Rating: 
Summary: Rocky Mountain Legend
Review: As an avid John Denver "fan," and friend of his work, I believe it's about time someone did a profile on John Denver that delves deeper into the roots of his music and his love for the harmony he created. Along with others here who were cautious of this book, I found Collis' turn of attitude real and genuine. The relationship John Denver had with his family and friends were about love and devotion to all that is good. While this book has some glaring errors, it paints what appears to be a fair look at Denver's life. Collis admits in the beginning that he could not gel with Denver's music and serene portrayal of the world. Yet by the last page, he is obviously at least aware that John Denver made an honest place for himself in the one world we all call home. Anyone who has an appreciation for Denver should check this book out. Nice photos and a REAL effort in telling his story. Collis has written a keeper for JD faithful.
Rating:
Summary: Rocky Mountain Legend
Review: As an avid John Denver "fan," and friend of his work, I believe it's about time someone did a profile on John Denver that delves deeper into the roots of his music and his love for the harmony he created. Along with others here who were cautious of this book, I found Collis' turn of attitude real and genuine. The relationship John Denver had with his family and friends were about love and devotion to all that is good. While this book has some glaring errors, it paints what appears to be a fair look at Denver's life. Collis admits in the beginning that he could not gel with Denver's music and serene portrayal of the world. Yet by the last page, he is obviously at least aware that John Denver made an honest place for himself in the one world we all call home. Anyone who has an appreciation for Denver should check this book out. Nice photos and a REAL effort in telling his story. Collis has written a keeper for JD faithful.
Rating: 
Summary: John Denver-Mother Nature's Son
Review: For the most part, I found the book interesting. I enjoyed the author's entertwining the music of the different decades ... there were some things I didn't know. As for information on the subject of his book, don't expect anything in addition to Mr. Denver's own autobiography ... only a different perspective.However, there is one glaring error the author made with regard to the space flight Mr. Denver was going to participate in with the Soviets. Mr. Denver did NOT OFFER TO PAY the 10 million dollars to participate in this mission ... that was the cost (or fee) for a year's extensive training he would have had to go through in order to go on the mission. That meant actually living in the Soviet Union for one year prior to the mission and going through extensive language training. One of the requirements is that he had to be fluent in Russian. Mr. Denver was unwilling to pay that fee and a waiver of that fee was in the works but he cancelled when it was known his second wife was expecting a baby. I thank the author for referencing my review of the John Denver Tribute concert at the Berchmere Music Hall on January 16, 1998. These tribute concerts have continued every year since Mr. Denver's passing in his home town of Aspen, CO.
Rating:
Summary: John Denver-Mother Nature's Son
Review: For the most part, I found the book interesting. I enjoyed the author's entertwining the music of the different decades ... there were some things I didn't know. As for information on the subject of his book, don't expect anything in addition to Mr. Denver's own autobiography ... only a different perspective. However, there is one glaring error the author made with regard to the space flight Mr. Denver was going to participate in with the Soviets. Mr. Denver did NOT OFFER TO PAY the 10 million dollars to participate in this mission ... that was the cost (or fee) for a year's extensive training he would have had to go through in order to go on the mission. That meant actually living in the Soviet Union for one year prior to the mission and going through extensive language training. One of the requirements is that he had to be fluent in Russian. Mr. Denver was unwilling to pay that fee and a waiver of that fee was in the works but he cancelled when it was known his second wife was expecting a baby. I thank the author for referencing my review of the John Denver Tribute concert at the Berchmere Music Hall on January 16, 1998. These tribute concerts have continued every year since Mr. Denver's passing in his home town of Aspen, CO.
Rating: 
Summary: John Denver Mother Nature's Son
Review: I was disappointed in this book. The dust cover was misleading and sensationalized minor incidents that really had nothing to do with the story. The author went off on tangents that I had a difficult time putting together with John's life. He might better have titled it Musical Timeline of John Denver. I was looking for information that I may not have garnered from " Take Me Home" and various articles I have read. I did like that the author's research made him rethink his original premise. I did like his memorial section at the last. I would not recommend this book as a straight biography.
Rating:
Summary: Brought a smile to my face!
