The Essential John Denver

~ Release by John Denver (see all versions of this release, 4 available)

Tracklist

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1CD
#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
2Rhymes & Reasons
recording engineer:
Ray Hall (engineer)
assistant producer:
Kris O'Connor
producer:
Milt Okun
12 string guitar, acoustic guitar [6-string guitar] and lead vocals:
John Denver
double bass:
Dick Kniss
membranophone:
Herb Lovelle
pedal steel guitar:
Steve Weisberg
arranger:
John Denver and Milt Okun
recording of:
Rhymes & Reasons
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
33:17
3Take 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
4Poems, Prayers and Promises
producer:
Milt Okun
lead vocals:
John Denver
recording of:
Poems, Prayers and Promises (on 1971-02-09)
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
3.54:08
5I Guess He’d Rather Be in Colorado12:09
6Friends 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
7Rocky 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)
3.84:46
8Goodbye 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
9I'd Rather Be a Cowboy (Lady's Chains)
engineer:
Ray Hall (engineer)
producer:
Milt Okun
lead vocals:
John Denver
strings arranger:
Lee Holdridge
arranger:
John Denver and Milt Okun
recording of:
I’d Rather Be a Cowboy (Lady's Chains)
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
3.54:27
10Farewell Andromeda (Welcome to My Morning)
engineer:
Ray Hall (engineer)
producer:
Milt Okun
lead vocals:
John Denver
arranger:
John Denver and Milt Okun
recording of:
Farewell Andromeda (Welcome to My Morning) (in 1973-03)
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
34:05
11Sunshine 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
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
13Matthew
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
14Thank 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)
3:22
15Annie'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
16Sweet 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
17Looking 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
18I'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
33:32
2CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Calypso
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
John Denver33:38
2Fly 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.
John Denver3.54:12
3Baby, You Look Good to Me Tonight
recording of:
Baby, You Look Good to Me Tonight
lyricist and composer:
Bill Danoff
John Denver2:49
4Like 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.
John Denver2.53:44
5How Can I Leave You Again
assistant producer:
Kris O'Connor
producer:
Milt Okun
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
John Denver
bass:
Chuck Domanico (American bassist)
classical guitar:
Lee Ritenour
drums (drum set):
Hal Blaine (U.S. studio drummer and percussionist)
electric guitar:
James Burton (guitarist) and Lee Ritenour
keyboard [keyboards]:
Michael Lang (American pianist and composer)
orchestrator:
Lee Holdridge
recording of:
How Can I Leave You Again
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
John Denver43:11
6It Amazes Me
producer:
Milt Okun
lead vocals:
John Denver
arranger:
John Denver and Milt Okun
recording of:
It Amazes Me
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
John Denver32:39
7I Want to Live
producer:
Milt Okun
acoustic guitar:
James Burton (guitarist), John Denver and Lee Ritenour
bass:
Chuck Domanico (American bassist)
drums (drum set):
Hal Blaine (U.S. studio drummer and percussionist)
electric guitar:
James Burton (guitarist)
keyboard [keyboards]:
Michael Lang (American pianist and composer)
background vocals:
Renée Armand and Herb Pedersen
lead vocals:
John Denver
vocals:
John Denver
arranger:
John Denver and Milt Okun
orchestrator:
Lee Holdridge
recording of:
I Want to Live
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
John Denver3:49
8My Sweet LadyJohn Denver4:51
9Autograph
assistant engineer:
Tchad Blake, Andrew Clarke, Ralph Osborn (engineer), Randy Pipes (Music Engineer) and Andy Todd (70s/80s US recording engineer)
producer:
Milton Okun
acoustic guitar:
Denny Brooks, James Burton (guitarist) and Herb Pedersen
banjo:
Herb Pedersen
bass:
Emory Gordy Jr.
drums (drum set) and percussion:
Hal Blaine (U.S. studio drummer and percussionist)
electric guitar:
James Burton (guitarist) and Herb Pedersen
electric guitar [rhythm guitar], guitar and lead vocals:
John Denver
harmonica:
Danny Wheetman
keyboard and keyboard [keyboards]:
Glen D. Hardin
mandolin:
Emory Gordy Jr. and Danny Wheetman
reeds:
Jim Horn (saxophonist, hornist, flutist and oboist)
resonator guitar [dobro]:
James Burton (guitarist)
background vocals:
Renée Armand, Denny Brooks, Herb Pedersen and Danny Wheetman
orchestrator:
Lee Holdridge
recording of:
Autograph
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
John Denver3.53:40
10Some Days Are Diamonds (Some Days Are Stone)
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
John Denver34:02
11The Cowboy and the Lady
cover recording of:
The Cowboy and the Lady
lyricist and composer:
Bobby Goldsboro
publisher:
Warner House of Music
John Denver34:38
12Seasons of the Heart
producer:
John Denver and Barney Wyckoff
bass:
Jerry Scheff
drums (drum set):
Jerry Carrigan (US drummer)
electric guitar:
James Burton (guitarist)
electric guitar [rhythm guitar] and lead vocals:
John Denver
piano:
Glen D. Hardin
orchestrator:
Lee Holdridge
recording of:
Seasons of the Heart
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
John Denver3:51
13Shanghai 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
John Denver33:15
14Perhaps Love
bass:
Reinie Press (Bassist and studio musician from the US)
classical guitar:
Sal DiTroia
drums (drum set):
Allan Schwartzberg
guitar:
John Denver
piano:
Frank Owens (American pianist)
lead vocals:
John Denver and Plácido Domingo (tenor)
orchestrator:
Lee Holdridge
recording of:
Perhaps Love (on 1981-03-29)
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
publisher:
BMG Ruby Songs and Chrysalis One Publishing
Plácido Domingo and John Denver22:59
15Wild Montana Skies
executive producer:
Milt Okun
producer:
John Denver and Barney Wyckoff
acoustic guitar:
John Denver
bass:
Jerry Scheff
drums (drum set):
Jerry Carrigan (US drummer)
electric guitar:
James Burton (guitarist)
piano:
Glen D. Hardin
lead vocals:
John Denver and Emmylou Harris
performer:
John Denver
recording of:
Wild Montana Skies (from 1983-03 until 1983-04)
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
John Denver with Emmylou Harris34:05
16Love Again
executive producer:
Milt Okun
producer:
Roger Nichols (US mastering, recording engineer and producer)
bass:
Jerry Scheff
drums (drum set):
Jerry Carrigan (US drummer)
electric guitar:
Bernie Leadon
keyboard [keyboards]:
Glen D. Hardin
synthesizer:
John Cobert
lead vocals:
John Denver and Sylvie Vartan
orchestrator:
Lee Holdridge
recording of:
Love Again
lyricist, writer and composer:
John Denver
John Denver2:54
17Dreamland Express
recording of:
Dreamland Express
lyricist and composer:
John Denver
John Denver54:08
18Is It Love?
John Denver4:16

Credits

Release group

part of:The Essential (Sony/Legacy compilations) (order: 101)
Wikidata:Q60755596 [info]