Maps of Music

Earth Songs (1990)

Where the lyrics of Earth Songs take you, and where it was really made.

Earth Songs was sold only by mail order and at John Denver's concerts when it came out, not through ordinary record shops.

Key places

Capitol Studios, Los Angeles (1990)

Recording site Capitol Studios — Capitol Studios is one of six Los Angeles studios listed as recording locations for the album in spring 1990. The map point marks the studio's listed location. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Earth Songs: the 21st studio album by American singer-songwriter John Denver
• Released June 1990
• At release, available only by mail order and at John Denver's concerts
• Tracks 7, 8, and 14 are new songs
• Every other track is a new version recorded specifically for this album
• All songs written by John Denver unless stated otherwise

Background

• Each re-recorded track is marked with the name and year of the album where it first appeared
• Tracks 7 and 8 were also released later the same year on The Flower That Shattered the Stone
• The album works as a collection of earlier John Denver songs gathered in new recordings

Recording

• Recorded in Los Angeles in spring 1990
• Studios listed: Soundworks West, Evergreen Studios, A&M Studios, Capitol Studios, The Enterprise, and Soundcastle Studios
• Concertmaster: Stuart Canin
• Contractor and recording supervisor (recording co-ordinator): Frank Capp
• Recording engineers: Rick Riccio and Roger Nichols
• Re-mix and mastering engineer: Rick Riccio
• Flute, recorder, and saxophone: Jim Horn

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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

• Released June 1990 as John Denver's 21st studio album
• At release, sold only by mail order and at John Denver's concerts
• Not available through ordinary record stores at the time of release
• Tracks 7, 8, and 14 are new songs
• Every other track is a new version recorded for this album
• Each re-recorded track is credited with the album where it first came out

Reappraisal

• Tracks 7 and 8 were later released on The Flower That Shattered the Stone in the same year
• The release shows John Denver reworking earlier songs for a direct-sales album
• The record stands as a document of how the album was sold, not through a chart run

Records

• Discogs release notes: copyright 1991 Music Collection Int.
• Manufactured in France by MPO
• UK: exclusive license from Goldstone Trading Ltd., arranged with Windstar Records
• Recording locations: six Los Angeles studios in spring 1990
• Credits list one concertmaster, one contractor, three engineers, and one multi-instrumentalist on flute, recorder, and sax

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

Trivia

• Tracks 7, 8, and 14 are new songs, while the other tracks are new versions
• Tracks 7 and 8 were also released later in 1990 on The Flower That Shattered the Stone
• The Discogs release notes carry a 1991 copyright line for this album
• The album was made in France by MPO according to its release notes
• The album was recorded at six Los Angeles studios in spring 1990

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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