Anybody doing Donovan these days?

Subject: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: GUEST,Taliesn
Date: 28 Aug 02 - 10:11 PM

With all the regualr mentions of "Dylan" I was curious as to why no one has given Dylan's gentler UK contemporary Donovan Leich atleast honorable mention and , per chance , lending some of his original "folk" material the benefit of new breath of life.

Yeah he wrote more ballads, wasn't as angry or "spit-poison cynical" as Dylan could get , and certainly sang "prettier" than Dylan , but how is that a disqualifier for giving this artist's material it's due.

If it's just a simple case of laspe of memory , well.... ,,,consider yourselves reminded. Ignorance ain't no defense no more. ( Hey..a triple negative sentence . Haven't let rip with one a them in quite a while )

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Aug 02 - 10:45 PM

I play them, don't worry...especially Catch The Wind, Colours, Lady of The Stars, and Living For The Love Light..etc

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Aug 02 - 12:36 AM

I love his songs! Here's another thread about favs: clickety

To my mind, the songs he's done on his 1998 CD Sutras are even better.

Thanks for reminder!

kat

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 29 Aug 02 - 01:31 AM

Ahhh my little puss-pussy

I believe your only donovan liking is political....he is another muslim hatchet against the bush you wish to banquish.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: John P
Date: 29 Aug 02 - 02:12 AM

My wife (who plays the hurdy-gurdy) and I have been playing The Hurdy-Gurdy Man lately.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Aug 02 - 03:55 AM

gargle-garglty, you're losing it, again...that was Cat Stevens and I certainly didn't wait to *discover* Donovan until the shrub showed up...I've got albums of his from when I was just a kid in the 60's...he's always been a favourite of mine..

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: andymac
Date: 29 Aug 02 - 04:04 AM

I know a few people doing Donovan, but a friend of mine has written a song about Donovan being on a Scotish New Year TV programme, somewhat the worse for wear and trying his luck with the female presenter. The chorus goes " was a bad career move Donovan, should have died in '68. If only you'd expired back then we'd still think you're great"

It might sound strong but he's a big Donovan fan and laments the lack of such good songs since his heyday.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: Lanfranc
Date: 29 Aug 02 - 06:52 AM

Yup! Catch the Wind, Colours, Islay, Legend of a Girl Child Linda, plus Mick Softley's Gold Watch Blues (since a lot of folks think that's Donovan, too, til I disabuse them!)

No way is/was he as good as Dylan, but a good amount of his material has stood the test of time, and is also popular with audiences.

Alan

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: Giac
Date: 29 Aug 02 - 09:06 AM

Hmmmm, think I'll put on some Donavan today. Now, if I just had some of that liquid that turned sugar cubes orange, I'd be right back in the groove.

~;o)

(e-leck-trickle ba-naaaaa-nah)

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 29 Aug 02 - 09:14 AM

Donovan is so much better than Dylan, as a songwriter, singer, poet, person. Love the man. Some of the pop stuff of later years I could have done without, but we all say that of Dylan as well. Sutras was a fine cd. He is touring again, will be in Mt. Tabor New Jersey in Oct. He and his wife are fundraising for a school in Ladakh, very worthy cause.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: Peg
Date: 29 Aug 02 - 09:18 AM

In Green Crown, we do Season of the Witch and Enchanted Gypsy...

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: Pied Piper
Date: 29 Aug 02 - 09:23 AM

"Marrionette dangles dead, insensitivity is fed, by the TV wizards wand, while in his spell your conned". I still sing some occasionaly. All the best PP.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 29 Aug 02 - 09:33 AM

'Gift from a Flower to a Garden' & 'HMS Donovan' are two of the best lps EVER recorded. I'll be beack on the air this fall, and play Donovan weekly.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: Murph10566
Date: 29 Aug 02 - 09:35 AM

Recently revived his early cover of 'The Alamo' to a decent reception...

'Catch the Wind' was nicely covered by Newfies "The Irish Descendants" on their 'Gypsies & Lovers' CD...

M.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: GUEST,Gern
Date: 29 Aug 02 - 11:13 AM

When my pinao gigs turn to 60s stuff, I usually include "Wear Your Love Like Heaven" and "Young Girl Blues," both of which are nicely lyrical and pleasingly melodious. Not sure anyone recognizes them, but I always liked them. I always thought his live album from that period was good as well.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 Aug 02 - 12:40 PM

Nice one kat...

Donovan songs get sung often enough in sessions in my experience, the ones that have crept into the oral tradition. Maybe as often as Dylan.

