A Perfect Gift For Yourself and ...
Tourist In The City | New York City | 12/01/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"John Denver's moment was not in the confronting frustrated energy of '60s folkland - he was a global homeboy of the '70s whose light became obvious as the sun hid on CSN&Y, Dylan, S&G and everybody else. I think it was fitting that Peter Paul & Mary's final hit single, their go-away song, was Leaving on a Jet Plane / Day Is Done 45 rpm. It was mostly how America was introduced to him; that, and "Take Me Home, Country Road." It's fitting that the word "Home" is there at the beginning, too. America was tired, and ready for stillness and a mended heart.
I'm beginning to think that the best way to appreciate John Denver's music is to listen to it in a set like this, where one can compare it to itself, and hear the nuance and diversity and vision. These songs show greatness. And he was still writing evocative songs even when his records stopped selling large numbers. In a set like this, a person can begin to get his Feeling. We can experience how his songs together sneak up on our mind and heart.
There are several other Denver compilations - 2004's John Denver - Definitive All-Time Greatest Hits and the out-of-print but excellent "The Rocky Mountain Collection" from 1996 and the un-remastered 79 song "Country Roads Collection" from 1997.
In 2009 we have two new collections - a SONY LEGACY "THe Essential 3.0 John Denver (Eco-Friendly Packaging)" 3 disk collection, and this RCA's LegacyRecording label nice little box set of 45 songs on 3 disks and a good booklet. Were these remastered? I dunno. Are these the original versions or the ones he re-recorded in '73? I dunno. But it has most of the songs that appear on "Definitive" and "RMC" and "CRC" and "Essential."
This includes live recordings - "Matthew" and "This Old Guitar" plus the famous live version of "Country Boy". It has the duets with EmmyLou Harris and Placido Domingo. It has hits. It has super songs which are not hits. It has nice songs that reflect on the person Denver was - a self-reflective failing succeeding aspiring and, importantly, at-times loving man.
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As a final bunch of words, I wonder why "A Sad Song" is missing from this collection?
These are the songs included on "The Music Of John Denver Box Set" which are not on "RMC" or "Definitive":
1 Daydreams
4 Take Me To Tomorrow
6 Sail Away Home
9 I Guess He'd Rather Be In Colorado
11 (Buddy Holly's) Everyday
14 For Baby (For Bobbie)
31 Sweet Melinda
33 Dancing With The Mountains
35 The Cowboy And The Lady
41 Dreamland Express
42 Love Is The Master
44 Matthew
And these are the songs on RMC or Definitive which are not on the "Music" Box Set:
Like a Sad Song;
Friends With You;
Looking for Space;
Windsong;
Come and Let Me Look in Your Eyes;
Thirsty Boots;
(the Band's) The Weight
"
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1