My parents were out for the night and my babysitter fell asleep in the recliner. As a result I was free to watch this on the night that it first aired!! I was 7 years old.
Gone are the days when you had to really be slick to see something "not suitable for kids", your parents were actually together, they actually went out for the night and the thing you had to stay up to watch was 2 singers harmonizing. These days the youth can just hop on the phone and watch any vile act you can think of even if you only put in a typo.
Amazing! Bedtime, what 8pm? The sitter earned her $1hr ha ha. [edit...I didn't realize it was the Midnight Special! Some trooper you were. Now days 7 year olds are tanked full of sugar and burned out by midnight.]
Beautiful performance. Cass could overpower most singers, but she just jumps in and does a perfect harmony, willing to let John be the star. Thanks for breaking it down for us.
David Levin good point.,,. Cass literally swoops in, does her thing and then willingly steps back in the shadows to let John Denver perform the lead. No ego, no, mess, just wondrous beauty for all to enjoy.
Prof. Fil is so damn respectful of every single artist, no matter the genre. He must be a gem of a person in real life, because his kindness and intelligence shines through in his videos.
@ , only by a relatively small audience compared to in his time. The way he was derided in the Ken Burns country music documentary is a perfect example.
John Denver's Auckland, New Zealand, concert in the mid-70s was one of the best. That voice and atmosphere were fantastic. Thanks again for another quality analysis.
I was down at the space center with my pregnant wife. She was tired so we went to buy a coke and sit down outside. I heard a guy singing outside. Went out and only one guy was rhere, John Denver. The shuttle was to land that afternoon and he was checking out the small area he would sing and play for them. He played for me my wife and 2 or 3 others. He talked with us for 15 to 20 min. He was a great guy, down to earth and had a killer good looking girlfriend. I never forget that. I dropped a few tears when he died.
This duet was BEAUTIFUL. Thanks Phil for your sensitivity about her weight battle. She had a binge eating disorder & there wasn't propper treatment yet. Karen Carpenter and Cass both had eating disorders that took them out. SO SAD. Two of the most beautiful feminine voices I know. The music lives forever
@@TheDivayenta Diet culture doesn't kill women obesity does. On the other hand, eating so less to the extent that it becomes bulimia is fatal too. One should eat mindfully and take care of his/her health to stay fit and not get obese.
Mama Cass is one of the best recorded singers, period. I'm not a John Denver fan but I must admit, he acquited himself well with her. Most vocalists weren't even 1/20 as good on their best days as Mama Cass in her sleep.
Yep. It's Denver's song and she did a great job adding to it and not taking the focus off him. Far too many musicians get "featured" on a song and do their best to be noticed/ruin the song. She obviously wasn't one of those musicians.
That moment in the first chorus where Cass Elliot looks nervous, and they both smile at each other over how good they sound and she relaxes is just kind of magic. It makes a beautiful performance even more lovely.
No, she wasn't underrated. Almost everyone loved her singing. She died very young. Aah, the sixties! The best time of music...63 - 69. I'm so glad it is appreciated, here, on this great channel.
I am loving this! Sometimes I think John Denver gets kinda forgotten and how great his music is.I still listen to him to this day. And Cass singing with him, well, happy day for me. Yesssss!!!
Kathleen...Yes, John Denver had so much great music and had a great voice and a lot of people didn't realize just how good he was. The radio didn't play enough of his really great music and so many people only knew of John 's " Yee, haw I'm a country boy" type of songs.
It was an embarrassment of TV live-show riches back in the day! Along with "MS," we had "In Concert" and "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert"! The good news? No lip-synching! We left that to "American Bandstand"!
I don’t remember this performance, but I LOVED Midnight special growing up. I am going to see if I can find the series streaming somewhere (I don’t own a DVD player anymore!). As someone already said, I stayed up late for this and Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert many a night.
He was perfection, actually, we all have those flaws in life...I believe he truly loved his first wife, and she should've been with him on the road...but I guess over time some things don't get better. So sad....
Lillah I know. The song, Annie, makes me wonder, and the song, Follow Me” makes me wonder too. Why didn’t she go with him?? That’s only the right thing to do, don’t you think?? And safer for him too. I pray that all will work out well for each of them in heaven.
Straight up, Cass - one of the most technically perfect singers of her generation - and beyond. Mensa intelligent, and outstanding to see her in these live performances still. Hated interviews - really did...... find them, they are worth watching. Just bought her Dream and Little Dream lp, first press, mint - nothing better
Fil...kudos for giving this great lady the legacy she is due. Not only did Cass Elliot possess a unique vocal sound and skill; she was well loved amongst her peers. And thanks for dispelling that awful rumor about the cause of her death. I remember how the press shamed her. They were ruthless. Ms Elliot was a class act schooled by mentors who lived by the rule... "the show must go on."
Because music touches us in ways and places, similar to those who are closest to us. Very intimate. I believe that's why it moves us the way it does...
