DENVER TRIES TO REKINDLE HIS CAREER
by Dennis Hunt
Times Staff Writer

Los Angeles Times
5/25/84

     It's common to hear people rap John Denver. Not for his 
singing, but for his celebrated virtue.  His detractors have 
even given him nicknames such as Mr. Clean or the 40 year old 
Boy Scout. They argue that it's unnatural for someone to be 
that good. They dismiss his angelic image as a front, 
contending that evil lurks behind it. Sinners regard Denver as 
a mortal enemy, as a threat to the joy of sinning. They would 
like to see him wallowing in vices, or knee-deep in scandal.
     Denver insists that such snide attacks on his spotless 
image don't disturb him.  "I'm not a saint" the man known in 
some circles as Saint John said, "but I'm not faking anything 
for the public, either. People may challenge my image, but 
that's OK - there's nothing awful behind it. I try to be 
honest and decent."  When you meet Denver, who's starring in 
Greek Theatre shows tonight and Saturday, you half-expect his 
head to be wreathed by a halo.
     Still, his virtue seemed to permeate almost everything 
about him. It was as if an aura of goodness surrounded him.
     A frequent complaint about Denver is that without rough 
edges or a dark side, he's boring. Actually, he can be 
interesting, particularly when discussing any of the causes 
that he actively supports, such as stamping out world hunger 
and nuclear weapons. But this afternoon he talked mostly about 
music, and what's been wrong with his career.
     The problem is that Denver hasn't been selling records.  
From 1971, when he had his first hit single, "Take Me Home, 
Country Roads" through the mid-70's, he had a string of 
best-selling albums and singles. Sentimental ballads like 
"Sunshine On My Shoulders" and "Rocky Mountain High" made him 
one of the most popular solo singers in the business.  The 
slide began in the late '70's. Pop-music fans were dancing to 
disco music; middle of the road ballad singers like Denver 
were shoved into the background. As a recording artist, he's 
never recovered from that decline.
     The way Denver sees it, many radio stations don't play 
his records for personal rather than musical reasons. "It all 
began when I first started making records" recalled Denver, 
who has been with RCA Records since 1969.  "I'd visit radio 
stations and be treated badly because I wasn't well known. 
When I got to be popular they all wanted me to come to the 
stations and visit and go on the air. That's very 
hypocritical."
     "So I resisted getting involved with radio people. 
There's been a wall between me and these people. When I had 
the hits and the big following, I didn't have to play their 
game. But things are different now. A lot of what happened was 
a mistake. I'd like to improve my relations with them."
     Or is it possible that Denver's brand of sunshine and 
sentiment simply doesn't appeal to young record buyers 
anymore?  He's valiantly tried to update his sound, but it's 
made little difference. "I'm still going to keep trying" he 
vowed. "I still think I can make records that today's young 
fans will buy."
     Though Denver has never regained his power in the pop 
record market, he's still a formidable concert draw. At 
present, he's touring with a 2 1/2 hour, one man show - just 
Denver and his guitar, a return to old folk-singing days. In 
his early troubadour period, Denver, who is from Oklahoma, was 
still known as John Deutschendorf. Eventually he changed his 
name to Denver, in honor of his favorite city.
     Sometimes when talking with Denver you get the feeling 
that you're talking to a calculating salesman. This day, he 
seemed to be working a little too hard at being sincere, and 
it showed.
     Then he started talking about his divorce last year from 
Annie, his college sweetheart. Any hint of falseness or 
calculation in tone or manner quickly faded.
     "I'd never had an experience like that ever before" he 
explained. "The divorce was one of the most unhappy moments of 
my life. We were married 16 years. On the 15th anniversary we 
sat down and said, 'This isn't working out.' 'I had failed', I 
said, 'What you want from me is something I'm not able to give 
you, so you'd better look elsewhere.'"
     Denver and his ex-wife are still in contact, partly 
because of their two young children. Meanwhile, he's plunged 
half-heartedly into the single life.  "I'd like to fall in 
love again, but I'm not sure that i ever will" he said.  "I'm 
too busy to have a woman in my life. The last thing on my mind 
is finding a woman for a relationship. It wouldn't be that 
easy anyway - there's a lot I have to learn about women. Also, 
I'm pretty set in my ways now. That makes things even 
tougher."
     But Denver hasn't given up. And women certainly haven't 
given up on him.  "I'm getting a lot of flowers backstage from 
women. They tell me they love my music and if I need somebody 
to talk to they're available. I really do love the flowers and 
the attention. That makes me feel good."