John was a friend of mine when I was in high school. Each time he played in the DC area, I'd ask him for this song. He told me he would have to do it last because it took so much out of him to play it. He gave me a lesson on that wonderful Guild 12 string, and he played a free concert at my high school. My Dad loved him like a son and took it very hard when he died. It's good that his music lives on. RIP, John.
Marcia House wow hearing such things makes this English 54yr old feel like crying. He was such a special part of my life - without him I'd never have taught myself how to play guitar (through my uncle and John Denver song books!) & be the Christian song writer I am today
This was not written by the great Pete Seeger , it was written in the form of a poem by ldris Davies of Rhymney , South Wales and was a reminder of the harsh coal miners strike of 1926 . lt was published in a book of poems in 1938 . Pete Seeger read it and put the music to it in 1958 and the rest is history . Great rendition by the great John Denver . Thanks
In a world where people do bad things to other people - dissing an artist like Denver is soooo wrong. I am sure Pete Seeger was thrilled with this...the student became the master....
I was on duty as a police officer when he passed through a small village called RHYMNEY, lol, I was the first to buy his first LP eyrie, fabulous lp , lovely chap, saw him that night in Cardiff and he sang this, wonderful such a very very sad loss.
Ah, that famous white suit from 1984. You had to be there in person to really appreciate that guitar virtuosity...remember once when a string broke and he finished it on 11 strings. AMAZING!
When you're up on stage on front of who knows how many people and you break a string, what are you gonna do? You keep on playing like nothing happened. You can bet the not many people noticed the break unless John reacted to it in some way. Even today, John has been understated as a guitar player. He was a lot better than most people realized. Miss you, John.
i'm from sweden. and i'm drunk. so i can't write the great speach i should. so I'll just say this... THANK YOU JOHN! THIS IS SO SO SO SO SO GREAT! there are tears in my eyes. again. Thanks John.
I've played this song for about four decades but this is the first time I've heard it played by John Denver - Boy have I missed out! His virtuoso guitar playing even upstages the classic Pete Seeger version which was an old fashioned protest song. This is an AMAZING video and must be watched to appreciate just how great a guitarist this guy was. Many thanks for posting it. Sadly, VERY sadly missed. Coincidentally, I was driving in these very valleys in the wee small hours of this morning. Weird!
People often forget that not only was JD one of the world's greatest singer/songwriters he was also one of the most amazing guitar players. I had the pleasure of seeing him play live 4 times including his last ever concert in London in April 1997.
Been a great fan of his since he appeared around 1971 and was lucky enough to meet him brielfy when He came to Rhymney before one of his Cardiff concerts, he was visiting all the towns named in the song, he was such a gent and is so sadly missed, I cherish the fact I met him.
I was lucky enough to meet him In Rhymney when I was a policeman there and later that night watched him sing it in his concert in Cardiff, he said he was visiting each town in the song so that he could get the right feeling for it, I think he did, such a loss, I will never get over it I know.
I can simply say that in all the time i've watched stuff on RUclips this is the best performance/ video i've ever seen. The anomaly of this apparent "uncool" guy producing a performance like this should have any critics, contemporaries & audience on their feet in applause.
I was actually at this concert which took place at the Apollo Victoria in 1982. John Denver was and is my all time favourite singer. His version of this great song is in a class by itself! Oh to be able to play a 12 string like that!
Hi Andrew ... I was born in Aberbargoed just across the valley from where you were brought up. I'm a big fan of John Denver and make (pretty poor) efforts at singing his songs. Of course I struggle more than usual with this one, but partly because I can't bring myself to mis-pronounce Rhymney !! I suppose that I should get over it (for art's sake) but I can't bring myself to say "Rimney" ... haha.
Magical... Could be nostalgia, could be the wine, but was there ever a better live act? I'm blown away by his talent, what a bloody loss. I'm mesmerized by his natural gifts, raw talent. I'm a heavy metal guy, but I'm blown far away by JD. Can't teach perfection
I've listened to several renditions of this song on RUclips. John's is hands down, far and away my favorite. For the most part, the artists seems to focus on the concept of the variety of bells in different Welsh towns, as in 'oh isn't that quaint.' But the original 1938 poem by Idris Davies seems to me to discuss the ravages of the mining industry on these towns, the bells being the 'voice' he uses to convey the townspeople's laments. The grinding trudging hardship, the danger and fear and grief, the rage, and in some cases the denial. While his intro doesn't touch on these ideas, John's masterful and passionate delivery of the song, via both guitar and voice, does indeed convey them. (Oysterband's rendition, posted by Mehefinheulog1 with a great video montage, is the first runner up in my vote.) This song carries me away, then grabs me by the throat and makes the social justice lover in me want to jump up and rage against the machine.
