John Denver Rocky Mountain High (50th Anniversary) LP (Blue Vinyl)

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Rocky Mountain High album and song, John Denver's Windstar Records is reissuing the album on limited edition blue vinyl. Originally released September 15, 1972, Rocky Mountain High was Denver's first Top 10 album, propelled by the self-titled single. In 2007, the title track was made a state song of Colorado. The album has gone on to earn 2x Platinum status and the title track certified Gold.

In the early 1970s, Denver was one of the first artists to share an environmental message through his music, and fans responded. John understood that responsibility came with having a public voice. The album's iconic namesake "Rocky Mountain High" was written while Denver was camping in the Rocky Mountains during the Perseid Meteor Shower, with lyrics expressing the love and wonder John Denver felt for his adopted state of Colorado, and speaking of environmental sustainability. Released while war was raging in Vietnam, the album's second single "Prisoners" tells a story of prisoners of war. The album also features Denver's take on songs by The Beatles and John Prine, and the five-part Season Suite finds reflection through the seasons.

For a full decade and change, John Denver was one of the biggest stars on the planet, pissing off the country music establishment and securing a place in the soft rock pantheon with his cable knit vocals and the comforting glow of his arrangements. Adding fuel to this cozy campfire early on was his sixth studio album, released 50 years ago and reissued this month on blue vinyl, and its indelible title track 'Rocky Mountain High,' both of which hit the top 10 in the U.S. If all you know of this record is that tune, there is much more within to sink one's teeth into... Denver's LPs are ubiquitous in used record shops for a reason. He struck a chord in the global populace that is resonating as loudly as ever.