Celebration of Life

by Stephen Thomas ErlewineIf John Denver hadn't tragically died in a plane crash, it's unlikely that Celebration of Life/The Last Recordings would have been celebrated upon its release. Nevertheless, he did die, and Celebration of Life was tagged with the subtitle The Last Recordings, as if this was a special recording. If you discount its historical standing as Denver's last recording, the album isn't all that remarkable. It simply offers 12 songs, mostly hits like "Dreamland Express," "Rocky Mountain High," "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "Sunshine on My Shoulders" and "Leaving on a Jet Plane," in pretty good live versions. Certainly dedicated fans, upset over their loss, will find this a little comforting, but it's ultimately a rather inconsequential release and a cheap way to say goodbye.