Pete's influence really comes through in this vid. There's a depth and complexity to this performance that I haven't experienced in other John videos or in his own songs. I suspect, had he lived, we would have heard more of that level of expression from John; he was just coming to that age of full maturity. What a loss. While also so missed, at least we had Pete to his ripe old age.
A couple of weeks after Pete died, BBC Radio 2 had their folk music awards show. At the end of the show, they did a tribute to Pete, and Peggy sang Quite Early Morning, which made me cry because 1) I had lost one of my biggest musical influences, and 2) it also reminded me of John and how I came across this song completely by accident.
i'm a big Byrds/folk-rock fan, but have to agree: John with his presence, his amazing guitar playing, and re-phrasing make this a riveting powerhouse of a song.
John said that he loved bluegrass but wasn't good enough on the guitar. He was wrong, because he was bloody amazing, and the fact that he could do it on a 12-string continues to amaze me.
Elegant! The Byrds were lovely but this rendition of just a wonderfully played 12-string and that soaring voice make the song come alive! Miss this rare musician !!
We were at that concert - my wife and I and three sons (at the time aged 15, 14 & 12). When I tell them now of this video they say White Suit and the Bells of Rhymney. Absolutely outstanding. I even heard James Burton say John was a very good guitarist. . No higher praise than that! My Welsh friends love it!! And so do I. Peter
I saw and heard JD do this while he was still with the Mitchell Trio in the mid-60's at the College of Wooster, Ohio. This brought the house to its feet and hair on the back of everyone's arms. A classic. David Dax
I had forgotten what a great talent John Denver was. Fortunately, for younger and future generations, he left us remarkable performances such as this one.
Unbelievable!! I've seen many, many videos of John but never saw his mastery of the guitar demonstrated so well. I half expected sparks to start flying from the strings! Wow! Isn't it amazing how much there was to this man? So few realize that!
This song got me completely hooked on John's abilities, and co-producing his first two-hour plus concert anywhere in the world on 4/26/69 at a small community college outside of Washington, DC still ranks as one of the most worthwhile events of my life. JD is so missed by those of us who knew and loved him, and it is my wish that his accomplishments are remembered for many generations to come.
It's ironic that John didn't get to play guitar very much with The Mitchell Trio, since he was one of the most talented guitar players I've ever heard. This performance in particular is phenomenal. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more complicated piece played with such perfection.
I have watched this video many, many times. It is, in my humble opinion without equal. The Pete Seeger version was perhaps more emotive as a song but, for pure quality of musicianship, I don't think this can be beaten.
The Mitchell Trio was able to find some fantastic backing musicians, though. Roger McGuinn (back when he was Jim) played backing guitar for them for a time in the CMT days, for instance.
It's unclear if he was that good already when he was still with the Mitchell Trio, though. You can tell how his singing improved and, later on, got more complex throughout his career, and I think the same may have been true for his playing as well. He was self-conscious about his music in his early career, he once referred to his voice as "lousy" in an interview from the early 70s, and in his autobiography, he mentions that he constantly tried not to speed up during his performances, often to no avail. I think it's possible that, back then in the 1960s, he couldn't perform the song that well because he was lacking confidence on stage.
I was luck enough to meet him in Rhymney when he was visiting all the towns mentioned in the song prior to his concert in Cardiff, where I then watched him perform this live, brought the house down, so sadly missed, a lovely chap.
I always loved John's singing and as a lover of folk music, I've always know this song but I wasn't aware until today that John had performed it. This is simply an amazing performance and emphasises what a talent he was and what a loss he is to our musical lives. All I can say is thank you John for a wonderful legacy, both in musical terms and in the values you pursued throughout your lifetime.
I'm welsh, I'm from Newport (CASNEWED), I loved John since i was a kid because of my mother, i just found this, I always knew he was intelligent and world aware. but this proves how much, when i have been to America and i say from Wales, MOST Americans have not got a clue,, respect always John,,RIP
HE IS MAKING PETE PROUD HERE ... One night John came to a show I was playing with 12 String wizard Leo Kottke. . He took us out for a drink afterwards and offered to sell me one of his magnificent & RARE Guild 612's . I was a brand new father of a few weeks and could not take him up on his offer . Do I regret it YES ... but the memory of that night is unforgettable
If anyone tells you John Denver was a below average guitarist, show them this video. The man could play as well as sing and write. Just a fantastic musician all around.
I've never seen or heard a better music performance and he did this alone just singing and playing magnificently, without any help group assisting him.
I learned this from Judy Collins (one on one) in 1967 when I was in college in Pittsburgh, PA. As a finger style player I thought I took it up a notch. But this blows me away. I know why John played it last. So did I, as it takes the energy of an Olympic miler to play like that. I am humbled by this version.
I watched John play this on this actual instrument at a performance in the Golliwog Lounge at a Downtown Minneapolis hotel back in the late 60s I think the hotel was the Ritz Sheraton. I recall being so impressed with his voice. His guitar skills played a second to his singing ability.
