Maps of Music

Back Home Again (1974)

Where the lyrics of Back Home Again take you, and where it was really made.

The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and its cover shows Denver with his then-wife, Annie Martell.

Key places

Where most of the album was recorded (1974)

Recording site The Music Grinder (Hollywood) — Except one track, the album was recorded at RCA's Music Center of the World in Hollywood. The dot marks the city center, not the building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Back Home Again: eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter John Denver
• Released 15 June 1974
• Multi-platinum; reached the top position on the Billboard 200
• Hit singles include "Annie's Song" (No. 1 pop, No. 1 adult contemporary) and the title track (No. 5 pop, No. 1 AC, No. 1 country)
• Studio versions of "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" and "Sweet Surrender" appear on this album

Background

• "Grandma's Feather Bed" was written by banjoist Jim Connor of the New Kingston Trio, based on a verse he wrote for his grandmother
• Connor played on Denver's recording of the song and toured with the singer

Recording

• Except one track, recorded at RCA's Music Center of the World in Hollywood, California
• "The Music Is You" recorded at Tri-Art Productions in Bismarck, North Dakota, and Des Moines, Iowa
• Produced by Milton Okun; assistant producer Kris O'Connor; audio engineer Mickey Crofford
• Lee Holdridge arranged the orchestral parts

Cover

• Cover shows John with his then-wife Annie Martell
• Cover photography credited to Lowell Norman

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ko.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. on December 31, 1943, in Roswell, New Mexico; took the name John Denver on the advice of Randy Sparks, founder of the New Christy Minstrels.
• Attended Texas Tech University and sang in the folk group "The Alpine Trio" before dropping out in 1963 and moving to Los Angeles.
• Joined The Chad Mitchell Trio in 1965, replacing Chad Mitchell; the trio later became "Denver, Boise, and Johnson".

Members

• Solo artist; worked closely with producer Milt Okun early on and later with manager Jerry Weintraub.
• Collaborated with friends Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert, who later formed the Starland Vocal Band.

Career

• Left the trio in 1969 for a solo career; first album Rhymes & Reasons on RCA Records.
• "Leaving on a Jet Plane" became a number one hit for Peter, Paul and Mary.
• Breakthrough with Poems, Prayers & Promises (1971) and "Take Me Home, Country Roads", which reached number 2 on the Billboard charts.
• Reached number 1 with "Sunshine on My Shoulders", "Annie's Song", "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" and "I'm Sorry" in 1974–1975.
• Named Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year in 1975.
• Starred in the 1977 film Oh, God! with George Burns.
• Co-founded The Hunger Project and worked for environmental causes through the Windstar Foundation.
• Died in a plane crash off Pacific Grove, California, on October 12, 1997.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Billboard named the album a "Spotlight" selection
• Cash Box: a writer said the collection of songs would surely reinforce Denver's remarkable run over the past year
• Record World: gave the album its "Hit of the Week" certificate
• Record World: said a homey feeling saturates the record, with strong emphasis on country and with dobro, banjo and harmonica in front of soft orchestral arrangements
• Record World: classed it as more of a "conceptual" album than Denver's earlier efforts

Records

• Billboard 200: No. 1
• Multi-platinum certification
• Singles: "Annie's Song" No. 1 pop and No. 1 AC; "Back Home Again" No. 5 pop, No. 1 AC, No. 1 country

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ko.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• "Grandma's Feather Bed" was written by banjoist Jim Connor, who also played on Denver's recording
• Jim Connor is credited on banjo, harmonica and vocals in the personnel list
• "The Music Is You" was recorded outside Hollywood, at Tri-Art Productions in Bismarck, North Dakota and Des Moines, Iowa
• The cover shows Denver with his then-wife, Annie Martell
• Jim Gordon and Hal Blaine both played drums on the album

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ko.wikipedia.org

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