Mama Cass... (heavy sigh)... My heart has always gone out to her because she never found true love and that was all she had ever wanted was someone to love and love her back.
David, she found love. Her daughter was the love of her life. A romantic partner, nah, don't think she found that match. But she LOVED her daughter! I love Cass !
Harmony .... In my world the love between a mother and child is a given love. The love between a man and woman or woman and man if you please, is a true love. Cheers luv.
Great performance of an unlikely duo. Both died prematurely unfortunately, but their legends live on, especially in the hearts of those of us who grew up during that era. Thanks Fil for spotlighting their legacies. 🎶🔥♥️🔥🎶
It was nice to see you smile while watching the song. I agree, the harmony of the two together was amazing. The song was written for John's future wife, Annie. Both so extremely talented 🎵🎶👍🥰
When i was a child i used love singing along to john Denver . On the way home in the school bus the entire bus full of children would sing along while it was being played on the am station WLS chicago .i lived in middle of nowhere .
Oh yes .i remember . Lots of great memories of riding in the car with my mom .we lived in a small town .Havana illinois not too many choices but was blessed to get wls chicagooooo
Excellent review. You Sir are a great musical historian. I lived through the times in your reviews and you always do a fair and accurate analysis. I saw a video of John Denver once in practice and he told the singers and musicians to "breathe" with him...… he would sometimes drop out of rhythm and extend a note or even pause and he wanted them to be in unity, harmony with him. I think family members who sing together do this so well. Think of the Righteous Brothers etc.
John's death in that plane crash in Monterey Bay, California was not just tragic but it was reported that when they removed his body, they found that he was almost beheaded as when they lifted his body onto the stretcher, his head fell off. What a horrible way to die! I grew up in the SF Bay Area. And it still troubles me.. I saw him live at the San Francisco "Cow Palace" What an amazing performer and he drew the audience in because of his dynamic personality! He will always be MISSED by me and will forever be one of my favs!!!🎶🎶😘❤️🎶🎶
Oh, you found this! I had no idea it existed until I came across it here on YT! I had no idea they'd ever met / performed together. I love both their voices so much! This made me all teary eyed. What a magical performance & moment in time.
I saw him in concert in 1974, I was 9. I think that was the 1st real concert I had ever been to. Every other concert I had been to was free acts at fairs. Loved him.
I love how John Denver was able to switch different notes, going down when singing a word, and it just sounded heavenly. His singing was a gift - to all of us.
Yes,after the fatal plane crash that killed John Denver,when they found him he was unrecognizable. When Cass died and she was being cremated, bricks from the Furnace area was falling on her and took awhile for her cremation. She was the last person to be cremated at that facility.
absolutely amazing Cass and John were Wonderful I watched this live on tv when I was young.should have played the dialog before they started singing so relevant today.
Two great talented singers who knew how to shine without stepping all over each other. That IS talent. This was 72 and two years later Cass would be dead. Now both have passed on and the world of music has a big hole in it. They will live on through their music.
I was a big fan of both Cass and John. I watched Cass on a talk show (Johnny Carson?) and she spoke about visiting a friend who has been wounded in Vietnam. Her friend was a patient in a VA hospital and Cass was horrified at the conditions. At the time very few celebrities knew anything about VA hospitals or seemed to care as the Vietnam War wasn't popular. She was one of the first to speak out.
Ok; you made me cry. My mom used to sing this to me when I went off to college in Florida. My parents died over 20 years ago. Only now can I relate to how she must have felt, having a son who is 31 years old. Never heard/saw this version before; it's beautiful! Thanks a lot, Fil- I HATE crying...😢😭... I'm not crying; you're crying!!!
Watching this again as an adult, I noticed that the bass fiddle was placed in such a position that the voice mic picked it up along with John's voice and they blended beautifully!
Dick Kniss was the bass fiddle player here, and Mike Taylor--who collaborated with John on songs such as "Rocky Mountain High," "The Eagle and the Hawk," and "Sunshine on My Shoulders," played the background 6-string. Sadly, neither of these gentlemen are with us anymore either, Taylor having died in 2010, and Kniss in 2012. They did, indeed, make some great music with Denver!
Your appreciation for the talent of artists from all genres is truly amazing. A lot of people are very biased toward their own particular style and you aren't like that.
A beautiful song sung by two big hearted, beautiful who died way too soon. My mother and I saw John Denver in concert a year before he died, at the outdoor world music theatre in Hammond, Indiana. When he sang this song, lightening appeared behind him, illuminating the stage. I think of that performance every time I hear this song.
Fil, thanks for covering this. Johns Denver was always on the stereo at my house when I was a kid in the 70's and this brings back so many wonderful memories of home.
