John Denver Album: “The Best of John Denver Live”

Description :

Recorded live at the Wildlife Concert in February 1995. This is a Super Audio CD playable only on Super Audio CD players. Recorded live in February 1995. John Denver's music was something of a reaction against the post-psychedelia excesses of 70's rock. He offered a bright, sunny alternative in his folkish pop songs, with lyrics focusing on the grandeur of nature, particularly the mountain region that gave him his name. Tunes like "Rocky Mountain High" and "Country Roads," with their cheery outlook and immediate accessibility, made Denver a major pop star in the 70's, and his music came to define an entire subculture of 70's mainstream pop, the heartland soft-rock sound that dominated AM radio in the middle part of that decade. Most of Denver's biggest hits are included on this live album, which doubles as a best-of. There are renditions of Denver favorites like "Annie's Song," "Leaving On A Jet Plane" and "Sunshine On My Shoulders." Rounding out this double disc are lesser-known tunes like Steve Gillete's 60's folk masterpiece "Darcy Farrow" as well as "I'd Rather Be A Cowboy" and "I'm Sorry," both previously unreleased. John Denver's music was something of a reaction against the post-psychedelia excesses of 70's rock. He offered a bright, sunny alternative in his folkish pop songs, with lyrics focusing on the grandeur of nature, particularly the mountain region that gave him his name. Tunes like "Rocky Mountain High" and "Country Roads," with their cheery outlook and immediate accessibility, made Denver a major pop star in the 70's, and his music came to define an entire subculture of 70's mainstream pop, the heartland soft-rock sound that dominated AM radio in the middle part of that decade. Most of Denver's biggest hits are included on this live album, which doubles as a best-of. There are renditions of Denver favorites like "Annie's Song," "Leaving On A Jet Plane" and "Sunshine On My Shoulders." Rounding out this double disc are lesser-known tunes like Steve Gillete's 60's folk masterpiece "Darcy Farrow" as well as "I'd Rather Be A Cowboy" and "I'm Sorry," both previously unreleased.

This is a wonderful compilation of live versions of John Denver's greatest hits even as he was continuing to make them. . Here we see the monster hits that propelled him into amazing popularity and superstardom in the early 1970s. In his heyday no one was outselling his albums or out-booking John for concert appearances, and considering the incredible talents on the scene at the time, that is a pretty good indication of just how popular he was, and just how universal John Denver's appeal was. No one else sang of the wide-open possibilities and seemingly limitless prospects for a good life awaiting those who would free themselves from the bonds that confined them and just dare to soar along with him in the wild open spaces.

All the tracks here are terrific, from "Take Me Home, Country Roads", the breakthrough country-pop hit that launched him onto the public stage, to "Rocky Mountain High, his paean to appreciating the beauties of nature and the natural life. He, more than any of his contemporaries, actively caught the public's imagination regarding the wonders of the natural environment, and in a time when environmental concerns were splashed all over the headlines and the evening news, John's vision of popular concern for and stewardship of the natural world was immensely important. I love all the songs here, including "Starwood In Aspen", "Rhymes And Reasons ", "Sunshine On My Shoulders", " The Eagle And The Hawk", and my own special favorite, "Poems, Prayers, And Promises". This album represents a wonderful overview of the early work of John as he thrilled a whole generation with his own perspective of a meaningful life lived in the natural splendor of nature. I know you will enjoy this live performance of many of his hits as well as all the other three of his greatest hits albums. Far out!

I don't usually write for anything or about about anything, but cannot hold back on this one. Best I have ever heard, makes you cry when you hear it, just wonderful. Makes you remember the past, and how great it really was. In this world of things changing so fast, he is like a rock. And all the released tracks for this, is worth the price alone. If you are a John lover as I, add this today, you WILL not be sorry........

This sixteen-song set of some of John Denver's greatest hits is probably one of the best live recordings he has done. He manages to bring out the magic of each song and never falters. Unlike most live albums that lack the clarity or depth of studio albums, this collection sounds crisp and vital due to the SACD format. It sounds as if John Denver is literally in your room. The guitar work is as crystal clear as well. Indulge yourself. This is a classic album.

Please note that this is a stereo SACD and not multi-channel. For a mult-channel SACD recording, search out "John Denver Collection" under SACD in 2008.

John Denver has never been one of my favourite singers/songwriters but this is really pretty special.I bought it because it was an SACD and I've read good things about this SACD. Well the concert seems to have been one of those events that happens by chance to get all the right things going for it at once. His voice,atmosphere and recording are all of the highest scale. The songs are catchy and inofensive. This event was lucky to happen when it did as he died in 1997 and this is the next best thing to a live concert. For music I give it 90% and recording 90%.