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Donovan
Background information
Birth name	Donovan Philips Leitch
Born	May 10, 1946 (1946-05-10) (age 61) Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
Genre(s)	Folk-rock, Psychedelic pop, British Invasion
Occupation(s)	Musician, Songwriter, Producer
Instrument(s)	Voice, Harmonica, Guitar, Piano
Years active	1965-Present

Donovan (Donovan Philips Leitch, born May 10, 1946, in Maryhill, Glasgow), is a Scottish singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Emerging from the British folk scene, he developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music. Donovan may refer to: // Art Donovan - NFL Hall of Famer Carrie Donovan - magazine editor Casey Donovan - Australian Idol winner Casey Donovan - gay porn star Charles Donovan naturalist Christopher Donovan - Connecticut (USA) politician Dan Donovan, keyboardist for Big Audio Dynamite and Dreadzone Dan Donovan, singer/songwriter, guitarist for Tribe of Dan... Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... is the 130th day of the year (131st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... This article is about the country. ... “UK” redirects here. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Folk rock is a musical genre, combining elements of folk music and rock music. ... Psychedelic pop is a musical style inspired by the harder, louder songs of Psychedelic rock but applied more to a pop music setting. ... For other uses, see British Invasion (disambiguation). ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... The word voice can be used to refer to: Sound: The human voice. ... A harmonica is a free reed wind instrument. ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... A short grand piano, with the lid up. ... is the 130th day of the year (131st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Maryhill is a residential district in the northwest of the City of Glasgow. ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... This article is about the country. ... The term singer-songwriter refers to performers who both write and sing their own material. ... Folk music can have a number of different meanings, including: Traditional music: The original meaning of the term folk music was synonymous with the term Traditional music, also often including World Music and Roots music; the term Traditional music was given its more specific meaning to distinguish it from the... For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ... For the music genre, see Pop music. ... Psychedelia in music (or also psychedelic music, less formally) is a term that refers to a broad set of popular music styles, genres and scenes, that may include psychedelic rock, psychedelic folk, psychedelic pop, psychedelic soul, psychedelic ambient, psychedelic trance, psychedelic techno, and others. ... World music is, most generally, all the music in the world. ...

Career outline

Donovan came to fame in the United Kingdom in early 1965 with a series of live performances on the pop TV series, Ready Steady Go!, and his popularity spread to the USA and other countries. After signing with the British label, Pye Records, he began a long and successful collaboration with leading independent record producer Mickie Most, scoring a string of hits in the UK, the USA and other countries, including several British and American #1 hits and million-selling records. RSG! studio floor with Manfred Mann performing. ... Pye Records was a British record label. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Mickie Most, born Michael Peter Hayes (20 June1938–30 May2003), was a successful English record producer, notably with a string of Number One hit singles with his own RAK Recordsand acts such as The Animals, Hermans Hermits, Donovan, and Suzi Quatro. ...

Donovan was one of the most popular British recording artists of his day, producing a series of hit albums and singles between 1965 and 1970. He became a friend of leading pop musicians including Joan Baez, Brian Jones, and The Beatles, and was one of the few artists to collaborate on songs with the Beatles. He influenced both John Lennon and Paul McCartney when he taught them his finger-picking guitar style in 1968. [1] Donovan's commercial fortunes waned after he parted ways with Mickie Most in 1969, and he left the music industry for a time. Joan Chandos Baez (born January 9, 1941) is an American folk singer and songwriter known for her highly individual vocal style. ... For other persons named Brian Jones, see Brian Jones (disambiguation). ... The White Album, see The Beatles (album). ... John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980), (born John Winston Lennon, known as John Ono Lennon) was an iconic English 20th century rock and roll songwriter and singer, best known as the founding member of The Beatles. ... Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942) is an Academy Award-winning English singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who first gained worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles. ... Fingerpicking is playing the guitar using the fingertips or fingernails, rather than with a plectrum (or pick). It is usually used in Classical guitar styles, and some other acoustic styles, but it has found its way into other genres as well, including rock and roll, although its use in such...

He continued to perform and record sporadically in the 1970s and 1980s, but gradually fell from favour. His gentle musical style and hippie image was scorned by critics, especially after the advent of punk rock. Donovan withdrew from performing and recording several times during his career, but he underwent a strong revival in the 1990s with the emergence of the rave scene in Britain. Late in the decade, he recorded a successful album with producer and long-time fan Rick Rubin and released a new album, Beat Cafe, in 2004. Hippies (singular hippie or sometimes hippy) were members of the 1960s counterculture movement who adopted a communal or nomadic lifestyle, renounced corporate nationalism and the Vietnam War, embraced aspects of Buddhism, Hinduism, and/or Native American religious culture, and were otherwise at odds with traditional middle class Western values. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... For other uses, see Rave (disambiguation). ... Frederick Jay (Rick) Rubin (born March 10, 1963 in Lido Beach, New York) is an American record producer and is currently the co-head of Columbia Records. ... Beat Cafe is the twenty-third studio album, and twenty-eighth album overall, from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. ...

Early Life and Career

Donovan grew up in Maryhill, Glasgow, Scotland. He contracted polio as a child when he was vaccinated (this was in the period before the introduction of the safer Sabin oral vaccine), and the disease and subsequent treatment left him with a limp. Maryhill is a residential district in the northwest of the City of Glasgow. ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... This article is about the country. ... Poliomyelitis (polio), or infantile paralysis, is a viral paralytic disease. ... Sabin may refer to: Albert Sabin, who developed the oral vaccine for Polio Dwight M. Sabin, U.S. Senator from Minnesota Florence R. Sabin, American medical scientist Chris Sabin, professional wrestler Sabin Rene Figaro, fictional character from Final Fantasy VI The city of Sabin, Minnesota Sabin of Bulgaria, reigned between... A vaccine is an antigenic preparation used to establish immunity to a disease. ...