Review: I was recommended to bypass this book as it had very little information in it that those of us who have stayed with John all through his career don't already know - and that is true. However, I was curious so I got it anyway. This book was not sentimental - it didn't bring tears to me eyes but once, that being at the end when the author states that John was cremated on Oct. 15th. I cried then for the loss of this amazing man. However, the book amused me as I watched a man who clearly started out not being an admirer of Johns, and who seemed to want to keep it that way, had to struggle in places to try and keep himself from falling over the precipice into the pit of John Denver admiration! I must thank Mr. Collis that at least the compliments that he paid to John, for the most part, did not come across as being given begrudgingly. I would recommend reading this book if you would like to read some background information on John's family and musical comrades that you might not already have known. Some of this background added some depth to an already deep and complex man.
Rating:
Summary: John Denver's Amazing Life Deserves A Better Effort
Review: I was saddened to discover that the so-called biographer of one of this century's most beloved artists, entertainers, conservationists, and humanists couldn't marshall a more formidable effort on behalf of John Denver. Why undertake a project like this with such misgivings and such a lack of appreciation for who Denver was, how much he personally contributed, or how deeply he affected millions of fans and admirers. While the author may personally find aspects of John's musical style superficial or slick, no one delving deeper into John Denver's story can fail to appreciate his sheer talent, energy, sincerity, and humanity, nor to be impressed by the energy, talent, or persistence in the plethora of important projects John threw himself into. Any number of his songs are quite widely covered, even today, yet no one has ever been more successful presenting what was basically an extremely popular and easy-to-listen to (the word beautiful seems descriptively inadequate) country music cross over into the popular realm than was John Denver. He was indeed a phenomenon. At a time when singer/songwriters like James Taylor, Van Morrison, and Elton John were tearing up the charts, Denver effectively outsold, outwrote, and outperformed them in terms of his public appeal. This is not intended as a put-down of any of these incredible artists, all of whom have continued to create and contribute today . It is rather to emphasize how amazing his continuing success and effective domination of the popular music charts in the 1970s was. John Denver was THE singular popular musical superstar of thee 1970s, and the fact that he was deserves to be recognized for the phenomenal success it was. His deeply personal musical voice spoke simply yet eloquently through the vehicle of a unique perspective on the world, and combined an intensely personal way of describing himself and his relationships with a seductively romantic view of the world. Of course, he quickly became identified with his soaring paens in praise of the beauty of the natural world, and almost as quickly became a driving force popularizing the environmental movement, often testifying to Congress with great style and verve, often very influential in the drafting of certain aspects of the clean water and clean air acts. As the years went by became Denver became less and less concerned about his own career and more and more involved in various environmental and humanist causes. He was friend and confidant to luminaries, world leaders and philosophers like Jacques Cousteau and Buckminister "Bucky" Fuller, and spent time working, covorting and relaxing with a list of notables that sounds like a who's who list of 20th century luminaries. His personal life was as complex and as full of sadness as often true of most exceptional people, and no one denies that he had bouts of depression and tough times over the years. Haven't we all? And isn't that the price one pays for being a human being in this, the last half of the 20th century? Why dwell on his frailties and vulnerabilities when they pale in comparison with his accomplishments and contributions? As his brother commented on suggestions that John's tragic death in a plane crash was a suicide, anyone knowing how much John loved living and life itself who could say that he committed sucide must have his head up his ass. Still, with all of this taken into account, nothing can still bring such a fond smile to millions of babyboomer faces or such a twinkle to many of our eyes as can the mere mention of John Denver's name. Those of us who have witnessed the incredible panorama of music in the last thirty years or so still hold a special place in the valhalla of artistic fame for the bespectacled kid with a shock of bushy blond hair who walked the frozen streams and mountain passes of the American Rockies, and sang so simply, so beautifully, and so eloquently to all of us from his heart. These kids running around the Rockies in their high-tech clothing and glacier boots haven't got a clue, viewing the wilderness as another Disneyland, just another setting for their self-absorbed personal adventures, something to demonstrate their prowess and flatter their egos. Yet Denver helped a whole generation discover how much of a world onto itself the wilderness is, and how much of a gift from Providence such natural wonder is. For Denver the wilderness presented us with a chance to be fuller, kinder, and better people, people who cared about all of God's creation and would act as caretakers for everything in this garden. What we need is a better biography to help these kids understand. In essence, Denver wasn't just an incredibly talented and popular and successful singer/songwriter/entertainer; he was a very special human being who reached higher, stronger, and farther than most normal human beings, someone who opened his heart, head, and spirit to share and guide us with. He deserves a better biography that appreciates the full story of his gifts, contributions, and legacy.
