J~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~J O R O C K Y M O U N T A I N H I G H O H =============================================== H N The John Denver Internet Fan Club N D D E M O N T H L Y N E W S L E T T E R E N N V J U N E 1 9 9 6 V E E R http://www.sky.net/~emily Emily Parris emily@sky.net R ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TABLE OF CONTENTS June 1996 John to appear at the Hollywood Bowl...................1 "Rocky Mountain Collection" - a new 2-cd set...........2 "John Denver Videoke" released in Asia................. "The Drummers of John Denver" - David J. Stemple....... BMG joins the WWW..................................... John Denver Stories: "Earthsongs" for Earth Day.......................... "Heart In His Music"................................ "Home Grown Potatoes"............................... Anna Kate on the Crew Team.......................... Poetry Corner: "Machito Sanchez" by David J. Stemple............... "Couldn't See Michael Jackson Doing This" Interview with John from Britain's Country Music Round-Up - November 1995.............. John Denver Notes...................................... Want Lists............................................. =================================== John Denver at the Hollywood Bowl =================================== John Denver will appear in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Bowl on July 2nd, 3rd and 4th. He will be the guest artist of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. He will be singing 6 songs in the first half and 6 songs in the last half. This information came from John's publicist, Mark Stern. =============================== Rocky Mountain Collection =============================== "Rocky Mountain Collection", a new 2-cd set is now available in stores in the U.S. It sells for about $31.99 on cd and $23.99 for cassette, but prices may vary in your area. There is a nice booklet that chronicles John's career and mentions the www page, but unfortunately it did not give the url. Long-time fans of John Denver may be disappointed because the cd does not contain very much new material that had not previously been released on cd. Only two songs, "Friends With You" from the album AERIE and "Come and Let Me Look in Your Eyes" from the album SPIRIT are new to cd. It is nice to see the song "Aspenglow" included since that is such a lovely song that shouldn't be reserved just for Christmas. Of the 39 songs, however, 31 of them have appeared on a Greatest Hits Collection before. Only the following songs had never appeared anywhere other than their original album: "Aspenglow" Rocky Mountain Christmas "I'd Rather Be A Cowboy" Farewell Andromeda "Sweet Surrender" Back Home Again "Thirsty Boots" & "It Amazes Me" I Want To Live "Flying For Me" One World "Come & Let Me Look In Your Eyes" Spirit (Song new to cd) "Friends With You" Aerie (Song new to cd) =========================== John Denver Videoke =========================== A new John Denver Video title has just been released in Asia. It's called "John Denver Videoke" and was released on April 15th in LaserDisc in most Asian countries. It's a 2-hour program featuring all of his Greatest Hits, specially formatted for the LaserDisc version, which has 1 hour capacity on each side. Side 1 features 1 hour of concert (14 songs) with interview links; Side 2 features 1-hour (16 songs) of the same songs plus 2 more in a karaoke style - that means with full lyrics on screen changing coulour in time with the music, and with the option of listening to either John's vocal version, or switching to the intrumental version to sing-along. "Videoke" is a term coined by BMG to highlight the fact that the release combines both a "video" element as well as a karaoke element. As well as the LaserDisc version, which is already in stores in Hong Kong and Singapore, some countries are manufacturing a videotape version. This is 2 hours long and features the concert/interview section first, and then the karaoke version (instrumental version only). This "Greatest Hits" concert was filmed in Newcastle, Australia in November 1994. BMG International Asia Pacific is committed to promoting John Denver in the Asian region. In the last 12 months they have made a deal to distribute the Windstar audio releases, as well as signing his publishing to BMG for the region, and producing this special "Videoke" release. Songs featured (concert plus karaoke): "Sweet Surrender", "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Back Home Again", "Leaving On A Jet Plane", "Rocky Mountain High", "Fly Away", "Annie's Song", "Grandma's Feather Bed", "For You", "I'm Sorry", "Is It Love?", "In A Far Away Land" (in Mandarin), "Calypso", and "This Old Guitar." Songs featured (karaoke only): "Poems, Prayers and Promises" and "Rhymes and Reasons" ======================================== The Drummers of John