DONOVAN

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SUNSHINE SUPERMAN (1966)

(reviewed by Casey Brennan)

This album was his first psychedelic pop release, and it is notable for the hit "Sunshine Superman", a sunny anthem driven by some harpsichord and acoustic guitar, and "Season Of The Witch", a fast and doomy song that opens up side two. The rest of the album is a mostly quiet and folky affair with some Indian influences in it, except for "The Trip", which although folky, sounds closer to midtempo rock n' roll. "Legend Of A Girl Child Named Linda" is the longest on here, and is a mostly beautiful and delicate childlike song, but the majority of the ballads on here tend to drag and sound boring.

"Three King Fishers" is just Indian crap, "Celeste" is forgettable, "Guinevere" kicks in some parts, but just repeats the same musical idea, and "Ferris Wheel" has some more Indian sounds in it, with it's tempo resembling the speed of the songs title. On the better side though "Bert's Blues", is a fine song that has some neat harpsichord, and "The Fat Angel" is another psychedelic Indian song that is about Mama Cass Elliot. The songs trod along too much on here, with too few catchy songs to make it tolerable, but there are a few really great moments.

OVERALL RATING: 6

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COMMENTS

[email protected] (Jordie Wilkie)

Hey, I just had to tell you that you might want to listen to this one again a few times because almost every song on here is good. Actually, maybe I'm just weird but I think the 2 hits on here are some of the weakest in the bunch. I absolutely love "Legend of...". Guinnevere is good, but your'e right, it does get a little repetetive. Bert's Blues is another favorite because it is Donovan's darkest song (as much as you can actually apply the word "dark" to Donovan) and that harpsichord section totally changes the mood but still in a dark way. My favorite is one that you call "forgettable" called Celeste. At least try and give that song a second chance if none other. I can't get enough of that one. It's layered real nice and has a real powerful melody. But it's understandable if you don't like this stuff. It's not for everybody I guess.

HURDY GURDY MAN (1968)

(reviewed by Casey Brennan)

The lone rocker on this album is "Hurdy Gurdy Man" (I really like his voice in the beginning of this song), the other songs are typical Donovan. "Peregrine" and "Tangier" are Indian-styled songs, and "The Entertaining Of A Shy Girl", "The River Song", and "The Sun Is A Very Magical Fellow" are playful acoustic songs with the occasional flute in them, and some childlike lyrics. These songs are inoffensive, low-key, and usually quite melodic; "Hi It's Been A Long Time" is the most melodic and best tune on here, just perfect, "As I Can Recall It" is a lightweight novelty jazzy number, and "Get Thy Bearings" is a sparse sounding tune with echoy drums and a trumpet line. "Teas" is also a gentle and effective closer that reminds you of the simple joy of this album. This is good to sit down and relax to, because everything is fairly short and catchy on here. After this release, Donovan would collaborate with the Jeff Beck group on Barabajagal, which has a broader sound with more production.

OVERALL RATING: 7

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COMMENTS

[email protected] (Allison Farris)

Hurdy Gurdy Man has got to be one of the best known (and loved) Donovan songs out there. Not only has it been covered (interestingly enough by a group who calls themselves the Butthole Surfers), but none other than Jimmy Page played guitar. With Don's song-writing and singing ability, and Page playing some killer guitar, it's no wonder this was a Top 40.

Out of the entire album, there is really only one track I didn't particularly like. No, it's a good song, I just think it belonged more on an H.M.S. Donovan CD than this very spiritual, transcendental masterpiece. Is it just me or does Jennifer Juniper little poppy for this album? Granted, it's a beautiful song, but it doesn't seem to fit as well as songs like "West Indian Lady" (imagine a funky beat and accent to match) and "Teas" (great all-around folk/pop merger) do. I know there are some who swear by "Jenny," but I don't see how a song like "Tangier" can be included on the same album as this one.

It's difficult for me to group these songs into categories as I've done before, so let me discuss each individual song.

Peregrine is fabulous. Dono's singing style is pretty much the same on this one as it is on Tangier. Both excellent songs, though Tangier is about the cruelties of society and Peregrine is about the falcon of the same name/a conversation he is having with a friend. Both pretty eerie tracks.

My personal favorite on the album is Entertaining of a Shy Girl. Donovan thought this up while on some Caribbean island. It seems he saw a young lady and this track popped into his head! Gentle, folk-style guitar work makes it seem like a story Donovan is telling. Some Donovan 'veterans' might compare it to Age of Treason. Of course, this one of also like The River Song.

