Sunshine Superman

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
There's a classic scene in the Pennebraker documentary Don't Look Back: Donovan sings a pretty folk song in a pretty voice; he smiles like he's just won a grade-school spelling bee. Dylan strokes him with sly approval, then lays it on him: "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue." Donovan's face falls and he looks about to disappear into the wallpaper. Dylan's genius made life hard for this Scot-born folkie, and with Sunshine Superman, he tried to find the bold imagination that eluded him. He's nearly successful, and the record, filled with hippy-trippy lyrics, occasionally reaches pop sublimity, thanks to guitar work by Jimmy Page, and evocative Eastern instrumentation drifting in and out. The final cut, "Till I See You Again" remains irresistible, and the entire album is a high point in Donovan's career. --Roy Francis Kasten

Tracks:

Sunshine Superman
Legend Of A Girl Child Linda
Three Kingfishers
Ferris Wheel
Bert's Blues
Season Of The Witch
The Trip
Guinevere
The Fat Angel
Celeste
Breezes Of Patchulie
Museum (First Version)
Superlungs (First Version)
The Land Of Doesn't Have To Be
Sunshine Superman
Good Trip (Demo) (Mono)
House Of Jansch (Demo) (Mono)

Album Description

2005 Digitally remastered re-issue features seven bonus tracks 'Breezes Of Patchulie', 'Museum' (First Version), 'Superlungs' (First Version), 'The Land Of Doesn't Have To', 'Sunshine', 'Good Trip' (Demo), 'House Of Jansch' (Demo). Sunshine Superman marked the coming of psychedelia and utilised the production skills of already established producer, Mickie Most, whose bass heavy style complements Donovan's enigmatic lyrics and their beatnik delivery brilliantly. EMI.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Edition of Donovan P. Leitch's Third Album that Served as his Breakthrough on to the Pop Charts around the World. "Sunshine Superman" Marked the Coming of Psychedelia and Utilized the Production Skills of Already Established Producer Mickie Most, Whose Trademark Bass Heavy Production Style Brilliantly Compliments Donovan's Enigmatic Lyrics and his Beatnik Vocal Delivery. This Special Reissue Includes Six Bonus Tracks: "Breezes of Patchulie", " Museum (First Version)", "Superlungs (First Version)", " the Land of Doesn't have to Be", "Sunshine", "Good Trip (Demo)" and "House of Jansch (Demo)".

Customer Reviews:

Super Sunshine.......2007-04-01

Well, here's a blast from the past... I've owned the original album for many years (since it came out in 1966, in fact), so was intrigued with the opportunity to pick up a sonically cleaned-up version with no fewer than seven bonus tracks. I still think it's a great work. 'Season of the Witch' is one of the 60s' defining tracks, 'Sunshine Superman' still holds its own as a pop track, and all the rest continue to shine as an ensemble showing the way toward myth-, lore-, and jazz-influenced pop. This was actually quite a creative album, mostly recorded in late 1965 and early 1966 just before similar explorations by the Beatles and others. I've always been a Donovan fan, and this is arguably his best album (and also his most commercially successful, I think). One of the least noticed things about Donovan's music from this period is how he integrated a blues and jazz sound into many of his compositions--this is more evident on "Mellow Yellow", the next issue, but even here one can strongly feel those influences having been absorbed on 'The Trip,' 'Bert's Blues' and 'Three Kingfishers.'

40 years with this recording .......2007-02-18

I've been listening to this record for 40 years now. It is an amazing, piece of music. I'm glad to see that others have enjoyed it as much as I.

