Sunshine On My Shoulders / The Best Of John Denver

~ Release by John Denver (see all versions of this release, 2 available)

Tracklist

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1CD
#TitleRatingLength
1Take Me Home, Country Roads
recording engineer:
Ray Hall (engineer)
assistant producer:
Jean Kaplow
producer:
Milt Okun
acoustic guitar [6-string guitar] and lead vocals:
John Denver
banjo and pedal steel guitar:
Eric Weissberg
double bass:
Dick Kniss
guitar:
Bill Danoff and Michael Taylor (Guitarist & former member of the John Denver Band)
membranophone:
Gary Chester (studio drummer and educator)
piano:
Frank Owens (American pianist)
background vocals:
Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert and Starland Vocal Band
vocals:
John Denver
part of:
Rolling Stone: The 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time (number: 94) and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 358)
recording of:
Take Me Home, Country Roads (on 1971-02-04)
anthem of:
West Virginia, United States
writer:
Bill Danoff, John Denver and Taffy Nivert
publisher:
BMG Ruby Songs, Dino Park Publishing, JD Legacy Publishing, My Pop’s Songs, Reservoir Media Music and Cherry Lane Music Publishing Company Inc. (in 1971)
sub-publisher:
ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., A Division) and フジパシフィックミュージック BMG事業部 (Fujipacific Music Inc., BMG Division)
4.33:12
2Annie's Song
assistant engineer:
Artie Torgersen
engineer:
Mickey Crofford
additional producer and assistant producer:
Kris O'Connor
producer:
Milton Okun
bass:
Dick Kniss
guitar:
John Denver and Steve Weisberg
mandolin:
John Sommers (country music songwriter and multi- instrumentalist)
percussion:
Jim Gordon (US drummer with Derek and the Dominos)
lead vocals:
John Denver
conductor:
Lee Holdridge
arranger:
Lee Holdridge
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1974)
recording of:
Annie’s Song (John Denver song) (on 1974-03-08)
lyricist:
John Denver (in 1973-01)
composer:
John Denver
dedicated to:
Annie Denver (ex-wife and friend of John Denver)
publisher:
Winter Hill Music
lyrics written at:
Aspen Mountain in Aspen, Colorado, United States (in 1973-01)
3.653:02
3Sunshine on My Shoulders
recording engineer:
Ray Hall (engineer)
assistant producer:
Jean Kaplow
producer:
Milt Okun
12 string guitar, acoustic guitar [6-string guitar] and lead vocals:
John Denver
double bass:
Dick Kniss
guitar:
Michael Taylor (Guitarist & former member of the John Denver Band)
conductor:
Milt Okun
orchestrator:
Lennie Niehaus (American saxophonist and score composer)
recording of:
Sunshine on My Shoulders (in 1971)
lyricist:
John Denver
composer:
John Denver, Dick Kniss and Michael Taylor (Guitarist & former member of the John Denver Band)
publisher:
BMG Ruby Songs, Dino Park Publishing, JD Legacy Publishing, My Pop’s Songs, Reservoir Media Music, ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., A Division) and フジパシフィックミュージック BMG事業部 (Fujipacific Music Inc., BMG Division)
35:14
4Rocky Mountain High
recording engineer:
Ray Hall (engineer)
producer:
Milt Okun
acoustic guitar [6-string guitar] and lead vocals:
John Denver
double bass:
Dick Kniss
guitar:
Michael Taylor (Guitarist & former member of the John Denver Band)
percussion:
Gary Chester (studio drummer and educator)
steel guitar [electric steel guitar]:
Eric Weissberg
arranger:
John Denver, Dick Kniss and Michael Taylor (Guitarist & former member of the John Denver Band)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
RCA Records (not for release label use! for the imprint, please use “RCA” instead) (in 1972)
recording of:
Rocky Mountain High (on 1972-04-12)
anthem of:
Colorado, United States (from 2007 to present)
lyricist:
John Denver
composer:
John Denver and Michael Taylor (Guitarist & former member of the John Denver Band)
3.84:45
5Everyday
12 string guitar:
John Denver
bass:
Dick Kniss
guitar:
Mike Taylor (Guitarist & former member of the John Denver Band)
harmonica:
Toots Thielemans
percussion:
Al Rogers (drummer)
resonator guitar [dobro]:
