DONOVAN
Previously posted November 2, 2019
Donovan - Tangerine Puppet, Donovan Deep Cuts (A Butterboy Compilation) CD1+CD2
Donovan (born Donovan Philips Leitch, 10 May 1946) is a Scottish singer, songwriter and guitarist. He developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music (notably calypso). He has lived in Scotland, Hertfordshire (England), London, California, and since at least 2008 in County Cork, Ireland, with his family. Emerging from the British folk scene, Donovan reached fame in the United Kingdom in early 1965 with live performances on the pop TV series Ready Steady Go!. Having signed with Pye Records in 1965, he recorded singles and two albums in the folk vein, after which he signed to CBS/Epic Records in the US – the first signing by the company's new vice-president Clive Davis – and became more successful internationally. He began a long and successful collaboration with leading British independent record producer Mickie Most, scoring multiple hit singles and albums in the UK, US, and other countries.
His most successful singles were the early UK hits "Catch the Wind", "Colours" and "Universal Soldier" in 1965. In September 1966 "Sunshine Superman" topped America's Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week and went to number two in Britain, followed by "Mellow Yellow" at US No. 2 in December 1966, then 1968's "Hurdy Gurdy Man" in the Top 5 in both countries, then "Atlantis", which reached US No. 7 in May 1969.
He became a friend of pop musicians including Joan Baez, Brian Jones and the Beatles. He taught John Lennon a finger-picking guitar style in 1968 that Lennon employed in "Dear Prudence", "Julia", "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" and other songs. Donovan's commercial fortunes waned after parting with Most in 1969, and he left the industry for a time. Donovan continued to perform and record sporadically in the 1970s and 1980s. His musical style and hippie image were scorned by critics, especially after punk rock. His performing and recording became sporadic until a revival in the 1990s with the emergence of Britain's rave scene. He recorded the 1996 album Sutras with producer Rick Rubin and in 2004 made a new album, Beat Cafe. Donovan was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014. (Wikipedia)
Here are 60 tracks that I consider underrated songs, and which are deep cuts from across most of Donovan's albums. Enjoy!
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ALL
Donovan - Tangerine Puppet, Donovan Deep Cuts (A Butterboy Compilation) CD1+CD2
Donovan (born Donovan Philips Leitch, 10 May 1946) is a Scottish singer, songwriter and guitarist. He developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music (notably calypso). He has lived in Scotland, Hertfordshire (England), London, California, and since at least 2008 in County Cork, Ireland, with his family. Emerging from the British folk scene, Donovan reached fame in the United Kingdom in early 1965 with live performances on the pop TV series Ready Steady Go!. Having signed with Pye Records in 1965, he recorded singles and two albums in the folk vein, after which he signed to CBS/Epic Records in the US – the first signing by the company's new vice-president Clive Davis – and became more successful internationally. He began a long and successful collaboration with leading British independent record producer Mickie Most, scoring multiple hit singles and albums in the UK, US, and other countries.
His most successful singles were the early UK hits "Catch the Wind", "Colours" and "Universal Soldier" in 1965. In September 1966 "Sunshine Superman" topped America's Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week and went to number two in Britain, followed by "Mellow Yellow" at US No. 2 in December 1966, then 1968's "Hurdy Gurdy Man" in the Top 5 in both countries, then "Atlantis", which reached US No. 7 in May 1969.
He became a friend of pop musicians including Joan Baez, Brian Jones and the Beatles. He taught John Lennon a finger-picking guitar style in 1968 that Lennon employed in "Dear Prudence", "Julia", "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" and other songs. Donovan's commercial fortunes waned after parting with Most in 1969, and he left the industry for a time. Donovan continued to perform and record sporadically in the 1970s and 1980s. His musical style and hippie image were scorned by critics, especially after punk rock. His performing and recording became sporadic until a revival in the 1990s with the emergence of Britain's rave scene. He recorded the 1996 album Sutras with producer Rick Rubin and in 2004 made a new album, Beat Cafe. Donovan was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014. (Wikipedia)
Here are 60 tracks that I consider underrated songs, and which are deep cuts from across most of Donovan's albums. Enjoy!
