"Fly Away" is a 1975 song written and performed by
John Denver featuring vocals by
Olivia Newton-John
Dame Olivia Newton-John (26 September 1948 – 8 August 2022) was a British-Australian singer, actress and activist. She was a four-time Grammy Award winner whose music career included 15 top-ten singles, including 5 number-one singles on the ...
.
[Only Olivia's album information regarding "Fly Away"](_blank)
/ref> Released as a single from the ''Windsong
''Windsong'' is the ninth studio album recorded by American singer-songwriter John Denver, which was released in September 1975. Denver's popularity was at its peak by this time.
The album contained the songs " I'm Sorry" and " Calypso," wh ...
'' album, "Fly Away" peaked at number 13 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart and spent two weeks atop the adult contemporary chart
The Adult Contemporary chart is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine and lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary radio stations in the United States. The chart is compiled based on airplay data submitted to ''Billboard'' by sta ...
in early-1976, Denver's sixth number one on this chart. "Fly Away" also peaked at number 12 on the country chart.
Background
The song is an ode to longing for simpler times and a simpler way of life.[John Denver's Windsong from SuperSeventies](_blank)
/ref> '' Record World'' said that "this ballad contains the unmistakable Denver vocal charm with the added bonus of Olivia Newton-John joining in on the chorus."Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
'' magazine remarked, "At this point, John Denver albums are as numerous as potted plants in the apartments of these urbanites, and both are symptoms of the same longing. The singer acknowledges his average listener in 'Fly Away'."
Chart performance
See also
*List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1976 (U.S.)
Adult Contemporary is a chart published by ''Billboard'' ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the adult contemporary music (AC) market. In 1976, 40 singles topped the chart, then published under the title Easy Listening. Th ...
References
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1975 songs
1976 singles
John Denver songs
Olivia Newton-John songs
Songs written by John Denver
Song recordings produced by Milt Okun
RCA Records singles
Male–female vocal duets