In around 1967, I had a chance to see the Mitchell Trio at a college concert. I vividly remember a member of the group playing a twelve string and making them sound like bells. Little did I know that I was watching the start of John Denver's marvelous career. I became a huge fan of his through the late sixties and seventies. I just think of the additional music he could have created had he not died so young. At least he died doing something he loved so much.
This one track probably above all others shows what an excellent musician JD actually was. The twelve string is not the easiest guitar to finger pick, but you'd never know it watching this virtuoso performance. No studio dubbing here, this is all him . . . An artist who was passionate and talented. Much missed in our household. RIP
Astonishing work! My band will be doing this song, at our High Plains John DenverFest, in June, and we hope it will be worthy of John's and Pete's spirit when we do!
Byrds ... maybe Dylan? I just remember the Byrds ... awesome. Really appreciate being able to hear this great musician, great singer, doing the song. I'd almost forgotten about this song. Hadn't heard it in like 20 years or so.
I'd rather not compare...mcGuinn was an explorer/inventor pushing folk into rock with a full band, so I appreciate the difference. This stays truer to the folk idiom--a powerhouse rendition-- and McGuinn made this song to accessible to millions who would've never heard it. Different crowds.
The very first LP album I ever owned was Rocky Mountain High. I wore that record out. I think I received it from my grand parents on my 8th birthday. It is odd that, until that time, I was completely uninterested in music. It was John Denver who started that spark in me. I was sad when I heard of his passing, and I am angry at myself for never having gone to a live performance. My favorite song of John's, to this day, is Paradise. It was the first track that I wore flat. What I love about John's performance of Bells of Rhymney is how he is able to give it so much impact! The force and power with which he plays this is stunning.
Scott M ...and he can deliver this impact because he doesn’t follow previous versions’ ‘drone’ quality. That form flattens and forces the song into a straightjacket. Still there is something stark and haunting in the Byrds’ version as well. ...all in all a GREAT song and served well by John’s interpretation.
If only John could have made it to 2018. He would have been THE MAN to go on the DearMoon project. Pray whoever does go will include one of his songs on the voyage.
This is an extremely clever rendition of the song. We used to play it many years ago in the era of folk clubs in the UK. It is, incidentally, the only song I can recollect where you re-tune the base E string down to D, and of course, the song is played in the key of D. Great stuff
I'm from Wales the Rhondda valley I saw John seven times in all and net him in 82 royal Albert hall London and six months before he died in Cardiff South Wales were he sang this too a standing ovation
@ Richard Thomas Did you ever hear John sing Annies Song in Welsh, Richard? I've heard, from one person, that he did but unfortunately have never found a video of it. I'd just like confirmation that he did indeed sing a verse in Welsh (like he has done with so many languages).
@@paulineh4019 Pauline I'm so sorry I went to press the consent button and pressed the wrong one, please try again and I'll make sure I press the consent button, I'm so sorry x
I've been listening to JD since I was 12. I'm now 53 and I'm sadly saying I 've never seen this performance before.Thank you for sharing. This was a joy watching him play his 12 string guitar. If u ever get a chance, check out jim curry who is a musican that plays JD. Had a chance to see him in concert the other night and i was back in 1975 watching JD in concert
Oh what will you give me? Say the bells of Rhymney Is there hope for the future? Say the brown bells of Merthyr Who made the mine owner? Say the black bells of Rhondda And who robbed the miners? Say the grim bells of Blaina They will plunder willy-nilly Say the bells of Caerphilly They have fangs, they have teeth! Shout the loud bells of Neath Even God is uneasy Shout the moist bells of Swansea And what will you give me? Say the sad bells of Rhymney Throw the vandals in court Shout the bells of Newport All would be well if, if, if, if, if, if Say the green bells of Cardiff Why so worried, sisters, why? Sing the silver bells of Wye And what will you give me? Say the sad bells of Rhymney
Having been a big fan of his since he appeared so many years ago I was lucky enough to meet him when he visited Rhymney, what a gent and what a great great loss. He is sadly missed.
Oh, my, this is a marvelous rendering of 'Rhymney', recorded beautifully as well. First heard this song on an album by The Byrds, perhaps it was their first, in the mid-60s and I think of it often. It is terrific to see other performances of this number on YT.
I was privileged to see John live, many, many times over many years starting in 1971, and until April 1997, and and we met and chatted on some of those occasions..... A Star went out in the Heavens when we lost this genius of music and protective lover of Planet Earth...... How we need him back again now.
Somebody said once that he was almost in Roger McGuinn's league on this song. I promptly replied that McGuinn had nothing on John here. All due respect for McGuinn, this is far more intricate than his version of the song. Roger finger picks a nice solo for about 8 bars. There's a lot more going on here.
