Search - John Denver :: Vh1 Behind the Music: The John Denver Collection

VH 1 Music First Behind The Music, John Denver Collection

Kimberley I. George | Claremont, Ca USA | 09/14/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For the John Denver collector this is a great compilation of 18 of John's most popular songs all on one album... I am a John Denver music collector and fan and find it nice to have all of these hits all on one CD. For people who are new to John Denver's music,I think you will like this one. John's music and his legacy will live on."

The very best collection of John's hit songs available today

Len Jaffe | Springfield, VA United States | 09/14/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When John Denver was killed in October of 1997, a void was created that has yet to be filled. Songs about nature and the way we humans choose to interact with the environment around us were, up to that point, uniquely his, and no one seems to have taken on that role since his passing. This collection of previously released material are songs that are timeless. Anyone even vaguely familiar with John's music will recognize every single one of these titles as a part, no matter how big or small, of the soundtrack of their life. "Rocky Mountain High", "Take Me Home, Country Roads", and "Annie's Song" are melodies the whole world will know for years to come. Interestingly, the travel trilogy ("Leaving, On A Jet Plane", "Follow Me", and "Goodbye Again") and perhaps the song that best represented his optimism, "Rhymes And Reasons", are omitted, but are readily available on other collections. Nonetheless, for a single disc release, you can't do any better that this collection of John's music."

A Modern-Day Troubadour

Lonnie E. Holder | Columbus, Indiana, United States | 12/14/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"John Denver had a gift for writing music that straddled three genres, pop, folk and country. Sometimes veering more strongly into one of the other, he managed to stay pretty close to center. This collection give you a flavor of all three, and is the best single collection of John Denver that I have seen.John Denver's songs are strongly acoustic, and frequently feature his voice. He was a modern-day troubadour, and was very, very good at it. His music was always melodic, and often reflected his love of wild places and his desire that they should be protected. When his songs weren't reflecting stories of the outdoors, he was singing about his wife and his love of life. This collection fully represents the range of his interests and well celebrates the abilities of a man who was surely one of the best songwriters of the 70s, and perhaps one of the best of the latter half of the 20th century.The always inspiring "Rocky Mountain High" has elements of pop, folk and country, and perhaps is most exemplary of his ability. But this CD covers other songs that span an incredible range. "Annie's Song" is a love song written for his first wife. "Sunshine on My Shoulders" is a folk ballad, but could be pop, and has enough country elements to belong there as well. A beautiful celebration of being outdoors and being alive. "Calypso" was written in admiration of the work of Jacques Cousteau and the men of the research ship Calypso and their work in studying the waters of the world. These are but a few of the songs on this CD. The others are just as good or better.The last two songs of this album are a poignant finish to a work that is the best chronicle to date of John Denver. "I Want to Live" expresses John Denver's love of life and freedom. "Shanghai Breezes" is a song of separation, and in a way expresses that though John is now far away, with his music he will always be near to us.I have always enjoyed John Denver's music, from his earliest appearances to now. It wasn't until I started reviewing his albums that I realized what a true artist he was and the great ability he had. As one lists the types of music and the styles available to a singer, there comes one that is much more rare than times of old, and that is the style of a troubadour. John Denver was surely a modern-day troubadour, and his loss is a loss to all of us. John still lives on through his music, and this wonderful collection is a great starting point for someone wanting to enjoy his art."