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John Denver vs. Emmylou Harris
Posted on 5/9/24 at 9:33 am
Posted on 5/9/24 at 9:33 am
I was thinking about this over the weekend and decided I would bring it to the music board for your opinions.
How/why is/was Emmylou Harris more accepted in Nashville and country music than John Denver was? Both came out of the folk scene in the late 60s/early 70s. Both put out their first well known albums about the same time.
Is it because Emmylou was more likely to record/be connected with other folks in the country industry while John liked to say he was more "western" music and did his own thing? Is it because Emmylou moved to Nashville and John went to Colorado? Is it because Emmylou had more of a country sound while John was "too country for pop but too pop for country"?
I love Emmylou Harris, but it just seems odd that John Denver isn't thought of that often as a big country artist. He isn't in the CMHoF, and there is really no talk about him getting in any time soon.
How/why is/was Emmylou Harris more accepted in Nashville and country music than John Denver was? Both came out of the folk scene in the late 60s/early 70s. Both put out their first well known albums about the same time.
Is it because Emmylou was more likely to record/be connected with other folks in the country industry while John liked to say he was more "western" music and did his own thing? Is it because Emmylou moved to Nashville and John went to Colorado? Is it because Emmylou had more of a country sound while John was "too country for pop but too pop for country"?
I love Emmylou Harris, but it just seems odd that John Denver isn't thought of that often as a big country artist. He isn't in the CMHoF, and there is really no talk about him getting in any time soon.
13
Posted on 5/9/24 at 9:40 am to PJinAtl
quote:
Is it because Emmylou had more of a country sound while John was "too country for pop but too pop for country"?
Posted on 5/9/24 at 9:41 am to PJinAtl
I think Emmylou's voice was a big part of it.
She was " Folky" but country at the same time.
Denver's voice was too folky.
Also Emmylou had a connection with Bob Dylan and that carried some serious weight.
She was " Folky" but country at the same time.
Denver's voice was too folky.
Also Emmylou had a connection with Bob Dylan and that carried some serious weight.
Posted on 5/9/24 at 9:43 am to PJinAtl
Emmylou collaborated with a lot of Nashville artists in the 70's. She was close with Gram Parsons of the Byrds, and that helped her get in with the country scene. Even though it was "fringe" Nashville, it was still Nashville.
John Denver was more of a loner and an odd person. Not easy to work with, and his outspoken political beliefs in the 70's were opposite most of the country music establishment. He was seen as a tree-hugger while Waylon and Hank Jr were getting down with all their rowdy friends.
I love the clip of Charlie Rich lighting his award envelope on fire. Then to have Denver's pre-recorded speech come on while the audience was reacting was peak awkwardness.
John Denver was more of a loner and an odd person. Not easy to work with, and his outspoken political beliefs in the 70's were opposite most of the country music establishment. He was seen as a tree-hugger while Waylon and Hank Jr were getting down with all their rowdy friends.
I love the clip of Charlie Rich lighting his award envelope on fire. Then to have Denver's pre-recorded speech come on while the audience was reacting was peak awkwardness.
Posted on 5/9/24 at 10:32 am to slinger1317
quote:
Emmylou collaborated with a lot of Nashville artists in the 70's. She was close with Gram Parsons of the Byrds, and that helped her get in with the country scene. Even though it was "fringe" Nashville, it was still Nashville.
That was the conclusion I came to as well. Although I wasn't sure if Gram ever really got the respect he deserved in Nashville until well after his death.
I know that Emmylou had connections with Guy and Susanna Clark, as well as Townes. Even though they were fringe, they had connections.
I do think it is funny that Bill Danoff has a connection to Emmylou in co-writing Boulder to Birmingham with her and then also co-wrote Take Me Home, Country Roads with Denver.
Posted on 5/9/24 at 4:41 pm to rebelrouser
Love Emmylou
That voice
That voice
Posted on 5/9/24 at 4:47 pm to PJinAtl
Ironically both are connected to the State of Alabama in that Harris was born in Birmingham and Denver lived in Montgomery when his father was stationed at Maxwell AFB. Denver was always rooted in folk music while Harris was rooted in country. After Gram Parsons death Emmylou didn’t really have a collaborators in LA and moved to Nashville where she linked up with many singer songwriters. Denver did,his,own thing and never tried to break in the Nashville scene.
Posted on 5/9/24 at 5:21 pm to PJinAtl
Well first off, she was much better and secondly, she could actually sing and sound "country, while Denver was always "country poppish". Sort of in the same vain that Kenny Rogers became later.
...not to mention, she was flat out drop dead gorgeous.
...not to mention, she was flat out drop dead gorgeous.
Posted on 5/9/24 at 6:00 pm to slinger1317
Posted on 5/9/24 at 7:06 pm to slinger1317
It is ironic considering that Charlie Rich at heart was a jazz musician that had to get into country music to be more mainstream.
Posted on 5/10/24 at 3:38 pm to PJinAtl
quote:
Emmylou Harris
I used to sing this song to my daughter before she went to bed
Posted on 5/10/24 at 8:24 pm to rebelrouser
I think she just played nice to the right people in Nashville, respected the traditions, etc.
Her talents would make her successful anywhere, though.
Her talents would make her successful anywhere, though.
Posted on 5/10/24 at 9:21 pm to PJinAtl
I think it was the western U. S. & Colorado influence that moved Denver's music to be more widely accepted in the mainstream.
For me..... John Denver no doubt. He was a fabulous songwriter, musician, and performer.
This post was edited on 5/10/24 at 9:24 pm
Posted on 5/11/24 at 8:46 am to PJinAtl
Talent, mainly. Plus Emmylou was more straight country after her Gram Parsons partnership.
BTW, Denver wasn’t the original writer of “Country Roads”.
BTW, Denver wasn’t the original writer of “Country Roads”.
Posted on 5/12/24 at 3:02 pm to PJinAtl
Posted on 5/12/24 at 5:14 pm to Bayou Warrior 64
quote:
For me..... John Denver no doubt. He was a fabulous songwriter, musician, and performer.
I think we have a troll just beginning her apprenticeship.
Posted on 5/12/24 at 5:23 pm to auggie
quote:if any thread ever needed a troll
I think we have a troll
quote:is it
John Denver vs. Emmylou Harris
PM me if someone posts Creedence vs Marie Osmond
Posted on 5/12/24 at 11:02 pm to PJinAtl
John Denver didnt need Nashville. Maybe from the jaded perspective of 50 years on his mop haircut and gee whiz schtick seem cheesy. But there were few stars bigger in the seventies. He churned out hit after hit and is in the songwriters hall of fame.
I like Emmylou a lot and she has a reputation as the more serious artist. But during his lifetime John Denver was more successful and it's not really close.
I like Emmylou a lot and she has a reputation as the more serious artist. But during his lifetime John Denver was more successful and it's not really close.
Posted on 5/12/24 at 11:11 pm to Jim Rockford
quote:was anyone disputing this?
during his lifetime John Denver was more successful and it's not really close
Posted on 5/13/24 at 10:46 am to boxcarbarney
I always did Tamborine Man
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