In 1956, his family moved to Hatfield, England. Influenced by his family's love for Scottish and English folk music, he began playing guitar at 14. He enrolled in art school but dropped out soon afterwards, determined to live out his Beatnik aspirations by going out on the road. In 1963 he took a trip to St. Ives with Gypsy Dave and other friends from Hertfordshire. Arms of the former Hatfield Rural District Council Hatfield, originally Bishops Hatfield, is in the Welwyn Hatfield district of Hertfordshire, in the south of England. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... This article is about the country. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Folk music can have a number of different meanings, including: Traditional music: The original meaning of the term folk music was synonymous with the term Traditional music, also often including World Music and Roots music; the term Traditional music was given its more specific meaning to distinguish it from the... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... Beatnik is a media stereotype that borrowed the most superficial aspects of the Beat Generation literary movement of the 1950s to present a distorted (and sometimes violent), cartoon-like misrepresentation of the real-life people and the spirituality found in Jack Kerouacs autobiographical fiction. ...

Returning to Hatfield, he spent several months playing in local clubs, absorbing the music of the British folk scene around his home in St Albans, learning the cross-picking guitar technique from local players like Mac MacLeod and Mick Softley, and writing his first songs. Arms of the former Hatfield Rural District Council Hatfield, originally Bishops Hatfield, is in the Welwyn Hatfield district of Hertfordshire, in the south of England. ... , St Albans is the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans in southern Hertfordshire, England, around 22 miles (35km) north of central London. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Fingerstyle guitar. ... Keith MacLeod (known as Mac MacLeod) is a British musician. ... Mick Softley (Michael Softley, born 1941, in South Woodford, Essex)) is a British singer/songwriter and guitarist. ...

In 1964 he travelled to Manchester with Gypsy Dave, then spent the summer in Torquay, Devon. It was here that he stayed with his old friend and guitar mentor from St.Albans, Mac MacLeod, and it was during this period that he began busking (street performing) and more serious study of the guitar and learning traditional folk and blues songs . (Donovan was interviewed about his time in Torquay for Beat Instrumental in May 1965. [2]) This article is about the English town. ... Part of the seafront of Torquay, south Devon, at high tide Devon is a large county in South West England, bordered by Cornwall to the west, and Dorset and Somerset to the east. ... Keith MacLeod (known as Mac MacLeod) is a British musician. ... Busking is the practice of doing live performances in public places to entertain people, usually to solicit donations and tips. ... Traditional Music is a quasi-synonym for folk music. ...

In late 1964, he was offered a management and publishing contract. He went to London where he recorded a 10-track demo tape (recently rediscovered and released on iTunes), which included the original recording of "Catch The Wind", his first single. That song revealed the influence of Woody Guthrie and Ramblin' Jack Elliott, who had also influenced Bob Dylan. Although Dylan comparisons followed him for some time, the tape also made it clear that Donovan was a performer of considerable skill and originality. In an interview with KFOK radio in the USA on June 14, 2005, MacLeod stated, "...the press were fond of calling Donovan a 'Dylan Clone' as they had both been influenced by the same sources: Ramblin' Jack, Jesse Fuller, Woody Guthrie, and many more." Other significant influences in his formative years aside from Mac MacLeod included Derroll Adams, John Renbourn, Davey Graham, Bert Jansch and American blues and jazz artists including Jesse Fuller, Muddy Waters, Leadbelly, and Billie Holiday. See also: 1963 in music, other events of 1964, 1965 in music, 1960s in music and the list of years in music // Events January 1 - Top of the Pops premieres on BBC television. ... Track Listing Submerged -3:09 Subway -1:57 Waiting For Susan -3:03 One Times One Times One -4:25 To Be Free Please -4:02 Handsome Musician -3:32 Fair Weather -3:06 North Main Street -3:31 AIDS -3:26 Your House -2:34 ... This article is about the iTunes application. ... Catch the Wind is a song written and recorded by Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. ... Woodrow Wilson Guthrie (July 14, 1912–October 3, 1967) was a prolific American songwriter and folk musician. ... Ramblin Jack Elliott Ramblin Jack Elliot (born Elliott Charles Adnopoz, August 1, 1931) is an American folk performer. ... This article is about the recording artist. ... is the 165th day of the year (166th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Keith MacLeod (known as Mac MacLeod) is a British musician. ... Vitals: November 27th 1925-February 6th 2000 aged 75 Yin/Yang: ?/Sagittarius Place of Birth: Portland, OR Place of Death: unknown, probably somewhere in Belgium Derroll Adams was a tall, lanky banjo player with a deep voice. ... John Renbourn (born August 8, 1944, Marylebone, North London, England) is a British guitarist and songwriter. ... David Michael Gordon Graham, known as Davey Graham (originally Davy Graham), b. ... Herbert Jansch (born 3 November 1943[1]), known as Bert Jansch, is a Scottish folk musician and founding member of the band Pentangle. ... Jesse Fuller with fotdella Jesse the Lone Cat Fuller (1896-January 30, 1976) was a once well-known American one-man-band musician, best known for his song San Francisco Bay Blues. He was born in Jonesboro, Georgia near Atlanta. ... McKinley Morganfield (April 4, 1915 – April 30, 1983), better known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician and is generally considered the Father of Chicago blues. He is also the actual father of blues musician Big Bill Morganfield. ... Leadbelly, also known as Lead Belly (born Huddie William Ledbetter; January 20, 1889 (although this is debatable) - December 6, 1949), was an American folk and blues musician, notable for his clear and forceful singing, his virtuosity on the twelve string guitar, and the rich songbook of folk standards he introduced. ... Billie Holiday (April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959), born Eleanora Fagan and later nicknamed Lady Day (see Jazz royalty regarding similar nicknames), was an American jazz singer, a seminal influence on jazz and pop singers, and generally regarded as one of the greatest female jazz vocalists. ...

