"Leaving on a Jet Plane" | ||||
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Single by John Denver | ||||
from the album Rhymes & Reasons | ||||
B-side | "Jimmy Newman" | |||
Released | October 1969 | |||
Genre | Folk | |||
Length | 3:37 | |||
Label | RCA | |||
Songwriter(s) | John Denver | |||
Producer(s) | Milton Okun | |||
John Denver singles chronology | ||||
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"Leaving on a Jet Plane" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter John Denver[1] in 1966, originally included on his debut demo recording John Denver Sings as "Babe I Hate to Go". He made several copies and gave them out as presents for Christmas of that year.[2] Denver's then-producer Milt Okun convinced him to change the title; it was renamed "Leaving on a Jet Plane" in 1967.
In 1969, simultaneous to the success of the Peter, Paul and Mary version, Denver recorded the song again for his debut studio album, Rhymes & Reasons, and it was released as a single in October 1969 through RCA Records.[3] Although it is one of John Denver's best-known songs, his single failed to chart.
"Leaving on a Jet Plane" was re-recorded for the third and final time in 1973 for John Denver's Greatest Hits, the version that also appears on most of his compilation albums. A version by Chantal Kreviazuk reached No. 33 in Canada in 1998.[4]