An Ineffable Musical Experience.......2007-01-24

Other reviewers have delineated the technical brilliance of this album. I would not have much to add or subtract from their observations, except to affirm that the clarity of the mix enabled me to hear things I had never heard before, which injected new life into some well-worn tracks. The rest of my comments will be unapologetically subjective, possibly because Donovan has an odd way of reaching each individual at a personal level, though his stance is usually an acerbic but kindly, somewhat detached observer. In the musical firmament of the '60s, Donovan was the Pleiades, the mystic purple star system where faerie visions came and went, suggesting spiritual and sensual doings of an evanescent and yet intense character. No one else was even close. "Purple Haze" was the pile driver version of the grail at the end of that quest. "Sunshine Superman" was the lyrical version. Funny thing is, Donovan's songs still take you there, if you let them. I grew up in the SF Bay Area, and the Flower Power movement (if you could call it a "movement") emerged about the time I got my driver's license. I went in search of it, borrowing my parents' car. (Incidentally, the term "Flower Power" was coined by a reviewer of a Donovan concert who noted the flowers he tossed to the audience.) Maybe I found a little piece of the dream one fine day with a girl who seemed to know the power of silence, but for the most part it was illusion. I wanted to believe, but reality kept conflicting. Then I attended a Donovan concert at the Fillmore. For that two-hour moment, which was actually of infinite duration, it all came true. Like the gateway to the Pied Piper's Kingdom, the door is now nothing but a rock wall, but it is hard to forget having been among the elves for a moment, and the one who played the pipes that transported me there. Donovan's music suggested the beauty possible in a '60s mindset, and no album suggests it better than "Sunshine Superman." Think what a miracle it was to hear so much groundbreaking, diverse, and original music exploding all at once, and here was this guy singing songs that fitted it all perfectly, and yet didn't belong in any one stylistic camp or category at all. This quality of poetic vison and independence from convention still comes through today, surprisingly. Donovan's music brushes off the dust that tried to collect on its robes, and keeps on walkin', shimmering and catching the dreamlight. There is no absolute definitive interpretation of any of the songs. I think that's what you'll like about them. They're like kaleidoscope images that attract different parts of your soul on different days. Some of it is silly, and yet overall there's something profound about it. There are classics on this CD, such as "Sunshine Superman" and "Season of the Witch." But there are some underrated wonders here, too, such as "Bert's Blues," which is kind of a jazz/pop soliloquy on the "To Be or Not To Be" question. I will always be nostalgic for a belief in Peace and Love, even if the dream is deader than JFK, RFK, and MLK. But maybe another place and time? If you were there, you know what I mean. If you weren't, this might be your ticket. And if this isn't a five-star experience, then what is?

Review of the Vinyl LP--AMAZING.......2006-12-25

I note that this has been remastered and has additional songs, but the original vinyl of Donovan's 'Sunshine Superman' is one of the most enjoyable listening experiences in my collection. Donovan was an original, and yet you hear elements of the Beatles and Harry Nilsson in his music as well. It would be classified as psychedilic folk/rock. Yes, the songs play like one long drug trip, but the imagery is extraordinary and allows the listener to legally and vicariously see what some of these sixties musicians saw when they were stoned out of their minds. I really enjoy the Tolkein-esque imagery of the songs and the whimsical, child-like nature of the lyrics. The instrumentation includes all kinds of instruments one found in the late sixties on experimental rock albums, such as sitars and oboes and strings. The resulting sound is lush and accomplished. This is a great album, and though I don't know how the CD versions stack up, the vinyl is awesome and clear.

A mixed bag.......2006-11-12

I bought this album because I remembered it as one of my favorites when I owned it on vinyl... a long time ago. Listening to it again after all these years, though, was not entirely a happy homecoming. Several of the songs ("Sunshine Superman", "Season of the Witch", and "Bert's Blues", among others) really stood the test of time for me and remain classics of the genre, while others just seemed to drag on and on in a fog of monotony. The "unicorns and fairies" flavor of some of the songs, which seemed enchanting and new on the original release, suffer now from decades of plastic figurines and tacky posters in cheap mall stores; it's really impossible to hear them without that filter of kitsch at this point.