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ALL
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ALL
Track list 1
01 Tangerine Puppet 1965 1:52
02 Turquoise 1965 3:31
03 Jersey Thursday 1965 2:15
04 The Ballad of a Crystal Man 1965 3:54
05 Donna Donna 1965 2:58
06 The Summer Day Reflection Song 1965 2:15
07 To Sing for You 1965 2:46
08 To Try for the Sun 1965 3:39
09 Sunny Goodge Street 1965 2:58
10 The Ballad of Geraldine 1965 4:42
11 Codiene (Previously Unreleased Demo) 1965 4:49
12 You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond 1965 3:58
13 Celeste 1966 4:08
14 Ferris Wheel 1966 4:14
15 Legend of a Girl Child Linda 1966 6:54
16 The Trip 1966 4:41
17 The Land of Doesn't Have to Be [Early Version] 1966 2:42
18 Season of the Witch 1966 4:56
19 Epistle to Derroll 1967 5:47
20 Hampstead Incident 1967 4:42
21 House of Jansch 1967 2:40
22 Isle of Islay 1967 2:24
23 Sand and Foam 1967 3:18
24 Someone Singing 1967 3:04
25 Song of the Naturalist's Wife 1967 2:44
26 Starfish on the Toast 1967 2:46
27 Sunny South Kensington 1967 3:51
28 The Enchanted Gypsy 1967 3:20
29 There Was a Time 1967 2:01
30 Voyage Into the Golden Screen 1967 3:13
Track list 2
31 Wear Your Love Like Heaven 1967 2:26
32 Widow With Shawl (A Portrait) 1967 3:02
33 Young Girl Blues 1967 3:48
34 As I Recall It 1968 2:10
35 Get Thy Bearings 1968 2:57
36 Peregrine 1968 3:36
37 Poor Cow 1968 2:56
38 Teen Angel 1968 2:19
39 The Entertaining of a Shy Girl 1968 1:42
40 The River Song 1968 2:17
41 There is a Mountain 1968 2:35
42 Marjorie (Margarine) (Demo) 1969 3:17
43 Where is She 1969 2:46
44 Celtic Rock 1970 3:37
45 Roots Of Oak 1970 4:53
46 Amore 1971 5:52
47 Lord of the Reedy River 1971 2:38
48 The Voyage of the Moon 1971 5:18
49 Cosmic Wheels 1973 4:10
50 There Is An Ocean 1973 4:50
51 The Quest 1974 3:32
52 Lady of the Stars 1977 4:35
53 Local Boy Chops Wood 1977 3:21
54 Maya's Dance 1977 3:43
55 Half Moon Bay 1981 4:05
56 Marjorie Margerine 1981 4:15
57 Give It All Up 1996 3:09
58 Please Don't Bend 1996 4:14
59 The Garden 1996 2:51
60 Yin My Yang 2004 3:35
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Track list 1
01 Tangerine Puppet 1965 1:52
02 Turquoise 1965 3:31
03 Jersey Thursday 1965 2:15
04 The Ballad of a Crystal Man 1965 3:54
05 Donna Donna 1965 2:58
06 The Summer Day Reflection Song 1965 2:15
07 To Sing for You 1965 2:46
08 To Try for the Sun 1965 3:39
09 Sunny Goodge Street 1965 2:58
10 The Ballad of Geraldine 1965 4:42
11 Codiene (Previously Unreleased Demo) 1965 4:49
12 You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond 1965 3:58
13 Celeste 1966 4:08
14 Ferris Wheel 1966 4:14
15 Legend of a Girl Child Linda 1966 6:54
16 The Trip 1966 4:41
17 The Land of Doesn't Have to Be [Early Version] 1966 2:42
18 Season of the Witch 1966 4:56
19 Epistle to Derroll 1967 5:47
20 Hampstead Incident 1967 4:42
21 House of Jansch 1967 2:40
22 Isle of Islay 1967 2:24
23 Sand and Foam 1967 3:18
24 Someone Singing 1967 3:04
25 Song of the Naturalist's Wife 1967 2:44
26 Starfish on the Toast 1967 2:46
27 Sunny South Kensington 1967 3:51
28 The Enchanted Gypsy 1967 3:20
29 There Was a Time 1967 2:01
30 Voyage Into the Golden Screen 1967 3:13
Track list 2
31 Wear Your Love Like Heaven 1967 2:26
