John Denver discography explained

Artist:John Denver
Studio:30
Compilation:17
Live:8
Singles:44
Option:11
Option Name:
  1. 1 singles

This page is a comprehensive discography of American folk musician John Denver. Denver had four number one hits on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, all achieved between 1973 and 1975: "Sunshine on My Shoulders", "Annie's Song", "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" and "I'm Sorry". Three of his albums were also number one sellers: "Back Home Again", "Windsong" and "John Denver's Greatest Hits", again all released between 1973 and 1975.

Denver's studio albums categories list separately his early albums with the Mitchell Trio, and then his own studio albums by decade, live albums, Christmas albums, and compilation albums. These charts also include their certifications for sales data. His singles are arranged by decade and include several specialty categories—among them his Christmas singles, his single from his collaboration album with Plácido Domingo, and his single from his collaboration as a guest performer with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. The charts are inclusive of their peak positions by country of sale.

Studio albums

With the Mitchell Trio

TitleAlbum details
That's the Way It's Gonna Be
(John Denver, Mike Kobluk, Joe Frazier)
Violets of Dawn
(John Denver, Mike Kobluk, Joe Frazier)
  • Release date: December 1965
  • Label: Mercury Records
Alive
(John Denver, Mike Kobluk, David Boise)
Beginnings: John Denver with the Mitchell Trio
(John Denver, Mike Kobluk, Joe Frazier)
  • Release date: 1974
  • Label: Mercury Records

1960s albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart
positions
Certifications
(sales threshold)
US
[1]
UK
[2]
John Denver Sings
  • Release date: 1966
  • Label: self-released
Rhymes & Reasons
  • Release date: October 1969
  • Label: RCA Records
14821
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

1970s albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
(sales threshold)
US Country
US
AUS
[4]
CAN
[5]
NZ
[6]
UK
Take Me to Tomorrow
  • Release date: May 1970
  • Label: RCA Records
197
Whose Garden Was This
  • Release date: October 1970
  • Label: RCA Records
Poems, Prayers & Promises
  • Release date: May 1971
  • Label: RCA Records
615919
Aerie
  • Release date: December 1971[8]
  • Label: RCA Records
37754833
  • US: Gold
Rocky Mountain High
  • Release date: September 15, 1972
  • Label: RCA Records
404111
  • US: 2× Platinum
  • UK: Gold
Farewell Andromeda
  • Release date: June 1973
  • Label: RCA Records
1623
  • US: Gold
Back Home Again
  • Release date: June 1974
  • Label: RCA Records
1121143
  • US: 3× Platinum
  • UK: Silver
  • CAN: Gold[9]
Windsong
  • Release date: September 1975
  • Label: RCA Records
1111514
  • US: 2× Platinum
  • AUS: Gold[10]
  • CAN: Platinum
Spirit
  • Release date: August 1976
  • Label: RCA Records
37132279
  • US: Platinum
I Want to Live
  • Release date: November 1977
  • Label: RCA Records
1045163825
  • US: Platinum
John Denver[A]
  • Release date: January 1979
  • Label: RCA Records
1025942568
  • US: Gold
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

1980s albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
(sales threshold)
US Country
US
CAN
AUS
UK
Autograph
  • Release date: February 1980
  • Label: RCA Records
28397256
Some Days Are Diamonds
  • Release date: June 1981
  • Label: RCA Records
73220
  • US: Gold
Seasons of the Heart
  • Release date: May 4, 1982
  • Label: RCA Records
183965
  • US: Gold
It's About Time
  • Release date: November 15, 1983
  • Label: RCA Records
5561921990
Dreamland Express
  • Release date: June 1985
  • Label: RCA Records
489071
One World
  • Release date: June 1986
  • Label: RCA Records
9091
Higher Ground 495
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