The linking of the two was a very artificial bit of commercial hype. Beyond the common initial they really never had much in common.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Aug 02 - 01:47 PM

Ta, Kevin...

I always loved his Widow With Shawl

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: alanabit
Date: 29 Aug 02 - 02:02 PM

I particularly liked his "Ballad of Geraldine" which is very much in the "Rosemary Lane" young maiden led astray tradition. He was always a good guitarist and a pleasant singer. I agree with McGrath that he should not have been linked to Dylan. He was a very diffrent animal. I found Donovan a bit twee at times but he was - probably still is - a good solo entertainer and he made some likeable pop records.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 29 Aug 02 - 04:20 PM

Donovan wrote some great songs. My partner Maggie occasionally does 'The Intergalactic Laxative' (Cosmic Wheels) but nobody believes that's by him anyway.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: M.Ted
Date: 29 Aug 02 - 04:59 PM

When people are over to play music, and we run out of ideas, Sunshine Superman and The Fat Angel are always well received--simple, but effective--As an early 70's style "acoustic performer", I found that his tunes nearly always went over well, whereas, you had to be very careful about using a lot of Dylan's stuff, and often couldn't use the Woody stuff at all--

And "Catch the Wind" and "Try for the Sun" got across that "wistful, footloose, poetic" image that we desperately cultivated back in those days---all in all, great stuff!

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: GUEST,from the 2nd posting
Date: 29 Aug 02 - 06:34 PM

I just heard the Irish Descendants' version of Catch The Wind a month or two ago...a beautiful rendition...I like the added vocal turns at the end of some of the lines...great stuff

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 30 Aug 02 - 11:12 AM

Donovan is still doing Donovan, of course. He played at the Tonder Festival last weekend. I saw him slouch into the hall behind the people who carried his instruments and decided to call it a day. Others who stayed told me they were disappointed by his lacklustre performance.
However, I do sing at least one of his songs, 'Colours', quite often when we have our regular folk singing night. If anyone feels tempted to come along next time: Kiel, Germany, 6 September.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: namedbard
Date: 30 Aug 02 - 11:33 AM

What happened to universal soldier? or maybe everyone thinks that was by Buffy. The only universal antiwar-song. Did the sixties, but darned if I didn't outgrow the t-shirt.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: GUEST,Guest, Big Tim
Date: 30 Aug 02 - 12:45 PM

Sorry, but Donovan was and still is a musical embarrassment. "Better than Dylan" Bill, thanks for the laugh! "This Machine Kills" - so original!

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: C-flat
Date: 30 Aug 02 - 03:12 PM

I read somewhere that John Lennon asked Donovan to teach him how to fingerpick.
I used to like his stuff but apart from a couple of notable exceptions, already mentioned here, he was mostly of his time. Dylans songs had more power and therefore longevity but he can't play well and sings worse!(not that it held him back any)
Now if Dylan had wrote them and Donovan performed them I wouldn't have had to wait until I was old enough to hear past that awful style to appreciate the mans' talent.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: Roughyed
Date: 31 Aug 02 - 05:04 AM

I sing Catch the Wind and Spring Song with my wife. We often get asked "who wrote that?" about Spring Song. Donovan doesn't have to be better or worse than anyone. He was capable of some pretty wonderful and pretty awful lines. He is what he is and did what he did. If you like it fine, sing it.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: alanabit
Date: 31 Aug 02 - 05:34 AM

I agree. Having a go at Donovan for not being Dylan is a bit like saying that a Yorkshire terrier is a poor dog next to an Alsatian. I think Donovan probably was a better picker than Dylan back then, but it's neither here nor there. They could both entertain well in their own way. That's all I demand from any performer. By the way namedbard - the reason everyone thinks Buffy St.Marie wrote "The Universal Soldier" is because in fact she actually did. Donovan covered songs by Mick Softley, Woody Guthrie, Bert Jansch - and probably others I am unaware of in his early days.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From:
Date: 17 Oct 02 - 05:30 PM

I have been trying to find the lyrics to The Gold Watch Blues forever. Can anyone help? I remember the great song from day of old and would like to play it again for myself.

Thanks for your help,
Dale

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: Wesley S
Date: 17 Oct 02 - 05:57 PM

Just put the word "Gold" into the filter on the first page and it will show up. You'll have it in about a minute. Good luck.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: Bobert
Date: 17 Oct 02 - 06:01 PM

Wish I could still do Donovon songs but every time I get in the lotus positon I get this danged cramp in my foot... Jus funnin!

As fir the comparisons with Dylan, I don't think of them as playoing in the same styles. Donovan more a Cat Stevens, Eric Anderson quiet type and Dylan, well, ahhh.... Dylan.

