Thank God I'm a Country Boy! 2/4/20

1975 was an amazing year for John Denver!

A: Two #1 albums: "Windsong" and "An Evening with John Denver." B: A Christmas album ("Rocky Mountain Christmas") that went to #14. C: A #2 single, "Calypso" D: Two #1 singles: "I'm Sorry" and today's "Great Song of the '70s."

(And let's not forget his 1975 Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special...for "An Evening with John Denver.")

So what's that second #1 single?

Denver's foot-stompin' performance of "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" was recorded live at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles. It topped the Country chart at the end of May, and the Hot 100 a week later! It did the same thing on the Canadian Country and Pop charts, and for some reason, it hit #1 in Yugoslavia. (Who knew they even HAD a chart?!)

TRIVIA: In the lyrics, Denver sings, "I'd play 'Sally Goodin' all day if I could." "Sally Goodin" is an old country/bluegrass fiddle tune (known as a breakdown), and that's what the fiddle is playing at the end of the song

Here's John Denver with a "Great Song of '75!" (One of his many!)