John Denver was a very gentle man and someone who practiced what he preached. His very public mistakes seemed to pain him as he appeared to want to be a good example as a human being to others. In today's cynical world he may appear to some hipsters as "sappy" but that is their opinion and they are wrong in my eyes. He was authentic and that is different. Cass Elliot shared that bond with John Denver of authenticity and she strived to put out quality music. Her weight struggles humanized her and, to me. made her music more heartfelt. Together these two performers were the real deal.
@@jims3114He was a mean drunk and he admitted that. His mistakes were made and he admitted to that, too! He was a highly emotional man, and Annie still loved him, even after their divorce. Stop throwing stones. Why don’t you publicize your worst moments in life, if you so dare.
You know I really appreciate you my friend and this channel. I especially appreciate your diversity and love for such a wide range of artists and musical styles. It's very refreshing to see a true musician such as yourself ; someone who honestly loves music and possesses a great ear and amazing talent.
Very impressing analyse Fil. Especial about cass Elliot. Didn,t knew all that. I remember her death in 1974, only 33 years old. I,m from the netherlands and not familiair with "The midnight special " shows. Looks amazing. The days when you could sit and listing to natural singers. No effects no flashing lights. Just pure and simple. Miss those days.
What a loss to the world that this duo are no longer around to entertain us as these two did in their far too short lives. Great performance and as usual and a brilliant breakdown and explanation by you.
Another very interesting video. One thing I appreciate about Fil is ability to cover so much in a short time. And the fact that he is able to discuss sometimes negative or sad subjects without being in any way mean spirited or contentious, always having empathy. John Phillips didn’t treat her very well at least based on reports but he (Fil)doesn’t dwell on that too much or on her other struggles in a judgmental way. Yet he does paint a picture wherein we can see both the positive and the negative. It’s just a way he has that make so many people want to listen. I feel I know Cass Elliot better and her struggles and great success as well as sad passing at an early age. She was a truly great talent.
Another fine live performance on the always-live Midnight Special, made even more special by this unexpected pairing, despite a few tears. Thanks for the information about Cass' career, I only knew a little bit. Rest in Peace Cass Elliot and John Denver.
What a powerful performance. A treasure for the ages. One of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's biggest crimes is not inducting this incredibly talented artist. Nothing but pure talent. Cass added the perfect harmony vocal and this is the stuff of legends; magic. One of Fil's best analysis because he understands how special these artists are and how stratospherically above the grand majority of stuff that passes for music these days.
I really had limited musical training and my ears have suffered nerve damage. But the doctors tell me to always have noise in the background to not go crazy. But when these two started singing, I felt in my chest that this was perfection. John was too "hokey" to be really appreciated in my Colorado High School days despite some of his songs and he lived near me. But he had great songs, was a good instrumentalist and had a magical voice. Cass was one of my older sister's favorite singers so we had some of her albums. This was such a great performance, she was there to sing John's song and she knocked it out of the park. You're background in Sports Physiology explains why you have such great demonstrations of our body as an instrument for music. Whether it's the dexterity for playing guitar or singing, you know you're stuff. But your humanitarian approach can't be taught. See you at the next one, Rock!
John Denver deserves his place in history as someone who brought great joy and music to this world. Thank you for this. ps - Mama Cass was also amazing. Also, wondering if you have done Grace Slick - perhaps I missed it.
it is so cool that you are getting into the singer-songwriters & folk rockers from the early 70s! Thanks for covering these talented musicians with such enthusiasm. It is infectious!
Wow. I never saw this one. John Denver was my hero when I was 12. He's the reason I picked up my Guitar and the reason I bought my 12 String Guild in 1976 ( my 16th birthday present, actually!) which still plays beautifully. Thank you!
2 people I truly miss. Great to see them together. John can put feeling into any song and Cass complemented him perfectly in this video. Wish we had more like them, now.
.... Yes, I could see that Fil was enjoying this .... It's so " sweetly done ", the harmonies between Johnny D and Mama C. ... I watched this on television.... 1972.... I was 17.... Out of High School.
@@fm6419 ..... How wonderful I'm sure that was. .. I did see Johnny D , perform in Vegas, and it was really good. On a side note. ..... ( Nothing to do with music, lol...;. I name all of my automobiles. My Infiniti QX 4 is named .... ( Drum rollll) .. Fiona. My other car is named Francesca. Tis true. 🙂😁
This is a really special, magical performance. Their voices blend so beautifully and their delivery appears effortless. John Denver has really precise diction. You can always tell during his performances that the words and music are equally important to him. I also used to love to watch John sing with Taffy Danoff. They had great harmonies on Take Me Home, Country Roads.