The poem was written by Idris Davies, a coal miner who turned teacher after an injury down the mine.. The poem was called Gwalia Deserta - Part XV. Pete Seeger read the poem and put it to music. He travelled to the home of Idris Davies in Rhymney South Wales to ask permission to use the poem, but Idris had passed away. Pete played and sang the song to Idris Davies widow, and she gave him permission. Gwalia Deserta, translates to "Wasteland of Wales" John get the names right, not many do
Beautiful version of this song. John picked up on Pete Seger’s use of the diminished 7 chord (which surprised me when I first heard Pete sing this song) and expanded and refined the chords in his guitar interludes. There’s a much more harmonically sophisticated sound here than I expected. Wonderful performance of a great song.
This brings back beautiful and fun memories! Nothing can quite match the depth and sound of him doing this live. Glad I got to share it with Mysister :), and later my hubby. Good stuff.
I interviewed Joe Frazier of the Chad Mitchell Trio once. He mentioned in the 70s catching up with Roger McGuinn and John Denver, both of whom he had worked with in the 60s. When Joe tried to meet Roger McGuinn just blew him off with "later man". Denver, on the other hand, actually went out of his way to track Joe down. Denver was a major star at this time and yet just wanted to chat with an old pal. Both Joe and John are gone now.
Sounds like John :) John wrote a song about 2 Joes. Joe Frazier and Johns friend and occasional collaborator Joe Henry. Title, Joseph and Joe. He never forgot his roots.
I believe this was genuinely the finest perfomance ever of this fine Seeger-penned folk classic. The original by Pete is remarkable, Roger McGuinn does an interesting fascimile to this version with a slightly more rock and roll outcome but John Denver took it to the next level. He was one of the very finest 12-string guitar players of the 1960s.
Actually, he only backed them up on their first two Kapp albums in 1961. Paul Prestipino and Jacob Ander replaced him on their third Kapp album and all their Mercury Albums.
John was a friend of mine when I was in high school. Each time he played in the DC area, I'd ask him for this song. He told me he would have to do it last because it took so much out of him to play it. He gave me a lesson on that wonderful Guild 12 string, and he played a free concert at my high school. My Dad loved him like a son and took it very hard when he died. It's good that his music lives on. RIP, John.
Wow. I'm 54 & John Denver was my first "idol"... reading comments like yours gives me goosebumps
Marcia House wow hearing such things makes this English 54yr old feel like crying. He was such a special part of my life - without him I'd never have taught myself how to play guitar (through my uncle and John Denver song books!) & be the Christian song writer I am today
I'm in dc what part?
Oh my God how lucky were you!!! I love that man so much.
WOW 😆
I'm missing John Denver, his music, his spirit, and his love of nature
This was not written by the great Pete Seeger , it was written in the form of a poem by ldris Davies of Rhymney , South Wales and was a reminder of the harsh coal miners strike of 1926 . lt was published in a book of poems in 1938 . Pete Seeger read it and put the music to it in 1958 and the rest is history . Great rendition by the great John Denver . Thanks
well I think you could make the case that Pete wrote the SONG, based on the POEM by Idris. Yes?
No -- a song is both lyrics and a tune, IMO @@narosser
@@honeymcdonald9120 Without the music, it is just a poem.
@@stevenmeyer9674 Without words, it is just music
Great song of course, but Denver's ability to make the 12-string sing is a revelation.
In a world where people do bad things to other people - dissing an artist like Denver is soooo wrong. I am sure Pete Seeger was thrilled with this...the student became the master....
I was on duty as a police officer when he passed through a small village called RHYMNEY, lol, I was the first to buy his first LP eyrie, fabulous lp , lovely chap, saw him that night in Cardiff and he sang this, wonderful such a very very sad loss.
David Edwards I was there to the 7th and last time to see him, six months later he,s gone. what a loss to the world
I was there
I live in Rhymney
Ah, that famous white suit from 1984. You had to be there in person to really appreciate that guitar virtuosity...remember once when a string broke and he finished it on 11 strings. AMAZING!
When you're up on stage on front of who knows how many people and you break a string, what are you gonna do? You keep on playing like nothing happened. You can bet the not many people noticed the break unless John reacted to it in some way. Even today, John has been understated as a guitar player. He was a lot better than most people realized. Miss you, John.
It is videos like this that make me glad RUclips is available.
This song and this man are magic. We miss you John.
"When Pete wrote it, I think his intention was to make the 12-string guitar sound like bells...we'll see..." Mission accomplished!
Pete didn't write it , it was written by a Welsh Poet called Idris Davies
@@richardbool4232 I know, I was only quoting John Denver.
@@THEonionsack O.K. Cool
John was a majorly genius in tone and tune.
i'm from sweden. and i'm drunk. so i can't write the great speach i should. so I'll just say this... THANK YOU JOHN! THIS IS SO SO SO SO SO GREAT! there are tears in my eyes. again. Thanks John.
+reddkross1977 The only way you can surpass this is being drunk, because it is "far beyond"!
