Since I'm about to be leaving on a jet plane, you can take a wild guess
as to which tune is the featured Song of the Day. Unlike these lyrics, I
thankfully know when I'm coming back, but the posting will be a little
quiet for just a week or two. Written by folk singer John Denver, "Leaving On A Jet Plane" was originally recorded in 1967 by the Chad Mitchell Trio (of which the then unknown Denver had replaced Mitchell two years prior), and later that year, this song was always recorded by Spanky & Our Gang (which I really wanted to post their version too but it's not on YouTube). Peter, Paul, & Mary also released a version on their album that same year, but it didn't become a big hit until they released it as a single in 1969. For this famous folk trio, it turned out to be their biggest (and final) hit, becoming their only #1 hit on the US Billboard chart. It also topped the easy listening chart for three weeks. In the late '70s, the song was used in United Airlines commercials. Here's a live performance by Peter, Paul, & Mary in Melbourne, Australia in 1968 (the sound quality is a not so great at the beginning but does improve for the rest of the song). Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Song of the Day: Leaving On A Jet Plane
Since I'm about to be leaving on a jet plane, you can take a wild guess
as to which tune is the featured Song of the Day. Unlike these lyrics, I
thankfully know when I'm coming back, but the posting will be a little
quiet for just a week or two. Written by folk singer John Denver, "Leaving On A Jet Plane" was originally recorded in 1967 by the Chad Mitchell Trio (of which the then unknown Denver had replaced Mitchell two years prior), and later that year, this song was always recorded by Spanky & Our Gang (which I really wanted to post their version too but it's not on YouTube). Peter, Paul, & Mary also released a version on their album that same year, but it didn't become a big hit until they released it as a single in 1969. For this famous folk trio, it turned out to be their biggest (and final) hit, becoming their only #1 hit on the US Billboard chart. It also topped the easy listening chart for three weeks. In the late '70s, the song was used in United Airlines commercials. Here's a live performance by Peter, Paul, & Mary in Melbourne, Australia in 1968 (the sound quality is a not so great at the beginning but does improve for the rest of the song). 
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How and when did Janis Joplin come to sing it? Did she record it?
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be no evidence that Janis Joplin sang this song. While there are a few YouTube videos mislabeled as Janis Joplin singing "Leaving on a Jet Plane," this is not THE Janis Joplin of the 1960s (who passed away in 1970). This seems to be a newer cover, possibly by a current singer of the same name?
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