While recording the demo at a studio in Denmark Street, Donovan befriended Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones, who was recording in a nearby studio. Coincidentally, he had also recently met Jones's ex-girlfriend, Linda Lawrence. (When she met Donovan her relationship with Jones was effectively over.) Donovan and Jones became close friends, and their relationship lasted until Jones' death in 1969. The meeting between Linda and Donovan was pivotal. They began an on-off romantic relationship for the next five years. She exerted a huge influence on Donovan's music. Linda refused to marry Donovan and moved to America for several years in the late 1960s. Although he had other relationships — one of which resulted in the birth of his first two children, Donovan Leitch, Jr., and Ione Skye Leitch — he remained strongly drawn to Linda, and she became his muse. His confused feelings about her inspired dozens of songs, including "Legend Of A Girl Child Linda", "Sunshine Superman" and many others. Brian Jones (born Lewis Brian Hopkin-Jones on 28 February 1942 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, died 3 July 1969) was a founding member, lead and rhythm guitarist and backing singer in the British rock group, The Rolling Stones. ... Rolling Stones redirects here. ... Donovan Leitch, Jr. ... Ione Skye Leitch (born September 4, 1971 in Hertfordshire, England) is an actress. ... In Greek mythology, the Muses (Greek , Mousai: perhaps from the Proto-Indo-European root *men- think[1]) are a number of goddesses or spirits who embody the arts and inspire the creation process with their graces through remembered and improvised song and stage, writing, traditional music and dance. ...

A Star is Born

Donovan had a rapid rise to stardom. Within weeks his demo tape was heard by Elkan Allen, producer of the pop show, Ready Steady Go!, who was so impressed that he invited the unknown 18-year-old to appear on the show. Donovan made his television debut on 30 January 1965 — a remarkable feat, considering that he had been a penniless vagrant only months before. Unusual for pop programmes of this time, where performers typically lip-synched to a pre-recorded track, Donovan played and sang live. His performance was so well received that he appeared weekly until the end of April, and immediately afterwards he was signed to a recording contract with Pye Records, whose other major pop acts included The Kinks and Petula Clark. A Television producer oversees the making of television penis programs. ... RSG! studio floor with Manfred Mann performing. ... is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ... Lip synchronization is the synchronization of audio signals (sometimes with corresponding video signals) so that there is no noticeable lack of simultaneity between them. ... The Kinks were an English rock group formed in 1963 by lead singer-songwriter Ray Davies, his brother, lead guitarist and vocalist Dave Davies, and bassist Pete Quaife. ... Petula Clark, CBE (born 15 November 1932), is an English singer, actress and composer best known for her upbeat popular international hits of the 1960s. ...

Donovan's first UK single, a new version of "Catch The Wind", was released soon after his third TV appearance. It was a successful debut, rising to 4 on the UK charts and selling more than 200,000 copies. On 11 April, he performed with the biggest stars of the day at the annual New Musical Express poll winners' concert at the Empire Pool in Wembley. At Wembley he had a four-piece band including drums, electric bass and Mac MacLeod on second guitar. This was called the first instance of Folk/Rock by music writer Richie Unterberger. The single was subsequently released on the small Hickory label in the USA, where it achieved a #30 chart placing. is the 101st day of the year (102nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Wembley Arena at Night (Taken at a live WWE Show). ... Wembley, until 1965 a borough in its own right, forms the northern part of the London Borough of Brent. ...

Donovan's early musical style and dress (including a cloth cap) led to his being perceived and promoted as a British version of Bob Dylan, a perception enhanced by the slogan on his guitar - "This Machine Kills" - which was a shortened version of the slogan on the guitar of Dylan's idol, Woody Guthrie, that read "This Machine Kills Fascists". This article is about the recording artist. ... Woodrow Wilson Guthrie (July 14, 1912–October 3, 1967) was a prolific American songwriter and folk musician. ...

The Dylan connection brought criticism from folk-music purists, some of whom assumed him to be merely a Dylan imitator. His meeting with Joan Baez during his first UK tour led to a meeting with Dylan himself, and not surprisingly, that meeting in April 1965 made headlines. Dylan was intrigued by the young musician, as can be seen in D.A. Pennebaker's film of Dylan's 1965 UK tour, Dont Look Back^[sic] (released in 1967); they became friends and met on many occasions. Joan Chandos Baez (born January 9, 1941) is an American folk singer and songwriter known for her highly individual vocal style. ... See also: 1964 in music, other events of 1965, 1966 in music, 1960s in music and the list of years in music // January 4 - Fender Guitars is sold to CBS for $13 million. ... D. A. Pennebaker speaking at the University of Florida in February 2003. ... Dont Look Back (sic) is a 1967 documentary film by D.A. Pennebaker that covers Bob Dylans 1965 concert tour of England. ... For other uses, see SIC. Sic is a Latin word, originally sicut [1] meaning thus, so, or just as that. In writing, it is placed within square brackets and usually italicized — [sic] — to indicate that an incorrect or unusual spelling, phrase, punctuation, and/or other preceding quoted material has been...

