Tag Archives: John Denver

John Denver: Rhymes & Reasons

On October 14, 1969, “RCA” label released “Rhymes & Reasons”, the debut John Denver studio album. It was recorded in 1969, at “RCA Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Milton Okun.

Personnel:

  • John Denver – vocals, guitar, arrangements
  • Eric Weissberg – banjo, steel guitar
  • Paul Prestopino – guitar, autoharp, mandolin
  • Stan Free – organ
  • Paul Griffin – keyboards
  • Russ Savakus – bass guitar
  • Teddy Sommer – drums
  • Herbie Lovelle – drums
  • George Marge – baritone saxophone
  • Marvin Stamm – flute, trumpet
  • Albert Richmond – French horn
  • Tommy Goodman – additional instrumentation
  • Milton Okun – arrangements
  • Jim Crotty – recording
  • John Woram – recording
  • Jean Goldhirsch – assistant producer

Track listing:

  1. The Love of the Common People – John Hurley, Ronnie Wilkins
  2. Catch Another Butterfly – Mike Williams
  3. Daydream – John Denver
  4. The Ballad of Spiro Agnew – Tom Paxton
  5. Circus – Michael Johnson, John Denver, Laurie Kuehn
  6. When I’m Sixty-Four – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  7. The Ballad of Richard Nixon – Tom Paxton
  8. Rhymes & Reasons – John Denver
  9. Yellow Cat – Steven Fromholz
  10. Leaving on a Jet Plane – John Denver
  11. (You Dun Stomped) My Heart – Mason Williams
  12. My Old Man – Jerry Jeff Walker
  13. I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free – Billy Taylor, Dick Dallas
  14. Today Is the First Day of the Rest of My Life (Sugacity) – Pat Garvey, Victoria Garvey

John Denver: Back Home Again

On June 15, 1974, “RCA Victor” label released “Back Home Again”, the eighth John Denver studio album. It was recorded in 1974, at “RCA’s Music Center of the World” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Milton Okun and Susan Ruskin.

Personnel:

  • John Denver – vocals, 6 & 12-string acoustic guitars
  • Julie Connor – vocals
  • John Sommers – banjo, acoustic guitar, mandolin, fiddle, backing vocals
  • Steve Weisberg – acoustic guitar, dulcimer, dobro, backing vocals, arrangements
  • Jim Connor – vocals, banjo, harmonica
  • Glen Hardin – piano
  • David Jackson – bass
  • Dick Kniss – bass
  • Jim Gordon – drums, percussion
  • Hal Blaine – drums, percussion
  • Buddy Collette – clarinet
  • Lee Holdridge – orchestral arrangements
  • Don Wardell – executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by John Denver, except where noted.

  1. Back Home Again
  2. On the Road – Carl Franzen
  3.  Grandma’s Feather Bed – Jim Connor
  4. Matthew
  5. Thank God I’m a Country Boy – John Sommers
  6. The Music Is You
  7. Annie’s Song
  8. It’s Up to You – Steve Weisberg
  9. Cool an’ Green an’ Shady – John Denver, Joe Henry
  10. Eclipse
  11. Sweet Surrender
  12. This Old Guitar

John Denver: Aerie

On November 28, 1971, “RCA” label released “Aerie”, the fifth John Denver studio album. It was recorded in 1971, and was produced by Milton Okun.

Personnel:

  • John Denver – vocals, 6 and 12-string guitar, arrangements
  • Mike Taylor – guitar, dobro, arrangements
  • Paul Prestopino – banjo, dobro, guitar
  • Eric Weissberg – banjo, fiddle, pedal steel guitar
  • Paul Griffin – piano, organ
  • Toots Thielemans – harmonica
  • Richard Kniss – bass, arrangements
  • Gary Chester – drums, percussion
  • Al Rogers – percussion
  • George Marge – woodwind
  • Kenneth Boaz – vocals
  • Paula Ballan – vocals
  • Diane Kniss – vocals
  • Turnpike Tom – vocals
  • Alec White – vocals
  • Mary Angela White – vocals
  • Barbara Carlson – vocals
  • Andromeda Quasar – vocals
  • Bill Danoff – vocals
  • Keith Lane – vocals
  • Candy Ledbetter – vocals
  • Ron Ledbetter – vocals
  • Elizabeth Lindsay – vocals
  • Steve Mandell – vocals
  • Anne Denver – vocals
  • Taffy Nivert – vocals
  • Jim Crotty – recording
  • Ray Hall – recording, mixing
  • Pat Martin – recording technician
  • Gus Mossler – recording technician
  • Tom Brown – recording technician
  • Joe Stelmach – design
  • Pat Benson – photography

Track listing:

