Rocky Mountain High Olathe KS

Rocky Mountain High

John Denver

RCA Records, 1972

REVIEW BY: Christopher Thelen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 08/21/1999

Rocky Mountain High, John Denver's 1972 release (and sixthoverall), was a turning point for the artist as a superstar. He hadbriefly tasted success with his fourth album, Poems, Prayers & Promises thanks to the song "Take MeHome, Country Roads". However, when the follow-up album, Aerie, came out, it seemed like the success that Denver hadworked so hard to achieve was quickly fading away.

This album not only stopped the brief skid, but alsore-established Denver as an up-and-coming star whose music demandedthat you take notice. An amalgam of folk and country, his musingsabout nature and its beauty captured the hearts of many people inthe '70s, and the title track alone says volumes about Denver themusician and Denver the human.

So why am I disappointed with this album in general? I mean,sure it has some wonderful moments, but each time I listen to it,with one or two exceptions I have a hard time grasping how thisalbum was the key to unlock the door for Denver. Take away the hitsand the concert staples, and this album is a bit boring - maybeoverambitious is the correct way to phrase it. More on thatlater.

One listen to the title track, and you don't doubt for a minutethat Denver's success was deserved. "Rocky Mountain High" has afriendly air about it; it's a song that transports you fromwherever you are to the mountains pictured on the dust jacket. Nomatter how much smog is in your city, you almost swear you canbreathe crisp, unpolluted air. There's a reason why this songremained a fan favorite until Denver's untimely death in 1997.