But I do remember a song about Atlantis that Donovan did that I real liked, but can't remember the title of it. What was that song?

Speakin' of Atlantis, did anyone hear about that discovery off the coast of Ciba? Nevermind...

Bobert

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: GUEST,Jenna
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 06:29 AM

I'm 16 and soooo in love with Donovan's music! I mean, I used to *hate* the guitar in all its incarnations, but after listening to mellow yellow/wear your love like heaven I sprung for the "Try for the Sun" box set (at that time the only Donovan available to anyone in the province without a credit card) and now I'm learning all the songs I can, as fast as I can! Sooo.... any chords for the softer or more obscure songs would be greatly appreciated!

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 06:57 AM

People thought he was due for a comeback after the jungle thing, but I fear his best work was behind him by the time he split with Kylie.

All in all, a major talent who never really fulfilled the hopes of a generation.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: Scrump
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 07:04 AM

Blimey, I haven't done any of his songs for a very long time. I'd probably have to think about which ones I'd do now. Used to do Try for the Sun, and a few others, mainly from his first couple of albums, back in the early 70s.

A bloke down our folk club regularly does Circus of Sour, so there are a few people still doing his stuff.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: GUEST,Frank Moran
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 07:56 AM

Check out this chap: Pete Rimmer

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: Darowyn
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 08:41 AM

I still do "The Alamo" sometimes too, and unless I watch my fingers very carefully, they will sometimes go into the lick from "The Mandolin Man and his Secret".
I read Donovan's autobiography last year- the John Lennon fingerpicking story is in there and he was part of the whole Maharishi/Rishikesh episode of The Beatles'lives.
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: bubblyrat
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 08:43 AM

Of the two "Greats" mentioned here : I quite liked Donovan at first, and found his material to be,to me,refreshingly original.But then I bought my first Buffy LP record,Donovan went electric & weird, after which it was 'No Contest ' !!

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: Cool Beans
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 09:36 AM

Donovan is still doing Donovan these days, isn't he? I hum his "First There is a Mountain" whenever I finish a major task, only to face another one. First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is. Works for me.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: Schantieman
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 10:21 AM

Pete Rimmer, mentioned above, is a resident at the Bothy Folk Club
and often performs his songs. He has a fine, easy guitar style and voice and is well worth a listen.

Steve

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 12:46 PM

I like Season of the Witch (maybe not the last verse)

And did he have a hit on the European continent with a thing called something like "Cadillac"?

I'll buy you a Cadillac my love,
I'll buy you a Cadillac my love,
I'll buy you a Cadillac my love,
If you just gimme some of your love babe
If you just gimme some of your love babe

I quite liked that too.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: GUEST,dr word
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 12:52 PM

thanks everyone for the many memories your postings evoked!

and--ever the poofreader--it's BuffIE StE Marie ...

cheers
wear your love like heaven ...
... how high the gulls fly ...
hmmm i'll be hummin all day

dennis

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 01:25 PM

say what you want, 'sealed with a kiss' did it for me.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: SouthernCelt
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 01:41 PM

Although Donovan was never a true favorite singer of mine (in the 60s), I liked his early stuff 'til he went electric and acid-trip weird. Didn't he do a love ballad kind of song early on called "Josie" or something like that with that name in it?
SC

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: GUEST,Cathy Catholica
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 02:35 PM

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.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: Bernard
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 03:15 PM

Awww... c'mon... WLD is trying hard to be controversial... isn't anyone going to have a go about the Jason Donovan references?!

Or was I the only poor sod to notice?

Naah... perraps you're right... least said the better!

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 03:20 PM

All too old here to associate "Sealed with a kiss" with anyone but Brian Hyland.

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: Bernard
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 03:57 PM

...and quite right, too!

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: Geordie-Peorgie
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 07:31 AM

Aah've aalwez done 'Catch The Wind', 'To Try For The Sun' 'Hurdy Gurdy Man'and 'Universal Soldier' (Aah knahh! It's Buffy's) and in sessions at parties there's a bunch of us that dee more of his stuff.

Aah spoke to him once at CAmbridge Festival and he seemed like a really nice bloke.

It'd be lovely te see him roond and aboot a bit more.

Diz he still have his own island and castle up in Sconny Botland??

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: ossonflags
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 07:42 AM

Merv does some of his stuff

Subject: RE: Anybody doing Donovan these days?
From: Alec
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 10:01 AM

Going back to Guest jenna's query:www.theunbrokencircle.co.uk is a good site for Donovan chords & much,much more.
In fact I'd recommend it as worth a look to all 'Catters.