Hey Fil, another winner. This was my era! I was 18 years old in '72. Liked Denver a lot. His voice was crystal clear and he had great vocal enunciation. But Cass - I was nuts for her. I had no idea she had sung musical theater!! But I see why. She had great presence on stage in addition to a magnificent voice. If only we could have seen her have a lengthy and brilliant singing career. :( She was definitely a victim of fat-shaming in the day and that chicken sandwich story was just more of the same. She was a lovely woman with an exceptional voice. So happy we have recordings (like this one) of her singing. Cheers, Cliff
The last John Denver concert I attended, about a year or so before his death, it was just him alone on stage with his guitar. Excellent performance, on par with his studio performances. Not very many artists can pull that off, especially not these days. Now that you've seen him with Cass Elliott, you should check out his performance on "Fly Away" with Olivia Newton-John.
Ken K I saw John two months before he died. Garden State Arts Center....only John and his guitars...beautiful night at an outdoor concert in Holmdel NJ....will never forget it...
Their voices blended so well together. Each were so instantly recognizable on their own. John is the reason i picked up a guitar 50 years ago. Thanks for the memory.
Cass was a class act. She just received her star on the Hollywood walk of fame today. Monday,Oct 3,2022. HAPPY TEARS. Loved Cass so much.
I didn’t know. Thanks for sharing that
@@robbiet8583hey there. I DIDNT know this as well! About time LONG OVERDUE! YA THINK??🇬🇧💔💔⭐️⭐️Cheers to her!
@@tiffanyroseangeles34 Yes! I have always loved her. A life full of promise and we miss her so much💫
Wow, incredibly overdue!
Well that was about time!
My parents were out for the night and my babysitter fell asleep in the recliner. As a result I was free to watch this on the night that it first aired!! I was 7 years old.
Oh Wow that is sooo cool!! ❤️
What a wonderful memory to retain all these years. Thanks for sharing.
I was six when dad played this on the radio. It sounded so sad to my little heart I started crying lol
Gone are the days when you had to really be slick to see something "not suitable for kids", your parents were actually together, they actually went out for the night and the thing you had to stay up to watch was 2 singers harmonizing.
These days the youth can just hop on the phone and watch any vile act you can think of even if you only put in a typo.
Amazing! Bedtime, what 8pm? The sitter earned her $1hr ha ha. [edit...I didn't realize it was the Midnight Special! Some trooper you were. Now days 7 year olds are tanked full of sugar and burned out by midnight.]
Beautiful performance. Cass could overpower most singers, but she just jumps in and does a perfect harmony, willing to let John be the star. Thanks for breaking it down for us.
David Levin good point.,,. Cass literally swoops in, does her thing and then willingly steps back in the shadows to let John Denver perform the lead. No ego, no, mess, just wondrous beauty for all to enjoy.
Denver was the man today youngsters think this music is for old people but listen, just listen........
2019 Rules forever Metallica sucks forever 👎. Kiss sucks forever 👎. Only listen to pretty music like Christmas or John Denver 😂.☘☘☘☘☘🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅.
She "let" John be a star, nahhh John WAS a star in his own right. He also was a great songwriter!
She definitely showed restraint and respect, but Denver had a pretty huge voice in his own right. Listen to The Eagle and The Hawk. His voice soars.
Prof. Fil is so damn respectful of every single artist, no matter the genre. He must be a gem of a person in real life, because his kindness and intelligence shines through in his videos.
Hear, Hear !!! 🔥☄️
John Denver is criminally underappreciated today.
@ , only by a relatively small audience compared to in his time. The way he was derided in the Ken Burns country music documentary is a perfect example.
John Denver- simply the best.
@ - popular & unappreciated are not mutually exclusive.
John Denver is Ted Nugent's favorite singer.
Not in my life! He was and always will be the music of my soul.
I think John Denver was one of the
greatest performers that ever lived!!
His beautiful voice and the lovely songs
he wrote were treasures to life!
Not to mention his connection with his audience nd life in general. If you google peace poem and John Denver, be prepared to have your heart soar...
My first concert was John Denver at Madison Sq Garden. He was phenomenal.
John Denver's Auckland, New Zealand, concert in the mid-70s was one of the best. That voice and atmosphere were fantastic. Thanks again for another quality analysis.
A great performer, not so much a skier though.
Priorities express themselves in the worst ways.
I was down at the space center with my pregnant wife. She was tired so we went to buy a coke and sit down outside. I heard a guy singing outside. Went out and only one guy was rhere, John Denver. The shuttle was to land that afternoon and he was checking out the small area he would sing and play for them. He played for me my wife and 2 or 3 others. He talked with us for 15 to 20 min. He was a great guy, down to earth and had a killer good looking girlfriend. I never forget that. I dropped a few tears when he died.
This duet was BEAUTIFUL.
Thanks Phil for your sensitivity about her weight battle.
She had a binge eating disorder & there wasn't propper treatment yet.
Karen Carpenter and Cass both had eating disorders that took them out. SO SAD.
Two of the most beautiful feminine voices I know.
The music lives forever
Harmony Gordon and bulimia killed Amy Winehouse. Diet culture kills women.
@@TheDivayenta true.
