Rocky Mountain Christmas

Rocky Mountain Christmas is the tenth studio album and first Christmas album by American singer-songwriter John Denver, released in October 1975 by RCA Records.

Rocky Mountain Christmas
Cover art from CD reissue
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 1, 1975
RecordedJuly 22 – September 18, 1975
GenreChristmas, folk
Length30:31
41:22 (1998 edition)
33:58 (2005 edition)
LabelRCA Victor
ProducerMilton Okun
John Denver chronology
Windsong
(1975)
Rocky Mountain Christmas
(1975)
Spirit
(1976)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

His first Christmas-themed release, the album includes renditions of several traditional carols and popular Christmas standards; re-recorded versions of two songs from earlier Denver albums, "Aspenglow" from Take Me to Tomorrow and "Please, Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas)" from Farewell Andromeda; and the newly penned compositions "Christmas for Cowboys" and "A Baby Just Like You"; these two songs, along with five others including "Aspenglow", were featured in Denver's TV special of the same name that aired December 10, 1975 on ABC.

The single from the album, "Christmas for Cowboys", became a minor hit in the US (#58 pop) and Canada (#77 pop, No. 26 AC).

Track listing

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Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Aspenglow"John Denver2:21
2."The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)"3:13
3."Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"Johnny Marks1:46
4."Silver Bells"2:10
5."Please, Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas)"2:34
6."Christmas for Cowboys"Steve Weisberg2:29
Total length:14:33
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Away in a Manger"2:05
2."What Child Is This"
2:33
3."Coventry Carol"
  • Traditional
  • Denver[a]
2:19
4."Oh Holy Night"2:53
5."Silent Night, Holy Night"3:28
6."A Baby Just Like You"
  • Denver
  • Joe Henry
2:40
Total length:15:58
Bonus tracks on 1998 CD edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Jingle Bells"1:06
14."White Christmas"Irving Berlin2:21
15."The Music Is You"Denver1:27
16."Perhaps Love"Denver1:52
17."Dreamland Express"Denver4:05
Total length:41:22
Bonus tracks on 2005 CD edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Jingle Bells"
  • James Lord Pierpont
  • Denver[b]
1:06
14."White Christmas"Irving Berlin2:21
Total length:33:58

Notes

  • ^a signifies arranged and adapted by
  • ^b signifies adapted by

Personnel

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  • John Denver – vocals and 12-string guitars
  • Dick Kniss – bass
  • Lee Holdridge – piano, celeste, harpsichord and tack piano
  • Steve Weisberg – guitar
  • John Sommers – guitar and mandolin
  • Hal Blaine – drums and percussion
  • Herbie Lovelle – drums
  • George Marge – oboe and English horn on "Silver Bells"
  • Harvey Estrin – flute on "Silver Bells"
  • Sid Sharp – violin
  • William Kurasch – violin
  • Samuel Boghossian – viola
  • Jesse Erhlich – cello
  • Pearl Kaufman – piano and harpsichord play on "Coventry Carol," "What Child Is This," and "Oh Holy Night"
  • Chuck Collazzi – plays guitar on "What Child Is This"
Technical
  • Kris O'Connor – assistant producer
  • Mickey Crofford – engineer
  • Acy Lehman – art direction
  • Peter Palombi – illustration

Charts

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Chart (1975) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[2] 40

References

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  1. ^ Allmusic
  2. ^ 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.