  1. Starwood in Aspen – John Denver
  2. Everyday – Buddy Holly, Norman Perry
  3. Casey Last Ride – Kris Kristofferson
  4. City of New Orleans – Steve Goodman
  5. Friends with You – Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert
  6. 60 Second Song for a Bank, with the Phrase “May We Help You Today” – John Denver
  7. Blow Up Your TV (Spanish Pipe Dream) – John Prine
  8. All of My Memories – John Denver
  9. She Won’t Let Me Fly Away – Bill Danoff
  10. Readjustment Blues – Bill Danoff
  11. The Eagle and the Hawk – John Denver, Mike Taylor
  12. Tools – John Denver

Paul Griffin

On June 14, 2000, Paul Griffin died aged 62. He was musician (piano, keyboards), performed and recorded with hundreds of musicians including: King Curtis, Bob Dylan, Steely Dan, Don McLean, the Isley Brothers, Van Morrison, the Shirelles, Dionne Warwick. Dion DiMucci, George Benson, Tom Rush, Wilson Pickett, Michael Franks, John Denver, Peter, Paul and Mary, David Clayton-Thomas, Gloria Loring, Melba Moore, LaVern Baker, Janis Siegel, Solomon Burke, Jackie Lomax, Marlena Shaw, Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Don Mclean, Carly Simon, Juddy Collins, Cheryl Lynn, Gloria Gaynor, Stephanie Mills, Donald Fagen,  Van Morrison, Paul Simon, Garland Jeffreys, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt and Laura Nyro.

Hal Blaine

On March 11, 2019, Harold Simon Belsky aka Hal Blaine died aged 90. He was musician (drums) regarded to be one of the most recorded studio drummers in the history of the modern music. He had more than 35,000 recording sessions in various music genres including big number of film and TV soundtracks. He worked with Shelley Fabares, The Crystals, Jan & Dean, The Beach Boys, Dean Martin, Lorne Greene, Gary Lewis & the Playboys, The Byrds, Sonny & Cher, Barry McGuire, Petula Clark, Nancy Sinatra, The Mamas & the Papas, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Rivers, The Supremes, The Association, Simon & Garfunkel, Tommy Roe, The 5th Dimension, Henry Mancini, The Carpenters, Neil Diamond, The Partridge Family, The Raiders, Barbra Streisand, John Denver, Captain & Tennille, Diana Ross, Sam Cooke, Van Dyke Parks, John Lennon, Lulu, Dennis Wilson, Paul Simon, Richard Harris, Glen Campbell, Emitt Rhodes, Art Garfunkel, Juice Newton, Michael Nesmith, Cher, Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin, J.J. Cale, José Feliciano, Bobby Darin, Rosanne Cash, Cass Elliot, Rodney Crowell, Dion DiMucci, Paul Anka, Barry Mann, Emmylou Harris, Jackie Lomax, Elkie Brooks, Helen Reddy, John Philips, Thelma Houston and Leonard Cohen. As leader Blaine released five albums.

Lawrence Knechtel

On August 20, 2009, Lawrence William Knechtel died aged 69. He was a musician (keyboards, bass), a member of the Wrecking Crew, a collection of Los Angeles-based session musicians, and the band Bread. He recorded with big number of renowned artists including Elvis Presley, The Byrds, Barbra Streisand, The Beach Boys, The Doors, Cher, Simon & Garfunkel, Duane Eddy, The Mamas & the Papas, The Monkees, the Partridge Family, Paul Simon, Chet Baker, Jerry Garcia, Dave mason, Nancy Sinatra, Howard Roberts, Thelma Houston, Glen Campbell, Peter Allen, Barry Mann, Lalo Schifrin, Jimmy Webb, José Feliciano, Jackie DeShannon, Brian Cadd, Bobby Darin, Art Garfunkel, Stephen Bishop, David Clayton-Thomas, Billy Joel, Barry McGuire, Paul Young, Dolly Parton, Al Kooper, Johnny Rivers, John Denver, Chet Atkins, Helen Reddy, Joan Baez, Alen Roth, and Neil Diamond. Knechtel released two solo albums.

Jerry Carrigan

On June 22, 2019, Jerry Kirby Carrigan died aged 75. He was musician (drums) and record producer. He first achieved widespread recognition as a member of the original Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and later as a session musician in Nashville, regarded as one of the creators of the Nashville sound known as “Countrypolitan”. He has recorded with Elvis Presley, Joan Baez, Johnny Cash, Charley Pride, Paul Anka, John Denver, Jerry Lee Lewis, Waylon Jennings, Bobby Bare, Ray Stevens, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, Levon Helm, Dolly Parton, Leon Russell, Ronnie Hawkins, George Jones, Henry Mancini, Al Hirt, Johnny Mathis, and the Boston Pops Orchestra. In 2009 Carrigan was inducted into the “Nashville Cats”, by the “Country Music Hall of Fame”; in 2010 he was inducted into the “Alabama Music Hall of Fame”, and in 2019 Carrigan was inducted into the “Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum”.