I've played this song for about four decades but this is the first time I've heard it played by John Denver - Boy have I missed out!
His virtuoso guitar playing even upstages the classic Pete Seeger version which was an old fashioned protest song.
This is an AMAZING video and must be watched to appreciate just how great a guitarist this guy was. Many thanks for posting it. Sadly, VERY sadly missed.
Coincidentally, I was driving in these very valleys in the wee small hours of this morning. Weird!
People often forget that not only was JD one of the world's greatest singer/songwriters he was also one of the most amazing guitar players. I had the pleasure of seeing him play live 4 times including his last ever concert in London in April 1997.
Been a great fan of his since he appeared around 1971 and was lucky enough to meet him brielfy when He came to Rhymney before one of his Cardiff concerts, he was visiting all the towns named in the song, he was such a gent and is so sadly missed, I cherish the fact I met him.
I was lucky enough to meet him In Rhymney when I was a policeman there and later that night watched him sing it in his concert in Cardiff, he said he was visiting each town in the song so that he could get the right feeling for it, I think he did, such a loss, I will never get over it I know.
I was very fortunate to see him play this live. RIP.
I can simply say that in all the time i've watched stuff on RUclips this is the best performance/ video i've ever seen. The anomaly of this apparent "uncool" guy producing a performance like this should have any critics, contemporaries & audience on their feet in applause.
The performance here is nothing short of astonishing ... I can't think of another word for it!
Cool is for fools. Not too many musicians pull this kind of thing off.
I was actually at this concert which took place at the Apollo Victoria in 1982. John Denver was and is my all time favourite singer. His version of this great song is in a class by itself! Oh to be able to play a 12 string like that!
You know his VOICE is very much like an "instrument" as well......... just excellent
I was born in Caerphilly, but I was brought up in Bargoed, a former mining town that was part of the Rhymney valley.
Hi Andrew ... I was born in Aberbargoed just across the valley from where you were brought up. I'm a big fan of John Denver and make (pretty poor) efforts at singing his songs. Of course I struggle more than usual with this one, but partly because I can't bring myself to mis-pronounce Rhymney !! I suppose that I should get over it (for art's sake) but I can't bring myself to say "Rimney" ... haha.
Absolutely stunning. I think this Apollo concert was one of his best. Every clip of it I've seen is near perfect.
His fingerpicking is outstanding !! And the Guild 12 - string Guitar sounds incredible @@
Magical... Could be nostalgia, could be the wine, but was there ever a better live act? I'm blown away by his talent, what a bloody loss. I'm mesmerized by his natural gifts, raw talent. I'm a heavy metal guy, but I'm blown far away by JD. Can't teach perfection
I'm a Heavy Metal guy also... but to hear Glen Campbell and John Denver on Guitar ... I'm in H.E.A.V.E.N 🎸🤘🙏🙏
I've listened to several renditions of this song on RUclips. John's is hands down, far and away my favorite. For the most part, the artists seems to focus on the concept of the variety of bells in different Welsh towns, as in 'oh isn't that quaint.' But the original 1938 poem by Idris Davies seems to me to discuss the ravages of the mining industry on these towns, the bells being the 'voice' he uses to convey the townspeople's laments. The grinding trudging hardship, the danger and fear and grief, the rage, and in some cases the denial. While his intro doesn't touch on these ideas, John's masterful and passionate delivery of the song, via both guitar and voice, does indeed convey them. (Oysterband's rendition, posted by Mehefinheulog1 with a great video montage, is the first runner up in my vote.) This song carries me away, then grabs me by the throat and makes the social justice lover in me want to jump up and rage against the machine.
This is the version that turned me into a Pete Seeger fan.
Pete's influence really comes through in this vid. There's a depth and complexity to this performance that I haven't experienced in other John videos or in his own songs. I suspect, had he lived, we would have heard more of that level of expression from John; he was just coming to that age of full maturity. What a loss. While also so missed, at least we had Pete to his ripe old age.
A couple of weeks after Pete died, BBC Radio 2 had their folk music awards show. At the end of the show, they did a tribute to Pete, and Peggy sang Quite Early Morning, which made me cry because 1) I had lost one of my biggest musical influences, and 2) it also reminded me of John and how I came across this song completely by accident.
i'm a big Byrds/folk-rock fan, but have to agree: John with his presence, his amazing guitar playing, and re-phrasing make this a riveting powerhouse of a song.
John said that he loved bluegrass but wasn't good enough on the guitar. He was wrong, because he was bloody amazing, and the fact that he could do it on a 12-string continues to amaze me.
Elegant! The Byrds were lovely but this rendition of just a wonderfully played 12-string and that soaring voice make the song come alive! Miss this rare musician !!
A Mazing! John was such an amazing man, and talented artist. How anyone could not appreciate him and his music is beyond me. RIP John. You are missed!
