John Denver's Greatest Hits
Encyclopedia
John Denver's Greatest Hits was American
singer-songwriter
John Denver
's first compilation album
, released in late 1973 for the holiday shopping season. A version known as The Best of John Denver with the same tracklisting was released in some countries.
". Indeed many of these tracks were not hits per se, but as Stephen Thomas Erlewine
wrote for Allmusic, "the[se] were [the] songs that defined him."
Moreover, Greatest Hits is important historically because it contained new, revisionist recordings of several songs. Notable new versions included "Leaving on a Jet Plane
", "Starwood in Aspen", "Follow Me", "Rhymes and Reasons", "The Eagle and the Hawk", and "Poems, Prayers, and Promises".
Denver explained this himself in the liner notes
by saying that he had picked the numbers most requested in his concerts, but that "I felt that some of these songs had grown a bit, that I am singing better than I was four or five years ago, and that I would like to treat some of the songs a little differently than I had in the original recordings."
After its release these versions were used for airplay despite differing in subtle but important ways from the original versions; generally, they were more polished, featured a more mature-sounding Denver, included strings, and were extended somewhat.
Greatest Hits climbed by the spring following to the top of the Billboard 200
pop albums chart, went platinum, and was one of the first albums world-wide to sell over 10 million copies. Overall it is easily the best-selling album of his career in the United States, being certified 9-times platinum by the RIAA.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
's first compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, released in late 1973 for the holiday shopping season. A version known as The Best of John Denver with the same tracklisting was released in some countries.
History
The collection included material from his earlier days as a songwriter (going back to 1965 on "For Bobbie") to his later hit "Rocky Mountain HighRocky Mountain High
"Rocky Mountain High" is a folk-rock song written by John Denver and Mike Taylor about Colorado, and is one of the two official state songs of Colorado. Recorded by Denver, it went to number nine on the US Hot 100 in 1973...
". Indeed many of these tracks were not hits per se, but as Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine is a senior editor for Allmusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for Allmusic, as well as a freelance writer, occasionally contributing liner notes. He is also frontman and guitarist for the Ann Arbor-based band Who Dat?Erlewine is the nephew...
wrote for Allmusic, "the[se] were [the] songs that defined him."
Moreover, Greatest Hits is important historically because it contained new, revisionist recordings of several songs. Notable new versions included "Leaving on a Jet Plane
Leaving on a Jet Plane
"Leaving on a Jet Plane" is a song written by John Denver in 1966 and most famously recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary. The original title of the song was "Oh Babe I Hate to Go" but Denver's then producer, Milt Okun, convinced him to change the title....
", "Starwood in Aspen", "Follow Me", "Rhymes and Reasons", "The Eagle and the Hawk", and "Poems, Prayers, and Promises".
Denver explained this himself in the liner notes
Liner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
by saying that he had picked the numbers most requested in his concerts, but that "I felt that some of these songs had grown a bit, that I am singing better than I was four or five years ago, and that I would like to treat some of the songs a little differently than I had in the original recordings."
After its release these versions were used for airplay despite differing in subtle but important ways from the original versions; generally, they were more polished, featured a more mature-sounding Denver, included strings, and were extended somewhat.
Greatest Hits climbed by the spring following to the top of the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
pop albums chart, went platinum, and was one of the first albums world-wide to sell over 10 million copies. Overall it is easily the best-selling album of his career in the United States, being certified 9-times platinum by the RIAA.
Side A
- "Take Me Home, Country RoadsTake Me Home, Country Roads"Take Me Home, Country Roads" is a song written by John Denver, Taffy Nivert, and Bill Danoff and initially recorded by John Denver. It was included on his 1971 breakout album Poems, Prayers and Promises; the single went to #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100...
" (Bill DanoffBill DanoffBill Danoff is an American songwriter and singer. His best known song as a performer is "Afternoon Delight", which Danoff performed as a member of the Starland Vocal Band...
, Taffy Nivert, John DenverJohn DenverHenry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
) - 3:08 - "Follow Me" (John Denver) - 2:56 *
- "Starwood in Aspen" (John Denver) - 3:10 *
- "For Baby (For Bobbie)" (John Denver) - 2:58
- "Rhymes and Reasons" (John Denver) - 3:11 *
- "Leaving, on a JetplaneLeaving on a Jet Plane"Leaving on a Jet Plane" is a song written by John Denver in 1966 and most famously recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary. The original title of the song was "Oh Babe I Hate to Go" but Denver's then producer, Milt Okun, convinced him to change the title....
" (John Denver) - 4:00 *
Side B
- "The Eagle and the Hawk" (John Denver, Mike Taylor) - 2:10 *
- "Sunshine on My ShouldersSunshine on My Shoulders"Sunshine on My Shoulders" is the title of a song recorded and co-written by American singer/songwriter John Denver. It was released as a single in 1973 and went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S. in early 1974.- Song history :...
" (John Denver, Dick Kniss, Mike Taylor) - 5:10 † - "Goodbye Again" (John Denver) - 3:36
- "Poems, Prayers and Promises" (John Denver) - 4:34 *
- "Rocky Mountain HighRocky Mountain High"Rocky Mountain High" is a folk-rock song written by John Denver and Mike Taylor about Colorado, and is one of the two official state songs of Colorado. Recorded by Denver, it went to number nine on the US Hot 100 in 1973...
" (John Denver, Mike Taylor) - 4:43
- * New versions recorded especially for this project; generally, compilations today prefer the original versions
- † The version of Sunshine On My ShouldersSunshine on My Shoulders"Sunshine on My Shoulders" is the title of a song recorded and co-written by American singer/songwriter John Denver. It was released as a single in 1973 and went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S. in early 1974.- Song history :...
included here is the single version, featuring overdubbed strings.
Personnel
For the newly recorded tracks:- John DenverJohn DenverHenry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
- vocals, acoustic guitar - Steve WeisbergSteve WeisbergSteve Weisberg, born 1963 in Norfolk, Virginia, is a composer/arranger/pianist and international recording artist/producer. In the 80's, after studying with Michael Gibbs at Berklee College in Boston, Ma., he recorded the XtraWatt/ECM release "I Can't Stand Another Night Alone ," produced by Carla...
- guitars - Dick Kniss - bass
- Frank Owens - piano
- Herb Lovelle - drums
- Gary ChesterGary ChesterGary Chester was one of the 20th century's busiest studio drummers. Gary is counted as one of the greats when it comes to studio session musicians. His work appears on thousands of tracks, including hundreds of hit records from the '50s, '60s and '70s...
- percussion