Rocky Mountain High
I did not know it by name though. I had been looking for this particular CD for years. While listening to Pandora it came up with a link to Amazon to buy. Done deal. VERY happy.
John Denver's Highest
It retains the freshness and purity of sound and heart today that it had in 1972. This album remains Denver's defining work. His voice was so young and hopeful, and so were his songs. I probably respond even stronger to them today than I did when I first heard them at 12. The best songs on it are the title track, "For Baby", and the Seasons Suite, but really the whole collection is a gem. This is the best place to start if you don't own any John Denver; it sure won't be the last one you buy. Highly recommended, even after 36 years.
Denver's turning point
I don't think it's Denver's best, necessarily, but it's close. I rated RMH 4 stars because this is an important album that shows a really accurate picture of who Denver really was; it's an important musical artifact in a way. He's in the middle of a transformation here--Denver had about 5 stages: the first as sort of a nerdy folk singer, the second as a hippie, the third as a marketing phenomenon, the fourth as a has-been, and the fifth as a come-back. Most people know the marketing phenomenon. RMH falls right in the middle of his hippie period, and for me, that's when he's at his most likable and artistic. On the original album inside cover, he's wearing a t-shirt that says "Be kind to animals--kiss a BEAVER"--something so utterly masculine you'd never see it again after he became a phenomenon. That's iconic of what I love about this album, and the follow up "Farewell Andromeda," which is probably his best work--he doesn't give a hell about pleasing anyone, and he's finally found his art. Plus he had a guy named Mike Taylor in his band, who was an incredible lead guitarist, and as a result, the guitar work on this record is truly enlightened. Taylor was a genuine find--he co-wrote Rocky Mountain High. I wonder what happened to that guy? With that said, the album as a whole doesn't wear so well sound-quality-wise--it would probably pay to find a release that's been remastered. "Early Winter/Late Spring" is still one of his best songs. And this has to be one of the best album covers of all time. It was shortly after this that RCA released his Greatest Hits album, which featured a bunch of new versions of his old songs re-recorded with lots of violins and pretty much defined the sound and the homogenized Denver that became the icon. I think he was more interesting when he was a hippie.
Fair
Back then when I would listen to his records I'd for some reason stare at the back cover. When I got this on vinyl I was attracted to the cover. I thought it hysterical John standing with his friends, back to camera with this odd shirt yellow shirt that said "Kiss a beaver". Then I'd look at the front cover and wonder what he was thinking standing in such breath taking scenery. My two favorites are "Rocky Mountain High" which has remained my favorite and believe it or not, when I sang it in Keroke, EVERYONE sang with the chorus. This amazed me because I thought Denver wasn't for everyone. My second favorite is "Darcy Farrow". It's never stopped moving me and I taught myself how to play a rough version of it on my guitar. I'm sorry to say the other songs didn't do much for me. But I'm proud to say this album, fair though it is, was the start of my John Denver collection. In John's Wildlife Concert made two years before his passing he played "Rocky Mountain High" and "Darcy Farrow" in a slightly different way but the new versions didn't change my mind having those two as my favorites. Perhaps this album will start you on a Denver collection binge but hope you don't wear a shirt that says "Kiss a beaver" on the back. Wouldn't want anyone to get teeth marks on their kissers.
Catchy
I get the feeling that if you listen to too many Denver albums you end up joining a cult or living in a commune, talking about herbs and cycles of the moon. I always liked his music, but it seems a little off.
I think they found a bunch of these records at Jonestown.
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You can see a complete list of all John Denver discography, or go back to the John Denver tabs
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