Lana Del Rey goes back to basics with her new cover of John Denver’s 1971 classic, “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” On this take, she and producer Zachary Dawes swap Denver’s staple acoustics for piano with an ample amount of vocal reverb.
John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” originally peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971. The surprise release comes days after Del Rey’s Christmas at Graceland appearance. There, she sang Elvis Presley’s version of “Unchained Melody.”
“I’m tired now,” Del Rey admits to The Times. “So keeping it simple is probably the way that it’s going to go. I dug around a lot writing this [album] and don’t think I have to go there again.” There have been rumors of an All-American covers album (titled Pacific Blue) since the singer-songwriter released 2020’s “Summertime The Gershwin Version,” originally composed by jazz pianist George Gershwin in 1935.
On the rare side, the 38-year-old enthusiastically promoted her projects on Instagram. The promotions were complete with pictures with family, friends and backup singers. The artwork for Del Rey’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” features Del Rey; her sister, Chuck Grant; and nephew, Phoenix, hunched in a warm embrace.
Del Rey previously referenced John Denver’s 1972 hit “Rocky Mountain High” on the “The Grants.“ On the track’s gospely intro, she croons, “Like ‘Rocky Mountain High,’ the way John Denver sings.” The song opened her critically acclaimed ninth studio album, Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd.
The singer is also nominated for five Grammys at next year’s awards, thanks to Ocean Blvd, “A&W” and “Candy Necklace.”
Stream “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by Lana Del Rey below. Check out more Releases on Music Daily!
