Donovan

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A1  Epistle To Dippy  3:10
A2  Sunshine Superman  4:30
A3  There Is A Mountain  2:38
A4  Jennifer Juniper  2:40
A5  Wear Your Love Like Heaven  2:24
A6  Season Of The Witch  4:46
B1  Mellow Yellow  3:42
B2  Colours  4:20
B3  Hurdy Gurdy Man  3:18
B4  Catch The Wind  5:04
B5  Lalena  2:52
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Donovan is a sometimes forgotten figure in today’s music world, but during the 1960s many ranked him second only to Bob Dylan in the pantheon of folk poets. His series of hit singles and successful albums made him a superstar during the second half of the decade

His mystical prose, for want of a better definition, and quiet music explored the gentle side of the violent sixties. His place in the upper echelon of folk artists and troubadours made him a 60s icon.

He released his Greatest Hits album during 1969 at the height of his popularity. It was the most successful album release of his career in the United States, reaching number four on the Billboard’s Pop Album Chart.

The original album gathered together 11 of his best known tracks including the number one hit “Sunshine Superman” and the number two “Mellow Yellow.” The CD reissue included such extra hits as “Atlantis,” “Barabajagal,” and “Riki Tiki Tavi.” The problem with some of the CDs was “Colours” and “Catch The Wind” were re-recorde; “Sunshine Superman” was a different length; and the sound was spotty in places, so beware. Despite these problems, the album remains the best short overview of his music and career.

His early, pre-superstar days are represented by “Colours,” “Josie,” and “Catch The Wind,” but for some unknown reason there was no “Universal Soldier.” These simple folk songs were part of his early career and have held up well down through the years.

The meat of the album was his psychedelic folk hits. “Sunshine Superman” was the perfect song for a summer day back in 1966, and Jimmy Page’s guitar work is often overlooked. Many have guessed at the meaning of “Mellow Yellow’s” lyrics, including the use of vibrators and smoking bananas, which added to the song’s charm. It had an addictive percussion, Paul McCartney’s backing vocal, and Donovan’s whispers, which made it memorable. “Epistle To Dippy” was actually a peace song if you sift through the psychedelic imagery. There really was a “Dippy” to whom the song was dedicated, and he survived his time in the service. “Jennifer Juniper” made use of such instruments as a flute, oboe, and bassoon. It was written for Jenny Boyd, sister of Patti, who married and divorced Eric Clapton and George Harrison.

One of the treats was the inclusion of “Season Of The Witch.” It was an album track on an album of singles and was one of the few true rock songs of his career. Al Kooper and Stephen Stills released a definitive 11-minute version on their Super Session album. Donovan’s original was simpler but it contains one of the best vocal performances of his career.