Denver ======================================== "The Drummers of John Denver" report by David J. Stemple is now available on the RMH web page. It has been updated and contains much more information than before. It's on the main screen but if you have any trouble finding it you can use: http://www.sky.net/~emily/drummers.fin The article also has an extensive amount of biographical information about John. =================================== BMG Music Service Joins the Web =================================== BMG Music Service now has a www page that is available via Netscape: http://www.bmgmusicservice.com They also mentioned the Rocky Mountain High www page in their current BMG Music Club flyer: From: slinder@iadfw.net To: emily@sky.net Hi Emily! I belong to the BMG Music Club and today I received the monthly catalog and order form. Also included in the package was a supplemental catalog announcing that BMG has "hit the web" with details on how to reach them that way. The catalog had several pages of music by various artists and each artist listed in this catalog had a related web page address printed next to it. On page 14, they offer John Denver's "Greatest Hits" for sale, and guess whose web page address is listed??? J O H N D E N V E R S T O R I E S ===================================================== "Earth Songs for Earth Day"...........from Eve Saizan Monday, April 22 was "Earth Day". I work as an elementary school secretary in one of the local schools. It's a small school, grades K-5. One of the 3rd grade teachers was looking for some songs about Earth Day since the students were going to be planting trees, pulling weeds, and making Earth Day posters on April 22. I gave her a copy of John's "Earthsongs" and told her she could play the songs over the loud speaker as the kids were busy doing their Earth Day activities. She loved the songs!! It was so FAR*OUT to suddenly hear John Denver's music blasting away while the whole school was busy doing their share to clean the earth. Some of the kids were even singing along...."celebrate earthday, everyday...". She told me later how much she liked the songs and that she would use the tape every year from now on. "We're Lucky To Have Him".............from Scott Shani I've been to a lot of concerts in my life but one thing that I've always felt is that when you leave a John Denver concert you have a different feeling. I remember one concert when John had the whole audience join hands as he sang. I think it was the song for the refugees - it was when "Higher Ground" was just released. I love the fact that he invites the audiences to sing along. I love the fact that his songs have such positive messages. I think the greatest moment was when I heard him sing "I Want To Live" for the first time. I think he said it was the first time he was performing it live. He sang it while he played it on the piano. It brought tears to my eyes. I just wish every one in the world could get that message. I also think that "For You" is the greatest love song ever written. He just has such a gift to be able to pour out his heart into music. We're all so lucky to have him!! "Home Grown Potatoes"...............from Annette Kessler My 3 year old daughter, Chelsey, was the victim of a "freak" accident on her bicycle and was in the hospital for a few days. The day we were bringing her home from the hospital she was limping around and not feeling her best. Chelsey came up to me and told me that she needed to listen to the "potato" song to make her feel better. I'm thinking to myself, "potato song" !?! So I told her that I didn't know that song she wanted to hear. Chelsey replied, "Yes you do. John Denver sings it. You know....home grown potatoes." I finally figured out that she wanted to listen to the "Home Grown Tomatoes" song on the "Higher Ground" cd. So now when she thinks she needs a song to make her feel better, we listen to her "home grown potatoes" song! "Anna Kate's Father".....................from Cynthia Mansell I have an interesting John Denver story for you. I work in the athletic department at Dartmouth College. A couple of weeks ago one of the secretaries got a check from a John Denver for our crew team. Of course we laughed and thought it would be cool if it was from the real John Denver but we figured it wasn't. Well, come to find out, it was from the real John Denver. His daughter, Anna Kate, is a freshman here and is competing for the novice women's crew team. So from now on he is referred to as Anna Kate's father. Thought you might like that tidbit. POETRY CORNER ============== MACHITO SANCHEZ by David J. Semple He is the voice of a cricket In the cold morning air The woodpecker high on the telephone pole And the footsteps of a horse in the distance. He is the voice of the ocean Beating upon Catques boat The feeling of sunshine on a ski slope And the openness of The Rocky Mountains