Harmony Gordon Your information needs research
Gone within a decade of each other: Cass, 1974; Karen, '83. "Beautiful voices" indeed!
@@TheDivayenta Diet culture doesn't kill women obesity does. On the other hand, eating so less to the extent that it becomes bulimia is fatal too. One should eat mindfully and take care of his/her health to stay fit and not get obese.
I’d forgotten how much I loved John Denver. This made me cry.
Yes.
I remember crying like a baby when he died!
My God, I really forgot just how great John Denver was in every way.
Cass Elliots voice was so pleasant to listen too. John Denver was a great singer too died too young both of them. Sad 😞
Thank you Fil I enjoyed this😊
I think you can buy all the Midnight Specials on DVD .. The best of the best was on that show.. oppss wrong line
Cass Elliot was not only an incredibly gifted lead singer. but equally talented harmony singer as well
I really like this . Cass certainly wasn't a stage hog. She goes out and does her stuff and does it well.
And had that powerful volume 2 feet from the mic.
Mama Cass is one of the best recorded singers, period. I'm not a John Denver fan but I must admit, he acquited himself well with her. Most vocalists weren't even 1/20 as good on their best days as Mama Cass in her sleep.
Yep. It's Denver's song and she did a great job adding to it and not taking the focus off him. Far too many musicians get "featured" on a song and do their best to be noticed/ruin the song. She obviously wasn't one of those musicians.
That moment in the first chorus where Cass Elliot looks nervous, and they both smile at each other over how good they sound and she relaxes is just kind of magic. It makes a beautiful performance even more lovely.
Oh please find Cass Elliot singing “Dream A Little Dream”.
Yes!!
Please!
Cass was so unfairly underrated as a singer. Her voice was so pure and was a perfect accompaniment to John's beautiful voice.
No, she wasn't underrated. Almost everyone loved her singing. She died very young. Aah, the sixties! The best time of music...63 - 69.
I'm so glad it is appreciated, here, on this great channel.
I am loving this! Sometimes I think John Denver gets kinda forgotten and how great his music is.I still listen to him to this day. And Cass singing with him, well, happy day for me. Yesssss!!!
Kathleen...Yes, John Denver had so much great music and had a great voice and a lot of people didn't realize just how good he was. The radio didn't play enough of his really great music and so many people only knew of John 's " Yee, haw I'm a country boy" type of songs.
He's definitely not forgotten!
Beautiful performance. Not rushed and with perfect harmonizing.
I remember this when it was on the telly in 1972. The Midnight Special was a great way to bring concerts into your living room.
I think you can buy all the Midnight Specials on DVD .. The best of the best was on that show.. ...ccc
@@mikeskidmore6754 I have season 1.
It was an embarrassment of TV live-show riches back in the day! Along with "MS," we had "In Concert" and "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert"! The good news? No lip-synching! We left that to "American Bandstand"!
I don’t remember this performance, but I LOVED Midnight special growing up. I am going to see if I can find the series streaming somewhere (I don’t own a DVD player anymore!). As someone already said, I stayed up late for this and Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert many a night.
This is such a powerful song. He may have been sentimental and a bit sappy, but sometimes that is perfect.
He was perfection, actually, we all have those flaws in life...I believe he truly loved his first wife, and she should've been with him on the road...but I guess over time some things don't get better. So sad....
John B I know what you mean about perfect....you mean “real” at the moment...hits the spot so to speak.
Lillah I know. The song, Annie, makes me wonder, and the song, Follow Me” makes me wonder too. Why didn’t she go with him?? That’s only the right thing to do, don’t you think?? And safer for him too. I pray that all will work out well for each of them in heaven.
Straight up, Cass - one of the most technically perfect singers of her generation - and beyond. Mensa intelligent, and outstanding to see her in these live performances still.
Hated interviews - really did...... find them, they are worth watching.
Just bought her Dream and Little Dream lp, first press, mint - nothing better
Fil...kudos for giving this great lady the legacy she is due. Not only did Cass Elliot possess a unique vocal sound and skill; she was well loved amongst her peers. And thanks for dispelling that awful rumor about the cause of her death. I remember how the press shamed her. They were ruthless. Ms Elliot was a class act schooled by mentors who lived by the rule... "the show must go on."
Wow. Those voices, those harmonies, John's guitar, and this song. Simply magic.
I think Phil is so handsome, and has the most beautiful smile I have ever seen.
Oh Cass, you really were cheated. Gone too soon. You were a friend to all. Beautiful voice, gifted performer--you have not been forgotten
I'm sure she's singing in heaven.
This was an age when lyrics meant something and could sing them with meaning
Cass and John sound so beautiful together! Thanks for featuring this video, Fil!
I’m 55 years old and Trying not to cry. Two of my favorite artists. How can we miss someone we’ve have never even met?
Because music touches us in ways and places, similar to those who are closest to us. Very intimate. I believe that's why it moves us the way it does...