Perhaps my least favorite feature of the album, however, is the group of "bonus tracks" at the end; suffice it to say that it's easy to see why these weren't included on the original release. I think the bad taste left in my mouth at the end of the album is in large part due to these cuts, and I probably would have had a much more positive review overall even with the caveats of the first paragraph if not for this feature. In fact, I'm thinking of taking the trouble to burn a copy of the album that ends where the original one did, so that I don't have to remember to turn it off there manually.

Average customer rating:

disappointing
Very, Very Cool
Donovan gets sexy!
Sweet Cool and Tripper Vibe
High-Water Mark for Donovan

Beat Cafe
Donovan
Manufacturer: Appleseed Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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HMS Donovan
Cosmic Wheels/Essence to Essence
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Open Road
7-Tease/Slow Down World

ASIN: B0002IQHZM
Release Date: 2004-08-24

Tracks:

Love Floats
Poorman's Sunshine
Beat Cafe
Yin My Yang
Whirlwind
Two Lovers
The Question
Lord Of The Universe
Lover O Lover
The Cuckoo
Do Not Go Gentle
Shambhala

Amazon.com

Donovan, the British folkie and poor man's Bob Dylan best known for '60s and '70s Flower Power opuses like "Season of the Witch" and "Sunshine Superman," takes a slightly self-indulgent but utterly intriguing turn here on his first album in eight years. Backed by a deft band of ace session musicians, Donovan serves up a spacey, electronica-laden tribute to one of his most enduring influences: the Beat poets (Ginsberg, Burroughs, et. al.) of yesteryear. A few of these cuts, like "Two Lovers," "Yin My Yang," and "The Question," are merely dazzling word play set to hot licks. But others--"Poor Man's Sunshine," "Lord of the Universe," and "Do Not Go Gentle" (a hip-hoppish variation on a famous Dylan Thomas poem)--resonate with the eerie power of spacey elevator music from U2's loopy Zooropa phase while briefly showcasing Donovan in all the whispery, flower-draped splendor of his salad days. -- Bob Allen

Album Description

That shimmering, intimate voice . . . the poetic, seductive lyrics . . . the dreamy, hazy music that surrounds them . . . From folksinger to flower-child to timeless musical poet, Donovan and his distinctive, magical songs have become familiar to decades of music fans since the early Sixties through hit singles like "Mellow Yellow," "Sunshine Superman," "The Hurdy Gurdy Man," "Catch the Wind," "Colours," "There is a Mountain" and "Atlantis," in TV and movie soundtracks and commercials, and on a precious, infrequent trickle of new releases.

"Beat Café" is the first new Donovan CD for grown-ups since 1996's "Sutras" ("The Pied Piper," a children's CD, was issued in 2002). While "Sutras," produced and released by Rick Rubin (Johnny Cash, the Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mick Jagger) emphasized Donovan's folk roots, "Beat Café" is an extension of the heady rock/folk/pop/jazz/blues/world music brew that has become Donovan's trademark.

To capture the spirit of the Bohemian café happenings dating back to 1840s Paris that combined philosophy, poetry and free thought and inspired this CD, Donovan enlisted multiple Grammy-winner John Chelew (Blind Boys of Alabama, Richard Thompson, John Hiatt) as producer and keyboardist and the world-class rhythm section of folk/jazz double bassist and longtime Donovan accompanist Danny Thompson (Nick Drake, Richard Thompson, The Pentangle, John Martyn) and drummer/percussionist Jim Keltner (Bob Dylan, Ry Cooder, George Harrison, many more). Applying a "no fixed arrangements" approach to foster the proper mood of spontaneity, Donovan (vocals, guitars) and his cohorts have created a lusciously atmospheric collection of eleven new original Donovan compositions plus a cover of the folk standard "The Cuckoo."

