by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
If John Denver hadn't tragically died in a plane crash, it's unlikely that Celebration of Life/The Last Recordings would have been celebrated upon its release. Nevertheless, he did die, and Celebration of Life was tagged with the subtitle The Last Recordings, as if this was a special recording. If you discount its historical standing as Denver's last recording, the album isn't all that remarkable. It simply offers 12 songs, mostly hits like &Dreamland Express,& &Rocky Mountain High,& &Take Me Home, Country Roads,& &Sunshine on My Shoulders& and &Leaving on a Jet Plane,& in pretty good live versions. Certainly dedicated fans, upset over their loss, will find this a little comforting, but it's ultimately a rather inconsequential release and a cheap way to say goodbye.