Donovan's second single, "Colours", was released in May 1965, reaching #4 in the UK, accompanied by his debut LP for Pye, What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid, which reached #3 in the UK album charts. Retitled Catch the Wind for the US market, it reached #30 there. He made his first trip to the US at this time, performing in New York with Pete Seeger and Reverend Gary Davis, and appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show, Hullabaloo, and Shindig!, as well as performing to critical and audience acclaim at the July 1965 Newport Folk Festival. Whats Bin Did and Whats Bin Hid is the debut album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. ... Catch the Wind is the United States debut album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. ... Peter Seeger (born May 3, 1919), almost universally known as Pete Seeger, is a folk singer, political activist, and author. ... Reverend Gary Davis also Blind Gary Davis ( April 30, 1896 – May 5, 1972) was an African American blues and gospel singer as well as a renowned guitarist. ... The Ed Sullivan Show was an American television variety show that ran from June 20, 1948 to June 6, 1971, and was hosted by former entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. ... Guest host Petula Clark introducing her new single, Round Every Corner, on the October 25, 1965 broadcast Hullabaloo was a musical variety series that ran on NBC from January 12, 1965 through August 29, 1966. ... Shindig! was the name of a music variety show which was aired every week on the American ABC network from September 16, 1964 to January 8, 1966. ... The Newport Folk Festival is an annual folk-oriented music festival founded in 1959 by George Wein, founder of the already-well-established Newport Jazz Festival, and his partner, Albert Grossman. ...

The compilation Universal Soldier

Donovan's next recording was a four-track EP called Universal Soldier, which included his classic cover of the Buffy Sainte-Marie-written title track, as well as three other tracks with overt anti-war content. Two of those songs — "The War Drags On" and "Ballad Of A Crystal Man" — were among the few protest songs of the period that went beyond generalized anti-war sentiments and made explicit references to the war in Vietnam. This was a radical move for an emerging pop performer. Donovan's pioneering pacifist stance is often overlooked by critics: the Vietnam War still had majority support in 1965, and he was one of the few British pop musicians who expressed direct opposition to the war in their music. Despite the contentious subject matter, the EP was a commercial success, topping the British EP chart for eight weeks, reaching 14 on the British singles chart and 17 on the Australian singles chart. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Universal Soldier is a compilation album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. ... 7 Buffy Sainte-Marie Buffy Sainte-Marie (born February 20, 1941) is a Canadian First Nations musician, composer, visual artist, educator and social activist. ... Anti war protest in Melbourne, Australia, 2003 Anti_war is a name that is widely adopted by any social movement or person that seeks to end or oppose a future or current war. ... A protest song is often a kind of folk music, but in recent times protest songs come from all genres of music, including punk rock and hip hop. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... Pacifism is the opposition to war or violence as a means of settling disputes or gaining advantage. ...

"Colours" was also released in the US, but it charted poorly, reaching 40 on the Cash Box charts but only 61 on the Billboard chart. At this stage Donovan had greater success in sales than in radio airplay, since American Top 40 radio tended to avoid folk recordings, preferring more highly arranged pop records. The Catch the Wind LP set the pattern for most of his American releases, which tended to chart better in Cash Box than Billboard, reflecting the fact that Billboard's charts factored in radio airplay, whilst Cash Box did not. Cash Box magazine was a weekly publication devoted to the music and coin-operated machine industry. ... Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry. ... Catch the Wind is the United States debut album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. ...

A single version of "Universal Soldier" was issued in the US in late August 1965, and it repeated the mediocre chart performance of "Colours", reaching only 45 in Cash Box and 53 in Billboard. Pye released Donovan's second UK album, Fairytale, in October 1965, along with his next single, "Turquoise". These too were less successful than his previous releases, the album reaching 20 and the single peaking at 30. Donovan made a second US tour in November, and Pye licensed this to the Nashville-based Hickory label, which released the American version of Fairytale later that month. As in the UK, it charted much lower than the first LP, reaching only 85. ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... For other cities named Nashville, see Nashville (disambiguation). ... ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ...

Collaboration with Mickie Most

In late 1965, Donovan split with his original managers and signed with Ashley Kozak, who was working for Brian Epstein's NEMS Enterprises. Kozak introduced Donovan to American impresario Allen Klein (who would later take over management of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles). Klein in turn introduced Donovan to producer Mickie Most, who was then riding high on the success of his chart-topping productions with The Animals, Lulu, and Herman's Hermits. Brian Samuel Epstein (IPA: ) (born in Liverpool, England; 19 September 1934 – 27 August 1967) was the manager of The Beatles. ... Brian Samuel Epstein (September 19, 1934 – August 27, 1967) was a Jewish-English businessman, best known as the manager of The Beatles. ... Allen Klein (born December 18, 1931) is an American businessman and record label executive. ... Rolling Stones redirects here. ... The White Album, see The Beatles (album). ... Mickie Most, born Michael Peter Hayes (20 June1938–30 May2003), was a successful English record producer, notably with a string of Number One hit singles with his own RAK Recordsand acts such as The Animals, Hermans Hermits, Donovan, and Suzi Quatro. ... The US edition of The Animals self-titled debut album. ... Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie, OBE, (born 3 November 1948 in Lennoxtown, Stirlingshire), best known by her stage name Lulu, is a Scottish singer, songwriter, actor, model, and television personality who has been successful in the entertainment business from the 1960s through the 2000s. ... Hermans Hermits were an English rock band in the 1960s, formed in Manchester in 1963. ...

