I like some of Denver's music. He wasn't a huge favorite but some of the songs were great, especially at the time for me, and I liked his Oh God films back in the day. It really bugged me that he went down in a plane. All the fine musicians and music people that have been lost in small planes and helicopters... that really gets to me. Not a fan of those flying machines anymore, that's for sure.
As I've noted in these parts before, I own the earliest known live recording of JD (then still performing as Deutchendorf) from early '64, in great quality, playing at a small folk club in San Diego. I spoke with his estate and they simply weren't interested in this piece of musical history... unless I 'donated' it to them. Most bizarre... their loss, its a great show !
Hahah ! No, not trying to 'milk' them... but I would've thought they'd be a little bit more interested given the historical significance ! Just seemed to shrug it off...
Saw John live around 30 years ago. He forgot his words to Poems, Prayers & Promises and asked the audience for help with a whole verse
When I was very young my parents had a John Denver hits tape in the car and the cover showed John in glasses. To my limited brain at that time I thought he was the guy who sang Imagine, as all I knew about that guy was his name was John and he wore glasses. So for a little while as a kid Denver and Lennon were the same person! But those memories of driving around listening to John Denver are wonderful, such a beautiful voice and songbook. Unfortunately my mum was sat on the window sill one day looking out over the fields behind our house and listening to John on vinyl when she received a call saying her mother had been coughing up blood. This was the precursor to her discovering the lung cancer that ultimately she died from, so I try to avoid my mum from hearing his music anymore. So some very strong memories about John Denver, both good and bad, but he was wonderful, there’s no denying that.
Not a huge fan of his work, but he had a great voice. Have his GH CD which obviously has some great moments and also his Windsong album, which I find to be really strong.
I like John, but I'm I'm not an obsessed fan at all. He has some super remarkable recordings and his talents are stellar. I'm not sure why, but I love this one: Amazing and beautiful.
"Sunshine" was a movie I saw as a kid & loved it. I've been waiting & wishing for years to get it on DVD. I was so happy to see it available on Blu-Ray & now have it in my collection. Now I'm wishing for all the John Denver & Carpenters TV specials.
It wasn't cool to like Denver in my circle of friends where he was simply referred to as Cakes On The Griddle but I just couldn't help myself. He had me at Take Me Home Country Roads. This is one of his best and yet unheralded songs that manage to find the beauty in melancholy. As to the clip, it takes stones to perform in such a simple setting and nail it.
Loved John Denver's music...such great songs! I love Annie's Song.....and "Country Boy".....and "Sunshine on My Shoulders" and "Rocky Mountain High"....terrific voice and music.
Coincidentally, I’ve been reading through a bunch of old Stereo Review magazines online. It’s neat to read the gear reviews, album reviews, features, etc. For whatever reason, Denver’s early albums got pretty consistent rave reviews in that magazine. They even chose to highlight albums like “Take Me To Tomorrow” and “Whose Garden Was This” - they even praised his rendition of “Mr. Bojangles!” (?) The honeymoon lasted until “Back Home Again,” which they called Rocky Mountain Low. I don’t get it, “Back Home Again” is a great album as far as I’m concerned.
me too! I've been hoping for a DVD and getting a BD was icing on the cake! I had a TV rip from years ago that was abysmal! now we need Sunshine Christmas!!!!
Another fan here. My sister bought his "I WANT TO LIVE" album on cassette when she invested in her first stereo system. She played it all the time, and I HATED it! The songs, his voice, the arrangements... Everything. After having been cruelly subjected to this torturous music... I fell in love with it, and "I WANT TO LIVE" is still my favourite John Denver album. Favourite songs are "POEMS, PRAYERS & PROMISES", "SINGING SKIES AND DANCING WATERS", "I´D RATHER BE A COWBOY (LADY´S CHAINS)", "ECLIPSE", "WINDSONG", "COME AND LET ME LOOK IN YOUR EYES", "LIKE A SAD SONG", "YOU SAY THAT THE BATTLE IS OVER", "DRUTHERS"... and so many others. My sister has long since abandoned Mr. Denver, but I consider him one of the warmest and the best.
One of my favorites is the song Matthew, I guess about his uncle. It ties in with some family history of homesteaders, though in MN, WI and IL, not Kansas.
