John Denver, The #31 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Two

 

(Continued from Part One)

 

As great of a reputation as Denver had gained to this point, his fans knew he was even better live.  A natural, genuine entertainer, John captured his live shows on the album An Evening with John Denver, released in 1976.  Denver released the single "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" from the album, and it jumped to #1 in both the United States and Canada and was certified Gold.

The live album has now sold over three million copies in the U.S. alone.  

John's concert special, An Evening with John Denver, won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Special, Comedy, Variety or Music.    Denver also won a People's Choice Award for Favorite Male Performer.

Denver's manager, Jerry Weintraub, set up television appearances often, including several in the United Kingdom.  John protested, saying "I've had no success in Britain...I mean none."  Weintraub told Maureen Orth of Newsweek in 1976, "I knew the critics would never go for John.  I had to get him to the people."  It must have felt good to do an end run around the critics and prove them wrong.

 

In 1975, John released the album Rocky Mountain Christmas, which has become one of the most treasured Christmas albums of all-time.  Containing John's simple but unique arrangements of Christmas standards and his one-of-a-kind genuine heartfelt voice, the album has sold over two million copies.  Denver's version of "The Christmas Song" stands out.

 "Silver Bells" is another one that once Denver recorded it, it became a holiday favorite.

Rocky Mountain Christmas reached #14 on the Album chart, almost unheard of for a Christmas album. 

John's incredible tenor voice is just what this classic song needed--"Away In A Manger".

 "What Child Is This" is another superb touch that only Denver can give a song.

 "Silent Night" has been recorded by hundreds of artists, but few sang it with the tenderness it deserves.

 

Here is an exquisite version of "Oh Holy Night".

In 1976, Denver hosted the television special Rocky Mountain Christmas, watched by 65 million people, the most in the history of ABC-TV at the time.  Critics can't do a whole lot about that.

 Denver won an American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist.  In 1975, he released another outstanding album, Windsong.  "I'm Sorry" also hit #1 in both the U.S. and Canada and sold over one million singles.

 "Calypso" was another gigantic hit at #2, a song John wrote in tribute to close friend Jacques-Yves Cousteau and the research ship he sailed the world for ocean conservation, the Calypso.  It was the B-side to "I'm Sorry", but increasingly got major airplay itself, making it one of The Top Double-Sided Hits of the Rock Era*.

 

John asked Olivia Newton-John to join him on "Fly Away", yet another #1 Adult smash that peaked at #13 overall, that is a desire for the simpler things in life.

 "Looking For Space" also reached #1 on the Easy Listening chart, his seventh #1 song among adults in a little over two years.  "It's about looking for the definition of who you are, by finding out where you are," Denver said, "not only physically, but mentally and emotionally."

 Windsong gave Denver two consecutive #1 albums and has now sold over two million copies in the United States alone.  In 1976, John won American Music Awards for Favorite Country Male Artist and Favorite Country Album. "Spirit" is one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.

 

John also appeared on The Muppet Show, the beginning of a long friendship between Denver and Jim Henson that led to two television specials and the 1979 Platinum album A Christmas Together.  Denver and The Muppet's version of "12 Days Of Christmas" is another holiday standard.

Denver appeared on an episode of McCloud on television in 1974 and excelled in the 1977 movie Oh, God! with co-star George Burns.

 

In 1976, Denver released the album Spirit, another LP to reach the Top 10 and go Platinum.  By this time, teenagers liked harder rock, but since adults dominate the Rock audience, John continued to excel on Adult stations, once again topping the chart with "Like A Sad Song".

More from one of the most beloved artists the world has ever known in Part Three!