This "beat café" of the mind is a sensuous, smoky den of fevered seduction (the hypnotic "Love Floats," "Yin My Yang," "Two Lovers," "Whirlwind"), jazzy, finger-snapping hipness ("Poorman's Sunshine" and the title song), death-mocking blues ("Lord of the Universe"), and gentle spirituality ("Shambhala," "Do Not Go Gentle," the latter song an adaptation of Dylan Thomas's famous poem). The contemporary production values meld mystic chants, teasing wordplay, tender meditations and warm musical telepathy into a reaffirmation of Donovan's status as a unique and vibrant musical visionary.

Customer Reviews:

disappointing.......2007-07-05

I heard a cut over the radio, and thought it was worth looking into. Don't waste your money on this one. Very poppy, stupid lyrics, totally uninspiring. What happened to the artist who tried "To Catch the Wind?"
I guess he got old and boring. What a shame!

Very, Very Cool.......2006-03-24

Since "Sutras" his astounding comeback album rated five stars, I have to rate this one only four stars as it's not QUITE as good (and half stars aren't allowed). But make no mistake, it's still very, very cool.

It's so amazing that Donovan is back and sounds as good as he does, 40 years after I first discovered him. And he's not some nostalgia act; he's doing important new groundbreaking work! He sounds great too.

"Beat Cafe" finds him swaggering with an acoustic trio in deliberately "hip" arrangements which, in lesser hands, could have been cloying. But this is never overplayed, never broad, never tongue-in-cheek -- just a very relaxed set of neo-beatnik grooves which he, alone among his contemporaries, has the cachet to perform with authenticity.

Did I mention cool?

Donovan gets sexy!.......2006-02-06

I first listened to this CD with my wife in the car as we were driving the Mass Pike on a sunny Saturday morning, heading for Maine. I didn't quite know what to expect this trip, but I was not prepared for (and yet pleasantly surprised by) this deeply sensual set of tracks. Just amazing! Donovan can still turn it on, approaching 60, and his voice is as timeless as ever, perhaps even smoother in his late middle age than ever before. "Love Floats," the lead-off track, is an outright seduction; "Yin My Yang" sounds like a Tao-themed come-on ('twould make Confucius blush!); "The Question" is groovy and mystical with the Hammond B-3 low and secretive in the mix.

Suffice it to say that my wife and I could not stop touching each other while this CD was on, and were it possible for us to pull over and make hot, passionate love before continuing on, we'd have left the key turned to Accessory so that this music could have continued contributing to the sexy mood. Lastly, I'll add this--if you bring home a date and put this album on, and you *aren't* making breakfast for them the next morning, something went dreadfully wrong! Danny Thompson's sinuous bass work and Jim Keltner's tasteful drumming keep the whole thing moving along to your inevitable climax...pick it up today.

Sweet Cool and Tripper Vibe.......2005-09-28

Oooooh yeah...man. This is the good stuff. After hours and into the dawn. With or without shades.
Donovan's Temple is the place to be.
Thank you and...could we fill it up again? Soon?
Stay Free.

High-Water Mark for Donovan.......2005-08-08

Sunshine Superman morphs into Bohemian Batman on this superb outing by Donovan. When I heard about the concept of this album -- Donovan trying to recreate the sound and ambiance of Soho beat cafe circa 1962 -- I thought it sounded like a desperate gimmick by a fading rock superstar. But it works big time, thanks in no small part to the dream-team support of accoustic bassist Danny Thompson (Richard Thompson, Pentangle) and solo-Beatles drummer Jim Keltner, who swing and sizzle along with Donovan's acoustic guitar grooves. The only thing that doesn't really work is the recitation of Dylan Thomas' "Do Not Go Gentle," (but it is a great theme for the record and one that Donovan seems to be taking to heart). Every other track on the album is a gem. This is Don's best album since the criminally overlooked Cosmic Wheels back in the early 1970s, and possibly the best of his 40-year career. I can't think of a single one my many favorite rock artists from the 1960s or 1970s (many of whom are still recording and performing) of whom I can say they trumped their catalog at close to age 60! Watch out world -- The Hurdy Gurdy Man is still crankin'!

