Rocky Mountain High (album) explained

Rocky Mountain High
Type:Album
Artist:John Denver
Cover:John Denver - RockyMountainHigh.jpg
Studio:RCA, New York City
Genre:Country folk[1]
Length:37:14
Label:RCA
Producer:Milton Okun
Prev Title:Aerie
Prev Year:1971
Next Title:Farewell Andromeda
Next Year:1973

Rocky Mountain High is the sixth studio album released by American singer-songwriter John Denver in September 1972. It was his first US Top 10 album (no. 4), propelled by the title single, and in addition reached no. 11 in the UK and no. 1 in Canada.[2] The album's cover photograph was taken at Slaughterhouse Falls, Rio Grande Trail, Aspen, Colorado.[3]

Reception

In July 1972, Record World called the single 'Goodbye Again', "a sad, gentle ballad that threatens to become a standard along the lines of 'Leaving on a Jet Plane.[4] In September of that same year, Record World commended the single "Hard Life, Hard Times (Prisoners)" for its "good use of counterpoint towards the end."[5]

William Ruhlmann of AllMusic wrote of Rocky Mountain High that, "Though Denver still couldn't figure out how to fill out an entire album without covering his betters (in this case, old favorites the Beatles and John Prine), he and his steady backup musicians, bassist Dick Kniss and guitarist Mike Taylor, were evolving into an exuberant folk-country sound that would prove enormously appealing over the next few years." Ruhlman highlighted "Goodbye Again" and "For Baby (For Bobbie)", praising the former as "one of Denver's finest ballads."

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Book: Okamoto, David. John Denver . Knopper. Steve. January 1, 1998. MusicHound Lounge: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. Detroit. 132–133.
  2. Web site: RPM Top 100 Albums - April 21, 1973.
  3. Web site: Musical Maps.
  4. Record World. July 8, 1972. 2023-03-30. Hits of the Week. 1.
  5. Record World. September 16, 1972. 2023-03-29. Hits of the Week. 1.