Maps of Music
Rocky Mountain Christmas (1975)
Where the lyrics of Rocky Mountain Christmas take you, and where it was really made.
John Denver's first Christmas album was recorded in August 1975 across three studios in Hollywood, Toronto and New York City.
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Recorded at RCA Studios in Hollywood (1975)
Recording site RCA Studios — The album was recorded in August 1975 at RCA Studios in Hollywood, California, one of three studios used for the sessions. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: See the map for directions.
Recorded at Soundstage in Toronto (1975)
Recording site Phase One Audio Group — Part of the album was recorded in August 1975 at Soundstage in Toronto, Canada. The point marks the city centre only. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: See the map for directions.
Album story
Overview
- Rocky Mountain Christmas is the tenth studio album and first Christmas album by American singer-songwriter John Denver
- Released in October 1975 by RCA Records
- Includes renditions of several traditional carols and popular Christmas standards
- Re-recorded versions of "Aspenglow" from Take Me to Tomorrow and "Please, Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas)" from Farewell Andromeda
- Newly written compositions "Christmas for Cowboys" and "A Baby Just Like You"
- Original LP contains 12 tracks
Background
- Title refers to Denver's 1972 song "Rocky Mountain High" and to a Colorado mountain range
- Denver's TV special of the same name aired on ABC on December 10, 1975
- "Christmas for Cowboys" and "A Baby Just Like You" were featured in the special, along with five other songs including "Aspenglow"
Recording
- Recorded in August 1975 at RCA Studios in Hollywood, Soundstage in Toronto, and RCA Studios in New York City
- Milton Okun is credited as producer
- Kris O'Connor is credited as assistant producer and Mickey Crofford as recording engineer
- Hal Blaine plays drums and percussion
- Lee Holdridge plays piano, celeste, harpsichord and tack piano
Cover
- Front cover illustration by Peter Palombi
- Acy Lehman is credited for art direction
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.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 in October 1975 by RCA Records as the tenth studio album by American singer-songwriter John Denver
- First Christmas-themed release of Denver's career
- Album includes traditional carols, Christmas standards, and two newly written songs
- "Christmas for Cowboys" was released as the single from the album
- Two songs from the album and five others including "Aspenglow" were featured in Denver's TV special broadcast on December 10, 1975 on ABC
Records
- "Christmas for Cowboys" became a minor hit in the US, reaching number 58 on the pop chart
- In Canada the single reached number 77 on the pop chart and number 26 on the AC chart
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Trivia
- Title echoes Denver's 1972 song "Rocky Mountain High" and the name of a Colorado mountain range
- Denver's TV special of the same name aired on ABC on December 10, 1975
- Two newly written songs and five other songs, including "Aspenglow", were featured in the special
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org
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