Mickie Most was the nominal producer of almost all Donovan's best recordings, although Donovan asserts in his autobiography that some of his recordings in this period were self-produced, with little or no input from Most. The tracks they cut together represent some of the finest UK pop releases of the period, and feature the cream of the London session scene, including Big Jim Sullivan, Jack Bruce, Danny Thompson, and future Led Zeppelin members John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page. Many of these recordings were backed by jazz musicians, the most regular players being Danny Thompson (from Pentangle), Spike Heatley on upright bass, Tony Carr on drums and congas, John Cameron on piano and Harold McNair on saxophone and flute. Carr's conga style and McNair's distinctive flute playing are an intrinsic feature of many Donovan recordings, and both players toured the US with Donovan. This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... John Symon Asher Jack Bruce (born May 14, 1943) is a Scottish-born musician, composer and singer. ... Daniel Henry Edward Danny Thompson (born 4 April 1939) is an English double bass player. ... For the bands 1969 eponymous debut album, see Led Zeppelin (album). ... John Paul Jones (born John Baldwin on January 3, 1946 in Sidcup, Kent) is an English multi-instrumentalist musician, and was known for being the bassist, the keyboardist and the mandolinist for rock band Led Zeppelin from its inception until the bands breakup following the death of John Bonham... James Patrick Jimmy Page, OBE (born 9 January 1944) is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. ... Daniel Henry Edward Danny Thompson (born 4 April 1939) is an English double bass player. ... Pentangle is a British folk-rock band. ... Football player and Coach Born in 1950 in Bow, East London. ... For other uses, see Conga (disambiguation). ... This is a John Cameron may refer to: John Cameron (theologian) - a Scottish theologian John Cameron (cricketer) - a West Indian cricketer John Cameron (composer) - an English film score composer John Cameron (Upper Canada politician) - an Upper Canada politican. ... Harold McNair (born November 05, 1931 in Kingston, Jamaica — died March 07, 1971 in Maida Vale, North London) was a renowned saxophonist and flautist. ...

Sunshine Superman

By 1966, Donovan had shed the overt Dylan/Guthrie influences and become one of the first British pop musicians to adopt a "flower power" image. More importantly, his music was developing and changing rapidly as he immersed himself in jazz, blues, Eastern music, and the new generation of US West Coast bands such as Jefferson Airplane and The Grateful Dead. He was now entering his most creative and original phase as a songwriter and recording artist, working in close collaboration with Mickie Most and especially with arranger, musician, and jazz fan John Cameron. A bus covered with Hippie slogans and flowers Flower power was a slogan used by hippies in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a symbol of the non-violence ideology. ... Blues music redirects here. ... The term Eastern world refers very broadly to the various cultures, social structures and philosophical systems of the East, namely Asia (including China, India, Japan, and surrounding regions). ... Regional definitions vary from source to source. ... Jefferson Airplane is an American rock band from San Francisco, a pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement. ... Jerry Garcia later in life The Grateful Dead was an American rock band, which was formed in 1965 in San Francisco from the remnants of another band, Mother McCrees Uptown Jug Champions. ... This is a John Cameron may refer to: John Cameron (theologian) - a Scottish theologian John Cameron (cricketer) - a West Indian cricketer John Cameron (composer) - an English film score composer John Cameron (Upper Canada politician) - an Upper Canada politican. ...

Their first collaboration was "Sunshine Superman". One of the first overtly psychedelic pop records, it was an innovative and eclectic blend of folk, rock, pop and jazz. The arrangement was augmented by prominent harpsichord, and set against a funky conga-driven backbeat. It also contained subtle but unmistakable references to LSD — notably, the line, "I could've tripped out easy, but I've changed my ways". Sunshine Superman is the title of a 1965 song written and recorded by British popular musician Donovan; it is also became title track of his 1966 album of the same name. ... For psychedelics, see psychedelic drug. ... Harpsichord in the Flemish style A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. ... For other uses, see Conga (disambiguation). ... Lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly called LSD, LSD-25, or acid. ...

Donovan's rapid rise stalled temporarily in December 1965, when Billboard broke news of the impending production deal between Klein, Most, and Donovan, and then reported that Donovan was about to sign with Epic Records in the U.S. Despite Kozak's strenuous denials, Pye Records dropped the new single from their release schedule, and a contractual dispute ensued. As a result of this dispute, Donovan's UK and US record releases differed markedly, with most of his LPs being released in different forms on either side of the Atlantic; several significant album tracks from the late sixties were simply not available in the UK for many years. Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry. ... Epic Records is an American record label, owned and operated by Sony BMG. // Epic was launched originally as a jazz and classical music label in 1953 by CBS. Its bright-yellow, black and blue logo became a familiar trademark for many jazz and classical releases. ... Pye Records was a British record label. ...

The legal dispute continued into early 1966. During the hiatus, Donovan holidayed in Greece, where he wrote the wistful song, "Writer in the Sun", which was inspired by rumours that his recording career was over. He also toured the USA, playing some lightly attended gigs. He returned to London, collaborating with The Beatles and contributing lyrics (and uncredited backing vocals) to the song "Yellow Submarine", recorded at Abbey Road Studios on 26 May, 1966.^{[citation needed]} The White Album, see The Beatles (album). ... Music sample Yellow Submarine Problems? See media help. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... is the 146th day of the year (147th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

By late 1966, the American contractual problems had been resolved, and Donovan signed a $100,000 deal with Epic Records. Donovan and Most went to CBS Studios in Los Angeles, where they recorded tracks for a new LP, much of which had been formulated and composed during the preceding year. Although folk elements were still prominent, the album showed the increasing influence of jazz, American west coast psychedelia, and folk rock, especially The Byrds, whose records Donovan had been listening to constantly throughout 1965. CBS (formerly an acronym for Columbia Broadcasting System) is a major television network and radio broadcaster in the United States. ... Bob Dylans folk-rock album, Blonde on Blonde Folk-rock is a musical genre, combining elements of folk music and rock music. ... The Byrds (formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1964) were an American rock band. ...

