Customer Reviews

Rocky Mountain Collection

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a two CD set that spans JD's entire career. What I especially liked about this collection was Volume 1, which contains all his early material. It was digitally remastered from the original recordings, so I heard once again the songs as he first recorded them. Even his early material on Greatest Hits - Volume 1, as he said himself on the liner notes, was redone. If you want to hear how those early, early songs were originally recorded, this is the only CD that I am aware of that gives you that opportunity.

For first timers to JD's music, you get both an excellent historical compilation of his songs and you also will see how his singing and phrasing have changed over the years. A must buy.

I received this CD set shortly after John Denver died. Many of the tracks are from his RCA albums, and I appreciated the raw character of his earlier recordings to the mush that often came with re-releases, the orchestration, etc. Eagle and the Hawk has the original guitar and organ ending, and I do not have another CD with Aspenglow on it. I feel the songs chosen for this collection are outstanding. A great CD to have if you have no others by this incredible songwriter.

I have performed his music since I was 12 years old. (over 25 years ago). I know his music quite well and was looking for a good collection since most of mine were on Vinyl. These are not his originally released works. The digital remastering is actually of poor quality in my opinion. It is a great collection but if you are looking for original commercially released versions, this is not the CD to buy.

This is indispensable for both fans and newly interested listeners. Song after song the album delivers vintage John Denver. Although a couple of the versions are not the best, there are an incredible number here, including many timeless songs. I highly recommend it as the first JD work to buy.

I was a serious John Denver fan throughout high school. His music fit in well with my outdoor sports, camping trips to the mountains, and guitar playing. By 1976, my first year in college, I owned at least 12 of his albums and knew every song intimately. Unfortunately, JD wasn't "cool" during my college years and I found myself selling his albums and moving on to new music tastes. I don't think I listened to him again until I moved to Denver a decade later and heard him play at an outdoor Red Rocks concert. His voice and music was still incredible - to me and to the screaming crowd that gave him a standing ovation. Like many JD fans, I too was grieved to hear of his death later - and disappointed that I'd never bothered to get an autograph from the best, most important, influential singer (to me)of my lifetime. Since then, and as I grow older, I've been missing his music and wanting to give him space back into my small collection of favorite artists. I wanted a twin cd / single jewel case that would completely cover my favorite songs of his. After spending hours on this site, looking at all of his albums and songs, I chose the Rocky Mountain Collection. Its got a lot of songs packed on each disc (unlike too many others)and includes most of my favorites. Unfortunately, some of the old time favorites have been rerecorded from the origianl recordings and, in my opinion, are NOT as good. The sound quality is OK and the JD vocals are still wonderfull, but I think some of the guitar has been lost. For someone like me that was intimately familiar with his original recordings, and wants a collection of those recordings, this disc will be a disaapointment. Today I've gone through all the Amazon listings again and found no compilation replacement offering these favorites in a single cd jewel case. For anyone wanting a simple, complete, original recording compilation with Leaving on a Jet Plane, Rymes and Reasons, Sunshine On My Shoulders, Take Me Home Country Roads, Poems, Prayers, and Promises, Goodbye Again, Rocky Mountain High, This Old Guitar, Looking For Space, Come and Let Me Look In Your eyes, and I want To Live, you may want to wait or plan on customizing your own cd.

John Denver's unique blend of pop, folk, and country was extremely popular in the early 70s. During that time, he had a plethora of hits and built a solid reputation as a singer-songwriter. His music was surprisingly varied, although most of it celebrated in a simple manner the great outdoors and a uncomplicated way of living. Although his time at the top was relatively brief, his music lives on in the form of several top-notch greatest hits collections.

"The Rocky Mountain Collection" is perhaps Denver's best 2-disk selection. Disk 1 starts with some beautiful pop-folk from his first records, which were not hits for Denver. Many of these early songs are extremely memorable, particularly "Follow Me." His career blossomed when Peter, Paul, and Mary took his "Leaving on a Jet Plane" to #1 for 1 week in 1969, and he started to have hits on his own.

The CD set includes all of his Top 20 pop singles: Take Me Home, Country Roads (#2 in 1971), Rocky Mountain High (#9 in 1973), Sunshine on My Shoulders (#1 for 1 week in 1974), Annie's Song (#1 for 2 weeks in 1974), Back Home Again (#5 in 1974), Sweet Surrender (#13 in 1975), Thank God I'm a Country Boy (#1 for 1 week in 1975), I'm Sorry (#1 for 1 week in 1975), Calypso (#2 for 4 weeks in 1975), and Fly Away (#13 in 1976).

Many of these singles were also Top 10 country songs; in fact, Back Home Again, Thank God I'm a Country Boy, and I'm Sorry went all the way to #1. Denver even won the 1975 Country Music Association Award for Entertainer of the Year. In addition, two of his later country hits are here: Some Days Are Diamonds (Some Days Are Stone) (#10 in 1981) and Wild Montana Skies (Duet with Emmylou Harris) (#14 in 1983).

Finally, a number of lesser hits sparkle on these CDs, such as Perhaps Love, a duet with Placido Domingo, that is quite lovely despite the potentially bizarre pairing. Overall, this collection is a top-notch compilation of Denver's best music. The liner notes are also excellent, incorporating writing and producing credits as well as date of recording. Tons of pictures are also here, and it's great seeing Denver enjoying the outdoors. Finally, an extensive biography of Denver reveals much information about him as an artist and person. A most highly recommended CD set.

I bought this CD set having known of Denver, but not really knowing about him until a special on TV shortly following his death. I couldnt change the channel, and I have been addicted ever since. Every song is easy to relate to, and there is something incredibly soothing about his voice that cant really be explained. It's just natural. He lived his life like he wanted to, refusing to give into the media, and he continually produced hits, all of which are on this brilliant set. The lyrics speak of among other things, searching for that certain something that everybody looks for in life. The most eerie line is the one in which Denver sings, "I'm going to fly that aeroplane right into heaven." It's almost disturbing because that's exactly what he did. His messages are easy to understand and powerful. He is a legend who died way before his time. The tracks with Placido Domingo and Emmylou Harris add nice touches, but it's the rest of the tracks that really sing of strength and the beauty of nature. I am too young to know when Denver was at the peak of his career, and I really didn't know much about him until his death, but by listening to this recording and the messages contained in the songs, I can genuinely say that I miss him.

This CD is a compilation of some of Denver's music, but is not actually the original version of Rocky Mountain High. For those of you who are not particular on his work, it is a great CD. But, if you are a collector, and really looking to have this album, check out a different CD.

This is a wonderful compilation featuring most of the best songs written and performed by John Denver. This is one of the first of the posthumous releases of many his best-known songs. Included are many of 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 possibilities for a good life awaited those who would free themselves from the bonds that confined them and just dare to soar along with him in the wild open spaces.

Many of the tracks here are terrific, from "Rocky Mountain High" to "Annie's Song", from "Rhymes And Reasons" to "How Can I Leave you Again", from "Seasons Of the Heart" to "Shanghai Breezes". John, 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 a number of the songs here, including "You're So Beautiful" to "I'm Sorry", to "Sunshine On My Shoulders", to "Goodbye Again", and my own personal favorite, "Farewell Andromeda". This album represents a wonderful overview of the 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 as well as all of his other albums. Far out!

Imagine yourself sitting in the Colorado Mountains, and having the privilege of hearing this entire 2 CD collection. It symbolizes John Denver at his best. It'll bring you back to the joys of the good times, as well as the insipration it provides in your day-to-day world. This double CD Set is for everyone who loves a True American Classic. Rejoice in the sounds of his absolute BEST! A Joy to Behold.