Back in the Sixties, folk music was popular. Bob Dylan, before he went electric, exemplified the American youth movement. And, with the British invasion, a likable kid who called himself Donovan scored a hit with “Catch the Wind.” I remember several serious discussions with girls I was dating at the time who compared Dylan and Donovan, trying to decide who was “better.” Then Dylan went electric, and Donovan went hippy-dippy with songs like “Sunshine Superman” and “Wear Your Love Like Heaven.” Where Dylan went on to have a long career, Donovan vanished from the charts in the Seventies. I picked up this CD at Wal-Mart for $7.99. Great music at a great price! If you want more, there’s the recently released 2-CD set, Essential Donovan. GRADE: A-
Forgotten by many, but during his brief heyday, he produced a lot of good music, including my very favotie of his, “Season of the Witch.” (BTW, I think Jeff Beck played guitar on a couple of Donovan’s hits such as “Hurdy Gurdy Man” and “Goo Goo Barabajagal.”)
You’re right about Jeff Beck, Deb. I like “Season of the Witch,” too. My favorite Donovan song is “Ferris Wheel.”
He just got into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. I’ve always liked his songs, though I don’t think they rock.
Donovan’s music is mostly mellow, Bill. His music doesn’t rock, but it does roll.
Those were the days, my friend. Sweet voice.
Donovan’s music was part of the soundtrack of the Sixties, Patti. I still find his music Easy Listening.
I always liked him too and had a greatest hits on record that I replaced with a CD. I liked Season of the Witch too, as well as Catch the Wind and Lalena.
Of course, two of his kids became actors: Ione Skye (Say Anything…) and Donovan Leitch (remake of The Blob).
I didn’t know about Donovan’s kids, Jeff. You are a fount of knowledge!
I got de-virgined listening to a Donovan record on continuous play . . .
Ah, youth!
That would certainly make Donovan’s music memorable, Stan! Wear your love like heaven!
I really liked him then and still enjoy listening once in a while. “Candy Man” was always a favorite, as was “Catch the Wind”.
At one time, Donovan’s music found its way into plenty of commercials, Rick. I had forgotten about “Candy Man.”
The Jeff Back Group (Jeff Beck, Ron Wood, Nicky Hopkins, Tony Newman) played on “Barabajagal” and a song called “Trud” in 1969. For “Hurdy Gurdy Man,” there is some confusion as to whether it was Allan Holdsworth or Jimmy Page on guitar (perhaps both); but two other future members of Led Zeppelin are definitely on the record: John Paul Jones and John Bonham. Don’t know who played guitar on “Season of the Witch.”
My first concert ever was Donovan in 1968 at the Loyola Field Auditorium in New Orleans. A solo acoustic gig . . . I remember how his voice seemed to hang in the air like incense as he sang Lalena . . .
Wow, nice memories, David! I never saw Donovan in concert, but I did see Bob Dylan and the Band back in 1965. It was my first rock concert. The first half of the concert was acoustic with just Dylan and his guitar. The second half was electric. Some in the crowd booed, but the Hell’s Angels security team took care of them.
So…Donovan music will get you laid? Have to look in to that.
Drongo, you are such a scamp!
Sorry if it seems like I’m nitpicking with you, George, but as a long time Dylan fan I have never heard of the Hell’s Angels doing security for any of his concerts and certainly not during the ’65 tour. Perhaps you were at Altamont in ’69 when the Stones hired the Angels as security with disastrous results . . . But I am envious that you got to see one of those historic concerts when Dylan first plugged in. I didn’t get to see him live until 1976, the show preserved on the “Hard Rain” album.
Yes, the local Hell’s Angels chapter provided security for Dylan and the Band for that 1965 concert, David. Some of the audience was indignant when Dylan plugged in for the second half of the concert. One of the protesters had a cow bell that he rang to disrupt the performance. The Hell’s Angels silenced the disturber.