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 JOHN DENVER GEMS UNCOVERED
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                   by Emily M. Parris

Will the Circle Be Unbroken - Vol 2
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     Gems of John Denver music are hidden here and there
amid various other albums and collections.  John Denver's
"And So It Goes" is one such gem.  I remember when I first
heard it on the radio and went to our local record store to
find it available as a cd single and also on the album "Will
The Circle Be Unbroken - Vol. 2".  It's a wonderful song and
hasn't appeared on any other album.
     I loved the way they left the offhanded commentary
intact.  Just before the song someone says: "This is
practice?" and John mutters..."They're all practice!"
The entire album is put together with that same familiar and
easy-going spirit which makes it feel as though you are there
with them in the studio. John's voice is soft and wonderful,
and - as so often - the subject of his song is love.
    John sings with about 40 other artists in this folksy and
easy-going jamfest recorded in Nashville, TN in 1989.
John sings with such artists as Ricky Skaggs, Michael Martin
Murphy, Johnny Cash, The Carter Family, and Emmylou Harris on
the album. The song "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" is sung at
the end with the entire cast singing. And after that the sweet
strains of the song "Amazing Grace" ends the album as it is
softly played by a guitar.

ALIVE - The Mitchell Trio
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    "Alive" by the Mitchell Trio contains more John Denver
gems.  On "Leaving On A Jet Plane" we hear such a youthful
sounding John sing that he almost doesn't sound like himself.
It is so nice to hear the trio's voices blend on this song.
    On the song "Adam's Rib" there is close harmony and you
can faintly hear John's voice coming in.  It is reminiscent
of a later song John sang called "The Ballad of Gary Hart."
    John introduces the song "Like To Deal With the Ladies"
with his voice sounding so cute, and then proceeds to solo on
the song, even doing a "trombone solo" with his voice.
    The Beatles song "She Loves You" is always nice to hear,
and never more so than with the strain of John's voice sliding
in and out of the close harmony. Their version of this song is
soulful and serious rather than the upbeat versions the
Beatles sang.
     I like the way you can occasionally hear John laugh
during the commentary between the songs. John also introduces
"He Was A Friend of Mine"- a sing-along song during which he
is the one encouraging the audience to sing.  This is a fun
and gregarious live college concert where you get to hear
John's early days as a singer.