John Denver on The John Denver Show (BBC), 1973 - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

[HalfBornUnicornFetus]

Baezs version is meh. This is GREAT. But NOTHING, not ONE comes even CLOSE to the Bands version.

[erico1977]

You just cant beat levon helms/ the bands rendition but this song shows how versatile denver was, great singer and performer

[joevs21001]

John Denver had such a fantastic voice no matter what anyone says. So crisp and clear and that distinct Denver tone. I had never seen this performance before. The magic of youtube. Such a great modern invention. Rest in Peace John. Your incredible music and voice lives on.

[chrisbrho]

not bad

[deanguy66]

Nice, but this doesn't come close to the original version by The Band.

[pwreric]

@deanguy66 And no one ever will. Levon was born to sing this song. JD has some great songs too.

[Gplusrdsquared]

Great vocals. Also like the Joan Baez version. John Denver was the Country Orbison.

[KellytheKittyLover]

Proud and brave, but a Yankee laid him in his grave.... so SAD!!!!

[pushing50]

It's good to see someone cover it with Robbie Robertsons original words instead of the way Joan Baez sang it. Baez misinterpreted Stoneman's calvary to "so much calvary"

[MrFarvis]

@pushing50 Agree. Joan Baez needs to stop butchering such a good song. She sadly built a career off a song that wasn't hers, which she could not even sing well, and sang incorrectly to the point where the lyrics made no sense.

[noldorian86]

omg i saw this years ago on youtube but they removed the clip

im glad u put it back up

[fangjangler]

There is no God, there is only John Denver. One of the best singer/songwriters EVER!

[LostPlanetPC]

@fangjangler

John Denver is dead.

He is no long among us.

[popwarskatemore7]

@fangjangler

there is a God. and you will have to answer to him for that comment.

[1234joyc]

Thanks Ive never heard him sing this. Its a great video

[michaeldonegan]

Yes, it is!

[Ghost99535]

@michaeldonegan This is my favourite concert because he sings so extrem powerfull, thanks for posting!

[michaeldonegan]

@Ghost99535 Thank you.

[aliciastef]

Your posts for the 1973 show that John did were just amazing.......and I thank you...they have all went into my favorites......just wonderful......hugs, Stephanie !!!!

[michaeldonegan]

Hi again, Yes he did really amazing stuff back then. He was singing and playing quite a lot harder-edged material like this and Casey's Last Ride that was written by others and was much closer to his folk music roots. Many of the songs he sang on the BBC shows featured on his fist four albums, and there were some that he never recorded. He had not yet got into his stride as a songwriter. The real breakthrough came a year later.

Glad you liked the clip. Thanks for your comments.

[aliciastef]

Awesome posts from his 1973 show.....all have went to my favorites..........endless stars********** !!

[michaeldonegan]

Thank you.

[DreamlandExpress2007]

Thanks for posting all these clips from JD's England show, Michael!

Love how JD sings this song. His voice fits the melody perfectly. :-)

[michaeldonegan]

I'm delighted you like it. He really was a great performer, period!

Sadly, I don't have the third show. I don't think anyone has it. That show remains lost. Super Channel never did air it. It got bumped off the schedule by something else!