Wow... He is not only a wonderful singer-songwriter but also a phantastic guitar player. Wonderful Song.
John Denver was a remarkable soul. Miss him.
John is simply amazing with his guitar ability. I'm surprised and impressed. Appreciate the posting.
We were at that concert - my wife and I and three sons (at the time aged 15, 14 & 12). When I tell them now of this video they say White Suit and the Bells of Rhymney. Absolutely outstanding. I even heard James Burton say John was a very good guitarist. . No higher praise than that! My Welsh friends love it!! And so do I.
Peter
I saw and heard JD do this while he was still with the Mitchell Trio in the mid-60's at the College of Wooster, Ohio. This brought the house to its feet and hair on the back of everyone's arms. A classic.
David Dax
I still pray for you John. Favorite artist of all time! B
I had forgotten what a great talent John Denver was. Fortunately, for younger and future generations, he left us remarkable performances such as this one.
Unbelievable!! I've seen many, many videos of John but never saw his mastery of the guitar demonstrated so well. I half expected sparks to start flying from the strings! Wow! Isn't it amazing how much there was to this man? So few realize that!
This song got me completely hooked on John's abilities, and co-producing his first two-hour plus concert anywhere in the world on 4/26/69 at a small community college outside of Washington, DC still ranks as one of the most worthwhile events of my life. JD is so missed by those of us who knew and loved him, and it is my wish that his accomplishments are remembered for many generations to come.
It's ironic that John didn't get to play guitar very much with The Mitchell Trio, since he was one of the most talented guitar players I've ever heard. This performance in particular is phenomenal. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more complicated piece played with such perfection.
I have watched this video many, many times. It is, in my humble opinion without equal.
The Pete Seeger version was perhaps more emotive as a song but, for pure quality of musicianship, I don't think this can be beaten.
The Mitchell Trio was able to find some fantastic backing musicians, though. Roger McGuinn (back when he was Jim) played backing guitar for them for a time in the CMT days, for instance.
It's unclear if he was that good already when he was still with the Mitchell Trio, though. You can tell how his singing improved and, later on, got more complex throughout his career, and I think the same may have been true for his playing as well. He was self-conscious about his music in his early career, he once referred to his voice as "lousy" in an interview from the early 70s, and in his autobiography, he mentions that he constantly tried not to speed up during his performances, often to no avail. I think it's possible that, back then in the 1960s, he couldn't perform the song that well because he was lacking confidence on stage.
I have an audio copy of John 1968/69 playing Bells. It's on par with this version. He has said he played it as the warm up act to the CMT
Absolutely breathtaking! !!!!!! Miss him....the best....absolutely the best of the best ~♡♡♡
I was luck enough to meet him in Rhymney when he was visiting all the towns mentioned in the song prior to his concert in Cardiff, where I then watched him perform this live, brought the house down, so sadly missed, a lovely chap.
I started going to John’s concerts at age 10. Until he died I missed only one concert. I still love his music. Barb B🎉🎉
I was lucky enough to see him when he was with the Mitchell Trio...when he was still using his real last name.
I had no clue John Denver was such a talented guitar player.
An amazing version of this classic song!
That is really fabulous guitar playing,
in addition to John's wonderful vocal gifts!
He is an amazing guitarist, making it look so effortless!
I always loved John's singing and as a lover of folk music, I've always know this song but I wasn't aware until today that John had performed it. This is simply an amazing performance and emphasises what a talent he was and what a loss he is to our musical lives. All I can say is thank you John for a wonderful legacy, both in musical terms and in the values you pursued throughout your lifetime.
I'm welsh, I'm from Newport (CASNEWED), I loved John since i was a kid because of my mother, i just found this, I always knew he was intelligent and world aware. but this proves how much, when i have been to America and i say from Wales, MOST Americans have not got a clue,, respect always John,,RIP
HE IS MAKING PETE PROUD HERE ... One night John came to a show I was playing with 12 String wizard Leo Kottke. . He took us out for a drink afterwards and offered to sell me one of his magnificent & RARE Guild 612's . I was a brand new father of a few weeks and could not take him up on his offer . Do I regret it YES ... but the memory of that night is unforgettable
Nice to hear a story like that,
A superb performance.
Best cover
If anyone tells you John Denver was a below average guitarist, show them this video. The man could play as well as sing and write. Just a fantastic musician all around.
I've never seen or heard a better music performance and he did this alone just singing and playing magnificently, without any help group assisting him.
I learned this from Judy Collins (one on one) in 1967 when I was in college in Pittsburgh, PA. As a finger style player I thought I took it up a notch. But this blows me away. I know why John played it last. So did I, as it takes the energy of an Olympic miler to play like that. I am humbled by this version.
I watched John play this on this actual instrument at a performance in the Golliwog Lounge at a Downtown Minneapolis hotel back in the late 60s I think the hotel was the Ritz Sheraton. I recall being so impressed with his voice. His guitar skills played a second to his singing ability.
