surprisingly pleased

I purchased this particular CD and the "Spirit" CD to have access to the much berated "Whose Garden Was This" - sides one and two appearing as bonus tracks on each CD respectively. "JD", however, is a surprise to one who has not heard this album since its release in the late 1970s. The music is crisp, clear, and John Denver is at his best. Listen to Downhill Stuff, Your'e So Beautiful, What's On Your Mind, and the esoteric Denver compositions of Joseph and Joe and Songs Of. As a native West Virginian, I thought Country Roads was Denver's best, I love that song, but love the "JD" album more.

Willie

Surprisingly Versatile and Fun, Overlooked Gem

This is the last album that received any noticable degree of support (I remember it being advertised on weekday morning network television during the time I suffered a death in the family), and, when it disappointed his label, Denver faded away almost as fast and thoroughly as another early & mid 70s hitmaker, Gordon Lightfoot.
"Berkeley Woman" has a surprising edge to it, sounds great even today, very untypical Denver fare. "The Garden Song" was much more in tune with the Capricorn Denver's tree-hugger style and a very nice song. Even the songs I did not like here seemed to stretch Denver's mostly self-inflicted artistic boundaries.

Who'd of thunk it!

John Denver doing rock and roll! This is not your typical Denver collection. It's JD breaking the rules. And it's wonderful. I defy anyone to listen to his rollicking rendition of "Johnny B. Goode" and NOT get on your feet and move. And don't let the opening strains of Downhill Stuff fool you into thinking this is a sleepy little country song, nope. Just as you're about to hit that 'skip' button you hear a joyous 1 2 3 4....and a piano riff straight from Jerry Lee..and it rocks!