The LP sessions were completed in May, and "Sunshine Superman" was released in the US as a single in June. It was a success, providing Donovan with an American chart breakthrough, selling 800,000 copies in six weeks and reaching #1. The LP followed in August, preceded by advance orders of 250,000 copies, and reached 11 on the US album charts. Sunshine Superman is the title of a 1965 song written and recorded by British popular musician Donovan; it is also became title track of his 1966 album of the same name. ...

The US version of the Sunshine Superman LP is probably the best, most consistent, and durable of Donovan's albums; it remains one of the keynote records of the psychedelic era. It features some of Donovan's strongest material in restrained but imaginative chamber-style folk-jazz arrangements. It also features an eclectic range of instruments including acoustic bass, sitar, saxophone, tablas and congas, harpsichord, strings and oboe. Highlights include the swinging "The Fat Angel", which (Donovan's book confirms) was written for "Mama" Cass Elliott of The Mamas and the Papas. The song is also notable for name checking the cult San Francisco acid rock band Jefferson Airplane, well before they became known internationally. Other notable tracks include "Bert's Blues" (a tribute to guitar hero Bert Jansch), the stately "Gueneviere", and "Legend of a Girl Child Linda", an innovative track featuring voice, acoustic guitar and a small orchestra, and which runs for over six minutes. Sunshine Superman is the third album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. ... Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. ... Diagram of some sitar parts. ... Sunshine Superman is the third album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. ... Mama Cass Elliot (September 19, 1941 _ July 29, 1974), born Ellen Naomi Cohen, was a noted American singer who performed with The Mamas & the Papas. ... The Mamas & the Papas were a leading vocal group of the 1960s, and one of the few American groups to maintain widespread success during the British Invasion, along with The Beach Boys. ... Name dropping (also called namechecking or brand-name dropping) is the practice of casually inserting the names of important people or institutions into a conversation in order to seem more important to the listener. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... Acid rock is a form of psychedelic music and was the first form of it to achieve popular acclaim. ... Jefferson Airplane is an American rock band from San Francisco, a pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement. ... Sunshine Superman is the third album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. ... Herbert Jansch (born 3 November 1943[1]), known as Bert Jansch, is a Scottish folk musician and founding member of the band Pentangle. ...

The album is also probably the first pop recording to feature extensive use of the sitar, which was played by American folk singer Shawn Phillips. Donovan had met Phillips in London in 1965, and Phillips became a close friend and an important early collaborator, playing acoustic guitar and sitar on several major recordings including the Sunshine Superman album, as well as accompanying Donovan at numerous concerts. Diagram of some sitar parts. ... He helped define folk-rock in the sixties and progressive-new-age rock in the seventies. ...

In contrast to the pastoral tone of the rest of the album, several songs, including the title track, had a harder edge. The driving, jazzy "The Trip" was titled after the L.A. club of the same name; chronicling an LSD trip he took during his time in L.A., it was loaded with references to Donovan's sojourn on the West Coast, and name-checked both Dylan and Baez. The third "heavy" song, destined to become one of his most enduring recordings, was a brooding and portentous number called "Season of the Witch". Recorded with American and British session players, it features Donovan's first recorded performance on electric guitar. The song was covered by Brian Auger on his first LP in 1967, and Al Kooper and Stephen Stills recorded an 11-minute version on the 1968 album, Super Session. Donovan's version is also heard in the closing sequence of the Gus Van Sant film, To Die For. Lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly called LSD, LSD-25, or acid. ... Season of the Witch, also known as Hungry Wives, is George A. Romeros second film. ... This article or section reads like an advertisement. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Stephen Arthur Stills (born January 3, 1945) is an American guitarist and singer/songwriter best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash (and Young). ... Album cover of 2003 re-release of Super Session. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... To Die For is a 1995 film written by Buck Henry, based on the novel of the same name by Joyce Maynard (ISBN 0595269397), and directed by Gus Van Sant. ...

Because of contractual problems, the album was not released in the UK for nine months, and then in an altered form — it had a different track order and omitted "The Fat Angel", "The Trip", and "Ferris Wheel", replacing them with "Hampstead Incident", "Young Girl Blues", "Writer in the Sun", and "Sand and Foam".

On 24 October, 1966, Epic released the rollicking, brass-laden single "Mellow Yellow", arranged by John Paul Jones and purportedly featuring Paul McCartney on uncredited backing vocals. It was rumoured that the phrase "electrical banana" referred to smoking banana peels to get high, (see Berkeley Barb, perhaps because of this song). Donovan sounds like jazz singer Michael Franks. The phrase has also been considered to be a coded reference to a vibrator. Another line in that caused speculation is "I'm just mad about Fourteen", and in the version heard on the 1968 In Concert album, he sings, "I'm just mad about fourteen-year-old girls; they're mad about me."^[1] The song became Donovan's signature tune and was a commercial success — it reached #2 in Billboard, 3 in Cash Box and earned a gold record award for sales of more than one million in the US. is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Mellow Yellow is the fourth album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. ... John Paul Jones (born John Baldwin on January 3, 1946 in Sidcup, Kent) is an English multi-instrumentalist musician, and was known for being the bassist, the keyboardist and the mandolinist for rock band Led Zeppelin from its inception until the bands breakup following the death of John Bonham... Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942) is an Academy Award-winning English singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who first gained worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles. ... The Berkeley Barb was an underground newspaper which was published in Berkeley, California, in the 1960s and 1970s. ... Michael Franks (1944—) is a singer and songwriter from the United States. ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Donovan in Concert is the sixth album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan, and the first live album of his career. ...