I was just 11, but I do remember this. They harmonized so beautifully. Two great artists.
That is one mesmerized audience.
Thank you for the great background on Cass Elliot. It is almost cruel that her time at the top was cut so short.
Mama Cass... (heavy sigh)... My heart has always gone out to her because she never found true love and that was all she had ever wanted was someone to love and love her back.
David, she found love.
Her daughter was the love of her life.
A romantic partner, nah, don't think she found that match.
But she LOVED her daughter!
I love Cass !
Harmony ....
In my world the love between a mother and child is a given love. The love between a man and woman or woman and man if you please, is a true love.
Cheers luv.
Great performance of an unlikely duo. Both died prematurely unfortunately, but their legends live on, especially in the hearts of those of us who grew up during that era. Thanks Fil for spotlighting their legacies.
🎶🔥♥️🔥🎶
Thank you Fil. JD was a friend of mine. I really miss our chats. Thanks for the memory.
This song is melancholy enough without the acknowledgement of the untimely loss of these two vastly talented performers.
It was nice to see you smile while watching the song. I agree, the harmony of the two together was amazing. The song was written for John's future wife, Annie. Both so extremely talented 🎵🎶👍🥰
When i was a child i used love singing along to john Denver . On the way home in the school bus the entire bus full of children would sing along while it was being played on the am station WLS chicago .i lived in middle of nowhere .
WLS was my station in the 60s too. Listened from Logansport, Indiana
WLS was the only sration that played anything good . 70 s and early 80s as a child . Good memories
Like the talk shows too
Oh yes .i remember . Lots of great memories of riding in the car with my mom .we lived in a small town .Havana illinois not too many choices but was blessed to get wls chicagooooo
Excellent review. You Sir are a great musical historian. I lived through the times in your reviews and you always do a fair and accurate analysis.
I saw a video of John Denver once in practice and he told the singers and musicians to "breathe" with him...… he would sometimes drop out of rhythm and extend a note or even pause and he wanted them to be in unity, harmony with him.
I think family members who sing together do this so well. Think of the Righteous Brothers etc.
John was such a talent. Saw him live twice. When he died, I was so devastated I couldn’t listen to him for a few years. Thanks for the great analysis.
John's death in that plane crash in Monterey Bay, California was not just tragic but it was reported that when they removed his body, they found that he was almost beheaded as when they lifted his body onto the stretcher, his head fell off. What a horrible way to die! I grew up in the SF Bay Area. And it still troubles me.. I saw him live at the San Francisco "Cow Palace" What an amazing performer and he drew the audience in because of his dynamic personality! He will always be MISSED by me and will forever be one of my favs!!!🎶🎶😘❤️🎶🎶
This is such great music of our past. Wow, were we blessed! I learned harmonies riding the school bus, one hour long each way. WLS-Chicago
Thank you, Fil, for fulfilling my request!
Mine too! So excited to see this!
Oh, you found this! I had no idea it existed until I came across it here on YT! I had no idea they'd ever met / performed together. I love both their voices so much!
This made me all teary eyed. What a magical performance & moment in time.
I saw him in concert in 1974, I was 9. I think that was the 1st real concert I had ever been to. Every other concert I had been to was free acts at fairs. Loved him.
I love how John Denver was able to switch different notes, going down when singing a word, and it just sounded heavenly. His singing was a gift - to all of us.
Both of their deaths were so sad. Loved both of them and their talents. Thx for sharing.
Yes,after the fatal plane crash that killed John Denver,when they found him he was unrecognizable. When Cass died and she was being cremated, bricks from the Furnace area was falling on her and took awhile for her cremation. She was the last person to be cremated at that facility.
absolutely amazing Cass and John were Wonderful I watched this live on tv when I was young.should have played the dialog before they started singing so relevant today.
Two great talented singers who knew how to shine without stepping all over each other. That IS talent. This was 72 and two years later Cass would be dead. Now both have passed on and the world of music has a big hole in it. They will live on through their music.
I love John Denver and Cass Elliot. What a beautiful pairing! May they rest in peace. This was a great one Fil♡
Woohoo! John Denver AND Cass Elliot!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏 EXCELLENT!! Thank you Fil !!
I was a big fan of both Cass and John. I watched Cass on a talk show (Johnny Carson?) and she spoke about visiting a friend who has been wounded in Vietnam. Her friend was a patient in a VA hospital and Cass was horrified at the conditions. At the time very few celebrities knew anything about VA hospitals or seemed to care as the Vietnam War wasn't popular. She was one of the first to speak out.
My parent's loved Cass Elliot! You always do such a great job at providing detail and adding great background information. Thanks!!!
My musical education has been sadly lacking and I don't understand the technical stuff. But I love these videos - learning all the time.
