Aerie - JOHN DENVER***

Starwood In Aspen/Everyday/Casey's Last Ride/City Of New Orleans/Friends With You/60 Second Song For A Bank/Blow Up Your TV/All Of My Memories/She Wont Let Me Fly Away/Readjustment Blues/The Eagle & The Hawk/Tools

Country-pop singer-songwriter John Denver had yet to achieve a major commercial breakthrough, although this would come in a big way with his next album. Meanwhile Aerie consolidated his growing reputation. (US:75)

“Aerie is arguably the first of his records that can be credibly viewed as a serious, cohesive piece of work. Up to this point his LPs had been pretty uneven affairs. There were some good songs to be found here and there but a penchant for gimmicky arrangements and variable sound quality generally spoilt each of them at one stage or another. By contrast, this record boasts a real consistency that is lacking on earlier efforts and represents an overdue attempt to join the ranks of serious songwriters.”

“Like many good albums Aerie has a prominent artistic theme running through it. The strong bond that Denver enjoyed with mountain landscapes is contrasted against a growing sense of alienation with modern city life. There is no denying the sincerity with which he tackles this subject. He contributes six of his own songs including Starwood In Aspen, a little sugary for my liking but a pretty song nonetheless. City Of New Orleans is a great little train song. Best of the bunch has to be All Of My Memories with its restrained arrangement that matches the sombre subject matter.”

“Before he was famous, before he was a household name, John Denver was trying to make name for himself. Included in this release were songs that spoke to a generation. Anti-war and anti-establishment, these songs found meaning to the disenfranchised.”

“John Denver was a country singer in the true sense, rather than the Nashville sense. He sang about rural life as he saw and experienced it, reflecting on issues that he felt strongly about. He liked to do things his own way, and his success allowed him the freedom to do that. This particular album was not one of his most successful commercially, but it has always been one of my favourites.”

“While these songs are not only a part of history, they reinforce the ideals of his generation. I truly believe this is one of his greatest albums. While he may not have written many of the songs here, he gives due credit to Kris Kristofferson and Tom Paxton by singing their compositions with feeling and understanding.”