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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Still the best, June 24, 2001
I recieved my introduction to John Denver back in 1972. He has and always will be an influentual force in my music and the music I listen to. I had forgotten how wonderful this ablum really was. I wore the grooves off the lp I had owned. John Denver's writing remains important to all of us who care not only about the world around us but also the people in it. "It Amazes Me" and "I Want To Live" are the two most powerful songs on this ablum. Both are poignant pieces of songwriting. If you are not familiar with Denver's music please take a gamble and get this recording. I promise you that you will not be dissapointed. Sincerly, David Heckmann
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of my Favorites!, June 12, 2005
John Denver's 1977 release "I Want To Live" is one of my all time favorite albums by my all time favorite singer/songwriter. I concur to what others have written that this album would have been a superior follow up to the smash hit Windsong rather than the album Spirit. After the death of Elvis Presley, John Denver inherited the core members of his band, phenomenal guitarists James Burton and keyboardist Glen D Harding. They provided John with a very polished sound. The overall tone of this album, although dominated by guitars and without a reliance on orchestration, is a comforting mellow smooth texture of easy listening music. The new band enabled John to step away from his folk and country roots to a more contemporary sound. Although in the future John Denver would move too far from that traditional formula, in my opinion, that is not the case with this CD.
The album opens with "How Can I Leave You Again?" a beautifully written sorrow filled ballad John wrote after having to leave Annie to begin filming the movie "Oh God!" Although it only went to number 44 on the pop charts, it reached number 2 on the Adult Contemporary charts. This was followed up the same chart by "It Amazes Me" an upbeat song of celebration which reached number 9. The title song, which John wrote during his involvement on the Presidential Commission on World and Domestic Hunger, reached number 10 on the Adult Contemporary charts and its message of the preciousness of life displays John's tremendous vocal range. The CD also contains one of my favorite songs that John ever wrote: "Singing Skies and Dancing Waters." It is song about faith and renewal and the places where one can see evidence of the Divine. The song "Tradewinds" could have come from the pen of Jimmy Buffett and is a mellow homage to just relaxing on a tropical beach. "To The Wild Country" is another song about renewal. This time John weaves a poignant ballad about conservation of the land with finding restoration in the wilderness and mountains of Alaska. "Druthers" is an upbeat country/blues number that has grown on me through the years. The remainder of the CD is filled with songs John Denver covered from various friends of his. "Ripplin' Waters" was written by Jimmy Ibbotson of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, "Bet on the Blues" was written by Tom Paxton, The great ballad about social protest, "Thirsty Boots", was written by the brilliant folksinger/songwriter Eric Anderson. "Dearest Esmeralda" was written by long time friend and collaborator Bill Danoff. The cover tunes, plus John's original compositions, combine to create one of the best albums John ever recorded during his illustrious career.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic John Denver, January 29, 2001
While I don't usually care for songs with an activist message to them, the title song "I Want to Live" is so lovingly rendered that one cannot help but think a moment on the message held within. Combined with love songs such as "How Can I Leave You Again" and complimented by a few songs originally rendered by others, it gives the album a nice balanced feel. If I were introducing someone to John Denver for the first time, this would be one of the albums I chose.
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