How many of today's artist can play a 12 string guitar like this, you were amazing JD!
No doubt that John Denver was a troubadour during the Middle Ages in a previous life. His music is timeless.
In around 1967, I had a chance to see the Mitchell Trio at a college concert. I vividly remember a member of the group playing a twelve string and making them sound like bells. Little did I know that I was watching the start of John Denver's marvelous career. I became a huge fan of his through the late sixties and seventies. I just think of the additional music he could have created had he not died so young. At least he died doing something he loved so much.
I had the age and honor to hear John Denver perform this in Central Park NY NY with the Mitchel Trio. It really was this special.
He managed to make his twelve-string guitar sound like bells...
John really nails the bell sound
Why would anyone give this a thumbs down?????
Seriously, they do it to piss people off. Do not pay any attention to them. They are sad souls.
@@leithp probably English
My only thought is that the sound is a bit ‘watery’ if that makes sense. The man and the song certainly don’t warrant a thumbs down.
Tells you more about the reviewer than the performance. Disregard, probably based in jealousy of this kind of talent.
He's better than I thought he was at the time
This one track probably above all others shows what an excellent musician JD actually was. The twelve string is not the easiest guitar to finger pick, but you'd never know it watching this virtuoso performance. No studio dubbing here, this is all him . . .
An artist who was passionate and talented. Much missed in our household. RIP
Astonishing work! My band will be doing this song, at our High Plains John DenverFest, in June, and we hope it will be worthy of John's and Pete's spirit when we do!
Beautiful 12-string guitar
Wow, I knew he was a great picker but this is amazing, shame he left us way too early
I saw him do this live twice; once with the Mitchell Trio at Penn (the trio's last album) and once as a sols at the Main Point in Bryn Mawr, Pa.
A great song, John Denver is sadly missed by many music lovers. I live in the Rhymney Valley between Caerphilly and Bargoed
Byrds ... maybe Dylan? I just remember the Byrds ... awesome. Really appreciate being able to hear this great musician, great singer, doing the song. I'd almost forgotten about this song. Hadn't heard it in like 20 years or so.
This must be the best ever version if this great song. Now that's how a 12 string guitar should be played & maybe only Roger could beat it?
+Colin Groves I don't think Mcguinn could beat this. He was a good picker, but I never heard him surpass this.
Yeah I always point people towards this video when they ask me that they want to hear the most amazing version of this song.
no, he couldn't have you heard john's rendition of mr tambourine man great
I'd rather not compare...mcGuinn was an explorer/inventor pushing folk into rock with a full band, so I appreciate the difference. This stays truer to the folk idiom--a powerhouse rendition-- and McGuinn made this song to accessible to millions who would've never heard it. Different crowds.
Interestingly, way back when Roger was Jim, he played for the Chad Mitchell Trio (well before John took over).
The very first LP album I ever owned was Rocky Mountain High. I wore that record out. I think I received it from my grand parents on my 8th birthday. It is odd that, until that time, I was completely uninterested in music. It was John Denver who started that spark in me. I was sad when I heard of his passing, and I am angry at myself for never having gone to a live performance.
My favorite song of John's, to this day, is Paradise. It was the first track that I wore flat.
What I love about John's performance of Bells of Rhymney is how he is able to give it so much impact! The force and power with which he plays this is stunning.
Scott M ...and he can deliver this impact because he doesn’t follow previous versions’ ‘drone’ quality. That form flattens and forces the song into a straightjacket. Still there is something stark and haunting in the Byrds’ version as well. ...all in all a GREAT song and served well by John’s interpretation.
If only John could have made it to 2018. He would have been THE MAN to go on the DearMoon project. Pray whoever does go will include one of his songs on the voyage.
This is an extremely clever rendition of the song. We used to play it many years ago in the era of folk clubs in the UK. It is, incidentally, the only song I can recollect where you re-tune the base E string down to D, and of course, the song is played in the key of D. Great stuff
this song brings back so many memories... thank you ❤
I'm from Wales the Rhondda valley I saw John seven times in all and net him in 82 royal Albert hall London and six months before he died in Cardiff South Wales were he sang this too a standing ovation
@ Richard Thomas Did you ever hear John sing Annies Song in Welsh, Richard? I've heard, from one person, that he did but unfortunately have never found a video of it. I'd just like confirmation that he did indeed sing a verse in Welsh (like he has done with so many languages).
@@paulineh4019 dim, nage, no iv never heard John sing Annie,s song in Cymru Welsh sorry Pauline
@@richardthomas2448 Thanks for replying Richard
@@paulineh4019 Pauline I'm so sorry I went to press the consent button and pressed the wrong one, please try again and I'll make sure I press the consent button, I'm so sorry x
I've been listening to JD since I was 12. I'm now 53 and I'm sadly saying I 've never seen this performance before.Thank you for sharing. This was a joy watching him play his 12 string guitar. If u ever get a chance, check out jim curry who is a musican that plays JD. Had a chance to see him in concert the other night and i was back in 1975 watching JD in concert
Great rendition. I had not heard this before too ♫♪ღ♥
Oh what will you give me?