Rating:
Summary: John Denver's Amazing Life Deserves A Better Effort
Review: I was saddened to discover that the so-called biographer of one of this century's most beloved artists, entertainers, conservationists, and humanists couldn't marshall a more formidable effort on behalf of John Denver. Why undertake a project like this with such misgivings and such a lack of appreciation for who Denver was, how much he personally contributed, or how deeply he affected millions of fans and admirers. While the author may personally find aspects of John's musical style superficial or slick, no one delving deeper into John Denver's story can fail to appreciate his sheer talent, energy, sincerity, and humanity, nor to be impressed by the energy, talent, or persistence in the plethora of important projects John threw himself into. Any number of his songs are quite widely covered, even today, yet no one has ever been more successful presenting what was basically an extremely popular and easy-to-listen to (the word beautiful seems descriptively inadequate) country music cross over into the popular realm than was John Denver. He was indeed a phenomenon. At a time when singer/songwriters like James Taylor, Van Morrison, and Elton John were tearing up the charts, Denver effectively outsold, outwrote, and outperformed them in terms of his public appeal. This is not intended as a put-down of any of these incredible artists, all of whom have continued to create and contribute today . It is rather to emphasize how amazing his continuing success and effective domination of the popular music charts in the 1970s was. John Denver was THE singular popular musical superstar of thee 1970s, and the fact that he was deserves to be recognized for the phenomenal success it was. His deeply personal musical voice spoke simply yet eloquently through the vehicle of a unique perspective on the world, and combined an intensely personal way of describing himself and his relationships with a seductively romantic view of the world. Of course, he quickly became identified with his soaring paens in praise of the beauty of the natural world, and almost as quickly became a driving force popularizing the environmental movement, often testifying to Congress with great style and verve, often very influential in the drafting of certain aspects of the clean water and clean air acts. As the years went by became Denver became less and less concerned about his own career and more and more involved in various environmental and humanist causes. He was friend and confidant to luminaries, world leaders and philosophers like Jacques Cousteau and Buckminister "Bucky" Fuller, and spent time working, covorting and relaxing with a list of notables that sounds like a who's who list of 20th century luminaries. His personal life was as complex and as full of sadness as often true of most exceptional people, and no one denies that he had bouts of depression and tough times over the years. Haven't we all? And isn't that the price one pays for being a human being in this, the last half of the 20th century? Why dwell on his frailties and vulnerabilities when they pale in comparison with his accomplishments and contributions? As his brother commented on suggestions that John's tragic death in a plane crash was a suicide, anyone knowing how much John loved living and life itself who could say that he committed sucide must have his head up his ass. Still, with all of this taken into account, nothing can still bring such a fond smile to millions of babyboomer faces or such a twinkle to many of our eyes as can the mere mention of John Denver's name. Those of us who have witnessed the incredible panorama of music in the last thirty years or so still hold a special place in the valhalla of artistic fame for the bespectacled kid with a shock of bushy blond hair who walked the frozen streams and mountain passes of the American Rockies, and sang so simply, so beautifully, and so eloquently to all of us from his heart. These kids running around the Rockies in their high-tech clothing and glacier boots haven't got a clue, viewing the wilderness as another Disneyland, just another setting for their self-absorbed personal adventures, something to demonstrate their prowess and flatter their egos. Yet Denver helped a whole generation discover how much of a world onto itself the wilderness is, and how much of a gift from Providence such natural wonder is. For Denver the wilderness presented us with a chance to be fuller, kinder, and better people, people who cared about all of God's creation and would act as caretakers for everything in this garden. What we need is a better biography to help these kids understand. In essence, Denver wasn't just an incredibly talented and popular and successful singer/songwriter/entertainer; he was a very special human being who reached higher, stronger, and farther than most normal human beings, someone who opened his heart, head, and spirit to share and guide us with. He deserves a better biography that appreciates the full story of his gifts, contributions, and legacy.
Rating:
Summary: All About Collis
Review: I was vastly disappointed in this book. It would only rate a C as a freshman term paper. Collis mostly writes his gut level reaction to Denver's songs and the cultural events of the fifties through nineties with absolutely no attempt to analyze or substantiate. Why on a book about Denver do we have a page and a half about Rosa Parks? Was Denver there with her on the bus? One would find more content on Denver's life in a People Magazine article.
Rating:
Summary: All About Collis
Review: I was vastly disappointed in this book. It would only rate a C as a freshman term paper. Collis mostly writes his gut level reaction to Denver's songs and the cultural events of the fifties through nineties with absolutely no attempt to analyze or substantiate. Why on a book about Denver do we have a page and a half about Rosa Parks? Was Denver there with her on the bus? One would find more content on Denver's life in a People Magazine article.
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