Paul Prestopino
background vocals:
Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert
cover recording of:
Everyday
writer:
Buddy Holly (1950s rock & roll singer‐songwriter) and Norman Petty
publisher:
Peer International Corporation (BMI) and Southern Music Publishing Co., Inc. ((ASCAP) tradename Peermusic)
33:17
6Thank God I’m a Country Boy
recording of:
Thank God I’m a Country Boy
lyricist and composer:
John Martin Sommers
publisher:
Chrysalis One Australia Pty. Ltd., Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships) and Mushroom Music Pty. Ltd. (Mushroom label’s publishing company)
2:50
7Sweet Surrender
engineer:
Mickey Crofford
assistant producer:
Kris O'Connor
producer:
Milt Okun
lead vocals:
John Denver
conductor:
Lee Holdridge
arranger:
Lee Holdridge
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
RCA Corporation (formerly Radio Corporation of America till late 1960s, became BMG Music in 1986) (in 1974)
recording of:
Sweet Surrender (on 1974-03-09)
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
2.55:30
8I'm Sorry
additional producer and assistant producer:
Kris O'Connor
producer:
Milt Okun
lead vocals:
John Denver
conductor:
Lee Holdridge
arranger:
Lee Holdridge
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment (NOT FOR RELEASE LABEL USE! company owned by Sony Corporation of America since Oct 1, 2008; operates worldwide except in JP) (in 2011)
recording of:
I’m Sorry (on 1975-07-04)
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
33:33
9Fly Away
additional producer and assistant producer:
Kris O'Connor
producer:
Milt Okun
guest vocals:
Olivia Newton‐John (British‐Australian singer, actress and activist)
lead vocals:
John Denver
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
BMG Entertainment (in 1975) and Sony Music Entertainment (NOT FOR RELEASE LABEL USE! company owned by Sony Corporation of America since Oct 1, 2008; operates worldwide except in JP) (in 2011)
recording of:
Fly Away (on 1975-07-04)
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
publisher:
Cherry Lane Music Publishing Company Inc.
3.54:10
10Like a Sad Song
assistant producer:
Kris O'Connor
producer:
Milt Okun
lead vocals:
John Denver
recording of:
Like a Sad Song (on 1976-05-13)
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
publisher:
Cherry Lane Music Publishing Company Inc.
2.53:44
11Welcome to My Morning
4:05
12Back Home Again
engineer:
Mickey Crofford
additional producer and assistant producer:
Kris O'Connor
producer:
Milt Okun
lead vocals:
John Denver
conductor:
Lee Holdridge
arranger:
Lee Holdridge
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
RCA Corporation (formerly Radio Corporation of America till late 1960s, became BMG Music in 1986) (in 1974)
recording of:
Back Home Again (on 1974-03-06)
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
34:46
13I'd Rather Be a Cowboy
4:26
14Please Daddy22:56
15Friends With You
producer:
Milt Okun
12 string guitar and lead vocals:
John Denver
bass:
Dick Kniss
guitar:
Mike Taylor (Guitarist & former member of the John Denver Band)
harmonica:
Toots Thielemans
pedal steel guitar:
Eric Weissberg
piano:
Paul Griffin (American pianist, session musician)
woodwind [woodwinds]:
George Marge
choir vocals [friends]:
Andromeda Quasar ([unknown], Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.), Paula Ballan, Kenneth Boaz (friend of John Denver), Barbara Carlson, Bill Danoff, Annie Denver (ex-wife and friend of John Denver), John Denver, Diane Kniss (wife of bassist Dick Kniss), Dick Kniss, Keith Lane (friend of John Denver), Candy Ledbetter (friend of John Denver), Ron Ledbetter (friend of John Denver), Elizabeth Lindsay (actor), Mike Taylor (Guitarist & former member of the John Denver Band), Taffy Nivert, Turnpike Tom (friend of John Denver), Alec Whyte (friend of John Denver) and Mary Angela Whyte (friend of John Denver)
recording of:
Friends With You
writer:
Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert
43:24
16Goodbye Again
recording engineer:
Ray Hall (engineer)