32 Widow With Shawl (A Portrait) 1967 3:02
33 Young Girl Blues 1967 3:48
34 As I Recall It 1968 2:10
35 Get Thy Bearings 1968 2:57
36 Peregrine 1968 3:36
37 Poor Cow 1968 2:56
38 Teen Angel 1968 2:19
39 The Entertaining of a Shy Girl 1968 1:42
40 The River Song 1968 2:17
41 There is a Mountain 1968 2:35
42 Marjorie (Margarine) (Demo) 1969 3:17
43 Where is She 1969 2:46
44 Celtic Rock 1970 3:37
45 Roots Of Oak 1970 4:53
46 Amore 1971 5:52
47 Lord of the Reedy River 1971 2:38
48 The Voyage of the Moon 1971 5:18
49 Cosmic Wheels 1973 4:10
50 There Is An Ocean 1973 4:50
51 The Quest 1974 3:32
52 Lady of the Stars 1977 4:35
53 Local Boy Chops Wood 1977 3:21
54 Maya's Dance 1977 3:43
55 Half Moon Bay 1981 4:05
56 Marjorie Margerine 1981 4:15
57 Give It All Up 1996 3:09
58 Please Don't Bend 1996 4:14
59 The Garden 1996 2:51
60 Yin My Yang 2004 3:35
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Very nice selection, especially since you omit Intergalactic Laxative - thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Gummo,
DeleteThanks, on both counts.
Cheers.
Good one BB - Donovan doesn't get mentioned enough these days.
ReplyDeleteHi Dr Robert,
DeleteSomewhat underappreciated, I say.
Cheers.
BB I remember buying Gift From A Flower, A wonderful boxed album with multiple coloured pages with lyrics and drawings. It was like a gift from Donovan to me. I played it often. My fav track is Isle Of Islay, which is rarely mentioned. Thanks for sharing this and bringing Donovan to a new audience.
ReplyDeleteHi lemonflag.
DeleteHe is a great artist with immense talent but seems to be overlooked by many. I hope this set offers some new perspectives on his work.
Cheers.
Fine selection indeed. Though I can't figure out how "Season of the Witch" and "First There Is a Mountain" made it onto the list as deep cuts! If that's legit, given the incessant airplay they received on release, then where are "Catch the Wind" and "Atlantis"? [g]
ReplyDeleteHi Jonathan,
DeleteFirstly, thank you.
Secondly, I agree, I probably got a little excited with "Season of the Witch" (a great tune he does so well). I think "There is a Mountain' is a deep cut, I never see it mentioned. There are definitely other deep cuts that should have made the grade too.
Cheers.
Excellent. No, he doesn't get the recognition due. Initially he was considered a Dylan copyist (white guy playing acoustic guitar and harmonica). Your post reminded me of my copy of "The Golden Hour of Donovan" which I seemed to play a lot at uni (1972-5) in the evenings (but not much recently). Tracks 2, 4-10 of your comp are on it. Other favs are 'Gold Watch Blues', 'Josie', 'Candy man' and 'Ballad of a crystal man'. Not sure if they are deep cuts as I know them so well?! I was also reminded the version of 'Colours' on it is different to the version on greatest hits. Wikipedia tells me "... when Epic Records was compiling Donovan's Greatest Hits, they were either unable or unwilling to secure the rights to the original recordings of "Catch the Wind" and "Colours". Donovan re-recorded both songs in the studio ...". Ha! I'll go listen to your comp now. Thanks for that.
ReplyDeleteHi JohnF.
DeleteEnjoy this short compilation.
Cheers.