Prisoners of Hate

Since his tragic death in 1997, John Denver's legacy has been well-covered in a wide variety of greatest-hits packages and various anthologies. His most well-known work has always been widely available, but Sony's career-spanning four-disc set, All of My Memories: The John Denver Collection, digs a bit deeper, offering tracks from nearly every one of the acclaimed singer's studio and live albums from 1964 until the year of his death. They've also uncovered a selection of rare, unreleased tracks in the form of early demos and alternate versions. With his warm, dynamic tenor and earnest, folksy demeanor, Denver's career soared in the late '60s and '70s with hits like "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "Rocky Mountain High," and "Back Home Again," songs that have since become firmly entrenched standards in American music. For many fans, a simple Best Of collection will suffice. But in a recording career that spanned over three decades, it's important to look past the key tracks to get a clearer picture of what so endeared fans to his music.