producer:
Milt Okun
12 string guitar, acoustic guitar [6-string guitar] and lead vocals:
John Denver
double bass:
Dick Kniss
guitar:
Michael Taylor (Guitarist & former member of the John Denver Band)
percussion:
Gary Chester (studio drummer and educator)
piano:
Frank Owens (American pianist)
background vocals:
Martine Habib
vocals:
John Denver
strings arranger:
Frank Owens (American pianist)
arranger:
John Denver, Dick Kniss and Michael Taylor (Guitarist & former member of the John Denver Band)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
RCA Records (not for release label use! for the imprint, please use “RCA” instead) (in 1972)
recording of:
Goodbye Again
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
publisher:
ATV Music Ltd., BMG Ruby Songs, Cherry Lane Music Co. and JD Legacy Publishing
43:38
17Baby, You Look Good to Me Tonight
recording of:
Baby, You Look Good to Me Tonight
lyricist and composer:
Bill Danoff
2:49
18My Sweet Lady3.54:25
2CD
#TitleRatingLength
1Leaving on a Jet Plane
producer:
Milt Okun
lead vocals:
John Denver
arranger:
John Denver and Milt Okun
recording of:
Leaving on a Jet Plane (on 1969-05-29)
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
publisher:
BMG Ruby Songs, Cherry Lane Music Publishing Inc, Cherry Lane Music, Inc., Reservoir Media Music (B) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., A Division)
4.353:40
2Grandma's Feather Bed
additional producer:
Kris O'Connor
producer:
Milt Okun
lead vocals:
John Denver
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
RCA Corporation (formerly Radio Corporation of America till late 1960s, became BMG Music in 1986) (in 1974)
recording of:
Grandma’s Feather Bed
lyricist and composer:
Jim Connor (US folk/country composer, singer and musician)
2:18
3Some Days Are Diamonds
producer:
Larry Butler (US country music producer, songwriter & pianist)
acoustic guitar:
Jimmy Capps (guitarist (session), James D. Capps) and Ray Edenton
bass:
Bob "King" Moore (U.S. bassist and bandleader) and Leon Rhodes
drums (drum set):
Jerry Carrigan (US drummer)
electric guitar:
Bill Sanford (guitar) and Bill Sanford
flute:
Jim Horn (saxophonist, hornist, flutist and oboist)
piano:
Hargus “Pig” Robbins
lead vocals:
John Denver
cover recording of:
Some Days Are Diamonds (Some Days Are Stone)
lyricist and composer:
Dick Feller
recording of:
Some Days Are Diamonds (Some Days Are Stone)
lyricist and composer:
Dick Feller
34:02
4Gospel Changes
3:25
5Junk
cover recording of:
Junk
written in:
India (in 1968)
lyricist and composer:
Paul McCartney (The Beatles) (in 1968)
publisher:
Northern Songs and Sony/ATV Tunes LLC (ASCAP)
1:43
6Mother Nature’s Son
strings arranger:
Frank Owens (American pianist)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
RCA Records (not for release label use! for the imprint, please use “RCA” instead) (in 1972)
cover recording of:
Mother Nature’s Son
writer:
John Lennon (The Beatles) and Paul McCartney (The Beatles)
publisher:
Northern Songs, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC (1995–2020) and Sony/ATV Tunes LLC (ASCAP)
2:29
7City of New Orleans
bass:
Dick Kniss
guitar:
Mike Taylor (Guitarist & former member of the John Denver Band) and Eric Weissberg
harmonica:
Toots Thielemans
pedal steel guitar:
Eric Weissberg
percussion [percussion & suitcase]:
Gary Chester (studio drummer and educator)
resonator guitar [dobro]:
Mike Taylor (Guitarist & former member of the John Denver Band)
cover recording of:
City of New Orleans
lyricist and composer:
Steve Goodman (folk musician)
publisher:
Sony/ATV Tunes LLC (ASCAP)
recording of:
City of New Orleans
lyricist and composer:
Steve Goodman (folk musician)
publisher:
Sony/ATV Tunes LLC (ASCAP)
3.53:18
8Paradise
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
RCA Records (not for release label use! for the imprint, please use “RCA” instead) (in 1972)
cover recording of:
Paradise
lyricist and composer:
John Prine
publisher:
Cotillion-Sour Grapes (ended), Sour Grapes Music, Inc. and Walden Music, Inc.
