Customer Reviews

The Essential John Denver

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

So, i'm a John Denver nut. The same is true when it comes to Elvis, CCR, and Steely Dan. But Denver's catalog is the most elusive of all. His current catalog of music goes from fresh 21st Century remixes all the way down to echo-chamber, muffled CD masters created in 1987. Because i'm a stickler for sound quality, i will give every Denver fan a quick lesson in the remastering history of JD's catalog...

There are 3 distinct remastering periods of John Denver's music on CD. I know this because being a stickler for high-quality audio, i did a lot of research of liner notes, and online sources to find out when, where, and by whom John Denver's catalog was remastered.

1.) 1987-1991. This is the first period in which John Denver's music was mastered for CD, and with few exceptions, they sound awful. The more acoustic ones sound better than the ones with lush string orchestras, but still not great. Without proper mastering, those strings become one big mess of sound. Unless you are a completist, i urge you to stay away from any CD's originally released in this time period.

2.) 1996-2001. This is the second period, in which John's music was given a much needed overhaul. Unfortunately, it wasn't the entire catalog, but mostly various box sets, single-disc compilations, and the remaining albums that were oerlooked the first time around. Lucky for those albums that got passed over in the '80s, because the ones done during this period sound far better (Spirit, JD, and Autograph). Nearly every disc mastered in this period was done by the team of Paul Williams, Bll Lacey, and Mike Hartry. Their names can usually be found on the liner notes of these CD's.

3.) 2004-2008. This is the newest and best period of JD's remasters. This saw the new versions of Back Home Again, Greatest Hits, Love Songs, The Essential, and a handful of others. This is hands-down, the best sounding Denver we've ever had. It's not a HUGE leap forward from the previous remasters, but it is noticeable. Comparing the 1990 release of Back Home Again with the 2005 edition will reveal startling results. Listen to the new one first, so you can realize how much you hate the 1990 version. As of this writing, the current period of releases is done by the remastering team of Bob Irwin, Vic Anesini, and Andreas Meyer. Vic and Adreas get swiched out on occasion, but Bob Irwin is the produer, and mix-master on every Denver release from 2005 to the present. He is well-known in the music community for having restored much of Columbia's old jazz masters on their Legacy label.

As far as this CD set is concerned, the sound is superb. You might have some quibbles about "why didn't they include this song, or that song?" But hey, get over it. The tracks are probably as clean as they are ever going to get. If some new technology comes along for remastering, then they might sound better, but i imagine only marginally. If you are looking for a heaping of JD, but you don't want to throw yourself in with both feet, then get this set. This is the best bang for your buck, with the best sound, and the 2 discs are really packed with music.

If you want to go a little deeper, then i highly suggest the 4-disc box set The Country Roads Collection from 1997. Because it's in that 2nd mastering period, the sound is not quite as clean as The Essential, but it's still quite good. Unless you're doing critical listening, the casual listener probaly would not notice a difference.

If 2 or 4 discs seem too daunting for you, then the 2004 single-disc Definitive All-Time Greatest Hits is the way to go. It comes with a 4-track bonus disc, with a couple rare tracks, but this one's only about $8 on Amazon.

So, there you go...a lesson in JD releases for the serious fan, and a recommendation for fans at each price level. Good luck, and enjoy the music.

Denver's run of signature hits made him both one of the 1970s most beloved country-folk singers and one of the decade's most lampooned. His earnest "Far Out!" trademark was at once a echo of the '60s hippie vibe, and a good fit for the mainstream of the '70s. RCA/Legacy celebrates Denver's rich catalog with this 2-CD anthology that spans his biggest pop hits, lower-charting singles, album tracks and a few odds and ends. It's a perfect overview for those who love Denver's hits and want a collection that offers a bit more. Yes, this set reiterates material that's already been reissued many times, but that's the nature of the retail music industry - new reissues garner new reviews, renew shelf space and spur sales. And that's the point of this release - to preserve the artistic relevance of Denver's core catalog by promoting its commercial vitality among new generations of fans.