1990s albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart
positions
US Country
US
AUS
Earth Songs
  • Release date: June 1990
  • Label: Windstar Records
62
The Flower That Shattered the Stone
  • Release date: September 1990
  • Label: Windstar Records
185
Different Directions
  • Release date: September 24, 1991
  • Label: Windstar Records
71
Love Again 16130
All Aboard! 165
Forever, John
  • Release date: September 29, 1998
  • Label: RCA Records
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Live albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
US Country
US
CAN
AUS
NZ
UK
An Evening with John Denver
  • Release date: January 29, 1975
  • Label: RCA Records
1214131
  • US: 3× Platinum
  • CAN: Gold
Live in London
  • Release date: 1976
  • Label: RCA Records
2
Live at the Sydney Opera House
  • Release date: 1978
  • Label: RCA Records
The Wildlife Concert 10445
  • US: Gold
  • AUS: 4× Platinum (video)[11]
The Best of John Denver Live
  • Release date: 1997
  • Label: Legacy Recordings
852
  • US: Gold
Sing Australia
  • Release date: 2001
  • Label: BMG Australia Limited
Christmas in Concert
  • Release date: September 2001
  • Label: RCA Records
60
The Harbor Lights Concert
  • Release date: April 2002
  • Label: RCA Records
Live in the U.S.S.R.
  • Release date: 2007
  • Label: AAO Music
Live at Cedar Rapids
  • Release date: 2010
  • Label: Collectors' Choice Music
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Christmas albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
(sales threshold)
US Country
US
AUS
CAN
Rocky Mountain Christmas
  • Release date: 1975
  • Label: RCA Records
144040
  • US: 2× Platinum
  • CAN: Gold
  • Release date: October 1979
  • Label: RCA Records
132645
  • US: Platinum
  • CAN: Gold
Christmas, Like a Lullaby
  • Release date: December 1989
  • Label: Windstar Records
59
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Compilation albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
(sales threshold)
US Country
US
CAN Country
[12]
CAN
AUS
NZ
UK
John Denver's Greatest Hits
  • Release date: November 1973
  • Label: RCA Records
47114177
  • US: 9× Platinum
  • AUS: Platinum
  • CAN: 5× Platinum
  • UK: Silver
John Denver's Greatest Hits Volume 2
  • Release date: March 1977
  • Label: RCA Records
76243179
  • US: 2× Platinum
  • ARIA: 2× Platinum
  • CAN: Gold
John Denver's Greatest Hits Volume 3
  • Release date: November 1984
  • Label: RCA Records
203
  • US: Gold
Take Me Home, Country Roads and Other Hits
  • Release date: 1991
  • Label: BMG/RCA
40
Favorites
  • Release date: August 1992
  • Label: RCA
35
  • ARIA: Gold
The Very Best of John Denver
  • Release date: 1994
  • Label: BMG/RCA
38
  • US: Platinum
  • ARIA: Gold
The John Denver Collection
  • Release date: 1995
  • Label: Delta
The Rocky Mountain Collection
  • Release date: 1996
  • Label: RCA Records
50491919
  • US: Platinum
  • UK: Gold
Reflections: Songs of Love & Life
  • Release date: 1996
  • Label: RCA Records
3613
Country Roads Collection
  • Release date: 1997
  • Label: RCA Records
33
The Best of John Denver
  • Release date: 1998
  • Label: Madacy Records
3810
  • US: Platinum
  • UK: Gold
Greatest Country Hits
  • Release date: 1998
  • Label: RCA Records
36
Legendary John Denver
  • Release date: 1999
  • Label: BMG RCA
  • ARIA: 2× Platinum[13]
John Denver Christmas
  • Release date: 1999
  • Label: LaserLight
53
Songs for America
  • Release date: September 2002
  • Label: Sony BMG
75
The Essential John Denver
  • Release date: 2004
  • Label: Sony BMG
66-
Definitive All-Time Greatest Hits
  • Release date: 2004
  • Label: RCA Records
952
  • US: Gold
A Song's Best Friend: The Very Best of John Denver
  • Release date: 2004
  • Label: RCA Records
2518
16 Biggest Hits
  • Release date: 2006
  • Label: RCA Records
61
The Essential John Denver
  • Release date: 2007
  • Label: RCA Records
5581
Playlist: The Very Best of John Denver
  • Release date: 2008
  • Label: Legacy Recordings
39
The Ultimate Collection
  • Release date: 2011
  • Label: Sony BMG
345
[14]
The Classic Christmas Album
  • Release date: October 2, 2012
  • Label: RCA Records
32
All of My Memories: The John Denver Collection
  • Release date: November 4, 2014[15]
  • Label: Legacy Recordings
44
Gold
  • Release date: December 8, 2019
  • Label: Banquet
41
The Last Recordings
  • Release date: November 17, 2023[16]
  • Label: Windstar
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Collaboration albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart
positions
US
CAN
Perhaps Love
(with Plácido Domingo)
19
Rocky Mountain Holiday
(with the Muppets)
  • Release date: November 1982
  • Label: RCA Records
202
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