Some of the material may have aged a bit, but that’s OK. At its worst Greatest Hits was whimsical fun. At its best, it was well-produced, and contained creative music from a bygone era that is still worth a listen now and then.
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Donovan's Greatest Hits is the Psychadelic equivalent of a nuclear weapon, so much awesomeness in one album should be illegal. Donovan took his excellent songwriting compositions and covered them in burning, lambent, psychedelic washes of fantastic sound and made some really amazing songs. And this is the most complete chronicle of them. This album is a must own if for no other reason than pairing Season Of The Witch with Hurdy Gurdy man.
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Listening to the this Greatest Hits album of Donovan has my mind racing in all different directions. Simply stated, the music is more than awesome, and I hear many things and influences in it. It puts me back to my roots of early music listening, from that vinyl collection of my parents, and brings on intense nostalgic memories, even though I didn’t enjoy Donovan at the time. I now hear what they must have heard, with the excellent lyrics, complex beats, instrumentation, and wild variety. A lot of thought has evidently been put into his music. Now that I’ve been reintroduced with this wonderful collection, I can’t wait to delve into the rest of the catalogue, as my instinct tells me Donovan can do no wrong!  Ok, now for the tracks: The one that I sought out the recording for is the powerful and diggable “Hurdy Gurdy Man”,  with it’s heavy drumming, power guitar, and effective vocals. I got much more than I bargained for though when songs jumped out at me from left field like “Wear Your Love Like Heaven”, “Season of the Witch”, “There is a Mountain”, “Epistle To Dippy” and the “Atlantis”. Of those,  “Wear Your Love Like Heaven”,  is too great, showing Donovan is connected with higher powers. Something is higher at least, and if anything is it's got to be the vibraphones and keyboards – ohhh yea! Too bad they didn’t do an extended jam on it, as the track feels like it should go further. Love the trippy “Season of the Witch”, with the gelling bass line and all it’s psychadelia. “Atlantis” is a surprise here, with the spoken story line forming the first half, building to close with the chorus. Nicely done, I might add! Then we have the enlightening “There is a Mountain” with the great island flavour and flute line. Now, the thought I’ve been wrestling with is, that Donovan isn’t recognized like he should be. In fact, he should be right up there with Dylan, The Beatles,  and Lennon, etc. The music certainly holds it’s own. So why is it that when I go to a major music store and search for Donovan, all that is available is this compilation, while the bins are crammed full of the artists catalogs above? The music of the past is being forgotten, steamrolled for the waves and waves of generic nonsense flooding the markets today. Maybe I’m just getting old and should be prepared to be flattened myself. Anyways, as far as I am concerned the past is the music frontier, and I am ready to delve full action into it. I love the spontaneous and imaginative qualities in it, often which seem to be all too absent in what I’m hearing today. Next stop, Richie Havens. In closing, to answer Donovan Leitch in the linear notes, I do dig it!
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I have this album on old crusty garage sale vinyl so no extra tracks for me. In a way that’s not a bad thing, Donovan is one of those artists that you bust out once in a great while, listen to thirty-some minutes of his songs and say "Ahhh, this is so nice" before returning to the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Side one of this record couldn't be any better. It starts with two of Donovan's more swinging tunes, “Epistle to Dippy" and "Sunshine Superman", and moves into the psychedelic silliness of "There Is a Mountain" which I still can't figure out (is the mountain there or not?). "Jennifer Juniper" and "Wear Your Love Like Heaven" pour the sugary sweet pop melodies right out of the cane and make you think mushy thoughts like running through grassy fields at sunset with the one you love "Ahhhhhh". Side One wraps up with the folk rocking "Season of the Witch" which once again has nonsensical lyrics you can't help but sing along with. "Mellow Yellow" ,Mr.Leitch's weakest single in my opinion, opens side two and although it my be goofy and over played I still can't help but chuckle during the "E-lec-trical Banana" part. The classic pysch-pop gem "Hurdy Gurdy Man" is sandwich between two rather uneventful tracks ,"Colours" and "Catch the Wind", but the oh so pretty "Lalena" makes for a more than adequate album closer.
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Originally issued on Epic in the USA, they didn't have the rights to Colours or Catch the Wind, so Donovan had to re-record them. Rather then try and knock out sound-alike versions he re-cut them in peak period psychedelic Pied Piper mode, and to my ears they improve on the originals. Also includes some non-album singles.
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Donovan's Greatest Hits is the Psychadelic equivalent of a nuclear weapon, so much awesomeness in one album should be illegal. Donovan took his excellent songwriting compositions and covered them in burning, lambent, psychedelic washes of fantastic sound and made some really amazing songs. And this is the most complete chronicle of them. This album is a must own if for no other reason than pairing Season Of The Witch with Hurdy Gurdy man.
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Generally when I think of Donovan, I think of Britain's answer to Bob Dylan psychedelically.  For the most part I don't think I'm off the mark.  "Sunshine Superman" and "Season Of The Witch" seem to emulate Dylan if he took acid with a few hits of nitrous and then put pen to paper.  Regardless, what's here is pretty good given the comparison which isn't always complimentary.  The album (especially the extended 1999 remaster) seems to get a bit long and undoubtedly same sounding after about the first ten or so tracks.  Despite this, I think a lot of people today should be able to get into this album for the songcraft and production.  It is by no means a bad snapshot of four decades ago and the average listener should recognize more than a few songs.
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Today Donovan is primarily remembered for his single releases and this album gathered the best and most important of those in one place. From the early folk hits, "Colours" and "Catch The Wind" to the classic psychedelic songs "Sunshine Superman" and "Mellow Yellow," this is a good album to sample not only for the era but also for an artist who was popular and is somewhat forgotten today.
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