Average customer rating:

Sunshine Superman
Donovan
Manufacturer: United Multi License
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

British Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0006Z2G6U
Release Date: 2004-12-06

Tracks:

Lady of the Stars
I Love You Baby
Bye, Bye Girl
Every Reason
Season of the Witch
For Every Boy There's a Girl
Local Boy Chops Wood
Sunshine Superman
Living for the Love Light in Your Eyes
Till I See You Again

Sunshine Superman: The Very Best of Donovan

Average customer rating:

A Pretty Good Compilation
Sixties folk-rocker from Scotland
Great starting set of songs

Sunshine Superman: The Very Best of Donovan
Donovan
Manufacturer: EMI Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

British Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00006AAMI
Release Date: 2002-10-29

Tracks:

Sunshine Superman [Extended Version] - Donovan, Donovan
Mellow Yellow
Catch the Wind [LP Version] - Donovan, Donovan
There Is a Mountain
Colours
Jennifer Juniper
Trip - Donovan, Donovan
Sunny Goodge Street - Donovan, Donovan
Happiness Runs
Poor Cow
Preachin' Love
Hurdy Gurdy Man
Superlungs My Supergirl
Season of the Witch
Turquoise - Donovan, Donovan
Epistle to Dippy
Sand and Foam
Atlantis
Guinevere
Wear Your Love Like Heaven
Barabajagal (Love Is Hot)
Lalena

Album Description

2002 compilation covering Donovan's EMI & Pye singles. 22 tracks including, 'Sunshine Superman' (Extended Version), 'Mellow Yellow', 'Catch The Wind' (LP Version), 'There Is A Mountain', 'Season Of The Witch' & 'Colours'. EMI. 2002.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Collection of Donovan's Singles for Both the EMI and Pye Labels. Thanks to Recognition from Happy Mondays in the 90's, Donovan and his Flower Power Message of Love and Hope to the World Became "in" Again (And Has Really Never Stopped). He Has Toured Year after Year Delighting Audiences around the World, Keeping his Youthful Vigor and Spirit Healthy and Wise. Now You Can have all of his Greatest Hits (Including the Famed "Atlantis" and the Long Version of "Sunshine Superman") on a Single CD.

Customer Reviews:

A Pretty Good Compilation.......2006-07-20

Whoever put together this group of songs seems to have cared. They seem to go together to form kind of a whole. Sadly I can't say that for many of the other Donovan compilations I've seen over the years. And I do wish they would give these things an original name. Calling every third or fourth repackage "Sunshine Superman" is kind of wrong, even if that song is on the CD. Still, I've got this one in my car and have no problem with it, even with the early Pye stuff on it. Not five stars, but I'll give it four.

Sixties folk-rocker from Scotland.......2004-10-22

Originally inspired by Bob Dylan, Donovan began as an acoustic folk-rocker but soon changed to an electric sound that yielded most of his hits although he eventually returned to his acoustic roots.

Donovan evolved his own identity, recording a string of great singles, seven of which made the UK top ten between 1965 and 1968. He also had his share of hits in America although he was less consistent - fewer top ten hits but his biggest hit (Sunshine superman) did better in America than Britain, peaking at one and two respectively. Donovan's other UK top ten hits were Catch the wind, Colors, Mellow yellow, There is a mountain, Jennifer Juniper and Hurdy gurdy man. His only other UK hits were Turquoise, Atlantis and Goo goo Barabajagal Most if not all of these were hits in America, where Wear your love like heaven, Epistle to Dippy and Lalena also charted.

This compilation is easily the strongest single CD of Donovan's music. I am surprised at the price quoted as I review this - more expensive than the double CD. Maybe this will change but until it does, you'll have to decide between buying this somewhere else, buying the double CD or buying a different single CD.

Great starting set of songs.......2004-06-28

I'm not sure why this is an overpriced import, but I managed to get a copy for $20 at a recent Donovan concert. It's a wonderful remastered CD, a great set of songs... and a good place to start if you want to get in to Donovan's music.

