The Essential

John Denver

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 3, 2004)
• Original Release Date: January 27, 2004
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Madacy Records
• ASIN: B00016XN3Y
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #272,514 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Sunshine on My Shoulders

2. Back Home Again

3. Thank God I'm a Country Boy

4. Leaving on a Jet Plane

5. Dreamland Express

6. Perhaps Love

7. Take Me Home, Country Roads

8. Love Again

9. Rocky Mountain High

10. Seasons of the Heart

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Windsong

2. Cowboy's Delight

3. Spirit

4. Looking for Space

5. Shipmates and Cheyenne

6. Late Nite Radio

7. Love Is Everywhere

8. Two Shots

9. I'm Sorry

10. Fly Away

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Essential, My Foot, May 24, 2004

By	Fussy "ran14813" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews

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."

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A major rip off!, July 5, 2004

By	D. Ribel "Die Hard Steeler" (Steelers Nation) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars warning 3- not original, September 18, 2004

By	TTaylorE (MA, USA) - See all my reviews

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.