Customer Reviews

Essential

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Be sure to read the very fine print on the back of this one before wasting your money. The first disc, the one with all of Denver's hits, doesn't have the original recordings on it. No, it's another one of those pitiful later rerecordings he did, in the mid '90s. Horrible.

I've learned to stay away from anything with "Medacy" on the label. But even that name is so tiny that it's hardly noticeable. Buyer beware. You may think you're getting a deal on this 2-disc package, but nearly all of it is garbage on disc 1, and mostly forgetable junk on the disc 2, with the exception of "Calypso."

As one review has already stated, these are not the original recordings. The sad thing is that it is packaged as if it is a quality disc. The art work is misleading and the title Essential has recently been used on a number of original recording sets. The fine print, once you know to look for it, only says, disc one 1996. However it is blended in to the middle of the paragragh on the back. Major con jop. Shame on this record company. The only redeeming quality is that John died in 1997 and there is some sentimental value to the fact that these recordings were so close to his passing.

I got this CD at a used record store, not realizing they weren't the original recordings. Very disappointing. He sounds like a tired middle-aged man trying to hold on to his glory days. His voice didn't hit the high notes very well on this recording, and in those parts it sounds gravelly. The originals were much better, even on my crappy computer speakers - John sounded happier and full of energy. I will get the original greatest hits vol 1&2 and hope to get rid of this one.

I followed John's career from a teenager into adulthood. This album has many of the songs that those of us who actually owned all his albums (back when they were on vinyl) usually don't contain.

The remarks in some of the reviews about the quality of his voice on the later recordings left me dumbfounded. John's voice improved as he grew older. As with most of us, when we grow older our voice deepens. John's voice aged beautifully like fine wine.

I saw John in-concert just a few months before his death. It was an intimate venue and he was in fine form and much of that quality that I saw is reflected in this album.

Loved the album and would recommend it to anyone.

This is simply a great album packed with fantastic songs. If some of them were recorded in the 90's, HOORAY! John's voice was even richer and better then.