Ok; you made me cry. My mom used to sing this to me when I went off to college in Florida. My parents died over 20 years ago. Only now can I relate to how she must have felt, having a son who is 31 years old. Never heard/saw this version before; it's beautiful! Thanks a lot, Fil- I HATE crying...😢😭... I'm not crying; you're crying!!!
Watching this again as an adult, I noticed that the bass fiddle was placed in such a position that the voice mic picked it up along with John's voice and they blended beautifully!
Dick Kniss was the bass fiddle player here, and Mike Taylor--who collaborated with John on songs such as "Rocky Mountain High," "The Eagle and the Hawk," and "Sunshine on My Shoulders," played the background 6-string. Sadly, neither of these gentlemen are with us anymore either, Taylor having died in 2010, and Kniss in 2012. They did, indeed, make some great music with Denver!
I love me some John Denver! And love Cass too! Would love to see you do a video of Cass singing Dream a little Dream!
Thanks again Phil for your reviews john and cassie are so great and never hear them on the radio or anything anymore
Your appreciation for the talent of artists from all genres is truly amazing. A lot of people are very biased toward their own particular style and you aren't like that.
Cass was a rare talent indeed. As was Denver. This was a fantastic pairing. Thanks Pegasus! Always enjoy your great perspectives! Cheers!
You are divine, young man. I shared this with our group. This means so much and thank you, again!
One of the greatest harmonies ever recorded. Makes me cry every time
A beautiful song sung by two big hearted, beautiful who died way too soon. My mother and I saw John Denver in concert a year before he died, at the outdoor world music theatre in Hammond, Indiana. When he sang this song, lightening appeared behind him, illuminating the stage. I think of that performance every time I hear this song.
Fil, What an excellent superb analyses of Cass Elliot and John Denver.❤
Millenials, pay attention to Fil. This is the way music used to be made. Loved the 12 string. Rock!
Fil, thanks for covering this. Johns Denver was always on the stereo at my house when I was a kid in the 70's and this brings back so many wonderful memories of home.
I have chills watching and listening to this! Man, I miss the simplicity and talent of these days gone. Thanks for this! Beautiful.
John Denver was a very gentle man and someone who practiced what he preached. His very public mistakes seemed to pain him as he appeared to want to be a good example as a human being to others. In today's cynical world he may appear to some hipsters as "sappy" but that is their opinion and they are wrong in my eyes. He was authentic and that is different. Cass Elliot shared that bond with John Denver of authenticity and she strived to put out quality music. Her weight struggles humanized her and, to me. made her music more heartfelt. Together these two performers were the real deal.
Well said!
He was a mean drunk. Look it up. He wasn't anything like his image.
@@jims3114He was a mean drunk and he admitted that. His mistakes were made and he admitted to that, too! He was a highly emotional man, and Annie still loved him, even after their divorce. Stop throwing stones. Why don’t you publicize your worst moments in life, if you so dare.
I was 12 when this was taped . Being a Colorado boy , loved JD. And Mama Cass, what a voice.
You know I really appreciate you my friend and this channel. I especially appreciate your diversity and love for such a wide range of artists and musical styles. It's very refreshing to see a true musician such as yourself ; someone who honestly loves music and possesses a great ear and amazing talent.
Very impressing analyse Fil. Especial about cass Elliot. Didn,t knew all that. I remember her death in 1974, only 33 years old. I,m from the netherlands and not familiair with "The midnight special " shows. Looks amazing. The days when you could sit and listing to natural singers. No effects no flashing lights. Just pure and simple. Miss those days.
Two genuine talents and so melodic. If there's a rock n roll heaven you know they got a helluva band.
I've said it before and I'll say it again and keep saying it: It is a crime that John Denver is not in the RnR HOF. And it needs to be corrected ASAP!
Agreed and its also a crime that JP Richardson (aka: The Big Bopper) is not in it, he did some amazing things.
You are so right
Yes he is a legend!he's got my vote!
Not many country/folk performers are in the RRHOF. Denver only fits a really expanded definition of rock.
@ By that logic, tupac and nwa don't belong there either! JD is certainky more deserving than them
What a loss to the world that this duo are no longer around to entertain us as these two did in their far too short lives. Great performance and as usual and a brilliant breakdown and explanation by you.
I love how you analyze the music and give in depth history on the artist
First
And Excellent vintage video...
Thanks 🙏 Fil
And thanks for the excellent compendium of guitar skills last night.
Rock Solid
Great singers together. Tender and poignant harmony and perfect for this beautiful song
Two greats, long gone but never to be forgotten. This performance guarantees that.
John wrote some wonderful songs. Has his own style. Can't go to Colorado without feeling his presence.
Another very interesting video. One thing I appreciate about Fil is ability to cover so much in a short time. And the fact that he is able to discuss sometimes negative or sad subjects without being in any way mean spirited or contentious, always having empathy. John Phillips didn’t treat her very well at least based on reports but he (Fil)doesn’t dwell on that too much or on her other struggles in a judgmental way. Yet he does paint a picture wherein we can see both the positive and the negative. It’s just a way he has that make so many people want to listen. I feel I know Cass Elliot better and her struggles and great success as well as sad passing at an early age. She was a truly great talent.