During the first half of 1967, Donovan worked on an ambitious double-album studio project, which he produced himself. In January he gave a concert at the Royal Albert Hall accompanied by a ballerina who danced during a 12-minute performance of "Golden Apples". On 14 January, New Musical Express reported he was to write incidental music for a National Theatre production of As You Like It, but this did not come to fruition. His version of "Under the Greenwood Tree" did appear on "A Gift from a Flower to a Garden". “Albert Hall” redirects here. ... is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The New Musical Express (better known as the NME) is a weekly magazine about popular music published in the UK. It is unlike many other popular music magazines due to its intended focus on guitar-based music and indie rock bands, instead of mainstream pop acts. ... Walter Deverell,The Mock Marriage of Orlando and Rosalind, 1853 William Shakespeares As You Like It is a pastoral comedy written in 1599 or early 1600. ... Under the Greenwood Tree is a novel by Thomas Hardy, published anonymously in 1872. ... A Gift from a Flower to a Garden is the fifth album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan, and marks the first double album of his career and one of the first box sets in rock music. ...

Later that month Epic released an LP, Mellow Yellow, which reached 14 in the album charts, and a new non-album single, "Epistle to Dippy", a Top 20 hit in the US. Written in the form of an open letter to an old school friend, the song had a strong pacifist sub-text, in spite of its florid psychedelic imagery. The real "Dippy" was at the time serving in the British Army in Malaysia. According to Brian Hogg, who wrote the liner notes for the Donovan boxed set, Troubadour, Dippy heard the song, contacted Donovan and left the army as a result. Epistle to Dippy is a song and single by Donovan, released in 1967 only in the USA. It charted in the USA (Billboard: #19). ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ...

On 9 February, 1967, Donovan was one of the guests invited by The Beatles to join them at Abbey Road Studios for the final orchestral overdub session for the Lennon-McCartney collaboration "A Day in the Life", the grand finale to their new opus Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... A Day in the Life is a song composed by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and recorded by The Beatles for their album Sgt. ... For other uses, see Sgt. ...

Drug Bust

In mid-1966, Donovan became the first high-profile British pop star to be arrested for possession of marijuana. Donovan's drug use appears to have been moderate, and was mostly restricted to pot smoking — with occasional use of LSD and mescaline. Although he was not indulging on the scale of friends like John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, and Brian Jones, his use of LSD is referred to in many of his lyrics, including "The Trip", "Sunshine Superman", "Wear Your Love Like Heaven", "Epistle To Dippy", and "Hurdy-Gurdy Man". Cannabis, also known as marijuana[1] or ganja,[2] is a psychoactive product of the plant Cannabis sativa L. subsp. ... Lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly called LSD, LSD-25, or acid. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980), (born John Winston Lennon, known as John Ono Lennon) was an iconic English 20th century rock and roll songwriter and singer, best known as the founding member of The Beatles. ... Jimi Hendrix (November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American guitar virtuoso, singer and songwriter. ... For other persons named Brian Jones, see Brian Jones (disambiguation). ...

Public attention was drawn to his marijuana use by the TV documentary, A Boy Called Donovan, broadcast in early 1966, which showed the singer and friends smoking cannabis at a party thrown by the film crew. However, it now appears that the Drug Squad were already planning to target many British pop stars, and Donovan's arrest proved to be the first in a long series, including members of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Donovan's arrest garnered a great deal of publicity, and in early 1967, Donovan was the subject of an exposé by the British newspaper, the News of the World. Look up Cannabis in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The White Album, see The Beatles (album). ... Rolling Stones redirects here. ... The News of the World is a British tabloid newspaper published every Sunday. ...

According to Donovan's autobiography, the article was based on an unauthorised interview given by an ex-girlfriend of his closest friend, Gypsy Davy. It was the first instalment of a three-part series, "Drugs & Pop Stars - Facts That Will Shock You". Although some claims were probably true, others were false. The most notorious instance was that of the News Of The World reporter's claiming to have spent an evening with Mick Jagger, who (he alleged) discussed his drug use and offered drugs to companions. Only after publication was it discovered that the reporter had mistaken Brian Jones for Jagger, who sued the paper. Sir Michael Phillip Mick Jagger (born July 26, 1943) is an English rock musician, actor, songwriter, record and film producer and businessman. ...

Among other supposed revelations were claims that Donovan and other stars including members of The Who, Cream, The Rolling Stones, and The Moody Blues regularly smoked marijuana, used other illicit drugs, and held parties where the recently banned hallucinogen LSD was used, specifically naming The Who's Pete Townshend and Cream's Ginger Baker as LSD users. The Who are a British rock band that first formed in 1964, and grew to be considered one of the greatest[1] and most influential[2] bands in the world. ... Cream were a classic 1960s British rock band, which consisted of guitarist Eric Clapton, bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker. ... Rolling Stones redirects here. ... The Moody Blues are a British rock band originally from Birmingham, England. ... Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend (born May 19, 1945 in Chiswick, London), is an award-winning English rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer. ... Peter Edward Ginger Baker (born August 19, 1939, Lewisham, South London) is an English drummer who gained fame as a member of the Graham Bond Organization (GBO) and Cream from 1966 until 1968. ...

It emerged later that the News Of The World reporters were using access to pop stars to gather information and pass it to the police. In the late 1990s, an article in The Guardian revealed that it was News Of The World reporters who alerted the police about the party at Keith Richards' house, Redlands, which was raided in the early hours of 12 February 1967, just after George Harrison and his wife had left.) For other uses, see Guardian. ... is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other persons named George Harrison, see George Harrison (disambiguation). ...

Although Donovan was not as sensational as the later arrests of Jagger and Richards, because of the charges he was refused entry to the U.S. until late 1967 and was unable to perform at the Monterey International Pop Festival in June that year. Poster promoting the festival The Monterey International Pop Music Festival took place from June 16 to June 18, 1967. ...

