Maps of Music

Higher Ground (1988)

Where the lyrics of Higher Ground take you, and where it was really made.

The album shares its title with a television movie whose opening theme is the title song, and most of it was recorded in a private studio in Colorado.

Key places

Denver's private studio in Snowmass (1988)

Recording site Denver's private studio — Most of the album was recorded at Denver's private studio in Snowmass, Colorado. The point is placed at town-center level, not at the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded in Sydney (1988)

Recording site Sydney — 'For You' and the didjeridu part of 'Sing Australia' were recorded in Sydney. The point marks the recording city, not a specific studio. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Higher Ground: twentieth studio album by American singer-songwriter John Denver
• Released September 1988
• First studio album on the Windstar label
• Recorded at Denver's private studio in Snowmass, Colorado
• Exceptions: 'For You' and the didjeridu part in 'Sing Australia' were recorded in Sydney
• Shares its title with Denver's television movie 'Higher Ground'
• The album's title song is the opening theme of that movie
• All songs written by John Denver unless stated otherwise

Background

• The album marks Denver's move to Windstar for his studio releases
• Its title comes from the television movie 'Higher Ground', which Denver made
• The album includes a cover of Guy Clark's song 'Homegrown Tomatoes'
• 'Homegrown Tomatoes' was a 1981 US Country hit in the original version

Recording

• Most tracks were recorded at Denver's private studio in Snowmass, Colorado
• 'For You' was recorded in Sydney, not in Colorado
• The didjeridu part on 'Sing Australia' was also recorded in Sydney
• Charlie McMahon is credited with the didjeridu
• Glenn Meadows is credited as mastering engineer on the Discogs release
• Jim Horn plays saxophone, flute and recorder
• Richard Mellick played piano on 'For You'

Sources: en.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

• Released September 1988 as John Denver's twentieth studio album
• First studio album on the Windstar label
• Recorded mainly at Denver's private studio in Snowmass, Colorado
• Two charting singles were taken from the LP
• 'For You' reached the Top 40 in Australia
• 'Country Girl in Paris' was a minor hit in the U.S.
• Includes a cover of Guy Clark's 'Homegrown Tomatoes', a 1981 US Country hit
• Personnel includes James Burton on guitar, Glen Hardin on piano and Jerry Scheff on bass
• Lee Holdridge and Alf Clausen are credited with string arrangements
• Jim Horn is credited with saxophone, flute and recorder
• Richard Mellick played piano on 'For You'

Records

• Australia: 'For You' reached the Top 40
• United States: 'Country Girl in Paris' was a minor hit
• Discogs credit: mastering by Glenn Meadows

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

Trivia

• The title song is the opening theme of Denver's television movie 'Higher Ground', which gave the album its name.
• Only 'For You' and the didjeridu part of 'Sing Australia' were recorded outside Colorado, in Sydney.
• Charlie McMahon is credited with the didjeridu on the album.
• The album includes a cover of Guy Clark's 'Homegrown Tomatoes', which had been a 1981 US Country hit.

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

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