John Denver

In the opening sequence of the documentary A Song's Best Friend, the voice-over intones, "people have said that what Sinatra was to the 1940s, Elvis to the 1950s, the Beatles to the '60s, John Denver was to the 1970s." You have to wonder exactly how many people have said that beyond the man's immediate circle of family and friends, but it's fair enough warning of this portrait's adulatory tone. It's far less an objective record of John Denver's life than it is an appreciation of his work, the ten chapters focusing on the genesis and meaning of a dozen of his most celebrated songs. The works discussed include the big hits "Rocky Mountain High," "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "Sunshine on My Shoulders," "Annie's Song," and "Thank God I'm a Country Boy," as well as "Leaving on a Jet Plane" (covered for a number one smash by Peter, Paul & Mary), less traveled songs like "Perhaps Love" and "The Eagle and the Hawk," and his uncharacteristic interpretation of Jacques Brel's "Port of Amsterdam." His songwriting, performing, arranging, and personality are probed via interviews with his producer Milt Okun, his ex-wife Annie Denver, his manager Hal Thau, and musicians who worked with the singer/songwriter. Interspersed throughout are clips from the early '70s through the mid-'90s of Denver performing in concert and on television. Within the limited scope it sets out to cover, it's well done, though those looking for even a basic sketch of his life and career highlights won't find it here. There is nothing, for instance, on the frequent razzing he endured from rock critics (and Doonesbury cartoonist Garry Trudeau), his courageous stance against the PMRC's lobbying for record labeling, or his 1997 death in a flying accident; his lengthy apprenticeship in the Mitchell Trio folk group, Peter, Paul & Mary's success with "Leaving on a Jet Plane" (which predated any of Denver's solo hits), and his divorce from Annie Denver (the inspiration for "Annie's Song") are mentioned only in passing. A few interesting, relatively little-known stories do emerge, like the immense popularity of "Take Me Home, Country Roads" in China, and Okun's suggestion that Denver change the title of the song originally titled "Oh Babe, I Hate to Go" to the far more memorable "Leaving on a Jet Plane." Footage of complete performances of four songs in the 1970s and 1980s are added as bonus features. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide