John Denver

This is my favorite John Denver's album, with memorable songs and certainly his best versions. This is the case of "Sunshine on my shoulders" with only his guitar and a bass, will come a later version that adds a string orchestra.

Coinciding with the 35th anniversary of Denver's first album release on RCA, this two-disc, 25-track overview of the country-pop singer's storied career is the most concise and nuanced yet. Digitally remastered from the original master tapes, road-trip classics like "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "Rocky Mountain High," and "Back Home Again" are as warm as the singer's lauded tenor. There are no gimmicky re-recorded cuts or disappointing live tracks – "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" spent its time on the charts in its live incarnation – and his spotty '80s material is only briefly covered ("Perhaps Love" and "Shanghai Breezes"). For those unwilling to sift through the exhaustive four-CD Country Roads Collection, Song's Best Friend: The Very Best of John Denver is a good buy and a rewarding visit with an old friend.

The first two volumes of this series have met with such enthusiasm from guitar playing fans of John Denver that it became clear that we had to continue with a third lesson. Pete Huttlinger's comprehensive understanding of John Denver's music, and his ability to communicate techniques to learning guitarists, have inspired innumerable players and have made these among Homespun's most successful instructional products.