Average customer rating:

The Best of Donovan: Sunshine Superman
Donovan
Manufacturer: EMI Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

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General | Rock | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000GLKPAS
Release Date: 2006-08-07

Tracks:

Sunshine Superman (Extended Version)
Mellow Yellow
Catch The Wind (LP Version)
There Is A Mountain
Colours
Jennifer Juniper
The Trip
Sunny Goodge Street
Happiness Runs
Poor Cow
Preachin' Love
Hurdy Gurdy Man
Superlungs My Supergirl
Season Of The Witch
Turquoise
Epistle To Dippy
Sand And Foam
Atlantis
Guinevere
Wear Your Love Like Heaven
Barabajagal (Love Is Hot)
Lalena

Album Description

Often called 'the British Bob Dylan' when he first gained recognition in the '60s, singer/songwriter was never a Dylan copyist, nor would he be content to be pigeonholed as one. This brilliant compilation showcases the true original talent that Donovan possessed, both as a songwriter and vocalist, and proves that the only thing he had in common with Dylan was the talent to convey emotion in song. All the hits are here including 'Mellow Yellow', 'Jennifer Juniper', 'Catch The Wind', 'Season Of The Witch', 'Wear Your Love Like Heaven' and more. 22 slices of Folk/Rock brilliance. EMI.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Definitive Anthology of EMI Recordings from the Man Often Portrayed as the British Dylan. Donovan P. Leitch was in Fact Much More Than This. He was the Highest Profile UK Folk Singer at a Time When Most Folk Singers were American and his Association with the "Summer of Love" Made Him One of the Most Popular Singers of the 60's and He Made Forays Into the World of Psychedelia Ahead of Most of his Contemporaries. With Hits Like "Sunshine Superman", "There is a Mountain", "Mellow Yellow", "Hurdy Gurdy Man", "Wear Your Love Like Heaven" and Many More, Donovan's Music Retains It's Freshness and Pertinence in all Generations.

Average customer rating:

Oh, Come On Now!

Sunshine Superman

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00003INJU
Release Date: 2006-08-15

Tracks:

Jennifer Jumper
Catch The Wind
Hurdy Gurdy Man
Sunshine Superman
Sadness
The Universal Soldier
Cosmic Wheels
Atlantis
Wear Your Love Like Heaven
To Susan On The West Coast Waiting
Colours
Young Girl Blues
Young But Growing
Stealing
Sailing Homeward
Love Will Find A Way
Lalena
Make Up Your Mind To Be Happy

Customer Reviews:

Oh, Come On Now!.......2006-06-25

Donavan did some delightful, dreamy, and lovable pieces back inthe sixties. Not many appear on this disk. Even the ones that were included are inevitably versions that lack both production value and power. I hope a decent collection of Donavan's music will be made available. This definitely isn't it. Two stars may be generous.

Average customer rating:

1966: Time-Life Music Classic Rock
The Beach Boys , The Temptations , The Young Rascals , The Standells , Donovan , The Bobby Fuller Four , The Shadows of Knight , The Supremes , The Monkees , and Paul Revere and the Raiders
Manufacturer: Time-Life Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000FXUYWQ

Product Description

Song listing: 1. Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys 2. (I Know) I'm Losing You - The Temptations 3. Good Lovin' - The Young Rascals 4. Dirty Water - The Standells 5. Sunshine Superman - Donovan 6. Tell It Like It Is - Aaron Neville 7. Summer in the City - The Lovin' Spoonful 8. Standing in the Shadows of Love - The Four Tops 9. I Fought the Law - The Bobby Fuller Four 10. Beauty is Only Skin Deep - The Temptations 11. When a Man Loves a Woman - Percy Sledge 12. Reach Out I'll Be There - The Four Tops 13. Gloria - The Shadows of Knight 14. Barbara Ann - The Beach Boys 15. Shapes of Things - The Yardbirds 16. Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind? - The Lovin' Spoonful 17. Monday, Monday - The Mamas and the Papas 18. You Keep Me Hangin' On - The Supremes 19. Wild Thing - The Troggs 20. I'm a Believer - The Monkees 21. Kicks - Paul Revere and the Raiders 22. Psychotic Reaction - The Count Five

