"Looking for Space" | ||||
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Single by John Denver | ||||
from the album Windsong | ||||
B-side | "Windsong" | |||
Released | February 1976 | |||
Genre | Folk, country pop | |||
Length | 3:56 | |||
Label | RCA Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | John Denver | |||
Producer(s) | Milton Okun | |||
John Denver singles chronology | ||||
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"Looking for Space" is a popular song written and performed by the American singer-songwriter John Denver. Released as a single from his album Windsong , "Looking for Space" peaked at No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1976. On the easy listening chart, the song reached No. 1 to become his seventh to top that chart. [1]
Denver described the themes of the song to Billboard magazine: "It's about looking for the definition of who you are, by finding out where you are, not only physically, but mentally and emotionally." [2] He has also credited his training in Erhard Seminars Training as inspiring the lyrics to the song. [3] Denver dedicated this song to Werner Erhard, and it was the theme song for the est organization.
The song experienced a brief resurgence in popularity in 1987 when it featured prominently in "Limbo," the last episode of Season 7 of the television series Magnum, P.I. The song played in its entirety over the last four minutes of the episode, which had originally been intended to serve as the series finale.
Olivia Newton-John recorded the song in 1976 for her album Don't Stop Believin'. The track remained unreleased until a 2010 Japanese re-issue of the album where it was included as a bonus track.
Cash Box called the song "another hit" saying "A self exploratory tune about looking for space, 'to find out who you are'. Denver is the master of this genre and the emotion of this carefully produced tune will appeal to pop, MOR and country radio." [4] Record World said that the song "carries a very personal message that [Denver] conveys in a way that everybody can identify with." [5]
Chart (1976) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canadian RPM Top Singles | 63 |
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary | 4 |
Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 23 |
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 29 |
U.S. Billboard Easy Listening | 1 |
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 30 |
"Music Box Dancer" is an instrumental piece by Canadian musician Frank Mills that was an international hit in the late 1970s. It features an arpeggiated piano theme in C-sharp major designed to resemble a music box, accompanied by other instruments playing a counterpoint melody as well as a wordless chorus. Most modern piano music sheets have the song in the key of C major.
"50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was the second single from his fourth studio album, Still Crazy After All These Years (1975), released on Columbia Records. Backing vocals on the single were performed by Patti Austin, Valerie Simpson, and Phoebe Snow. The song features a recognizable repeated drum riff performed by drummer Steve Gadd.
"I'm Easy" is an Academy Award-winning song written and performed by Keith Carradine for the 1975 movie Nashville. Carradine recorded a slightly faster version that became a popular music hit in 1976 in the United States.
"The Gambler" is a song written by Don Schlitz and recorded by several artists, most famously by American country singer Kenny Rogers.
"Sunshine on My Shoulders" is a song recorded and co-written by American singer-songwriter John Denver. It was originally released as an album track on 1971's Poems, Prayers & Promises and later, as a single in 1973. It went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S. in early 1974.
"Best of My Love" is a song written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and J. D. Souther. It was originally recorded by the Eagles, and included on their 1974 album On the Border. The song was released as the third single from the album, and it became the band's first Billboard Hot 100 number 1 single in March 1975. The song also topped the easy listening chart for one week a month earlier. Billboard ranked it as the number 12 song for 1975.
"Leaving on a Jet Plane" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter John Denver in 1966, originally included on his debut demo recording John Denver Sings as "Babe I Hate to Go". He made several copies and gave them out as presents for Christmas of that year. Denver's then producer Milt Okun convinced him to change the title and was renamed "Leaving on a Jet Plane" in 1967.
"St. Elmo's Fire " is a song by British singer John Parr from the 1985 film St. Elmo's Fire. It hit No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart on 7 September 1985, remaining there for two weeks. It was the main theme for Joel Schumacher's film, and first single from the soundtrack. The song was created and edited within 24 hours.
"Fly Like an Eagle" is a song written by American musician Steve Miller for the album of the same name. The song was released in the United Kingdom in August 1976 and in the United States in December 1976. It went to number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the week of March 12, 1977. The single edit can be found on Greatest Hits (1974–1978). It is often played in tandem with "Space Intro". On the album, the song segues into "Wild Mountain Honey".
"Time in a Bottle" is a song by singer-songwriter Jim Croce. He wrote the lyrics after his wife Ingrid told him she was pregnant in December 1970. It appeared on Croce's 1972 ABC debut album You Don't Mess Around with Jim and was featured in the 1973 ABC made-for-television movie She Lives! After he was killed in a plane crash in September 1973, the song was aired frequently on radio, and demand for a single release built. The single of "Time in a Bottle" became Croce's second and final track to reach number 1 in the United States.
"Have You Never Been Mellow" is a song recorded by British-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John for her 1975 fifth studio album of the same name. Written and produced by John Farrar, the song was released as the lead single from the album in January 1975.
"Muskrat Love" is a soft rock song written by Willis Alan Ramsey. The song depicts a romantic liaison between two anthropomorphic muskrats named Susie and Sam. It was first recorded in 1972 by Ramsey for his sole album release Willis Alan Ramsey. The song was originally titled "Muskrat Candlelight" referencing the song's opening lyric.
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.
"Kiss and Say Goodbye" is a 1976 song by American R&B vocal group The Manhattans. It was written by group member Winfred Lovett, the bass singer and songwriter of the group, who did the song's spoken introduction. The song was recorded for the album The Manhattans, released in 1976 by Columbia Records, and was released as a single in March of the same year. "Kiss and Say Goodbye" became a worldwide success, appearing in the musical charts of countless countries, a Top 10 hit in many countries, including No. 1 in the US, Belgium, Netherlands, New Zealand, and in Europe (European Hot 100 Singles). With the exception of Adult Contemporary Chart, "Kiss and Say Goodbye" was ranked number 1 in US on all Pop Singles Charts and on all R&B Singles Charts. The song was one of the biggest hits of 1976 and of the 1970s.
"I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" is a song written by Parker McGee and recorded by England Dan & John Ford Coley from their 1976 album Nights Are Forever. It eventually peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks, behind Wild Cherry's "Play That Funky Music" and No. 1 on the Easy Listening chart. Billboard ranked it as the No. 21 song for 1976. It also reached No. 26 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Sweet Surrender" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter John Denver. It was originally recorded for his 1974 album Back Home Again, but was chosen as the lead single from the concert album An Evening with John Denver. "Sweet Surrender" reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1975, remaining in the Top 40 for eight weeks. It also rose to No. 1 on the adult contemporary chart, Denver's fourth song to reach the top on this survey.
"Like a Sad Song" is a song written and performed by the American singer-songwriter John Denver, released as a single from his 1976 album, Spirit. Although it only reached No.36 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, "Like a Sad Song" became Denver's eighth single to reach No.1 on the easy listening chart within the span of three years.
"Danny's Song" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins, as a gift for his brother Danny for the birth of his son, Colin. It first appeared on an album by Gator Creek and a year later on the album Sittin' In, the debut album by Loggins and Messina. The song is well remembered for both the Loggins and Messina original, as well as for Anne Murray's 1972 top-ten-charting cover.
"My Boy" is a popular song from the early 1970s. The music was composed by Jean-Pierre Bourtayre and Claude François, and the lyrics were translated from the original version "Parce que je t'aime, mon enfant" into English by Phil Coulter and Bill Martin.
"This One's for You" is the title track from the 1976 album by Barry Manilow with words and music by Manilow and Marty Panzer. The song peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100, and at number one on the Easy Listening chart, reaching the top position for one week in November 1976, Manilow's fifth number one overall on that chart.