He is the voice of nature Its infulence and presence In the music of John Denver Singing right along side with John His name is Michito Sanchez A percussionist from Los Angeles Who would rather tap a triangle And speak from within Than play a heavy rock beat upon the drums He is truly a gift for the ears And all the music he plays upon He is nature, And how sweet nature sounds When played by Machito Sanchez Copyright 1996 by David J. Stemple COULDN'T SEE MICHAEL JACKSON DOING THIS Country Music Round-Up (U.K.) November 1995 Pretty much a loner, John Denver talks to Richard Kirk on his latest venture. John Denver has a great love for nature and the preservation of wild life. This past year has seen him appearing in concerts in the U.S. and recently in Europe. A 28-track CD and video have been released all in support of the Wildlife Conservation Society. "I think the Wildlife Conservation Society is one of the best environmental organizations in the world and by far the one doing the most work in the field of wildlife and wildlife habitat and nobody knows about them. They are celebrating their 100th birthday this year and so we endeavored to do a tv concert to promote that. The two things that come most to mind is the work around the mountain gorilla and bringing the plight of the giant panda to the attention of the world. People know those efforts but don't connect them to the WLCS." Born in New Mexico on New Year's Eve and christened John Deutschendorf it was not until signing a recording deal with a company in California that it was suggested John change his surname to something shorter and more pronounceable. Choosing the name Denver confirms his love for Colorado. To this day he calls Colorado home. Nothing Like The West: "I don't think there is anything in the world that is like the American West. I lived all over as an airforce brat but Arizona, New Mexico and now in Colorado and the Rocky Mountains it's these places that so much fill my heart and I think are part of my music...part of what I represent." With the love for the great outdoors, is this not conducive to being a loner? "I'm pretty much a loner. Certainly now in my life. I live alone. I have some good friends. I think perhaps in the future I would like to have a special kind of companionship in my life but I'm very comfortable being alone. I have my kids with me when ever I can. My eldest, a son, is 21. They all have a strong awareness of nature. They are all real outdoor kids. I don't think that there is anything about singing or music so far. I have a daughter who is a ballet dancer." Having penned some very fine songs including "Country Roads", the number one hit "Leaving On A Jet Plane" for Peter, Paul and Mary, and the delightful "Annie's Song" it appears fewer artists are now recording John Denver's songs. Could this be because the lyrics refer more to nature and wildlife? Were there any thoughts of writing songs that other artists could perhaps pick up on? "All my songs are very personal. 'Annie's Song' was written about the woman that I was madly in love with at the time. There were things we had gone through and survived. I think it happens in any relationship when you go through the difficult times and you come through them you're closer. On one particular day I was just so madly in love and being out in the middle of nature doing one of my favorite things I had this notion of how this activity that I enjoy so very much, skiing, fills up your senses. Immediately I thought wow! The first thing I thought of was the woman that I loved. At the time I happened to be on a chair lift. The song just came to me. I skied right off the mountain, got in my car and drove home, went into my studio, picked up a guitar and in ten minutes wrote the song. I'm not the kind of writer who sits down every day and tries to write a song or work on a song." "A song comes when it comes and sometimes it can take over my life and I can't do anything else until it's done. Sometimes it's a slow process. Sometimes its very, very quick as in 'Annie's Song.'. Often there are times when I am more relaxed. It can be when I'm walking some place, or when I'm driving or flying that something will start going on in my head and it will turn into a song. Other artists can pick up on my songs. The thing that is alluding to me is that I have always used images from nature to express myself. Nature has always been my best friend and all the moving around that I did as a kid and still today I find I relate to nature...and so that comes through in my music." Tough Songs To Sing: "Then there have been the opportunities to be involved with a lot of things that are connected with the environment. A lot of people recorded "Leaving On A Jet Plane", and a lot of people recorded 'Country Roads'; not so many people recorded 'Rocky Mountain High' or 'Calypso". They were pretty tough songs to