Shaking Out the Sheets

Let's reconsider John Denver. Sporting a shaggy page-boy haircut, sensible glasses, and a dazzling smile, Denver was immensely popular with middle-of-the-road America (and the world) back in the 70s and 80s with his sunny and easy-listening country-pop songs. Like a good-natured big brother, Denver was there with a spoonful of whipped cream when you wanted reassurance that life was a bowl of cherries.

Born John Henry Deutschendorf in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1943, Denver earned his chops playing in the Chad Mitchell folk group for four years and gaining a fair measure of fame and fortune for writing the massive tear-stained hit "Leaving on a Jet Plane" for Peter, Paul, and Mary in 1971. Busting out on his own, Denver then skyrocketed to the top of the charts with mega-hits such as "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "Sunshine on My Shoulders," "Rocky Mountain High," "Thank God I'm a Country Boy," "Annie's Song," and others. By 1974, Denver was one of America's most popular performers and songwriters, and his greatest-hits collection of that time sold more than 10 million copies around the world. In fact, it was hard to escape Denver and his music back then. His songs were always popping up on the radio, he was making numerous appearances on television and in film, and he was touring frequently around the world. An American icon? You bet.

Eagle Vision has collected five DVDs of various John Denver performances and documentaries and bundled them together in a box set called John Denver: Around the World Live. For those of us who think Denver is terrific and walks on water, this might be the holy grail. And if you need proof that John Denver is a brilliant performer and showman and songwriter, look no further, ye of little faith.