Billboard’s very last  Hot 100 of the ’60s showed Peter Paul & Mary’s version of “Leaving on a Jet Plane” at #2.The week before, at Christmas, it was #1.

The song first saw the light of day in 1966 when John Denver wrote “Babe, I Hate to Go” for his debut solo album, “John Denver Sings.  His producer hated the title and thankfully convinced John to change it…which was a very Smart move…and for the record, although many people thought the song was about someone being deployed to Viet Nam,  John confirmed it was about a traveling musician leaving to go on tour.

In 1967, the song was recorded by The Chad Mitchell Trio (featuring  John as a member at the time), as well as  Spanky & Our Gang…and, of course, Peter, Paul & Mary for “their Album “1700.”

The first two of the three were NOT hits…and. for some reason, the latter wasn’t released as a single until 1969…but the wait was worth it.

“Leaving on a Jet Plane” became Peter, Paul & Mary’s first and only #1 song Unfortunately  it was also their last hit… but going out on top is not a certainly bad way to go.