Ever hold a piece of history in your hands and realize it’s basically the "missing link" of a legend’s career? That’s the vibe with the John Denver Sings album. It isn’t just some obscure folk record. Honestly, it's a private time capsule from 1966 that almost nobody was supposed to hear.
Before the signature wire-rimmed glasses and the "Rocky Mountain High" fame, there was just Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. trying to find his voice. He was still a member of the Chad Mitchell Trio at the time. He wanted a Christmas gift for his friends and family. So, he pressed exactly 250 copies of a solo record. That's it. Just 250.
If you find one in a crate today, you’ve hit the jackpot. Seriously.
What’s Actually on the John Denver Sings Album?
The tracklist is a wild mix. You’ve got Beatles covers, folk standards, and a few originals that would eventually change the world. It was recorded at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles and Bell Sound in New York. The production is stripped back. Raw. It feels like he’s sitting right there in your living room, which was kinda the point of a gift, right?
The standout, without a doubt, is a little song called "Babe, I Hate To Go."
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Does that title sound familiar? It shouldn't, unless you’re a die-hard fan. But the song itself? You know every word. It was the original version of "Leaving on a Jet Plane." Hearing it here, three years before Peter, Paul and Mary made it a #1 hit, is haunting. It’s slower. More tentative.
The 1966 Tracklist
- Here, There and Everywhere (Lennon-McCartney cover)
- Ann (A Billy Edd Wheeler tune)
- Babe, I Hate To Go (The future "Leaving on a Jet Plane")
- When I Was a Cowboy
- Yesterday (Another Beatles nod)
- Blues My Naughty Baby Taught Me
- What's That I Hear Now? (Phil Ochs cover)
- And I Love Her
- When Will I Be Loved? (The Everly Brothers classic)
- Darcy Farrow
- Minor Swing (A Django Reinhardt instrumental)
- In My Life
- Farewell Party
John loved The Beatles. Like, really loved them. Four out of thirteen tracks are Lennon-McCartney covers. It shows where his head was at before he became the face of "country-folk." He was a pop-literate folkie with a massive range.
The Hunt for the "HJD-66" Matrix
Collectors look for specific markings. The original vinyl has "HJD-66A" and "HJD-66B" scratched into the dead wax. HJD stands for Henry John Deutschendorf. It’s the ultimate "if you know, you know" piece of memorabilia.
Most of these 250 copies were personalized. John would write notes on the back cover to people he knew. "To Mom and Dad," or "To my friend." Finding an un-inscribed copy is actually harder than finding a signed one.
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The value? It fluctuates, but we’re talking thousands of dollars. A copy sold in 2019 for over $1,200. In 2025, prices for "Near Mint" copies have stayed in that four-figure range because, well, they just don't exist in the wild anymore. Most are tucked away in private collections or family attics.
Why Does This Album Still Matter?
Basically, it’s the blueprint. You can hear the exact moment he started moving away from the "perky" topical folk of the Mitchell Trio. He was leaning into the introspective, sensitive songwriter vibe that would eventually define the 70s.
It’s also a lesson in early "self-publishing." Long before Bandcamp or SoundCloud, artists had to pay out of pocket to get their stuff onto wax. John produced this himself. He played the 12-string guitar. He chose the songs. It was his first real statement as a solo artist, even if he didn't realize it would be the start of a 100-million-record-selling career.
How to Listen Without Spending a Fortune
You don't have to mortgage your house to hear it. Thankfully.
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While the original vinyl is the "Holy Grail," RCA and Legacy Recordings eventually got wise. They included the tracks in the massive "The Complete RCA Album Collection" box set released years back. You can also find it on digital streaming platforms under the title John Denver Sings.
The audio quality is surprisingly decent. It was transcribed from original vinyl pressings since the master tapes from a private 1966 session weren't exactly archived in a high-tech vault. It has that warm, slightly crackly analog feel that fits the material perfectly.
Your Next Steps for Finding a Copy
If you’re serious about hunting down an original pressing of the John Denver Sings album, start by setting up saved searches on Discogs and eBay specifically for the "HJD 66" catalog number. Check estate sales in the Los Angeles and Aspen areas; that’s where many of the original 250 recipients lived. For those who just want the music, look for the 2011 RCA/Legacy CD reissue which remains the most accessible way to hear these rare 1966 sessions in their entirety.