Customer Reviews

Some Days Are Diamonds

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have always enjoyed this album because it shows a bit different side of John Denver's most considerable talents. Unlike most of his other albums, most of the songs included here are written by others, so he is left to interpret other's lyrics, which he does memorably here. Of course, I do admit that I would find a version of him singing just about anything pleasureable listening, it is no exaggeration to say that he brings a very unique style to each of these songs, some of which he made famous. Of course, this title cut was a hit for John, as was "Till You Opened My Eyes". But my own personal favorite here is "The Boy From The Country" written by Mchael Martin Murphey (of "Wildfire" fame)and performed perfectly by John. The lyrics illustrate what a difference in consciousness is involved in living in concert with thenatural world, and in recognizing the wisdom of the natural world. Listen to the song and I think you will begin to understand. Like the boy from the country, John was often misunderstood, and it is too bad we never appreciated what a diamond we had in hand while he was with us. At least his music remains. This is a great album. Enjoy!

This is one of many John Denver albums I grew up listening to. It wasn't until I bought the Country Roads Collection that I found he didn't want to do this, although I should have considering he only wrote two of these songs. Those two songs, "Sleepin' Alone" and "Country Love" are good, not the most memorable of his recordings though. "Some Days Are Diamonds," "The Cowboy and The Lady," and "Boy From The Country" are my favorite songs on this album. If he didn't like those he wouldn't have performed them live, which he did when I had the opportunity to see him twice. The rest of the tracks are good as well. The only track I really don't care for is "On Easy Street," as even that sounds too forced for me. But don't let that deter you. This is a very good album.

For someone who didn't want to do this album, from what I have read in other reviews. John did a fantastic job. My favorites on this CD are Some days are diamonds, Sleepin alone and Till you opened my eyes. This whole CD is great. I'd recommend it to all JD fans.

For me, this is one of John's best 'Country' albums. There are people who might say different, but to me when John sings 'Gravel on the Ground', 'Boy from the Country'and 'Country Love' his voice is at its beautiful best. If I Could pick the best John Denver Album, then this one I would have to say is it, but as a lifelong fan,i'm very biased.

It's his best and may be THE best Album ever made...sorry that is just the way it is... the first six cuts can't be matched on any album.

John was obliged to record this album against his wishes after his record label refused to release another album (Perhaps love) that he had prepared. John never liked this album but his professionalism ensured that the album has a lot to like about it. While country themes have often been a part of John's music, he never wanted to be typecast as a country singer, preferring a hybrid mix of folk, pop and country although John's most successful album of all time (Back home again) was a country album.

John only contributed two of his own songs to the album (Country love, Sleeping alone), presumably feeling that if he couldn't record what he wanted, somebody else could provide most of the songs. The title track became a top ten country hit and might have been followed by other country hits, but American country radio stations soon discovered that John was not committed to a country music career and stopped playing his music.

San Francisco Mabel Joy (written by Mickey Newbury) is a very sad song about a country boy and a city prostitute, which has also been recorded by Joan Baez, Waylon Jennings and Kenny Rogers among others. Cowboy and the lady (a Bobby Goldsboro song) has been covered by Dolly Parton with slightly different lyrics as Cowgirl and the dandy - it appeared on her classic album, Here you come again.

There are many other fine songs here. Given the circumstances in which it was recorded, this album didn't deserve to be as good as it is, but if you enjoy John's other music and you also enjoy country music, you'll love this album.

By the time John Denver recorded "Some Days Are Diamonds," he was already fading in the hearts and minds of the pop culture environmentalism borne in the 1970s. But even though John's enthusiasm for the project was clearly forced, his maturity as a performer and artist was, in fact, just beginning. This album had some staggeringly bad songs, especially when compared to four of the five previous releases (in reverse chronological order), "Autograph," "I Want To Live," "Spirit" and "Windsong." Songs like "San Francisco Mabel Joy," "Easy on Easy Street," "The Cowboy and the Lady" and "Till You Opened My Eyes" are excruciating to hear; but John makes up for it with his catchy take on Mac Davis's "Gravel On the Ground" and his own "Country Love." His rendition of "Wild Flowers in a Mason Jar" is reminiscient of better days and the release of the sentimental but still enjoyable "Back Home Again." Still, this is a joyless effort, made to fulfill a contractural obligation and nothing more. But all is not lost. John's career - indeed, his life -- was in transition in the early 1980s when this album was released; and it was followed by an exceptional effort called "Seasons of the Heart." "Some Days are Diamonds" is a must-have for completist John Denver fans, but it serves only as a transition album between his stint as a pop "aw, shucks" performer to his subsequent tenure as a seasoned, mature musical icon.

I love ALL of John's work, I always have. ANY artist will eventually create an album or song that rubs some die hard fans the wrong way but hey, thats the music business! I am just thankful that we had John for as long as we did and that he was able to bless all of his fans with a rich and diverse music library! I personally like this album VERY MUCH and I am glad to have it in my collection.

John Denver's Some Days Are Diamonds album is a fantastic album that is full of toe-tapping, hum-along, beautiful songs.
I have fond memories of listening to this album while travelling long distances on holiday through Western Australia. John Denver has a lovely voice that is sorely missed and this album, in my reckoning, is his best. He tells stories of love, the country and memories. My standout track is the lovely "Wildflowers in a Mason Jar (The Farm)"- a song about a child and his grandfather travelling on a bus and the grandfather's memories of times past on his farm.
Every song has a nice easy feel to it, and is a good listen to take you out of the stresses of everyday life.A wonderful album that is an essential purchase.

I was only familiar with two songs on the CD before I purchased it, and from some of the reviews I had read, was not expecting much good on the rest of the songs. However, after listening to it once, I was hooked on all of them. I am just rediscovering John Denver after hearing a tribute artist in June and am wondering how I missed all of the great music he was making from the mid 70's until his death. Fortunately we have CDs and DVDs so we can continue to enjoy his work for a long, long time.