John Denver - John Denver - Definitive All-Time Greatest Hits
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Free Music Notes for John Denver - Definitive All-Time Greatest Hits
Free Music Review: Sunshine Music Lives On
Hit: 5 Stars
John Denver has melted hearts for generations with what can be described as "sunshine music". A mix of country, bluegrass, folk, and great pop sensibilities, Denver has always been the lucky peoples' choice (even if he is the critics' underdog as a singer songwriter). His voice is excellent. As though he would really need a defense, anyway, his collaboration with Pacido Domingo, one of the three tenors, is certain testimony to his vocal credibility. Cynics need not apply, for if some of his more sentimental songs are "sap," then at least we know he got his ingredients fresh from the best trees in Vermont.
He created great soaring songs for lady and land. Some are orchestrated to perfection; others are homegrown prizes. "Sunshine on My Shoulders," "Rocky Mountain High," and "Take Me Home, Country Roads" all resonate with articulate sweetness. He perfected ruggedness with "Thank God, I'm a Country Boy" and "Wild Montana Skies," but his serenades are also expert, including "Andromeda, (Welcome to My Morning)" and "Annie's Song". Subjectively, "Calypso" is no hokey homage, but a heartfelt classic that demonstrates a fine vocal range. Besides covering all of the classics, this C.D. collects some great, unfamiliar terrain. "Fly Away" and "Sweet Surrender" are excellent songs that add to the scope of the album and his legacy. For those of us willing to stand our ground, his 'Definitive All-Time Greatest Hits' gives us all his famous songs and all the unfamiliar territory we might have missed. John may have left us early, but his portfolio of "sunshine music" has yet to be imitated much and never completely dismissed.
(There's a second C.D. that contains four different versions of his songs. These are interesting and worthy. If you don't already have his Christmas classic, 'Rocky Mountain Christmas', you should by all means obtain one of the best holiday albums put together by a popular American artist.)
Free Music Review: All the essentials
Hit: 5 Stars
John wrote Leaving on a jet plane before he was famous. It became a huge international hit for Peter Paul and Mary. As well as John's own recording of that song, this collection includes all his big American hits including Take me home country roads (a UK hit for Olivia Newton John), Sunshine on my shoulders, Annie's song (his biggest hit - number one in Britain and America), Back home again (my favorite song of his), Sweet surrender, I'm sorry, Rocky mountain high, Thank God I'm a country boy and Calypso (a tribute to Jacques Cousteau). The eighties were less successful but yielded two superb duets - Perhaps love (with Placido Domingo) and Wild Montana skies (with Emmylou Harris).
The bonus CD contains some fascinating alternative versions of Leaving on a jet plane, Annie's song and Calypso, plus a cover of The weight, a song normally associated with The Band.
The first CD is the strongest single CD collection of John's music yet released. Furthermore, the sound quality is better than on any previous collection.
Dedicated fans should be aware that this collection was released as Definitive all time greatest hits in the USA, but as A song's best friend - the very best of John Denver in Britain, where the collection has been issued in two versions - with and without the second CD. This difference is justified since only Annie's song and Perhaps love made the UK charts. Just don't waste your money buying both. Buy your local version.
Free Music Review: A Must Have CD - Even if you have entire JD collection
Hit: 5 Stars
Pleasantly pleased with this compilation. The quality is great. Bonus track "The Weight" previously unreleased is worth the cost of the CD by itself. I didn't think I would be hearing anything new (to me at least)since I pretty much have all his CDs. If you have a John Denver fan in the family (and who doesn't?), or if you are one, I would highly recommend this CD for under the Christmas tree. It also contains a 1966 previously unreleased recording of Leaving on a Jet Plane from the album "John Denver Sings". I've been a fan for over 20 years and I had never heard of the album "John Denver Sings". Also there are tracks of Annie's Song from March 1974, and Calypso from July 1975, both previously unreleased.
There are some very early photos of John with long hair that were a treat to see, and a centrefold picture of him on a motorcycle driving through the countryside with the wind in his hair(from the BMG archives).
Also included "a fan's notes by david wild"; and a song-by-song commentary with Milt Okun in the jacket notes - did you know that "Leaving on a Jet Plane" was almost called "Oh Babe I Hate to Go?"(Insert is 10 pages colour double sided = 20 pgs). Also includes mini photos of 20 of JD's album jacket covers and their release dates. Milt's insight regarding each of the tracks is a real value add to the CD. Great job!
Free Music Review: Excellent 1 disc, but incomplete
Hit: 5 Stars
This disc, which features fine remastering and interesting notes and a nearly definitive selection of only 20 songs, should reignite interest in Denver's music, but it needs a companion volume to keep up the new sales and growth of new fans. For Volume 2, I strongly suggest the following songs: 1. Rhymes and Reasons 2. Follow Me 3. My Sweet Lady 4. I Guess He'd Rather Be In Colorado 5. Starwood in Aspen 6. For Baby (For Bobbie) 7. Goodbye Again 8. Season Suite: Summer 9. Season Suite: Fall 10. Season Suite: Winter 11. Season Suite: Late Winter, Early Spring 12. Season Suite: Spring 13. I'd Rather Be a Cowboy (Lady's Chains) 14. Berkeley Woman 15. Rocky Mountain Suite (Cold Nights in Canada) 16. Grandma's Feather Bed 17. Matthew 18. Music Is You 19. This Old Guitar 20. I Want To Live 21. To the Wild Country 22. Mountain Song. 23. Some Days Are Diamonds (Some Are Stone) 24. Boy From the Country
That Volume 2, which I would find to be at least as good as this Defintive All-Time Greatest Hits, would demonstrate even more that Denver was a major folk/country/singer-songwriter rock troubadour sadly slighted by most critics and many music industry executives. It is time for such a Volume 2 and a collection of Country Music stars doing a Pickin' On John Denver tribute album.
Free Music Review: Really Excellent Collection
Hit: 5 Stars
I am a huge John Denver fan and love his music so much. If you are like me this is a great cd to get of his.
Released on the 35th anniversary of JD's first album "Definitive All Time Greatest Hits" is an assortment of his most popular songs.
The first cd contains 20 top billboard hits from 12 albums spread from 1969 to 1983. The second cd is all previously unreleased material.
Some of the songs featured on disc 1 are Leaving on a Jet Plane, Take Me Home Country Roads, Poems Prayers and Promises, Rocky Mountain High, Annie's Song, Sweet Surrender, Thank God I'm a Country Boy, the duet with Placido Domingo, Perhaps Love, and many more!
You also get a booklet with quotes and comments made by or about John Denver. His producer and good friend, Milt Okun, comments on each song and tells his opinion and some tidbits about them. Recording dates also included in the booklet with cover art of the original song's album.
This is one of my favorite John Denver cds I've have heard. Great for someone who would like to sample his work or for the lifetime fan of John Denver.