Best Of John Denver, The - John Denver

.../> Probably one of his best known hits was 1975's Annie's Song, this reached No.1 in both the U.S and the U.K. This song I beleive was written for his wife, Ann Martel, whom he married in 1967 after many years of courting. It would become tradition for John to end concerts by dedicating his last number "to a girl named Annie."

Denver always remained commited in support of his beliefs in the importance of protecting the ...
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John joined the cast for the 1977fil "Oh, God" it was a huge hit and gave Denver a palce in movie history! Joh then went on to go into many other films including: Foxfire, Oh God II, Higher Ground, plus many more!

Another love of John Denver's life was flying, he was a licenced pilot and had his own Lear Jet. He was also an aerobatic pilot, licensed to fly gliders.

1983 saw the end of John's marriage, ... more

After having accidently posted this yesterday it is now completely sorted!

I am pretty sure that everyone has somepoints been exposed to the legend that is John Denver, whether you have heard one of his many legendary songs or heard about him, I am sure you know of him! Even if you have no idea about John Denver, I am sure you will enjoy this reveiw and find it both informative and useful! Read on I hope you like it! ~~Kepp

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I was first introduced to John Denver when one day at a pub I was told I looked like him! Before then I had had no idea who he was, out of curiosity I found out, and I must admitt that from the bottom of my rock loving heart, I find his music "magical!" He lead such an interesting if not short life, this reveiw is dedicated to him!
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His Life:

Henry John Deutschendorf was born on December 31st 1943, in Roswell, New Mexico. He derived his stage name from the capital of Colorado, Denver, this was his favorite state in the USA.

His college years were spend at Texas Tech University, John began performing folk music at local clubs.

Against his father's advice, John dropped out of college in 1965 after studying architecture. He relocated to Los Angeles, where he hoped to make a name and career in music for himself.

Denver started out as a singer/guitarist in Los Angeles, in 1965 he became a member of the Chad Mitchell Trio.

It was four years later when he had his break, Peter, Paul and Mary recorded his song "Leaving On A Jet Plane."

Denver gained a recording contract with RCA on the strength of it.

When the founding members of The Chad Mitchell Trio left, the band changed to "Denver, Boise and Johnson" This band ended 1969 when Denver wanted to get his own solo career!

Cover versions of songs by people like Tom Paxton and Jacques Brel failed to consolidate his appeal to the mainstream.

The 1970's saw a massive change, starting in 1971 with his "Take Me Home Contry Roads." This is a song which I am sure you all have heard:

Almost Heaven, West Virgina, Blue Ridge Mountain, Shanando River, Life is Old there, Older than the Tree's, Younger than the Mountains, Blowing like the Breeze, Take me Home Country Roads, Back to the Place I Belong, West Virgina, Mountain Moma, Take me Home, now Country Roads!

With this song Denver really had sucess, it reached No.2 in the U.S.

It was this year that he released his third album, "Poems, Prayers and Promises" this is one I have upstairs!

In the early 1970s, John became a supporter of human rights and nature issuesworking to educate the public on ending world hunger, he promoted world peace and helped sick and handicapped children, supported the space program, and devoted long hours to protecting the wilderness.

John was also the first ever recipient of the World Ecology Medal.

America saw four of his songs to No.1.

Probably one of his best known hits was 1975's Annie's Song, this reached No.1 in both the U.S and the U.K. This song I beleive was written for his wife, Ann Martel, whom he married in 1967 after many years of courting. It would become tradition for John to end concerts by dedicating his last number "to a girl named Annie."

Denver always remained commited in support of his beliefs in the importance of protecting the environment and in opposing the growth of Nuclear energy.

John joined the cast for the 1977fil "Oh, God" it was a huge hit and gave Denver a palce in movie history! Joh then went on to go into many other films including: Foxfire, Oh God II, Higher Ground, plus many more!

Another love of John Denver's life was flying, he was a licenced pilot and had his own Lear Jet. He was also an aerobatic pilot, licensed to fly gliders.

1983 saw the end of John's marriage, he and Ann were divrced, years later, John married again this time to Cassandra Delaney of Australia. They would divorced a few years later after having one daughter, Jesse Belle. Cassandra was awarded custody of Jesse Belle.

On October 12th 1997, John was flying his single engine Long-EZ when it crashed into Monterey Bay, California. He was 53

John was cremated and his ashes were scattered over the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
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If you here these titles then they are more than likely John:

City of New Orleans, Alaska and Me, This Old Gutair, Sunshine on My Shoulders, Poems, Prayers and Promises, Take me Home Country Roads, Annie's Song, Follow Me, Life is so good, Thank God I'm a Country Boy, The Music is You, How Can I Leave you Again, Calypso, In My Life, I'm Sorry, Around and Around, Grandma's Feather Bed, Windsong, Two Different Directions, Rocky Mountain High, To The Wild Country, Higher Ground, Children of The Universe, American Child, In A Faraway Land, The Flower That Shattered The Stone, Potter's Wheel, A Country Girl In Paris and more...

