Rhymes & Reasons (Newly remastered edition incl. 2 bonus tracks) (1969)

"It wasn't until Peter, Paul & Mary took "Leaving, On A Jet Plane" to the top of the charts, that Denver began his ascent from fresh-faced folkie to America's best-selling recording artist in 1974. While the producers did their best to position Denver away from the folk scene by incorporating lush orchestrations and murky backing vocals, there was no way that they could remove the artist's heartfelt delivery. They tested the waters by filling this 1969 debut with reliable covers like "When I'm Sixty-Four" and "The Love of the Common People," but it's the four Denver originals that caught the ears and hearts of what would become a gargantuan fan base. The sweet, soft and ferociously earnest title track, the whimsical "Daydream," "Circus," and the formidable "Leaving, On A Jet Plane" were indicative of what was to come, and while the other tracks are amiable enough and expertly produced, they're just window dressing that, when removed, reveals the true garden in the making." (James Christopher Monger, Allmusic)

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