Classic ragtime, As I Recall It is just that. An all-around fun song and a wonderful style, it's too bad Donovan really only experimented with it on Hurdy Gurdy Man and a little on 7-Tease. It's fast, upbeat, and compliments those more intense songs quite well.

Another thing -- Get Thy Bearings -- great saxophone number and a pretty darn good song. Hats to Donovan for this one, I love it. It's so moody...my dad, who tends to lean towards CSNY and Creedence Clearwater Revival, thinks this songs kicks! Once again, I've not heard much more of this jazzy style from Donovan. It kind of reminds me of The Saxophone Song by Kate Bush, a huge 'Donofan.'

The Sun is a Very Magic Fellow is like A Sunny Day, just revisited. I myself prefer the former to the latter, because in my opinion it goes for too much pop...To me, these tracks have that childhood spontaneity that the rest of the album lacks (certainly not in a bad way). They are great songs, but perhaps he should have saved them for his children songs album?

If you want a good record, buy this one. It's the one to have if you are big on his early stuff (God knows, he spanned 4 decades, and still going strong!), and great to have if you are a fairly recent fan.

TROUBADOUR - THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION (1964-1976)

(reviewed by Casey Brennan)

This double set is very complete because it contains all of his hits from 1964-1976, plus alternate versions, and unreleased songs. The first five songs are from Donovan's folky period, which was only a short stint before he turned to pop. "Catch The Wind", "Universal Soldier", and "Colours" are strong and playful folky songs from this 1965 period. He abruptly became a pop artist in 1966 and made one of his biggest and strongest hits called "Sunshine Superman", which is a rough-edged psychedelic pop song. Since 1966 was one of his most successful periods about half of Disc One contains material from this era. Songs like "Museum" and "Sunny South Kensington" go along similar paths as "Sunshine Superman", and other classics like "Mellow Yellow" (a song about getting high off of bananas), and the doomy strumming "Season Of The Witch" come from the same early hippie dippie period.

His 1967 hits go for an overtly childish but more experimental psychedelic sound, songs like "Wear Your Love Like Heaven" (a neat tune with some vibraphone and keyboards), "Epstile To Dippy" (some inviting violin), and "Oh Gosh" (a melodic short ditty) are strong and lightweight songs from that year. The more folkish, but still good and playful "The Tinker And The Crab" and "Poor Cow" end Disc One. Disc two starts with his early 1968 hits, "Hurdy Gurdy Man" (a rocking song-compared to his other songs, that features Jimmy Page on guitar), and "Jennifer Juniper" (a quiet pop tune with a wonderful melody), and after that are two worthwhile singles that sound like demos.

Moving away from his poppy period, are several tracks from his Barabajagal album which was a collaboration with Jeff Beck. The Indian flavored rocker "Barabajagal" (complete with hot guitar licks from Beck), and "Atlantis" (which has a long refrain that reminds me of 'Hey Jude') are strong inclusions. As we get to Donovan's 1970's work (which takes up the last half of Disc two) the songs are few and far between, since he went down in quality, but strong songs from this period like "Clara Clairvoyant" and "Cosmic Wheels" keep things consistent and entertaining.

Towards the end of this set are a few somewhat uninteresting songs like "Age Of Treason" and "What The Soul Desires", but "Dark Eyed Blue Jean Angel" with its trebly vocals makes up for it. This set has all the Donovan you'll ever need if you are not a fan of his music, just enough songs from each period is included in here. In this 44-song retrospective, their are only a few misfires, everything else is pretty great with a whole bunch of songs ranging from pop, psychedelic, folk, and latin styles.

OVERALL RATING: 8

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COMMENTS

[email protected] (Allison Farris)

Most people know that after Donovan's visit with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, he swore off all drugs. This was in '67. Donovan's never been an advocator for the use them, because it goes against his spiritual beliefs. This is evident from his songs, including (on Troubadour), Riki Tiki Tavi #2 which states, "I've had every drug to take and I know, natural high is the best high in the world." Donovan was not at all using Mellow Yellow to tell people to go out and smoke banana-peels...that isn't what the song is about. He's denied that, and the fact that a drug-crazed nation heard, "Electrical Banana is gonna be a sudden craze" somehow registered in their mind as GO SMOKE BANANA PEELS! YEAH MAN!

One more thing, Donovan continues to produce quality music, and I think it's wrong for you to say that he went down in quality. I think that if it's your opinion, that's cool, but don't tell people that might depend on your reviews that his 70 and on stuff sucks! Cause it doesn't! Thanks...

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