John Denver: Rocky Mountain High

On September 15, 1972, “RCA” label released “Rocky Mountain High”, the sixth John Denver album. It was recorded in 1972, and was produced by Milton Okun.

Personnel:

  • John Denver – vocals, 6 and 12-string acoustic guitars, arrangements
  • Paul Prestopino – acoustic guitar, autoharp
  • Mike Taylor – acoustic guitar
  • Eric Weissberg– banjo, steel guitar
  • Frank Owens – piano
  • Richard Kniss – double bass, arranger
  • Gary Chester– drums, percussion
  • Bill Danoff, Martine Habib, Bruce Innes, Mike Kobluk, Taffy Nivert– backing vocals
  • Pupils of the Whitby School, Greenwich, Connecticut – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Rocky Mountain High – John Denver, Mike Taylor
  2. Mother Nature’s Son – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  3. Paradise – John Prine
  4. For Baby (For Bobbie) – John Denver
  5. Darcy Farrow – Steve Gillette, Tom Campbell
  6. Prisoners – John Denver
  7. Goodbye Again – John Denver
  8. Season Suite: Summer – John Denver, Mike Taylor, Dick Kniss
  9. Season Suite: Fall – John Denver, Mike Taylor, Dick Kniss
  10. Season Suite: Winter – John Denver, Mike Taylor, Dick Kniss
  11. Season Suite: Late Winter, Early Spring (When Everybody Goes To Mexico) – John Denver, Mike Taylor, Dick Kniss
  12. Season Suite: Spring – John Denver, Mike Taylor, Dick Kniss

 

Spanky and Our Gang: Same

On August 1, 1967, “Mercury” label released the self-titled, debut Spanky and Our Gang album. It was recorded in 1967, and was produced by Jerry Ross.

Personnel:

  • Elaine “Spanky” McFarlane – lead vocals
  • Malcolm Hale – vocals, lead guitar, trombone
  • Nigel Pickering – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Paul “Oz” Bach – vocals, bass guitar
  • John “The Chief” Seiter – drums

Track listing:

  1. Lazy Day – George Fischoff, Tony Powers
  2. (It Ain’t Necessarily) Bird Avenue – Michael P. Smith
  3. Ya Got Trouble(In River City) – Meredith Willson
  4. Sunday Will Never Be the Same – Terry Cashman, Gene Pistilli
  5. Commercial – Michael P. Smith
  6. If You Could Only Be Me – Roger Atkins, Carol D’Errico
  7. Making Every Minute Count – John Morier
  8. 5 Definitions of Love – Bob Dorough, Dan Greenburg, Monte Ghertler
  9. Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? – Jay Gorney, Edgar Yipsel “Yip” Harburg
  10. Distance – Raymond Gilmore, Joe Renzetti
  11. Jet Plane – John Denver
  12. Come and Open Your Eyes (Take a Look) – Jo Mapes

John Denver: Farewell Andromeda

In June 1973, “RCA” label released “Farewell Andromeda”, the seventh John Denver album. It was recorded at “RCA Studio D” in New York City, and was produced by Milton Okun.

Personnel:

  • John Denver — vocals, guitar
  • Paul Prestopino — guitar, autoharp
  • John Sommers — banjo, guitar, mandolin
  • Eric Weissberg— banjo, steel guitar
  • Jan Camp Garrett — vocals, mandolin
  • Lawrence Gottlieb — vocals, steel guitar
  • Lee Holdridge— string arrangements
  • Michael Holmes — piano
  • Frank Owens — piano
  • Toots Thielemans— harmonica
  • Victor Garrett — vocals, bass
  • Richard Kniss — bass
  • Herb Lovelle— drums
  • George Marge — woodwind
  • Bryan Bowers — autoharp
  • Chip Taylor, Steve Chapin, Bill Danoff, Taffy Danoff, Steve Mandell, Martine Habib, Campden Street Choir — vocals
  • Acy R. Lehman – art director
  • Mark English – cover art
  • Don Wardell — executive producer
  • Kris O’Connor – producer assistant

Personnel:

All tracks by John Denver; except where noted.

  1. I’d Rather Be a Cowboy (Lady’s Chains)
  2. Berkeley Woman – Bryan Bowers
  3. Please, Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas) – Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert
  4. Angel from Montgomery – John Prine
  5. River of Love – John Sommers
  6. Rocky Mountain Suite (Cold Nights in Canada)
  7. Whiskey Basin Blues
  8. Sweet Misery – Hoyt Axton
  9. Zachary and Jennifer
  10. We Don’t Live Here No More – Bill Danoff
  11. Farewell Andromeda (Welcome To My Morning)