Customer Reviews

Whose Garden Was This

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I could not help but write this review in response to the 2 existing reviews. Yes there is a seriousness to this album that is somewhat uncharacteristic of the John Denver that became famous, but this is an extremely important work in the progression of his career. The artist at this point is a mid-twenties up and coming folksinger (this is the predecessor of his breakout, Poems, Prayers, & Promises). Whose Garden Was This establishes Denver's mastery of covers (Lennon/McCartney, Tom Paxton, etc.) with some fairly interesting arrrangements of Eleanor Rigby, Mr Bojangles (I do agree with the one reviewer that this one is better than the NGDB's version and would add that this is the definitive version of this song), etc. The originals are strong as well. Sail Away Home is appropriately dark, but not without optimism. Yes the high-voiced female singers were a bit much, but a sign of the times. The song is timeless and with some updated production would sound as if it were written yesterday. Yes if you are looking for later day John Denver (that singer who enjoyed great commercial success at the cost of becoming a caricature of himself), don't buy this album. If, on the other hand, you want a glimpse of a young artist genuinely exploring his singing, poetry, and developing social/environmental consciousness, get this album. Then make certain you put this, Aerie (probably his best), and Farewell Andromeda right alongside Poems, Prayers, & Promises and Rocky Mountain High. These albums are John Denver... at his artistic best.

I had this recording as an album a hundred years ago and of all John Denver's music this is his best collection. It is reflective and relevant. J.D. before the "sinatra" phase. I can't understand why it hasn't been re-released.

"Whose Garden Was This" seems to be a little-known recording in John Denver's overall output. This strikes me as a shame, because the recording is a top-notch collection. What this recording lacks in polish it makes up for in authenticity.

Denver sounds looser in his interpretations of folk-rock standards on this album than he did in later releases (I estimate that I've heard about half of his recordings). One writer called "Mr. Bojangles" a definitive recording of the song and I heartily agree. His interpretations of "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" and "Eleanor Rigby" are also striking.

For those who haven't heard "Whose Garden Was This," you are definitely in for a surprise. Released in 1970 before Denver rocketed to super-stardom, you hear an artist unburdened with commercial constraints.

I am a hugh John Denver fan. I bought this album many years ago. I believe the year was 1977. I had heard several other albums by John at this time in my life and loved everything about his music. Until I played this one. I agree with the last reviewer. It is too dark and gloomy. I like to think of John as a positve and uplifting singer/song writer. I bought the CD to make my collection complete. However, if you are looking for a inspiring, uplifting John Denver album this one is not for you. Although, I try to look for positive messages in all of John's music, and there is some positve messages here for it's time. I don't believe the ocassional John Denver listener will enjoy this recording as much as some later recordings. Try his "Spirit" album, or his "I Want To Live" album. With these recordings you can't go wrong. They truly are, "FAR OUT"!

I found the cd for this album at last, I've been trying to recollect my John Denver albums in cd format and the older ones have been tricky to locate. The fact that it's an import didn't change the quality of this unique album in John Denver's repertoire.

THIS IS A WONDERFUL COLLECTION OF JOHN DENVER'S SONGS...I HAVE BOTH THE ALBUM AND THE CD....SIMPLY THE BEST

This is a good CD. It was music I have never heard JD sing before. Again very good.

This John Denver existed - whether some of his fans liked it or not. He was given to mood swings - his music showed that. The reviewers who don't like this album probably don't like "Take Me to Tomorrow" (not on CD - Albumhunter offers the LP thru Amazon) either. But I see traces of this album in many of the albums John's fans prefer to listen to. Or do you just pretend that songs like "Prisoners", "Paradise", "Angels from Montgomery", "Please Daddy (Don't get Drunk this Christmas)" or the "Readjustment Blues" don't exist? The compilations do John a serious disservice by ignoring this side of his personality. When I listen to John sing "Carolina in My Mind" I hear him acknowledging that he and James Taylor had much more in common than just being singer-songwriters. And his version has a LOT more sting than Taylor's. I guess I am different from a lot of fans. I liked John - warts and all. And he never shied from his warts. That makes me like him even more.

So, why only 2 stars from an obviously devoted JD fan? Because I respect truth and quality and beautiful music too much to tell you it's good if it isn't. I'm not saying it's all bad. There are some redeeming moments ("Mr. Bojangles" is better than the famous version by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), but I'm afraid they are outnumbered on this album. The production is tasteful, the performances professional, arrangements are well done. The problem is the material.

The theme here is the environment, or the "ecology" as it was called in the 70s, with occasional forays into the social/political arena. "Sail Away Home" is a war protest song, delivered in blues/rock style, with a gospel choir in the background. Along the same vein is "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", which seems to be patterned after The Band's version. The title cut, written by Tom Paxton, is sung in bitter remembrance of a world where once there were flowers and blue skies and white snow and fresh air, and now it's all gone. "Old Folks" is a spooky, fatalistic view of aging, featuring the lines, "They tremble as they watch the old silver clock when day is through / Tick-tocks oh so slow / it says yes, it says no / It says 'I wait for you'". Even "Jingle Bells" is given a morbid treatment here, with much the same sentiment as the aforementioned Tom Paxton song.

John himself later proved that the enviroment theme can be done in a much more appealing style, as it was on the "Earth Songs" album. This project is gloomy and depressing throughout, and even John's masterful singing can't make it an enjoyable listening experience. Try another one of his albums. ANY other album.