John Gorshnick, also known as John Garr, was saxophonist/songwriter in the legendary Boston '70s group Riser. When Garr and guitarist J.T. Corenflos were on the road as members of the Joe Stampley Band, they wrote all the tunes on this disc except the poppy "She's Mine" and the title track "Gimme a Break," which were both written in Nashville. "Gimme a Break" has that Pat Benatar "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" riff and sound. It was released in 1987 on Reach 4 Records along with "I Meant Every Minute of It." Perhaps the strangest tune on the disc is the 1995 recording of a tune written in 1976, "What About Love." Garr plays all the instruments on this song, which sounds like a combination of Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight," Sutherland Brothers & Quiver's "You Got Me Anyway," and Crosby, Stills & Nash's "Just a Song Before I Go." It is second to the Robinson/Garr composition "Drivin' Me Wild," which is the album's highlight. Six of the nine songs were co-written by John Garr and J.T. Corenflos. Corenflos is a top studio player in Nashville and can be found on sessions with Bob Seeger, Richard Marx, Randy Travis, Martina McBride, and others. Some of the material, like "Let Me Be Your Bodyguard," is certainly dated, as is the Riser material Full House Recordings has released, but the historical importance compensates.
© Joe Viglione /TiVo