1960s and 1970s

YearSinglePeak chart positionsCertifications
(sales threshold)
Album
US Country
US
US AC
AUS
CAN Country
[17]
CAN
[18]
CAN AC
[19]
UK
[20]
1969"Daydream"Rhymes & Reasons
1970"Anthem-Revelation"Take Me to Tomorrow
"Follow Me"
"Sail Away Home"Whose Garden Was This
"Mr. Bojangles"
1971"Take Me Home, Country Roads"5023241735 Poems, Prayers, and Promises
"Friends with You"47473345Aerie
1972"Everyday"81217716
"Goodbye Again"882312Rocky Mountain High
"Hard Life, Hard Times (Prisoners)"103
"Rocky Mountain High"933982
"Victory Is Peace" (with Bill and Taffy Danoff)
1973"I'd Rather Be a Cowboy (Lady's Chains)"6225677558Farewell Andromeda
"Farewell, Andromeda (Welcome to My Morning)"892026
"Please, Daddy"69696882
"Sunshine on My Shoulders"42114012
  • US: Gold
Greatest Hits
1974"Annie's Song"91153111
  • US: Gold
  • UK: Platinum
Back Home Again
"Back Home Again"151201101
  • US: Gold
"Sweet Surrender"71313816381An Evening with John Denver
1975"Thank God I'm a Country Boy"11541111
  • US: Gold
"I'm Sorry"[B]1117411
  • US: Gold
Windsong
"Fly Away" (with Olivia Newton-John)1213128132
1976"Looking for Space"3029123634
"It Makes Me Giggle"70609398322Spirit
"Like a Sad Song"343618634
"Baby, You Look Good to Me Tonight"226513208915
1977"My Sweet Lady"6232135215Greatest Hits 2
"How Can I Leave You Again"2244264010I Want to Live
"I Want to Live"5510819
"Bet on the Blues"
1978"It Amazes Me"725997215
1979"Downhill Stuff"64106John Denver
"What's On Your Mind"47107102529
"Garden Song"317
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

1980s-2010s

YearSinglePeak chart positionsAlbum
US Country
US
US AC
AUS
CAN Country
CAN AC
1980"Autograph"8452202Autograph
"Dancing with the Mountains"9743
1981"Some Days Are Diamonds (Some Days Are Stone)"636123311Some Days Are Diamonds
"The Cowboy and the Lady"5066
1982"Shanghai Breezes"3111Seasons of the Heart
"Seasons of the Heart"782316
"Opposite Tables"
1983"Wild Montana Skies" (with Emmylou Harris)14261514It's About Time
"Hold On Tightly"
1984"It's About Time"
"Just a Dream Away"
"The Gold and Beyond"Greatest Hits 3
"Love Again" (with Sylvie Vartan)853021
1985"Don't Close Your Eyes, Tonight"37Dreamland Express
"Dreamland Express"9341723
1986"Along for the Ride ('56 T-Bird)"57One World
"Let Us Begin (What Are We Making Weapons For?)"
"We Are One: Sister Cities"
1988"For You"22Higher Ground
"Country Girl in Paris"96
"Never a Doubt"
1989"The One World"
1990"The Flower That Shattered the Stone"The Flower That Shattered the Stone
"Eagles and Horses"
"Wish You Were Here (Postcard from Paris)"
1992"18 Holes"
1995"Calypso" (live)The Wildlife Concert
"For You" (live)
1996"Perhaps Love (Liefde Is...)" (with Justine Pelmelay)Love Again
2004"Annie's Song/Follow Me"A Song's Best Friend
2017"The Blizzard"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Other singles