sing. I don't know why my songs, especially some of the more popular ones, have not been recorded by more people because they are very singable songs. I think sometimes people think a John Denver song is just a John Denver song. I would have thought 'Perhaps Love' would have been recorded by a whole lot of people. It's known so much as the recording of Placido Domingo and I. I don't know why they don't do that." Recorded live, the Wildlife Concert double album released in the U.K. on the Legacy label by Sony is as fresh as the morning dew. The songs may be familiar or not so familiar. It may be a solo or have Denver accompanied by strings or his band. Whatever the mood it is a pleasure. "We tried to show all the different ways that I have done performances over the years and to make each performance appropriate to that song. The whole pleasure in doing a performance album, it's not a concert album, it's live. I couldn't imagine Michael Jackson doing a simply produced song. It would require all the production to make the song work. I think that's true to most rap music today, so there are not that many live recordings. I enjoy that aspect of what we did. There are a couple of things on there that I cringe at. Hopefully not too many people will hear them. but it was a live performance and that's how it was. At the same time there are a couple of things that were absolute jewels and you may never get that feeling if you were trying to do it in a studio. I am pleased "Eagles and Horses" is included on the album. There's one new song and a couple I have never recorded before. "For You" and "Amazon" are both pretty recent." I'll Never Quit Singing: "This is my first recording in about five years. To have the backing of Sony-Legacy is very exciting for me. The potential that they have in marketing and promotion I haven't had for 10 to 15 years. I'm really trying to do everything I can to support this project. If it's successful in the way I am hoping it to be it's going to give me the opportunity to do some new recordings. It's going to give me the opportunity to do more work on tv and perhaps on film which I would really like to do. I'm really giving this one my best shot. If it does not have the success that I think is possible then it's going to be a little bit easier for me knowing that I gave it my best and things that I hoped for are not necessarily there so that I can pull back and have a little bit more time to myself. "I cannot see myself ever quitting singing. I think I will always have the opportunity to perform all over the world. I will continue to do that but not at the pace of the last several years. I want to have more time to relax, be with my kids and have more time to myself. If this project is successful it gives the other efforts more credibility and much greater strength. There is a song on this album I think expresses what I say is my greatest longing and my deepest commitment to be a voice for these things. I have the opportunity to travel all over the world. Whenever I am doing a concert or an album comes out I get a chance to give interviews like this and hopefully we can keep putting it out how precious the world of ours is and how connected we are to it and if we are to preserve and save ourselves we must preserve and save the planet." JOHN DENVER NOTES ================= There are 2 mentions of John in the latest issue of "Entertainment Weekly" (w/David Schwimmer on the cover). John is mentioned in a feature about celebrity golfers and in an article about Samantha Smith. ......(from Henry Smiley) There was an article about "Rocky Mountain High" in the last issue of "Rhymes and Reasons" newsletter. (Thank you, Mary!) WANT LIST ========= Any Pilots?........... ----------- From: Bert Van Meel Besides liking his music, I also share the interest in general aviation with John. I am also a private pilot. It would be nice to exchange thoughts about flying with other private pilots who may be among the members of your club. Major-domo or list-serve for Rocky Mtn High?....... -------------------------------------------- From: Emily Does anyone have the facilities to create an official mailinglist for "Rocky Mountain High?" Sky.net supposedly has them available, but after 3 months they still haven't come through. A major-domo or list-serve mailinglist would allow members to subscribe, unsubscribe, and change their email addresses by themselves and would make everything run much more smoothly. From: Carbrite I'd like to swap John Denver songs and chords with anyone (they're not from books, my own figurings). Endfile: ********************************************************** ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH: THE JOHN DENVER INTERNET FAN CLUB emily@sky.net http://www.sky.net/~emily Newsletter #25 * May 1996 * Our 2nd Anniversary! **********************************************************