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Win 'The Music is You: A Tribute to John Denver' CDs

Posted: 10 years ago
Emmylou Harris, My Morning Jacket, J Mascis and more celebrate Denver's influence with new versions of his catalogue and we have five copies of the album to give away!

In 1997, revered songwriter John Denver died in a plane crash. A keen pilot, an activist (against censorship and pro-environment), a believer in exploration and a lover of nature, in particular his native Colorado state, Denver's passions were ably displayed across his light country-pop catalogue. Despite his premature death, Denver's legacy has lived on.

Songs such as "Rocky Mountain High", "Take Me Home Country Roads" and "Leaving on a Jet Plane" all demonstrate a canny knack of song-writing with an ear for melody and a poignancy that was all too rare in the '70s. In the States, Denver's canon was worshipped across several decades whereas in the UK, only "Annie's Song" achieved any chart success, both in 1974 and last year after being used in a communications advert. "You fill up my senses, like a night in the forest...." - romantic prose doesn't get much better than this.

John Denver's music hasn't escaped the attentions of established and upcoming artists either. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of the man's glorious "Rocky Mountain High" single and marking his death 15 years ago, many admiring performers have lent their tonsils to a fundraising covers-album, released this week (proceeds go to The Wilderness Society, set up to protect America's natural habitats from exploitation and development).

"The Music is You" features the likes of My Morning Jacket tackling "Leaving on a Jet Plane", Dave Matthews on "Take Me to Tomorrow", J Mascis and Sharon Van Etten performing a duet on "All of My Memories", Emmylou Harris and Brandi Carlile with "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and Milow feat Brett Dennen on "Annie's Song".

Other singers include Josh Ritter, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Train, Evan Dando and Mary Chapin Carpenter. The sixteen songs serve as a fitting contemporary tribute to a man who probably didn't get enough props for his efforts - but he has now.

To win one of five copies of this sterling album, just click on the Enter Competition button below and follow the easy instructions!

The John Denver CD competition closes at midnight on Sunday 21st April 2013.

You must be a UK or Ireland resident to enter - competition winners will be drawn at random. Good luck!