Rocky Mountain High (album)

Rocky Mountain High is the sixth studio album released by American singer-songwriter John Denver in September 1972. It was his first US Top 10 album (no. 4), propelled by the title single, and in addition reached no. 11 in the UK and no. 1 in Canada.[3] The album's cover photograph was taken at Slaughterhouse Falls, Rio Grande Trail, Aspen, Colorado.[4]

Rocky Mountain High
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 15, 1972 (1972-09-15)
StudioRCA, New York City
GenreCountry folk[1][2]
Length37:14
LabelRCA
ProducerMilton Okun
John Denver chronology
Aerie
(1971)
Rocky Mountain High
(1972)
Farewell Andromeda
(1973)
Singles from Rocky Mountain High
  1. "Goodbye Again"
    Released: July 1972
  2. "Hard Life, Hard Times (Prisoners)"
    Released: September 1972
  3. "Rocky Mountain High"
    Released: October 30, 1972

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [1]
CreemC[5]

In July 1972, Record World called the single 'Goodbye Again', "a sad, gentle ballad that threatens to become a standard along the lines of 'Leaving on a Jet Plane.'"[6] In September of that same year, Record World commended the single "Hard Life, Hard Times (Prisoners)" for its "good use of counterpoint towards the end."[7]

William Ruhlmann of AllMusic wrote of Rocky Mountain High that, "Though Denver still couldn't figure out how to fill out an entire album without covering his betters (in this case, old favorites the Beatles and John Prine), he and his steady backup musicians, bassist Dick Kniss and guitarist Mike Taylor, were evolving into an exuberant folk-country sound that would prove enormously appealing over the next few years."[1] Ruhlman highlighted "Goodbye Again" and "For Baby (For Bobbie)", praising the former as "one of Denver's finest ballads."[1]

Track listing

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Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Rocky Mountain High"
4:43
2."Mother Nature's Son"2:28
3."Paradise"John Prine2:13
4."For Baby (For Bobbie)"Denver2:57
5."Darcy Farrow"
4:22
6."Prisoners"Denver3:36
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Goodbye Again"Denver3:36
2."Season Suite: Summer"
  • Denver
  • Taylor
  • Dick Kniss
2:51
3."Season Suite: Fall"
  • Denver
  • Taylor
  • Kniss
1:38
4."Season Suite: Winter"
  • Denver
  • Taylor
  • Kniss
1:36
5."Season Suite: Late Winter, Early Spring (When Everybody Goes to Mexico)"
  • Denver
  • Taylor
  • Kniss
4:00
6."Season Suite: Spring"
  • Denver
  • Taylor
  • Kniss
2:27

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Ruhlmann, William. "Rocky Mountain High Review". AllMusic. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  2. ^ Okamoto, David (January 1, 1998). "John Denver". In Knopper, Steve (ed.). MusicHound Lounge: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. pp. 132–133.
  3. ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums - April 21, 1973" (PDF).
  4. ^ "Musical Maps".
  5. ^ Christgau, Robert (April 1973). "The Christgau Consumer Guide". Creem. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  6. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. July 8, 1972. p. 1. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  7. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. September 16, 1972. p. 1. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
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