John Denver – Leaving On A Jet Plane
“Leaving On A Jet Plane” is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter John Denver in 1966. It was originally included on his debut demo recording, John Denver Sings, as “Babe I Hate to Go”. Denver’s then-producer Milt Okun convinced him to change the title; the song was renamed “Leaving on a Jet Plane” in 1967 and released as a single in October 1969. Although it is one of John Denver’s best known songs, his single failed to enter the charts. “Leaving on a Jet Plane” was re-recorded for the third and final time in 1973 for John Denver’s Greatest Hits, the version that also appears on most of his compilation albums.
Background and composition
John Denver, then a relatively unknown 23-year-old musician in the Los Angeles folk scene, wrote the song during a layover at Washington National Airport in 1966.
Recording and production
“Leaving on a Jet Plane” was recorded at the RCA Victor Studio in New York City in 1969. The song was produced by Milt Okun.
The recording features John Denver on vocals and acoustic guitar. Denver’s vocals are warm and expressive, and they perfectly convey the emotion of the song. The song’s instrumentation is simple, yet effective, with a gentle acoustic guitar arrangement.
Video
“Leaving on a Jet Plane” is a beautiful and moving song that will be cherished for generations to come.
Here are some additional details about the song:
-
- The song was originally written as “Babe I Hate to Go”.
- The song was re-recorded twice, in 1969 and 1973.
- The song was a critical and commercial success, reaching number one in several countries.
- “Leaving on a Jet Plane” has been covered by many artists, including Peter, Paul and Mary, Elton John, and Dolly Parton.