Average customer rating:

The Others Were Listening to Something Else
A fine album
Fine Album-
PSYCHEDELIC HEAVEN
Correction

Sunshine Superman
Donovan
Manufacturer: Bgo - Beat Goes on
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
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The Hurdy Gurdy Man
Mellow Yellow
Catch the Wind
A Gift from a Flower to a Garden
Mellow Yellow/Wear Your Love Like Heaven

ASIN: B00000880Y
Release Date: 2002-03-12

Tracks:

Sunshine Superman
Legend of a Girl Child Linda
Observation
Guinevere
Celeste
Writer in the Sun
Season of the Witch
Hampstead Incident
Sand and Foam
Young Girl Blues
Three Kingfishers
Bert's Blues

Amazon.com

There's a classic scene in the Pennebraker documentary Don't Look Back: Donovan sings a pretty folk song in a pretty voice; he smiles like he's just won a grade-school spelling bee. Dylan strokes him with sly approval, then lays it on him: "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue." Donovan's face falls and he looks about to disappear into the wallpaper. Dylan's genius made life hard for this Scot-born folkie, and with Sunshine Superman, he tried to find the bold imagination that eluded him. He's nearly successful, and the record, filled with hippy-trippy lyrics, occasionally reaches pop sublimity, thanks to guitar work by Jimmy Page, and evocative Eastern instrumentation drifting in and out. The final cut, "Till I See You Again" remains irresistible, and the entire album is a high point in Donovan's career. --Roy Francis Kasten

Customer Reviews:

The Others Were Listening to Something Else.......2006-07-20

This is Donovan's third or fourth album, depending on whether or not you're British or American. Gone is the innocent folksinger, accompanied by only his guitar and harmonica. With "Superman" Donovan burst onto the scene as a rock and roll force to be reckoned with, a power matched by only the Beatles, Stones and, of course, Bob Dylan.

This is probably some of the first psychedelic music to be released, out before the Jefferson Airplanes "Surrealistic Pillow" and the Beatles "Sgt. Pepper." Even Playboy magazine recognized this record for what it was, a new direction in pop rock. The drug culture had arrived (even though in the not too distant future Donovan would disavow it). This record made Donovan a superstar, no doubt about it and the psychedelic songs interspersed with sort of a medieval atmosphere captured the rock and roll world.

"Sunshine Superman" is one of my favorite all time records. Donovan was cooking back then, really cooking. It's just too darned bad that we can't stay young forever. If you wanna get a good taste what is was like back then, get this record, cuz this is what the cool people were listening too. The others, whose names I won't mention, but I think one of them is the leader of the free world, were listening to something else.

A fine album.......2005-10-16

This is one of the more evocative records in my collection. Many of the tunes benefit from the lush string and harpsichord adornments that, some of the more pop'n'roll tracks aside, conjure a misty, medieval feel. I was a little curious as to the editorial comment from Roy Francis Kasten with reference to the Pennebaker film 'Don't Look Back'. For a kickoff, it was Donovan who requested that Dylan play 'It's All Over Now, Baby Blue' as opposed to it being a pointed 'put down' on Dylan's behalf. As for the metaphorical disappearing into the wallpaper, maybe that was part of the DVD special features 'cos I don't recall it.

Fine Album- .......2005-10-09

This is a fine album, filled with highly crafted pop music. This album, along with Epics' Donovan's Greatest Hits are great 'starter discs' for this artist.
[...]