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The Inspiration For His Songs!

This section is not necessarily correct, it is mearly what I believe.

In his teens John's Grandmother gave him a 1910 guitar, I think that this would be the inspiration for "This Old Gutair"

John and Ann lived in Aspen, Colardo, this I think is the inspiration for "Rocky Mountain High" and "Starwood in Aspen"

It is quite obvious that the inspiration for "Annie's Song" and "Annie's Other Song" was his first wife, Ann!

This is the biggest 'guess' I am doing, I expect that the inspiration for "Alaska and Me" would be the fact that Alaska was once the land of great riches, when it was being diamond/gold mined! Therefore Alaska would have been the symbol of hope, I may be correct but not definatly!

Please if you have anything I can add here please inform me!

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If you still think you have never heard of John Denver then I ahve gathered some lyrics for you:

This song was sang on Armageddon!
Leavin On A Jet Plane
All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go, I'm standing here outside your door,
I hate to wake you up to say good-bye.
But the dawn is breaking, it's early morn, the taxi's waiting He's blowing his horn.
Already I'm so lonesome I could die.
So kiss me and smile for me, tell me that you'll wait for me, hold me like you'll never let me go.
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again. Oh, babe, I hate to go.

There's so many times I've let you down, so many times I've played around,
I tell you now they don't mean a thing.
Every place I go I'll think of you, every song I sing I'll sing for you,
when I come back, I'll bring your wedding ring.
So kiss me and smile for me, tell me that you'll wait for me, hold me like you'll never let me go.
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again. Oh, babe, I hate to go.

Now the time has come to leave you, one more time let me kiss you,
then close your eyes, I'll be on my way.
Dream about the days to come when I won't have to leave alone,
about the times I won't have to say:
kiss me and smile for me, tell me that you'll wait for me, hold me like you'll never let me go.
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again. Oh, babe, I hate to go.
I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again. Oh, babe, I hate to go.

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Olivia Newton John Covered this
Take Me Home Country Roads

Almost heaven, West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River.
Life is old there, older than the trees, younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze.
Country roads, take me home to the place I belong.
West Virginia, mountain momma, take me home, country roads.

All my memories gather round her, miner's lady, stranger to blue water.
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky, misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye.
Country roads, take me home to the place I belong.
West Virginia, mountain momma, take me home, country roads.

I hear her voice in the morning hour she calls me, the radio reminds me of my home far away.
And driving down the road I get a feeling that I should have been home yesterday, yesterday.
Country roads, take me home to the place I belong.
West Virginia, mountain momma, take me home, country roads.
Country roads, take me home to the place I belong.
West Virginia, mountain momma, take me home, country roads.

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Seen Final Destination? This song was played throughout!
Rocky Mountain High

He was born in the summer of his 27th year, coming home to a place he'd never been before.
He left yesterday behind him, you might say he was born again,
you might say he found a key for every door.
When he first came to the mountains, his life was far away on the road and hanging by a song.
But the strings already broken and he doesn't really care,
it keeps changing fast, and it don't last for long.

And the Colorado Rocky Mountain high, I've seen it raining fire in the sky.
The shadows from the starlight are softer than a lullaby.
Rocky Mountain high, Colorado. Rocky Mountain high.

He climbed cathedral mountains, he saw silver clouds below,
he saw everything as far as you can see.
And they say that he got crazy once and he tried to touch the sun,
and he lost a friend, but kept the memory.
Now he walks in quiet solitude, the forest and the streams, seeking grace in every step he takes.
His sight is turned inside himself, to try and understand
the serenity of a clear blue mountain lake.

And the Colorado Rocky Mountain high, I've seen it raining fire in the sky.
You can talk to God and listen to the casual reply.
Rocky Mountain high, Colorado. Rocky Mountain high.

Now his life is full of wonder, but his heart still knows some fear,
of a simple thing he can not comprehend.
Why they try to tear the mountains down to bring in a couple more,
more people, more scars upon the land.

And the Colorado Rocky Mountain high, I've seen it raining fire in the sky.
I know he'd be a poor man if he never saw an eagle fly,
Rocky Mountain high, the Colorado Rocky Mountain high, I've seen it raining fire in the sky.
Friends around the campfire and everybody's high
Rocky Mountain high, Colorado. Rocky Mountain high.
Rocky Mountain high, Colorado. Rocky Mountain high.

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I hope you have enjoyed reading this, I have enjoyed writing it, thanks for reading Kepp.

As ever I ask, if you have anything to point out to me about this/any of my reveiws I would be grateful, thank you!

 

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