Denver debuted as a solo artist in 1969 with his "Rhyme and Reason" LP, the title track of which is included here alongside Denver's original recording of his own "Leaving on a Jet Plane." Though neither were a hit, they showed Denver to be a songwriter whose words could provide a personal touch in a mass market. "Leaving on a Jet Plane" was a memorable, emotion-drenched hit for Peter, Paul & Mary, but as rendered here without Mary Travers' gut-wrenching vocal it's equally poignant, with Denver's bittersweet delivery backed by an arrangement of high-hat, guitar, bass and organ that's as light as the dawn underlying the lyrics.

Two albums in 1970 ("Whose Garden Was This" and "Take Me to Tomorrow") failed to generate any hits, and are left off this anthology. The first of the two is largely comprised of covers, the latter finds Denver striving for a social relevancy that detracts from the wondrous humanity of his signature works. Instead, this set jumps to Denver's 1971 breakthrough, "Poems, Prayers & Promises" and its career-launching hit "Take Me Home Country Roads." This is the epitome of Denver's art, showcasing his talent for turning the world's natural wonders into warm, homespun songs. The album's other hit, "Sunshine on My Shoulders," is included in the re-recorded single version from Denver's 1973 greatest hits LP. This version, with its magnificent string arrangement, topped both the pop and adult contemporary charts.

From that start, Denver built himself into one of the most popular and best-selling singer-songwriters of the 1970s. He not only spun off more indelible hits ("Rocky Mountain High," "Back Home Again," "Thank God I'm a Country Boy," "Annie's Song," "I'm Sorry"), but filled his albums with thoughtful songs of simpler pleasures and wide-eyed wonder. Denver was the Country Music Association's entertainer of the year in 1975, famously prompting Charlie Rich - 1974's award winner - to set fire to the award envelope and derisively announce Denver's achievement. But while Nashville's industry took a liking to Denver, he never really wrote in the reigning pop-country idiom. Instead, songs like "Back Home Again" leveraged Denver's folk roots to bring pop melodicism to country sentiment without forcing one to be the other.

By mid-decade Denver had fashioned a parallel television and film career, including dozens of TV specials, guest-hosting appearances and a big screen turn with George Burns in "Oh, God." The hits continued throughout the latter-half of the '70s, albeit without reaching the top of the charts. The material is surprisingly consistent with his earlier work, suggesting that the mainstream market moved on to the next big thing, rather than Denver's material having declined in quality. Disc two is filled out with a pair of 1975 successes, "Calypso" and "Fly Away" (the latter with Olivia Newton John providing backing vocals) and a nice helping of lower- and non-charting singles, including the 1976 country love song, "Baby, You Look Good to Me Tonight," and duets with Emmylou Harris (1983's "Wild Montana Skies"), French vocalist Sylvie Vartan (1984's "Love Again"), and Placido Domingo ("Perhaps Love").

As the hits slowed, Denver used both his music and his fame to further numerous charitable and political endeavors, including the Hunger Project (of which he was a co-founder), and sustainable living programs. He toured Russia and China, testified against censorship in front of the U.S. congress, published an autobiography, and promoted several nature-based programs. His last song, "Yellowstone, Coming Home" (not included here) appeared in an episode of "Nature" in which he was featured.

All fifteen of Denver's pop top-40 hits are here, and many of his top-100s. There are several missing chart entries, "Everyday," "Please, Daddy," "Christmas for Cowboys," "It Makes Me Giggle," "Dancing with the Mountain" and Denver's latter-day country hit, "And So it Goes," but their absence is balanced by the presence of key album tracks like "I Guess He'd Rather Be in Colorado," "Matthew," and "Looking For Space." The collection's studio works end in 1985 with the title track of "Dreamland Express," and disc two closes with a recording of "Is It Love?" from Denver's Wildlife Concert. Missing are selections from his final quintet of albums for his own Windstar Records.

