#58 – A Mile High In Denver
Day #58 – A Mile High In Denver
Denver Colorado is called “the Mile High City” because its official elevation is listed at 5280 feet, exactly one mile. Looking into information on where exactly this elevation is measured from reveals it be the 13th step on the west side of the State Capital Building. Now, why that is the official measurement spot is a bit bizarre, but regardless of a couple of feet or not, Denver sits at a very interesting elevation. Cities need nicknames, and this is a pretty great one. There is no doubt in my mind, that Jimmy heard that nickname and ran with it, maybe starting with a title or a few lyrics and eventually coming up with a charming song about the Colorado Rocky Mountains based on a city with an iconic nickname.
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Original post from 10/29/2023
Day #58 – A Mile High In Denver
A Mile High In Denver was released in 1970 on JB’s first studio album Down To Earth.
This takes us way back on Jimmy’s musical path. It was after he cut his teeth playing in the Alabama gulf coast and New Orleans, and takes us into his Nashville years, but well before his move to the Florida Keys.
The first time I listened to this album was 1998; it was released on a CD, and I gobbled it right up. This album certainly has a different feel than his music that came afterwards. It’s more country, certainly more folk, and maybe even a touch of the 60’s. There are some amazing songs on it, and this is one.
I have no idea if Jimmy had been to Colorado when he penned this song, but he certainly was afterwards. As a matter of fact, it might have been inspired by pictures in a magazine.
“Sittin’ on a pocket of hard earned wages, Lookin’ at the world through magazine pages, I heard a lot about the mountains and the Colorado range…”
One of Jimmy’s friends and connections in Nashville was John Denver and the two men remained great friends. Of course, John Denver was known for his folk country vibe and his love of the Colorado Rockies. He too hinted at getting high in the mountains and he wasn’t talking about elevation. Jimmy’s songs usually are layered in meaning and this one is no different.
Jimmy played at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in the Denver area many, many times. It was a place that I always wanted to see him at but never managed to accomplish, but he drew huge crowds every time he was there.
When marijuana was first legalized in Colorado this song received quite a bit of new airtime, and Jimmy played it at Red Rocks, regardless.
However, the place in Colorado that he called one of his homes was Aspen. He visited first in 1972, so well before his Montana days and nights. He visited Aspen for several years, then bought a house at Old Snowmass Village, right by Aspen. I had questioned if Jimmy liked snow or not, but in the winter of 1975-76, he stayed the winter season and learned to ski. Jimmy was certainly athletic and apparently that extended to snow sports, as well.
There was a similar counterculture of music and actors in Aspen as there was in Key West, so I can see what drew him. Bands like the Eagles and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band had strong connections to Aspen. Jimmy was known in the area for hosting some wild parties, and he and his great friend Glen Frey of the Eagles spent quite a bit of time together. Hints that it was house sitters in Aspen that prompted Jimmy and Glen Frey to write Gypsies In The Palace.
As a matter of fact, Jimmy and Glen both organized teams on a community softball league and battled against each other. Jimmy’s team was the Downvalley Doughboys, and he even wrangled a Corona beer sponsorship for them with a 4-case per game allotment. One year, Jimmy made the move to fly in Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles in as a ringer in the championship game against Glen Frey’s Werewolves.
Aspen was where he rented Redstone Castle for a three-day party, and promised that sometime in those three days, there would be a wedding. There was and he made the lovely Jane Slagsvol his bride. I have pictures of that very unique invitation somewhere on my phone. Aspen was where his oldest daughter Savannah was born.
So I think that probably before he even set foot in Colorado or penned a song about Denver or learned to ski in Aspen, something about the place called to Jimmy. It was a special part of his life.
Please enjoy A Mile High In Denver. I think you’ll enjoy it. I have included the link in the comments below.
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I mentioned in my original post that Jimmy had played this song at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, but according to information from setlist.fm, Jimmy played this song once at the Pepsi Center in Denver and once at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre in Greenwood Village, two venues I failed to mention in my original post. I am not disputing the information, but it states those are the only two times Jimmy ever played this song in a live show, and I just find that very hard to believe. Perhaps those set lists have not been made available, but since this was from JB’s first recorded album, I would think he played several of the songs early in his career. But according to them, never at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
I would love to hear from anyone out there who might have some different information on this song and if they know of any other times Jimmy might have played it live. I am using this as a learning process for myself and would be happy to be given more information.
And I realize, no matter how many times he did or didn’t play it in concert, I still think it’s a great song, and was integral to his early career, and therefore everything that came afterwards.
Stacy
Please enjoy A Mile High In Denver. I have included the link below. Enjoy!
The link is from Jimmy’s official YouTube channel, which I have no personal affiliation with.
