Learn to Play the Songs of John Denver

When I was a budding guitarist in high school, John Denver songs were de rigueur on campouts and youth group retreats, and for good reason: many of the songs were simple to play (or at least approximate), and everyone knew at least a few of the words. Pete Huttlinger, who played with the late country/pop star, teaches the songs that made his former boss famous, providing added insight into the artist's dynamics, accents, and varying meter on pieces played live (pointers that generally aren't reflected in the sheet music). Songs include "My Sweet Lady," "I'm Sorry," "Annie's Song," "Fly Away," "Boy From the Country" and, of course, "Rocky Mountain High," presented in both standard and tab notation in the accompanying booklet. Hearing the old songs, even as part of an instructional video, evoked for me images and memories of Colorado prior to its explosive population growth--a time when there was a little more space between houses, and Denver's adopted hometown of Aspen was just another funky mountain burg. Recommended. Aud: P. (C. Block)