This is a nicely selected set, featuring all of Denver's major pop hits, a strong selection of his lower charting works, well-picked album tracks and non-charting singles. It provides a deeper look than a single-disc can achieve, and does a good job of balancing original LP recordings with later greatest hits re-recordings, and studio versus live takes. Those who want to go deeper should look for the 3-CD "Legends" and "Ultimate Collection" sets, or the 4-CD "Country Roads Collection," but first-time buyers of Denver's works will find this double-CD to be just the right length. [©2007 hyperbolium dot com]

You're never going to find a better valued John Denver collection than this. Sure there are other best-of's and sorts but this "Essential" has ALL of John's best songs.Everyone thought his "Definitive Greatest Hits" that came out a few years ago was good but this is SO MUCH BETTER!!! Hats off to RCA for relasing this, I've been waiting for a real good John Denver collection with the original versions and finally I now have it! 5 STARS ALL THE WAY!

The Essential John Denver is a great collection of John's eternally optimistic music, sung with his wonderful, naturally pitch-perfect voice. This cd set has all my favorites--Matthew, Thank God I'm A Country Boy, Annie's Song, and especially Rocky Mountain High--plus some songs I'd never heard before, like It Amazes Me and Wild Montana Skies. Even his sadder songs are happy! Highly recommended, especially for new John Denver fans (like me).

Here's a genuine guilty pleasure... John Denver was part of the musical aether when I was a kid, and his hit songs like "Thank God I'm a Country Boy," "Rocky Mountain High" and "Take Me Home Country Roads" are burned into my DNA. Heck, I even like the super-sentimental "Annie's Song," and will sing along whenever I hear it... This 2-CD set gathers all those chart-toppers, along with dozens of other tracks taken from Denver's career... There are even rarities that include collaborations with opera legend Placido Domingo and country-rock pioneer Emmylou Harris... All that's missing is his work with Sesame Street's Muppets! Although Denver's crunchy-granola faux-hippieism became something of a pop culture punchline during the 1970s, he proved a durable artist, working in a mellow folk-pop mode... This collection should fill the bill for longtime fans and newcomers alike... Personally, I'm just glad I can cuddle up with "Annie's Song" again, in the privacy of my own home. (Don't tell anyone, though!)

I couldn't agree more with the first review of this compilation - enough is enough! I give the music 5 stars; the folks who released it one star. These repeated compilations all feature the same 15-20 big hits, plus some extra tracks. Whether these songs are the "essential" ones is certainly up for debate. I would prefer a collection of 35 songs without the big hits...2-3 album cuts from each of JD's albums..this would be a better collection. There is nothing from 1988's excellent "Higher Ground" album on this "essential collection". Of all the compilation/live albums out there, I would most recommend the Wildlife Concert or the Harbor Lights concert. The former is a bit heavier on the hits, the latter has many of the hits, but a good mix of lesser known, but still great songs spanning many phases of JD's illustrious career.

Amazon please print this review even though I used the "Kid Reviewer" option.This is the by far the greatest overall John Denver package available despite what those other reviewers have said. This has ALL the original recordings unlike The Essential collection that came out back in 2004 on the Madacy label. RCA/Legacy did an excellent job putting this together.It has those hard to find songs like "I Want To Live" & "How Can I Leave You Again". Also, I find it really nice that they including the Billboard chart rankings for each of John's songs that are on there. I highly recommend this Essential John Denver 2CD set to anyone who is a casual or a die-hard fan!!!

I love this CD set. Although all the songs are available on various cd's, having them all on a 2-disc set is really great. The sound is so good, you'd think John was standing next to you singing those wonderful songs. Only wish The Eagle and the Hawk were on the set.

This CD starts with a very young and fresh John Denver; as it progresses, you can hear a more mature voice developing. It is pure John Denver at his very best. I only wish it had lasted longer.

I purchased the previous "version" of "The Essential John Denver" a few years ago (cover image appears to be a bit different). I was immediately disapointed due to this glaring fact: Many, if not all of the songs, were recreated studio versions. While they sounded good, and many folks might enjoy this, the assumption when you buy this CD is that you will be getting the original artist with the original recordings. This was not the case here. When I was a kid, I had the classic "John Denver's Greatest Hits" from the mid-70s on cassette - the one where he has his hand holding the hat on this head. I was hoping to replace my old, beat up cassette with this CD ... didn't quite get there for me ... So, I'm not sure if this newer "version" of "...Essential..." is the same deal...