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"With their warm, glowing vocal harmonies and impeccably clean and uncluttered picking, the Gordons bring to mind that most listenable of all bluegrass bands, the great Flatt & Scruggs. And, like Flatt & Scruggs, the Gordons are wide-ranging in their song selection. Above all these qualities, however, is the fidelity with which the group conjures up memories of a sweet rural world now long vanished."
-Edward Morris
This year has also seen The Gordons in
Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands where they performed at the first
European World Of Bluegrass Festival.
Vocals on Thy Burdens Are Greater Than Mine (the Pee Wee King/Redd Stewart classic)are hauntingly honest. Kentucky In The Morning (by Tom T. Hall) is an especially poignant tip of the hat to Bill Monroe s home-state. The title cut, At The End Of A Long Hard Day, is the first of two songs written by one of country music's top songwriters, Gretchen Peters. Gary and Roberta trade vocals on this and the result is a moving testimonial to a sound, happy marriage.
Gary wrote The Old School, a reflective song of simpler times: a,true story about a school near the Gordons' home in Illinois. Following The Old School is I Woke Up With Tears In My Eyes, written by Damon Black, and it's another potent depiction of times and folks not forgotten. Curtis Jay Hiner and Roberta Gordon wrote the up-tempo gospel number, Little Country Church In The Pines.
Curtis Jay, the Gordon's cousin, has been playing music with the family since he was so small he had to stand on a chair to play the stand-up bass. Curtis Jay also penned the marvelous High Ballin', for this release. Ralph Stanley's Big Tilda, features Bill Cross's driving banjo. A second Gretchen Peters' Susannah song spotlights the combination of Roberta's remarkable harmonies backing Gary's clear, strong lead.
This outstanding release follows 1996's noteworthy gospel CD, Family
Bible, praised thus in Bluegrass Unlimited: "With Family
Bible, The Gordons have created an exhilarating gospel package capable
of drawing widespread attention." And widespread attention it did receive.
Radio recognition was swift, and the single "Dust On The Bible" was praised
in Europe as well as the U.S. And the consensus was concurrent: As Dave Higgs
of WPLN's Bluegrass Breakdown show Nashville,Tennessee said: "I'll be
spreading The Gospel According To The Gordon's here in Nashville."
European acceptance of Family Bible added to the thrill of The
Gordon's 1996 tour in Ireland, where they performed live in Dublin on
R.T.E., Ireland's national television network. The producer requested
"Prettiest beds Of Flowers" from the CD. They additionally played on live
radio and at several hotels. The Gordons were hosted by the Irish Bluegrass
Music Club who have invited them back for a second tour. On hearing End
of a Long Hard Day, Richard Gladney, of the Irish Bluegrass Music Club
said: "Rest easy, Mr Monroe. Your music is in good hands."
The Gordons have been bringing their music to audiences since the 1970's,
when they began touring throughout the Midwest, playing clubs, fairs,
festivals and colleges. Their band featured guitar, banjo, fiddle and
upright bass with Gary on lead guitar, dobro and vocals and Roberta Gordon
singing and playing the autoharp. During this time The Gordons recorded two
albums both of which received national radio air play. By the early 1980's
The Gordons were working in North Carolina, developing their trademark
sound. It was there that they began working with an exceptional fiddle
player, David Johnson, whose magic is captured on this recording. In 1981
they recorded "Just Someone I Used To Know" and in ‘83 "California
Cottonfields", with David playing on the acoustic tracks.
Just as The Gordons had built a solid fan base through the Midwest, they
amassed a sizable following in the Carolinas, playing festivals and fairs
as well as making two acclaimed performances at the Mint Museum in
Charlotte. During the min-1980's Gary and son Noah spent some time on the
road playing with Nashville singer/songwriter Chance Walker. Bassist Jay
Hiner used the time for a group with Lynyrd Skynyrd alumnus Artimus Pyle.
September of 1988 found the band members again working together in Southern
Illinois, where fans in clubs and festivals quickly welcomed them back to
the Midwest fold. They played private engagements as well, including one
$150 a ticket show at Chicago's Swiss Grand Hotel. In 1998 they recorded
with dobro great Josh Graves and bluegrass fiddler Kenny Baker, from Bill
Monroe's band. The resulting album, Old Time Radio Show, and live
concert at Cincinnati's celebrated Old Time Music Hall were considered
triumphs by critic and fan alike. The Gordons kicked off the ‘90s by
releasing Wasn't Born To Follow, which also featured fiddle great
Wade Ray.
In 1995 they released Family Bible, and their unique sound began to
receive national and international recognition. End Of A Long Hard
Day will surely attract even more attention to this wonderful bluegrass
duo. The Gordons music is heartfelt, sincere and unique.
Journalist and Former Country Music Editor
Billboard Magazine
The Gordons have been bringing their music to audiences for three decades, touring throughout the Midwest and the Carolinas, playing clubs, fairs, festivals and colleges. For the past two years, they have performed live in Dublin on R.T.E., Ireland's national television network. The Gordons were hosted by the Irish Bluegrass Music Club, who have invited them back for another tour this Fall. On hearing End Of A Long Hard Day, Richard Gladney of the Irish Bluegrass Music Club, said "Rest easy, Mr. Monroe. Your music is in good hands." 
On End Of A Long Hard Day, Gary and Roberta Gordon put their unique touch on songs ranging from bluegrass standards to contemporary country and gospel. The CD flows from start to finish, opening with Sawdust, a powerfully penned new song by the Gordons' son Noah (who shares lead vocals with Gary on the song) and Louie Parker, and moving straight into Johnny Bring The Jug Around The Hill, featuring David Johnson on fiddle and Katsuyuki Miyazaki on mandolin. 
End Of A Long Hard Day appropriately ends with a gospel song, Thank You Lord, written by Gary Gordon. It's The Gordons' way of reminding themselves that the tie that binds their family and music is the Lord, and it's an inspired conclusion to a moving collection of music.