International Success, 1967–69

In July, Epic released the single, "There Is A Mountain", which went top ten in the US and was later used as the basis for The Allman Brothers's Mountain Jam. In September, Donovan embarked on a tour of the US, backed by a small jazz group and accompanied by his father, who introduced the show. The Allman Brothers Band is a pioneering and innovative Southern rock group from Macon, Georgia originally popular in the 1970s, described by Rolling Stones George Kimball in 1971 as the best . ... Mountain Jam is a long, improvised jam song by the Allman Brothers Band. ...

Later that month, Epic released Donovan's fifth album, a two-disc set entitled, A Gift from a Flower to a Garden, one of the first rock music boxed sets, and only the third pop-rock double album released. It was split thematically into halves. The first, subtitled "Wear Your Love Like Heaven", was written for the people of his generation that would one day be parents; the second, subtitled "For Little Ones", was a collection of songs Donovan had written for the coming generation. Worried it might be a poor seller, Epic boss Clive Davis insisted the albums be split and sold separately in the USA, but his fears were unfounded - — although it took time, the boxed set sold steadily, eventually peaking at 19 on US album chart and achieving gold record status in the US in early 1970. A Gift from a Flower to a Garden is the fifth album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan, and marks the first double album of his career and one of the first box sets in rock music. ... Wear Your Love Like Heaven (Epic Records LN 24349 (monaural) / BN 26349 (stereo)) is the first record of the double album A Gift from a Flower to a Garden, the fifth album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. ... For Little Ones (Epic Records LN 24350 (monaural) / BN 26350 (stereo)) is the second record of the double album A Gift from a Flower to a Garden, the fifth album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. ... Clive Jay Davis (born April 4, 1932) is a Grammy Award winning record producer and a leading music industry executive. ...

The psychedelic and mystical overtones of the work were unmistakable -- the front cover (photographed at Bodiam Castle) featured an infra-red photograph by psychedelic album cover photographer Karl Ferris of Donovan dressed in a robe holding flowers and peacock feathers, while the back cover photo showed him holding hands with Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Surprisingly, the liner notes included an appeal from Donovan for young people to give up the use of all drugs — a decidedly un-hip stance for a rock musician at the height of the Summer of Love. His early public disavowal of drugs was no doubt motivated in part by his drug arrest, but he was (and remains) strongly opposed to hard drugs — a belief reinforced by the rapid physical and mental decline of his friend, Brian Jones. Bodiam Castle from the South Bodiam Castle from the North Bodiam Castle interior from the South Tower Bodiam Castle is a quadrangular castle located in East Sussex, England (grid reference TQ785256). ... Top: tree photographed in the near infrared range. ... Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (b. ... The Summer of Love was the summer of 1967, particularly in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco, where thousands of young people loosely and freely united for a new social experience. ...

In late 1967, Donovan contributed several songs to the soundtrack of the Ken Loach film, Poor Cow. The title track (originally called "Poor Love") was released as the B-side of his next single, "Jennifer Juniper", a song inspired by Jenny Boyd, sister of George Harrison's wife, Pattie Boyd. It was another top 40 hit in the USA. Ken Loach Kenneth Loach (born June 17, 1936), known as Ken Loach, is an English television and film director, known for his naturalistic style and socialist themes. ... Helen Mary Boyd, 1960s London fashion model; younger sister of Pattie Boyd, who married Beatle George Harrison. ... George Harrison and Pattie Boyd in A Hard Days Night Patricia Anne Pattie Boyd (born 17 March 1944) is an English model and photographer who is best known as the wife of first George Harrison and then Eric Clapton. ...

Like the Beatles, Donovan developed an interest in eastern mysticism and in early 1968 he travelled to India where he spent several weeks at the ashram of the Maharishi in Rishikesh. The visit gained worldwide attention thanks to the presence of (for a time) all four Beatles as well as Beach Boys lead singer Mike Love and actress Mia Farrow and her sister Prudence (who inspired John Lennon to write "Dear Prudence"). According to a 1968 Paul McCartney interview with Radio Luxembourg [3], it was during this time that Donovan taught John Lennon and Paul McCartney various finger-picking styles such as the claw hammer which he had learned from his St Albans buddy, Mac MacLeod. Lennon went on to use the technique on songs including "Julia" and McCartney with "Blackbird". River Ganges in Rishikesh Rishikesh (also spelled Hrishikesh) (Hindi: )is a city and a municipal board in Dehradun district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. ... The Beach Boys, originally the Beech Boys, a small team of four brothers from the south of Poland, emigrated to America in the early 1950s in search of a fortune to be made in the Arizonian logging industry. When it soon became evident they had been the victims of... This article is about The Beach Boys band member. ... Mia Farrow (born Maria de Lourdes Villiers-Farrow on February 9, 1945) is an American actress. ... Keith MacLeod (known as Mac MacLeod) is a British musician. ...

Donovan's next single was released in May 1968, the swirling psychedelic "The Hurdy Gurdy Man". In the liner notes from EMI's reissues, it is revealed that the song was intended for Donovan's old friend and guitar mentor Mac MacLeod, who had a heavy rock band called Hurdy Gurdy. After hearing MacLeod's power trio version, Donovan considered giving it to Jimi Hendrix, but when Mickie Most heard it, he convinced Donovan that the song was a sure single that he should record. Donovan tried to get Hendrix to play on the recording, but he was on tour and unavailable. Jimmy Page was also considered, but he was out of the country touring with The Yardbirds. Instead the position went to a young British guitarist, Alan Parker. It is possible Jimmy Page did play on other tracking sessions for the Hurdy Gurdy Man LP, although not on the title track. John Paul Jones played bass with Clem Cattini on drums. Jones an