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It peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s US Hot 100 singles after its release on April 12, 1971. By August 1971, the song had already been certified gold for shipping over a million copies. Of course, the beauty and pride expressed in the classic song was an instant hit in West Virginia as well. John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” was released as a single almost fifty years ago today. The song was taken from her 1971 album “Poems, Prayers & Promises”.
And speaking of lyrics, the song never would have existed in its current lyrical form without Denver either, since he chipped in and became the third co-writer. By then, Danoff and Nivert knew they couldn’t pitch the song to Cash as they had planned. In fact, he was so passionate about it that he declared it would be featured on his next album.
Summing Up Our List Of ’70s Country Songs
By August, the song had reached No. 2 on the Billboard singles chart. "So I played him what I had of 'Country Roads,' and he said, 'Wow! That's great, that's a hit song! Did you record it?' I said, 'No, we don't have a record deal,' " Danoff said. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” has been a hit almost from the start.
The song is about a faded belle of the south who is seemingly about to die. Its lyrics reflect on her hopeful past, one now distant and unrecognizable. By 41, she is potentially homeless and suffering from poor mental health. Waylon Jennings’s well-known song “Pretend I Never Happened” came out in 1973 on his critically acclaimed album Lonesome, On’ry, and Mean. The song reached #3 on the Billboard US Hot Country Songs and topped the Canadian RPM Country Tracks. It tells the story of a man who loves nature and connects with the wilderness but understands there is no greater pleasure than being with someone of flesh and blood.
“The Devil Went Down To Georgia” By Charlie Daniels Band
Released as an iTunes-only single on July 4, 2018, the song reached No. 1 on the iTunes singles chart. It debuted at No. 41 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart that week and at No. 21 on Billboard's Country Digital Songs the following week. The official YouTube upload of the original John Denver recording, initially uploaded in 2013, would later edit its description in response to the song's use for the game.
While she once had dreams, now the barstool is her proverbial throne. Country music trio Dave & Sugar released “Queen of the Silver Dollar” in 1976 when the pop-country group was at its peak. The song features Dave Rowland on the lead vocals, with Vicki Hackeman and Jackie Frantz backing him up.
Take Me Home, Country Roads
Olivia Newton-John released a cover version in January 1973 that reached number 6 in Japan and number 15 in the UK. It was the lead single from her third studio album, Let Me Be There. This version, as well as the song itself, features prominently in the Japanese animated film, Whisper of the Heart.
To sum it up, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who has never heard “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” And everyone who knows the song knows that it’s Denver’s. The latter achievement was especially remarkable, since Denver was known as a folk artist, not a country singer. "I thought, 'Oh, my God. There's way too much echo on that,' " he said. "I loved the song, but I thought we'd blown the record. And millions of other people didn't agree." John Denver had trouble filling a room prior to releasing his 1971 album Poems, Prayers, and Promises. All that changed with the the album's single, "Take Me Home, Country Roads," which launched Denver's career and made him an international star.
Released in 1973, “Jolene” is one of Dolly Parton’s most famous songs and one of the most well-known country songs of all time. Dolly pleads with Jolene not to steal her man, even though she knows she can. It’s been recorded and performed by hundreds of artists around the world.
The original version of this song was actually for Cliff Richard, and the lyrics were more gospel-themed. However, it was Newton-John’s version that topped the Canadian RPM Country Tracks. The song is another poignant entry on this list, with lyrics suggesting a relationship about to end. As the title implies, the narrator discerns that something is wrong in their relationship with every expression her lover has.
In 1972, the University of West Virginia at Morgantown began using the classic song as an anthem before the football game. The song is also performed in other sporting events and college functions, as well as after football matches. Fans are then encouraged to stay in the stands to sing the song along with the team.
The song’s influence reached far beyond the decade in which it was released. In 2014, it was named the official state anthem of West Virginia. Then in 2016, it was one of three songs sampled in the all-star mashup “Forever Country,” which was made to celebrate the CMA Awards‘ 50th anniversary. Later, when Denver was passing through the city, he arranged to meet at Danoff's apartment after a performance. He was injured in a car accident on the way over and taken to the hospital with a broken thumb.
Danoff knew Denver from his times appearing at the Cellar Door, first with the Mitchell Trio and later as a solo act. Denver had already recorded one of Danoff’s songs, "I Guess He’d Rather Be In Colorado," when Denver was booked for New Year’s Eve week at the Cellar Door with Fat City as the opening act. The folk singer and country artist had voices that seemed to meld perfectly together. Cash is known for his incredibly deep voice, while Denver’s is a bit higher.
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