Back Home Again (John Denver album)

For the album by Kenny Rogers, see Back Home Again (Kenny Rogers album).

Back Home Again
Studio album by John Denver
Released	June 15, 1974
Studio	RCA (Hollywood, California)
Genre	Country folk [1]
Length	38:08
Label	RCA Victor
Producer	Milton Okun
John Denver chronology
John Denver's Greatest Hits (1973) Back Home Again (1974) An Evening with John Denver (1975)
Singles from Back Home Again
"Annie's Song" Released: June 1974 "Back Home Again" Released: September 1974

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Creem	C+ [3]

Back Home Again is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter John Denver, released in June 1974.

The multi-platinum album reached the top position on the Billboard 200 and contained the hit singles "Annie's Song" (#1 pop, No. 1 adult contemporary), and "Back Home Again" (#5 pop, No. 1 AC, No. 1 country). In addition, the studio versions of "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" and "Sweet Surrender" appear on this album.

The song "Grandma's Feather Bed" was written by banjoist Jim Connor, of the New Kingston Trio, based on a verse he wrote for his grandmother. Denver first heard Connor playing the song in 1968. Connor played on Denver's recording, and toured with the singer. ^[4]

The song "The Music Is You" is a bonus track on the 1998 reissue of Rocky Mountain Christmas .

On the cover, John is shown with his then-wife Annie Martell.

Track listing

All tracks written by John Denver, except where noted.

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Back Home Again"		4:42
2.	"On the Road"	Carl Franzen	2:33
3.	"Grandma's Feather Bed"	Jim Connor	2:15
4.	"Matthew"		3:43
5.	"Thank God I'm a Country Boy"	John Sommers	3:06
6.	"The Music Is You"		1:26

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Annie's Song"		2:58
2.	"It's Up to You"	Steve Weisberg	2:26
3.	"Cool an' Green an' Shady"	Denver Joe Henry	3:07
4.	"Eclipse"		3:41
5.	"Sweet Surrender"		5:29
6.	"This Old Guitar"		2:50

Personnel

• John Denver – 6 & 12-string acoustic guitars, vocals
• Buddy Collette – clarinet
• Jim Gordon – drums, percussion
• Hal Blaine – drums, percussion
• Jim Connor – banjo, harmonica, vocals
• Julie Connor – vocals
• Glen Hardin – piano
• Lee Holdridge – orchestral arrangements
• David Jackson – bass
• Dick Kniss – bass
• John Sommers – banjo, acoustic guitar, mandolin, fiddle, backing vocals
• Steve Weisberg – acoustic guitar, dulcimer, dobro, backing vocals, arranger

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1974–76) Peak Position Australia Albums (Kent Music Report) [5] 2 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [6] 3 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [7] 14 UK Albums (OCC) [8] 3 US Billboard 200 [9] 1 US Top Country Albums (Billboard) [10] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1974) Position Australia Albums (Kent Music Report) [11] 13 US Billboard 200 [12] 90 US Top Country Albums ( Billboard ) [13] 10 Chart (1975) Position Australia Albums (Kent Music Report) [14] 25 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [15] 18 US Billboard 200 [16] 4 US Top Country Albums ( Billboard )< [17] 1 Chart (1976) Position Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [18] 42

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [19]	Gold	50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [20]	Gold	100,000^
United States (RIAA) [21]	3× Platinum	3,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Okamoto, David (January 1, 1998). "John Denver". In Knopper, Steve (ed.). MusicHound Lounge: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. pp. 132–133.
2. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r5455
3. Christgau, Robert (October 1974). "The Christgau Consumer Guide". Creem . Retrieved November 27, 2016.
4. Andy Powell, "Connor’s ‘Grandma’s Feather Bed’ almost wasn’t recorded", The Gadsden Times, June 2, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2017
5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
6. "Dutchcharts.nl – John Denver – Back Home Again" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
7. "Charts.nz – John Denver – Back Home Again". 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 April 17, 2021.
10. "John Denver Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
11. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 426. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
12. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1974". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
13. "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1974". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
14. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 427. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
15. "Top Selling Albums of 1975 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand . Retrieved November 8, 2021.
16. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1975". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
17. "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1975". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
18. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1976" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts . Retrieved November 8, 2021.
19. "Canadian album certifications – John Denver – Back Home Again". Music Canada . Retrieved July 14, 2022.
20. "British album certifications – John Denver – Back Home Again". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved July 14, 2022.
21. "American album certifications – John Denver – Back Home Again". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved July 14, 2022.