I was a fan when I was young; especially liked "Gift from a Flower To A Garden" set, and had fun with "Barabajagal". But as I re-listen to him now, even allowing for the memories it evokes, and my original enjoyment, it all sounds a bit...twee. I can understand the comments above that he was an embarassment, though I happened to like the songs as pop hits. He had good production on his seventies stuff, and the albums were fun to get stoned with.

I think about an interview I read recently (in Q?) where he was laying his revisionist PR onto the publics perception of him as a Dylan clone, and it seemed a little pathetic; he'd like to be regarded otherwise, but it'll forever be his bete noir.

Also, it was understood among us early fans that the "Gypsy boy" in "Try For The Sun" (is that right?) was a lover - and we thought Donovan to be quietly shocking and boho for being whatever it was we called gay back then when we meant it positively. In that sense, he was cool before his time, I'd say. Not that it started a trend in my crowd.

I feel kind to his shortcomings as I feel kind to my own, as I was back then.   I am glad his clubkid son is currently off the radar, though.