PSYCHEDELIC HEAVEN.......2004-05-26

Through my childhood, teen years, and most of my adulthood, I
was under the impression that DONOVAN was pretty much about
bubblegum music(sorry about that Mr.Leitch). Now, in my middle-
age, of all places, I find that this talented musician is a
master of psychedelica, right up there with SYD BARRETT, early
PINK FLOYD, and other of my favorites. Heres to him. I wish I
had discovered all this great music earlier in life. But not to
worry, I'm making up for lost time, buying all I can get my
hands on by this guy. I find that this release is a very good
one, and for '66, well before it's time. There is not a bad
song on this c.d. I did not give it a fifth star due to the lack
of information on the packaging, and I think that in this day
and age, they could have done more with the sound production quality.
Thanks and keep on keepin' on,
Tom

Correction.......2003-11-15

Contrary to what someone says above:
"Fly Jefferson Airplane, get you there on time" was not what gave the Airplane their name, it was Donovan's tribute to them after being in San Francisco. Four stars only because that's what i thought of it at the time. Really good, but sometimes too precious. Worth knowing if you don't. Unquestioned classic.

Average customer rating:

The Others Were Listening to Something Else
A fine album
Fine Album-
PSYCHEDELIC HEAVEN
Correction

Sunshine Superman
Donovan
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

British Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

British Invasion | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

The Hurdy Gurdy Man
Mellow Yellow
Catch the Wind
A Gift from a Flower to a Garden
Mellow Yellow/Wear Your Love Like Heaven

ASIN: B0000024VP
Release Date: 1990-10-05

Tracks:

Sushine Superman
Legend Of A Girl Child Linda
Three King Fishers
Ferris Wheel
Bert's Blues
Season Of The Witch
The Trip
Guinevere
The Fat Angel
Celeste

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

The Others Were Listening to Something Else.......2006-07-20

A fine album.......2005-10-16

Fine Album- .......2005-10-09

This is a fine album, filled with highly crafted pop music. This album, along with Epics' Donovan's Greatest Hits are great 'starter discs' for this artist.
[...]

PSYCHEDELIC HEAVEN.......2004-05-26

Correction.......2003-11-15

Average customer rating:

Mickey Most Would be Ashamed

Sunshine Superman
Donovan
Manufacturer: Metro
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

British Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

British Invasion | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Classic Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004U9YY
Release Date: 2002-05-06

Tracks:

Sunshine Superman
Legend of a Girl Child Linda
Observation
Guinevere
Celeste
Writer in the Sun
Season of the Witch
Hampstead Incident
Sand and Foam
Young Girl Blues
Three Kingfishers
Bert's Blues

Customer Reviews:

Mickey Most Would be Ashamed.......2006-07-20

There is not a song on this record that was produced by Mickey Most. These songs (see the list at the end of my rambling here) were recorded seventeen years later in 1983. Donovan apparently wanted to get back some of his old time fans so he rerecorded "Sunshine Superman" and "Season of the Witch" from the "Superman" LP; "Lady of the Stars" and "Local Boy Chops Wood" from the 1977 "Donovan" LP and "For Every Boy There is a Girl" from the "Essence to Essence" LP. A little known company called Allegiance Records put it out in the States and it's since been rereleased under many names on many labels.

Sadly, this isn't even the best stuff from those recording sessions. And why oh why if Don was redoing stuff, didn't he redo something that made some kind of sense. This is not a very good record and that's too bad, because Donovan is a great performer, but this is made doubly worse because of the name. There will be those who buy it not knowing any better, you know, thinking they're getting the real deal, the real Mickey Most produced "Sunshine Superman. One star from me and that's being generous.

Oh yes, this record was originally titled "Lady of the Stars" however the songs are in a different order here and they are:

Bye Bye Girl
Every Reason
For Every Boy There is a Girl
I Love You Baby
Lady of the Stars
Living for the Love Light in Your Eyes
Local Boy Chops Wood
Season of the Witch
Sunshine Superman
Till I See You Again

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