Another fine live performance on the always-live Midnight Special, made even more special by this unexpected pairing, despite a few tears. Thanks for the information about Cass' career, I only knew a little bit. Rest in Peace Cass Elliot and John Denver.
What a powerful performance. A treasure for the ages. One of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's biggest crimes is not inducting this incredibly talented artist. Nothing but pure talent. Cass added the perfect harmony vocal and this is the stuff of legends; magic. One of Fil's best analysis because he understands how special these artists are and how stratospherically above the grand majority of stuff that passes for music these days.
PS...Thank you for your compassion and information concerning Cass Elliot. 💜
they both are so unique-- what an era--could listen to all the time
His vocals are amazing, the clarity is spectacular.
I really had limited musical training and my ears have suffered nerve damage. But the doctors tell me to always have noise in the background to not go crazy. But when these two started singing, I felt in my chest that this was perfection.
John was too "hokey" to be really appreciated in my Colorado High School days despite some of his songs and he lived near me. But he had great songs, was a good instrumentalist and had a magical voice.
Cass was one of my older sister's favorite singers so we had some of her albums. This was such a great performance, she was there to sing John's song and she knocked it out of the park. You're background in Sports Physiology explains why you have such great demonstrations of our body as an instrument for music. Whether it's the dexterity for playing guitar or singing, you know you're stuff. But your humanitarian approach can't be taught.
See you at the next one, Rock!
John Denver deserves his place in history as someone who brought great joy and music to this world. Thank you for this. ps - Mama Cass was also amazing. Also, wondering if you have done Grace Slick - perhaps I missed it.
it is so cool that you are getting into the singer-songwriters & folk rockers from the early 70s! Thanks for covering these talented musicians with such enthusiasm. It is infectious!
Wow. I never saw this one. John Denver was my hero when I was 12. He's the reason I picked up my Guitar and the reason I bought my 12 String Guild in 1976 ( my 16th birthday present, actually!) which still plays beautifully.
Thank you!
2 people I truly miss. Great to see them together. John can put feeling into any song and Cass complemented him perfectly in this video. Wish we had more like them, now.
Such a lovely, lilting tune. So glad you didn't interrupt it. Could see you were enjoying it too
.... Yes, I could see that Fil was enjoying this .... It's so " sweetly done ", the harmonies between Johnny D and Mama C. ... I watched this on television.... 1972.... I was 17.... Out of High School.
@@texasstardust6010 I saw John in concert at Sydney Opera House in 1975/6. Dad took me and a friend :)
@@fm6419 ..... How wonderful I'm sure that was. .. I did see Johnny D , perform in Vegas, and it was really good.
On a side note. ..... ( Nothing to do with music, lol...;. I name all of my automobiles. My Infiniti QX 4 is named .... ( Drum rollll) .. Fiona.
My other car is named Francesca.
Tis true. 🙂😁
This is a really special, magical performance. Their voices blend so beautifully and their delivery appears effortless. John Denver has really precise diction. You can always tell during his performances that the words and music are equally important to him. I also used to love to watch John sing with Taffy Danoff. They had great harmonies on Take Me Home, Country Roads.
I remember watching the Midnight Special as a kid so many great artists appeared. I wish there was a show like that now.
Two great talents♥️♥️
I wish these two had done an album. They sound beautiful together.
This performance brought tears to my eyes!!! WOW
Hey Fil, another winner. This was my era! I was 18 years old in '72. Liked Denver a lot. His voice was crystal clear and he had great vocal enunciation. But Cass - I was nuts for her. I had no idea she had sung musical theater!! But I see why. She had great presence on stage in addition to a magnificent voice. If only we could have seen her have a lengthy and brilliant singing career. :( She was definitely a victim of fat-shaming in the day and that chicken sandwich story was just more of the same. She was a lovely woman with an exceptional voice. So happy we have recordings (like this one) of her singing. Cheers, Cliff
Fil, it looked like you wanted sing along a few times. Good for you.
The last John Denver concert I attended, about a year or so before his death, it was just him alone on stage with his guitar. Excellent performance, on par with his studio performances. Not very many artists can pull that off, especially not these days.
Now that you've seen him with Cass Elliott, you should check out his performance on "Fly Away" with Olivia Newton-John.
Ken K I saw John two months before he died. Garden State Arts Center....only John and his guitars...beautiful night at an outdoor concert in Holmdel NJ....will never forget it...
Simply beautiful. Where are singers like this today?
I like to listen to John Denver when I am on vacation into the mountains and surrounding areas. He makes me feel soooi free!!
Their voices blended so well together. Each were so instantly recognizable on their own. John is the reason i picked up a guitar 50 years ago. Thanks for the memory.