Leaving on a Jet Plane – The song that allowed a career to take off. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #JohnDenver #PeterPaul&Mary #MeFirst&theGimmeGimmes #ChantalKreviazuk

It is appropriate that today’s feature song took a bit of a flight before arriving at its ultimate destination; figuratively #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Here is a very brief story of ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’.

The well known song was written by John Denver in 1966. It was originally released on a demo he called John Denver Sings that same year. You won’t find that title on that release though. The working title was ‘Babe, I Hate to Go’. Here it is in its original state.

At the urging of his producer at the time, Milt Okun, John Denver changed the song’s title to ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’. The iconic folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary recorded the first known version of the song under that title in 1967 as part of their album known as Album 1700. The album was so titled because in the Warner Brothers library this Peter, Paul and Mary release was actually catalogued as issue W-1700. Just an interesting anecdote. Much to the delight, of their long time fans Peter, Paul and Mary released ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’ as a single in 1969. It became their swan song. It was their biggest hit and stands as their only #1 single. In 1970, shortly after the success of ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’, Peter, Paul and Mary broke up. Here is their version.

The same year as Peter, Paul and Mary released ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’ as a single John Denver recorded a version for his first solo album, Rhymes and Reasons. He recorded yet another version on his 1973 Greatest Hits album. With the success of this song John Denver’s career literally took off. The song was the catalyst for a phenomenal career as a singer/songwriter. In his earliest days he would show up at prominent radio stations, guitar in hand and offer himself for an on air interview. By identifying himself as the writer of ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’ doors were opened. He left the radio stations with positive vibes, based on his engaging personality and obvious talent. Listeners were enthralled with his stories and charisma and naturally were left wanting more. This approach gained him fans on a grass roots level. It was an easy sell to convince listeners to come to his next show or buy his current album. For Denver, the ascent was rapid and he became one of the top selling acoustic artists of the ‘70s decade.  He amassed numerous chart topping hits and became a strong proponent of humanitarian efforts and conservation causes.

Sadly, on this day in 1997 John Denver was practicing touch and go landings in his experimental Rutan Long – EZ plane when it crashed into Monterey Bay a short distance from Monterey Peninsula Airport. He died of massive internal injuries. He was the lone occupant of the plane.

For today’s cover versions I will offer two diametrically opposed interpretations.

The first is by Me First and the Gimme, Gimmes because I love the punk renditions of acoustic songs. Tons of fun.

Now here is a much more subdued version by Chantal Kreviazuk. It is beautiful.

Have a great Saturday!