13. Leaving On A Jet Plane (Peter, Paul and Mary)
This was written by a very young John Denver, who was then a
member of the Chad Mitchell Trio before beginning his solo career in the 1970s.
Denver wrote this in 1967 during a layover at Washington airport, "Not so
much from feeling that way for someone, but from the longing of having someone
to love" The Chad Mitchell Trio recorded it that year, as did Spanky &
Our Gang and Peter, Paul and Mary. It only became a hit when the latter act
covered the song again 2 years later.
This became the biggest hit for Peter, Paul and Mary, and
also their last.
John Denver successfully took legal action against New
Order, claiming that the guitar break on New Order's third single from their Technique
album, "Run 2," too closely resembled "Leaving on a Jet
Plane." The case was settled out of court, and as a result the single can
never be re-released in its original form.