The nicest man in the business!
Folk/country singer-songwriter John Denver gained popularity in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s due to his memorable tunes, sweet voice, and positive persona.
His first significant song was initially released as a demo in 1966 and later popularized by Peter, Paul & Mary (who also sang Blowin’ In The Wind) in 1969. John Denver then recorded and released his own version later that year, but it did not chart.
He later re-recorded it for his greatest hits album, and this version, titled Leaving, On a Jet Plane, became the most referenced one, instead of the original title Babe, I Hate to Go, or the spelling on the original release, Leaving On A Jet Plane. This song has become one of his most beloved tunes since its inclusion on the album in 1974.
On his first album, we can also find his renditions of When I’m Sixty-Four by The Beatles and Carolina in My Mind by James Taylor, indicating his affinity for hit melodies.
In his third studio album, Whose Garden Was This, he continued to release covers, including The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down by The Band, Mr. Bojangles by Jerry Jeff Walker (also covered by Bob Dylan), and two more Beatles tunes, Eleanor Rigby and Golden Slumbers.
By 1972, John Denver released his fourth studio album, featuring his signature song, Take Me Home, Country Roads. Another classic, Sunshine on My Shoulders, is also found here, along with more Beatles (Let It Be) and James Taylor (Fire and Rain) tunes.
His fifth album, Aerie, was released in 1971 but didn’t produce any hits, only featuring a cover of Buddy Holly’s Everyday. On his sixth album, we find Rocky Mountain High, which performed well, reaching the top ten and becoming the official song of Colorado. Another Beatles tune, Mother Nature’s Son, is included here.
Following another studio album and the release of his greatest hits album, which included the renamed and re-recorded Leaving, on A Jet Plane, John Denver released the classic Annie’s Song (1974) on the album Back Home Again.
A live album followed, featuring the hit Thank God I’m a Country Boy, which reached #1 on the Country charts.
The second half of the 1970s wasn’t as successful for John Denver. Several albums were released, but no hits. During this time, he even released two Christmas albums, one of them featuring collaborations with the Muppets.
As the 1980s arrived, John Denver’s glory days were behind him. He released eleven more studio albums until his death in 1997, with the final one ironically named All Aboard!
Ironic, as John Denver tragically died in a plane crash two months after the release of All Aboard! It was reported that he was not accustomed to flying that particular model and misread some of the instruments while piloting the plane.
On a final note, I’d like to point out that John Denver’s decline coincided with him stopping playing other people’s tunes. In the beginning, when he was recording Beatles and James Taylor songs, it seemed to have pushed his own writing.
John Denver Tunes | Related Pages
Annie’s Song
You can learn how to play Annie’s Song by John Denver using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, TAB, and the original recording.
| G A | Bm G | D F#m/C# |
You fill up my senses, like a night in a forest…
Leaving, On a Jet Plane
You can learn how to play Leaving, On a Jet Plane by John Denver using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, and the original recording.
| G | C |
All my bags are packed, I’m ready to go…
Take Me Home, Country Roads
You can learn how to play Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, TAB, and the original recording.
| G | Em |
Almost heaven, West Virginia…
Thank God I’m A Country Boy
You can learn how to play Thank God I’m A Country Boy by John Denver using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, TAB, and the original recording.
| A A/E | A D |
When the work’s all done and the sun’s settlin’ low…
John Denver on the web
Artists & Bands
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