Maps of Music

Spirit (1976)

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

Spirit marked the start of a downward chart trend for John Denver after Windsong, though his hits kept coming on the adult contemporary charts.

Place unknown

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After the full-blown success of Windsong, this album began a downward chart trend for the singer
Denver kept having hits on the adult contemporary charts in later years
"Baby, You Look Good to Me Tonight" reached #65 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
The same song reached the Top 40 on U.S. and Canadian country and AC charts
"Like a Sad Song" explores loneliness and emotional emptiness
"The Wings That Fly Us Home" focuses on bonds between humans and living things, love and spiritual connection
Other tracks include "Pegasus" and "San Antonio Rose"

Denver's vocals and guitar form the core of the recording
Steve Weisberg plays guitar, John Sommers plays guitar and banjo
Dick Kniss on bass, Hal Blaine on drums
Lee Holdridge's orchestra contributed to the album
Starland Vocal Band provided backing vocals
"Pegasus" features the children's choir from St. Mel's School in Woodland Hills, California

1	Come and Let Me Look in Your Eyes	3:47
2	Eli's Song	3:58
3	Wrangell Mountain Song	3:10
4	Hitchhiker	3:10
5	In the Grand Way	3:39
6	Polka Dots and Moonbeams	3:08
7	It Makes Me Giggle	3:16
8	Baby, You Look Good to Me Tonight	2:45
9	Like a Sad Song	3:41
10	San Antonio Rose	2:40
11	Pegasus	3:20
12	The Wings That Fly Us Home	4:11

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".

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.

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.

In subsequent years Denver continued to release hit songs on the Adult Contemporary chart

US Billboard 200: number 7
Top Country Albums chart: number 3
"Baby, You Look Good to Me Tonight" reached the Top 40 on U.S. and Canadian country and AC charts

Pegasus features the children's choir from St. Mel's School in Woodland Hills, California
The album was later reissued on CD with additional bonus tracks
Spirit followed Windsong, a success that the chart decline of this album was measured against
Hal Blaine played drums on the recording alongside Dick Kniss on bass