Say the bells of Rhymney
Is there hope for the future?
Say the brown bells of Merthyr
Who made the mine owner?
Say the black bells of Rhondda
And who robbed the miners?
Say the grim bells of Blaina
They will plunder willy-nilly
Say the bells of Caerphilly
They have fangs, they have teeth!
Shout the loud bells of Neath
Even God is uneasy
Shout the moist bells of Swansea
And what will you give me?
Say the sad bells of Rhymney
Throw the vandals in court
Shout the bells of Newport
All would be well if, if, if, if, if, if
Say the green bells of Cardiff
Why so worried, sisters, why?
Sing the silver bells of Wye
And what will you give me?
Say the sad bells of Rhymney
Superb piece of music, more than that, AWSOME
Having been a big fan of his since he appeared so many years ago I was lucky enough to meet him when he visited Rhymney, what a gent and what a great great loss. He is sadly missed.
Oh, my, this is a marvelous rendering of 'Rhymney', recorded beautifully as well. First heard this song on an album by The Byrds, perhaps it was their first, in the mid-60s and I think of it often. It is terrific to see other performances of this number on YT.
I was privileged to see John live, many, many times over many years starting in 1971, and until April 1997, and and we met and chatted on some of those occasions..... A Star went out in the Heavens when we lost this genius of music and protective lover of Planet Earth...... How we need him back again now.
Somebody said once that he was almost in Roger McGuinn's league on this song. I promptly replied that McGuinn had nothing on John here. All due respect for McGuinn, this is far more intricate than his version of the song. Roger finger picks a nice solo for about 8 bars. There's a lot more going on here.
The poem was written by Idris Davies, a coal miner who turned teacher after an injury down the mine.. The poem was called Gwalia Deserta - Part XV. Pete Seeger read the poem and put it to music. He travelled to the home of Idris Davies in Rhymney South Wales to ask permission to use the poem, but Idris had passed away. Pete played and sang the song to Idris Davies widow, and she gave him permission. Gwalia Deserta, translates to "Wasteland of Wales" John get the names right, not many do
Beautiful version of this song. John picked up on Pete Seger’s use of the diminished 7 chord (which surprised me when I first heard Pete sing this song) and expanded and refined the chords in his guitar interludes. There’s a much more harmonically sophisticated sound here than I expected. Wonderful performance of a great song.
John has done it. The poet, Idris Davies, interpreted in music. Love Pete Seger and love John more. Thanks to both. John gone too soon.
Great musician and singer. Hits a "clam in the road" @ 1:40 and moves through without missing a beat or note. Been there, done that.
I see I'm not alone in not seeing John sing this before, and I thought I'd heard all his songs. His voice is definitely missed. RIP great man
I never really paid much attention to John Denver in my 62 years. But, I must say, this is a SUPERB version of The Bells of Rhymney!
This brings back beautiful and fun memories! Nothing can quite match the depth and sound of him doing this live. Glad I got to share it with Mysister :), and later my hubby. Good stuff.
Great performance by a great artist. RIP John.
I interviewed Joe Frazier of the Chad Mitchell Trio once. He mentioned in the 70s catching up with Roger McGuinn and John Denver, both of whom he had worked with in the 60s. When Joe tried to meet Roger McGuinn just blew him off with "later man". Denver, on the other hand, actually went out of his way to track Joe down. Denver was a major star at this time and yet just wanted to chat with an old pal. Both Joe and John are gone now.
Sounds like John :) John wrote a song about 2 Joes. Joe Frazier and Johns friend and occasional collaborator Joe Henry. Title, Joseph and Joe. He never forgot his roots.
I went and saw John Denver perform about six months ago and he did this song
Beautiful song.x
A favorite...always.
Thankyou Mr.Denver!!!
My favorite singer and guitar player. Loved (love) his music. RIP.
good song never hered it before iam from south wales
I believe this was genuinely the finest perfomance ever of this fine Seeger-penned folk classic. The original by Pete is remarkable, Roger McGuinn does an interesting fascimile to this version with a slightly more rock and roll outcome but John Denver took it to the next level. He was one of the very finest 12-string guitar players of the 1960s.
Roger McGuinn was backing musician for Mitchell trio 1962/63 banjo & Guitar!
Although that was back with Chad, before John joined.
Actually, he only backed them up on their first two Kapp albums in 1961. Paul Prestipino and Jacob Ander replaced him on their third Kapp album and all their Mercury Albums.
John Denver was a helluva underrated guitar player.
john inspired me the most.....
love the song from the birds.