Wednesday 10 October 2018

John Denver (1975) Cowboy's Delight - LOST 70s GEMS

Windsong is the title track of John Denver's 1975 smash hit album, released in the aftermath of the wholesome county record 74's Back Home Again, here the music more folk driven and spiritual as the big hit of that prior album, Annie's Song. Windsong has a cooing sound to it particularly in the semi-yodelling 'oohing' that starts it off, while Spirit sounds like a Philadelphia produced song with sweet majestic strings, though the upbeat drumming and banjo rolling keep it rock based. The strings in Spirit remind me of 70s soul numbers like When Will I See You Again, while the cosmic drawl of the pedal steel fits in well with Denver's vocals the only thing forgettable about the epic production. Looking for Space features a peaceful, beauty of an arrangement of alongside Denver's incandescent lead vocal as he brings that gritty yet hallowed vocal to the lead into the chorus; this is also one of the more melodic cuts on the album. Love is Everywhere is mildly engaging fast paced country tune, but Two Shots has a more catchy chorus with emphasis on the title 'I took Two Shots' and Fly Away stands out with it's female backing vocal and multi-tracked harmonies singing in tandem adding a strong lullaby quality.

Cowboy's Delight is a slow, melodic number reminding me of The Music is You from the prior album with it's carousel melody playing out like a charming, bluegrass waltz accompanied by congas, not to mention once again his hollerin vocal that transforms into such a soothing harmony vocal in the chorus is exceptional. I'm Sorry was technically his biggest chart hit despite people being far more familiar with Take Me Home Country Roads, Rocky Mountain High and Annie's Song form his underrated early 70s Folk Rock phase; it was big easy listening semi- Country tunes with folk picking that ultimately got him commercial dominance and I'm Sorry illustrates this with his familiar strings and bellowing vocals that occasionally make you lethargic and lack a bit of snap to them. Calypso was another hit understandably with it's rousing old worldly spirit full of Denver's of emotive yodelling alongside the sailing strings and a Disney mix of tolling bells, spellbinding wind chimes, stirring strings and a hot blooded/Andalusian guitar strumming




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