Randy’s Guilty Pleasure
January 31, 2013 1:00 PM 
He had huge hits. “Annie’s Song”, “Back Home Again”, “Country Roads”, “I’m Sorry” and of course the monster hit “Rocky Mountain High”. He sold millions upon millions upon millions of records. And I bough more than a few.
But I never told anyone about it. No one. Nobody.
In those days, and where I was it (both literally and in my life), it just plain wasn’t cool to like John Denver. Oh, the girls could like him alright, they could turn up his songs and stare at his album covers. But not us guys. Nope.
We had to like the ‘harder’ stuff, the louder guitars, the louder drums, the louder…well, whatever it was, it had to be louder. John Denver was too soft, too smooth, too lovey!
I’m in a different place now (again, literally and in my life) and now I’m plum fine saying “Yep, I love John Denver’s music”. I did then and still do now. I think John Denver was a brilliant songwriter and could string words together in a way that extremely few people can.
And good golly, the Associated Press has a story that says others agree:
(AP) – Dave Matthews, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Lucinda Williams are among the acts who will honor John Denver on a new tribute album.
“John Denver: The Music Is You” will raise money for The Wilderness Society in Denver’s name. Others who appear on the record include My Morning Jacket doing “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” Brandi Carlile and Emmylou Harris tackling “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and Train remaking “Sunshine on My Shoulders.”
J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. and Evan Dando of The Lemonheads also appear on the album, out April 2.
So there you go. Rest in Peace, John.
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