Higher Ground (John Denver album)

Higher Ground is the 20th studio album by American singer-songwriter John Denver. Released in September 1988, it was his first studio album on the Windstar label. It was recorded at Denver's private studio in Snowmass, Colorado, with the exception of "For You" and the didjeridu part in "Sing Australia." These were recorded in Sydney. The album shares its title with Denver's television movie "Higher Ground", which uses the album's title song as its opening theme.

Higher Ground
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 26, 1988 (AUS); September 29, 1988 (US)
GenreCountry, Pop
Length41:35
LabelWindstar
ProducerJohn Denver, Roger Nichols
John Denver chronology
One World
(1986)
Higher Ground
(1988)
Earth Songs
(1990)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

Two charting singles were released from the LP, "For You," a Top 40 hit in Australia, and "Country Girl in Paris," a minor hit in the U.S. The album also includes a cover of Guy Clark's song "Homegrown Tomatoes," a 1981 US Country hit.

Track listing edit

All tracks composed by John Denver; except where indicated

Side one edit

  1. "Higher Ground" (Denver, Lee Holdridge, Joe Henry)
  2. "Homegrown Tomatoes" (Guy Clark)
  3. "Whispering Jesse"
  4. "Never a Doubt"
  5. "Deal with the Ladies"
  6. "Sing Australia"

Side two edit

  1. "A Country Girl in Paris"
  2. "For You"
  3. "All This Joy" (Denver, Glen D. Hardin)
  4. "Falling Leaves (The Refugees)"
  5. "Bread & Roses" (Mimi Fariña, Jim Oppenheim)
  6. "Alaska & Me"

Chart performance edit

Album edit

Chart (1988) Peak
position
Australian (ARIA Charts)[2] 5
U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums 49

Singles edit

Year Single Peak positions
US Country AUS
[3]
1988 "Country Girl in Paris" 96
"For You" 21

Personnel edit

  • John Denver – guitar, vocals
  • Daryl Burgess - drums
  • James Burton – guitar
  • Glen Hardin – piano
  • Jim Horn - saxophone, flute, recorder
  • Richard Mellick – piano on "For You"
  • Jerry Scheff – bass
  • Lee Holdridge – string arrangements
  • Danny Wheatman – mandolin, fiddle, harmonica
  • Christy O'Leary – uilleann pipes
  • Arthur Lazenby – banjo
  • Alf Clausen – string arrangements
  • Strings Plus – orchestra
  • Jim McGillveray – percussion
  • Charlie McMahon – didjeridu

References edit