2:15
9For Baby (For Bobbie)
recording engineer:
Ray Hall (engineer)
producer:
Milt Okun
12 string guitar:
John Denver
double bass:
Dick Kniss
guitar:
Michael Taylor (Guitarist & former member of the John Denver Band)
background vocals:
Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert
vocals:
John Denver
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
RCA Records (not for release label use! for the imprint, please use “RCA” instead) (in 1972)
cover recording of:
For Baby (For Bobbie)
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
publisher:
BMG Ruby Songs and Chrysalis One Music Publishing Group Ireland Limited
32:59
10Angels From Montgomery
cover recording of:
Angel From Montgomery
lyricist and composer:
John Prine
publisher:
Cotillion-Sour Grapes (ended), Cotillion Music Inc. (BMI), Sour Grapes Music, Inc., Walden Music, Inc. and WB Music Corp. (1929–2019)
recording of:
Angel From Montgomery
lyricist and composer:
John Prine
publisher:
Cotillion-Sour Grapes (ended), Cotillion Music Inc. (BMI), Sour Grapes Music, Inc., Walden Music, Inc. and WB Music Corp. (1929–2019)
4:45
11This Old Guitar
recording engineer and engineer:
Mickey Crofford
assistant engineer:
Artie Torgersen
additional producer and assistant producer:
Kris O'Connor
producer:
Milt Okun
lead vocals:
John Denver
arranger:
John Denver, Dick Kniss, John Martin Sommers and Steve Weisberg
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
RCA Corporation (formerly Radio Corporation of America till late 1960s, became BMG Music in 1986) (in 1974)
recording of:
This Old Guitar
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
42:52
12Matthew
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
RCA Corporation (formerly Radio Corporation of America till late 1960s, became BMG Music in 1986) (in 1974)
recording of:
Matthew
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
3:44
13Looking for Space
additional producer and assistant producer:
Kris O'Connor
producer:
Milt Okun
lead vocals:
John Denver
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment (NOT FOR RELEASE LABEL USE! company owned by Sony Corporation of America since Oct 1, 2008; operates worldwide except in JP) (in 2011)
recording of:
Looking for Space (on 1975-07-02)
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
publisher:
Dino Park Publishing, JD Legacy Publishing and My Pop’s Songs
24:02
14Calypso
engineer:
Mickey Crofford
additional producer and assistant producer:
Kris O'Connor
producer:
Milt Okun
acoustic guitar and background vocals:
John Sommers (country music songwriter and multi- instrumentalist) and Steve Weisberg
banjo, fiddle and mandolin:
John Sommers (country music songwriter and multi- instrumentalist)
bass:
Dick Kniss
drums (drum set) and percussion:
Hal Blaine (U.S. studio drummer and percussionist)
electric guitar, resonator guitar [dobro] and steel guitar:
Steve Weisberg
guitar and lead vocals:
John Denver
conductor:
Lee Holdridge
arranger:
Hal Blaine (U.S. studio drummer and percussionist), John Denver, Lee Holdridge, Dick Kniss, John Sommers (country music songwriter and multi- instrumentalist) and Steve Weisberg
orchestrator:
Lee Holdridge
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment (NOT FOR RELEASE LABEL USE! company owned by Sony Corporation of America since Oct 1, 2008; operates worldwide except in JP) (in 2011)
recording of:
Calypso (on 1975-07-02)
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
33:38
15Late Night Radio
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment (NOT FOR RELEASE LABEL USE! company owned by Sony Corporation of America since Oct 1, 2008; operates worldwide except in JP) (in 2011)
recording of:
Late Nite Radio
writer:
Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert
2:45
16San Antonio Rose
cover recording of:
San Antonio Rose
lyricist and composer:
Bob Wills (Texan Western swing musician, songwriter, and bandleader)
publisher:
Bourne Co. (not for release label use, this is a music publisher) (from 1940-06-05 to present) and Irving Berlin Inc. (on 1940-06-05)
2:43
17Starwood in Aspen
producer:
Milt Okun
12 string guitar, guitar [6 string guitar] and lead vocals:
John Denver
bass:
Dick Kniss
guitar:
Mike Taylor (Guitarist & former member of the John Denver Band)
harmonica:
Toots Thielemans
recording of:
Starwood in Aspen
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
3:07
18Shanghai Breezes
producer:
John Denver and Barney Wyckoff
bass:
Jerry Scheff
drums (drum set):
Jerry Carrigan (US drummer)
electric guitar:
James Burton (guitarist)
piano:
Glen D. Hardin
background vocals:
Renée Armand, Denny Brooks and Herb Pedersen
lead vocals:
John Denver
orchestrator:
Lee Holdridge
recording of:
Shanghai Breezes (in 1981-12)
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
33:15