Christmas singles

YearSinglePeak chart positionsAlbum
US
CAN
CAN AC
1975"Christmas for Cowboys"587726Rocky Mountain Christmas
1979"A Baby Just Like You" (with the Muppets)John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Guest singles

Charted B-sides

YearB-sidePeak chart positionsOriginal A-side
US Country
US
CAN
1975"Calypso"229"I'm Sorry"
1979"Sweet Melinda"flip"What's On Your Mind"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Notes

^ John Denver also peaked at number 7 on the RPM Country Albums chart in Canada. ^ B-side "Calypso", see charted B-side listing below.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: John Denver > Charts & Awards. AllMusic. May 8, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20120606100656/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-denver-mn0000811622/awards. June 6, 2012.
  2. Web site: John Denver full Official Chart history . . May 8, 2010.
  3. United Kingdom. John Denver. May 29, 2023.
  4. Australian chart peaks:
    • Top 100 (Kent Music Report) peaks to June 12, 1988: Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. St. Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. Illustrated. 87. 0-646-11917-6. N.B. the Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and June 12, 1988.
    • Top 50 (ARIA) peaks from June 13, 1988: Web site: australian-charts.com > John Denver in Australian Charts. Hung Medien. September 7, 2020.
    • Top 100 (ARIA) peaks from January 1990 to December 2010: Book: Ryan, Gavin. Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. 2011. Moonlight Publishing. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia. PDF.
  5. Web site: Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada: Top Albums/CDs. RPM. May 8, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20121014084827/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=lj8rd15qpcmqn9eqpupr7ao955&q1=John+Denver&q2=Top+Albums%2FCDs&interval=20. October 14, 2012. dead.
  6. Web site: charts.nz - New Zealand charts portal. charts.nz. May 8, 2010.
  7. Web site: RIAA - Gold & Platinum - May 08, 2010: John Denver certified albums. RIAA. May 8, 2010.
  8. http://johndenver.com/albums/aerie/ JohnDenver.com
  9. Web site: Canadian Recording Industry Association search results . . May 8, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090412081617/http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php . April 12, 2009 .
  10. Australian Gold. Cash Box. World Radio History. 50. November 15, 1975. November 15, 2021.
  11. Web site: ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2017 Audiovisual. Aria Charts. July 23, 2020.
  12. Web site: Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada: Country Albums/CDs. RPM. May 8, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20121014084720/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=dn62hc6fhp28ajv5ran74c81t6&q1=John+Denver&q2=Country+Albums%2FCDs&interval=20. October 14, 2012. dead.
  13. Australia. John Denver. album. 2002. December 27, 2021.
  14. Web site: BBC - Radio 1 - BBC Radio 1's Chart Show with Reggie Yates - The Official UK Top 40 Albums Chart. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091015022345/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/albums . October 15, 2009 .
  15. News: Mansfield. Brian. Career-spanning John Denver box coming in November. September 15, 2014. USA Today. September 11, 2014.
  16. Web site: The Last Recordings Out November 17th, Pre-Order Now. johndenver.com. December 16, 2023.
  17. Web site: Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada: Country Singles. RPM. May 8, 2010.
  18. Web site: Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada: Top Singles. RPM. May 8, 2010.
  19. Web site: Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada: Adult Contemporary. RPM. May 8, 2010.
  20. Web site: John Denver. Official Charts Company. August 8, 2017.
  21. Web site: RIAA - Gold & Platinum - May 09, 2010: John Denver certified singles . . May 9, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130225031458/http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS . February 25, 2013 .