotron), Camille Henderson (vocals) and Daniel Lapp (trumpet). John & David Kershaw produced these sessions. The recording was done at David's studio (The Glass Elevator) in Vancouver.
David and Wayne recorded it and David mixed it. The album was mastered by Craig Waddell at Gotham City Studios, Vancouver. Songs 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, & 11 are published by Boulder Creek Publishing and Shaunsongs. Songs 4, 6, 7, & 10 published by Boulder Creek Publishing. Cold Cold Ground is published by Jalma Music (admin. by Ackee Music).
All Songs are SOCAN except Cold Cold Ground is ASCAP.
Leave A Light On is available only on CD
- To order a copy by mail please send $12.00 Can. to:
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John Gogo
c/o CD's CDs
609 Johnson St.
Victoria, BC
V8W 1M5
| It Never Fails Released 1994, this album was produced by Bob Benson and John Gogo. Published by Boulder Creek Publishing, Shaunsongs Publishing and ATV Music. All songs are SOCAN. |
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Song List
- 1) I Don't Even Know Her (John Gogo/Shaun Wilson) 4:01
- 2) It Never Fails (John Gogo) 3:10
- 3) String of Pearls (John Gogo) 4:01
- 4) I Can't Tell You (John Gogo/Shaun Wilson) 2:49
- 5) Baby Blue (Bill Henderson) 3:30
- 6) No Reason or Rhyme (John Gogo/Shaun Wilson) 4:06
- 7) When You Fall (John Gogo/Shaun Wilson) 4:00
- 8) Riverside (John Gogo) 3:59
- 9) I'm Sorry Now (John Gogo) 4:17
- 10) Don't Break It (John Gogo) 2:38
- Album Info
- It Never Fails was recorded in three steps. In January '93 John Gogo
and Bob Benson started working on a three song demo at Seacoast Sound
studio in Victoria (this would remain the studio for the rest of the
recording and mixing of It Never Fails). The three songs were It Never
Fails, String of Pearls, and For Now We Say Good-bye (aka The Ghost
of Clarence Balance, a tune John plans to include on Coal & Wood when
that album is remastered and released on CD).
The band consisted of John on vocals and acoustic guitar, David Kershaw on Hammond organ, Brian Minato on bass and Ashwin Sood on drums ( Daniel Lapp played fiddle on "For Now..."). These three songs were entered in a local radio station contest (100.3 the Q's Rocktoria) and John won. The Prize was an opportunity to record three songs at Seacoast Sound with Bob Benson (!). With Jerry Adolphe on drums, Brent Gubbels (John's cousin) on bass, Ron Willes on electric guitar and David Kershaw on organ John recorded I'm Sorry Now and re-cut It Never Fails.
They also recorded Bill Henderson's Baby Blue with Bill himself on guitar. Bill's daughter Camille Henderson provided bg vocals. With these three songs plus String of Pearls (For Now We Say Good-bye was saved for later) John figured he my as well make a full album. Brian, Ash and David were brought back over from Vancouver and with John and Bob recorded I Don't Even Know Her, Riverside (with Camille on vocals for both), I Can't Tell You, No Reason or Rhyme, When You Fall and Don't Break It. Shaun Wilson played electric guitar on tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, & 8. Bob Benson mixed it and Mark Franklin mastered the album at Media Magic.
It Never Fails is available on CD and Cassette
- To order a copy by mail please send $12.00 Can. to:
-
John Gogo
c/o CD's CDs
609 Johnson St.
Victoria, BC
V8W 1M5
| Coal & Wood Released 1990, this album was produced by John Gogo and Sid Perez All songs published by Boulder Creek Publishing. All songs SOCAN. |
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Song List
- 1) Old Days (John Gogo)
- 2) Chokerman's Lament (John Gogo)
- 3) His Father's Son (John Gogo)
- 4) It Never Fails (John Gogo)
- 5) Remember When (John Gogo)
- 6) From Fogarty's Cove (John Gogo)
- 7) Lost in Town (John Gogo)
- 8) Sullivan Mine (John Gogo)
- 9) Playin' in Bars (John Gogo/Tommy Gogo)
- 10) Sam Wardle (John Gogo/Tommy Gogo)
- Album Info
Coal & Wood is available only on Cassette
- To order a copy by mail please send $12.00 Can. to:
-
John Gogo
c/o CD's CDs
609 Johnson St.
Victoria, BC
V8W 1M5