Growing up in a pop radio-filled household, I was a Newton-John fan early on. Hits like "God Only Knows" by the Beach Boys, "Me and Bobby McGee" written by Kris Kristofferson, made famous by Janis Joplin, and "Ring Of Fire" written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore, recorded by Johnny Cash, all appear as some album filler by the mild-mannered country-pop singer. When most people think of Olivia Newton-John, they recall her performance in Grease or her hit song "Physical." Few people know that in the late '60's and through the '70's, Newton-John filled albums with covers of songs that were uncharacteristic of her then-country-pop sound. The next time they heard the original while hanging out at the mall, they could say, "Hey, I know this song." Not that we're seeing Mason fans lining up for Annie Lennox shows, but they automatically gained a musical education just by listening. It can also turn those listeners into fans of original artists they otherwise wouldn't have known of. The effect of cover songs is further reaching than just a resurgence of the original version being heard. The record label might even have capitalized with an enticing sticker slammed on the front that read, "The original recording of Marilyn Manson's Sweet Dream!" There was a slight rush on the Eurhythmics' Greatest Hits CD as record stores clamored to prominently stock it over a decade after the song's original release. Radio stations that wouldn't play the darker Manson version added Annie Lennox's madcap vocals back into steady rotation. When Marilyn Mason covered the Eurhythmics' "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)," some listeners sought out the original song. He was 53.Photo from Only Olivia, the Olivia Newton-John Fan Club Unlikely sources and other people's hits The announcement of The Music Is You: A Tribute to John Denver comes 15 years after Denver died when the light plane he was piloting crashed in the ocean off Monterey, Calif. PHOTOS: The Best (and Worst) Moments of Grammys 2012ĭenver hosted the Grammy Awards five times, including four consecutive from 1982-85 won a posthumous Grammy in 1997 scored an Emmy in 1975 for his special An Evening With John Denver was named entertainer of the year by the Country Music Association in 1975 guest-hosted The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson several times and co-starred with George Burns in the 1977 comedy hit Oh, God! and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. alone, including 9 million-plus copies of John Denver’s Greatest Hits. He has sold more than 33 million albums in the U.S. He also had a string of hit LPs, including three No.
His “Rocky Mountain High” is the state song of Colorado. Four of those (“Sunshine on My Shoulders,” “Annie’s Song, “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” and “I’m Sorry”) topped the Billboard Hot 100 during a span of 19 months. but closely associated with Colorado, where he lived for decades and was named its poet laureate - Denver enjoyed a run of eight Top 10 singles from 1971-75. 1 hit for Peter, Paul and Mary in 1969.ĬONCERT REVIEW: Dave Matthews Band at the Hollywood BowlĪlso contributing to the record are Lucinda Williams, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Amos Lee, Mary Chapin Carpenter, J Mascis, ex-Lemonhead Evan Dando and others.īorn Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. 197 on the Billboard 200 in 1970 Brandi Carlile’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” Denver’s breakout single from 1971 and My Morning Jacket’s take on the Denver-penned “Leaving, on a Jet Plane,” a No. Highlights include Dave Matthews covering “Take Me to Tomorrow,” the title track of Denver’s sophomore album, which peaked at No. A portion of its profits will benefit environmental initiatives in Denver’s name. The album features a clutch of rock, country and pop acts playing the bespectacled singer-songwriter’s biggest hits as well as lesser-known songs. This time, others will be shouldering the sunshine.ĪTO Records plans a February release for The Music Is You: A Tribute to John Denver, a star-studded homage to the ’70s hitmaker.