Windsong

For other uses, see Windsong (disambiguation).

Windsong
Studio album by John Denver
Released	September 19, 1975[1]
Recorded	July 1975
Studio	RCA (Hollywood, California)
Genre	Folk country pop
Length	42:48
Label	RCA Victor
Producer	Milton Okun
John Denver chronology
An Evening with John Denver (1975) Windsong (1975) Rocky Mountain Christmas (1975)
Singles from Windsong
"Calypso/ I'm Sorry" Released: July 1975 "Fly Away" Released: November 1975 "Looking for Space" Released: February 1976

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Rolling Stone	(mixed)[3]
The Village Voice	C−[4]

Windsong is the ninth studio album recorded by American singer-songwriter John Denver, which was released in September 1975. Denver's popularity was at its peak by this time.

The album contained the songs "I'm Sorry" and "Calypso," which comprised a two-sided hit for Denver in the fall of 1975. "Looking for Space" was dedicated to Werner Erhard, "Two Shots" to Michael P. Shore, "Fly Away", featuring the backup vocals from Olivia Newton-John, and "Calypso" to Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau and all those who served on his ship, Calypso.

Track listing

All tracks composed by John Denver; except where indicated

Side one

1. "Windsong" (Denver, Joe Henry) – 3:57
2. "Cowboy’s Delight" (Bob Carpenter, David James Holster) – 3:05
3. "Spirit" (Denver, Joe Henry) – 3:33
4. "Looking for Space" – 3:56
5. "Shipmates and Cheyenne" (music: Denver; lyrics: Joe Henry) – 3:22
6. "Late Nite Radio" (Bill Danoff, Taffy Danoff) – 2:44

Side two

1. "Love Is Everywhere" (music: John Sommers; lyrics: John Denver, Joe Henry, Steve Weisberg, John Sommers) – 3:30
2. "Two Shots" – 3:29
3. "I'm Sorry" – 3:29
4. "Fly Away" – 4:08
5. "Calypso" – 3:32
6. "Song of Wyoming" (Kent Lewis) – 3:19

Personnel

• John Denver – vocals, 6 and 12-string acoustic guitars
• Hal Blaine – drums, percussion
• Dick Kniss – double bass
• John Sommers – banjo, acoustic guitar, mandolin, fiddle, backing vocals
• Steve Weisberg – electric and acoustic guitars, pedal steel guitar, electric and acoustic dobros, backing vocals
• Byron Berline – mandolin, fiddle on "Love is Everywhere"
• Mary Ann Duffy – vocals on "Late Nite Radio" and "Love is Everywhere"
• Olivia Newton-John – backing vocals on "Fly Away"
• Jesse Ehrlich – cello on "Windsong"
• John Ellis – oboe on "Windsong"
• Jimmie Fadden – harmonica on "Song of Wyoming"
• Lee Holdridge – arranger, conductor

Technical

• Kris O'Connor – production assistance
• Mickey Crofford – engineer
• Acy Lehman – art direction
• Albert MacKenzie Watson – cover photography

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1975–1976) Peak position Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[5] 1 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[6] 2 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[7] 5 UK Albums (OCC)[8] 14 US Billboard 200[9] 1 US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[10] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1975) Position New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[11] 15 Chart (1976) Position Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[12] 7 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[13] 33 US Billboard 200[14] 26 US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[15] 9

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[16]	Gold	20,000^^
United States (RIAA)[17]	Platinum	1,000,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Brodsky, Greg (June 4, 2022). "John Denver: From Pop Singer to Country Boy in 10 Songs". Best Classic Bands.
2. Windsong at AllMusic
3. Rollingstone
4. Christgau, Robert (December 22, 1975). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 87. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
6. "Dutchcharts.nl – John Denver – Windsong" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
7. "Charts.nz – John Denver – Windsong". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
8. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
9. "John Denver Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
10. "John Denver Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
11. "Top Selling Albums of 1975 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
12. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1976" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
13. "Top Selling Albums of 1976 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
14. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1976". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
15. "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1976". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
16. "Australian Gold" (PDF). Cash Box. November 15, 1975. p. 50. Retrieved November 15, 2021 – via World Radio History.
17. "Australian Gold" (PDF). Cash Box. November 15, 1975. p. 50. Retrieved November 15, 2021 – via World Radio History.