Rating: - A comparison of 3 cd releases
Essentially I'm comparing this new remastered version of this wonderful album with 2 previous cd releases. First off, this version is miles ahead of the original US release. I always did think the original was poorly mastered, or used a poor master tape, or both. Anyway, tape hiss abounds on the original and the music is rather tinny sounding, but in the remastered version hiss is almost inaudible and the tinny sound is gone, replaced with a much fuller, richer sound. There was a second cd release, however, only in Japan. They remastered it using 20 bit mapping and it, too, is miles ahead of the first US release. I'll still give the edge to this new remastered version, tho, although if you already have the Japanese reissue I don't think you'll find the new US remaster that much of an improvement to warrant purchasing. The 3 bonus tracks on this US remaster aren't anything to write home about since they're readily available on other releases. They're fine songs, particularly "I Guess He'd Rather Be in Colorado," but since John re-recorded some of the songs for this compilation I would have thought adding the original album versions of those songs, or at least some of them, would have been a more interesting move, since the new arrangements are significantly different, but they didn't consult me. Or why not add some previously unreleased material as bonus tracks?
This album still holds a place on RCA's top selling albums of all time list, and deservedly so. I prefer the new arrangements to the old for the most part, and it's a wonderful compilation of some of the best songs from his first six albums. If you're buying this album for the first time, get this remastered version. You won't regret it.
Rating: - Poems Prayers and Promises
John Denver's Poems Prayers and Promises recap his era in a waonderful way. Yesterday My 23 year old grandaughter told me that she had fallen in love with this song. (She didn't hear it here.) She's usually into progressive rock and rap. Listen to the words. They may stir something in you too.
Gypsy Nick
Rating: - John Denver at his best.
I love John Denver's style of singing and the songs he sung so well. I admit that I am a fan and regret that he isn't amongst us today.
Rating: - Great Hits by a Great Artist
This CD is vintage John Denver. He had a great voice and recorded some memorable songs. I had an LP of this but switched over to CD to update my library -- plus save space. I was disappointed to find that Denver's song "Lady," on the LP, is not on the CD. How sad. That song was, to me, one of Denver's "greatest hits," also. Nevertheless, this is a great CD by a great artist.
Rating: - John Denver's Greatest Hits
This was a gift to my husband and it continues to bring back memories as we listen to it.