Inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 and in the 2014 Songwriters Hall of Fame, within his prolific career, Donovan has shared the stage with a few of his fellow folk musician comrades such as: Bob Dylan, Joan Boaz, Pete Seeger and while meandering through genre movements across six decades, Donovan has successfully adapted his style while still remaining an influence to musicians across the world.ĭonovan - or Donovan Philips Leitch, to give him his unmistakably Scottish full name - should not, under any circumstances, be confused with an over-colloquial approach former Neighbours star Jason Donovan in fact, he’s been a musical force for much, much longer, boasting a career that, at this point, has spanned just shy of fifty years. His handiwork continued throughout The Beatles’ career as he helped George Harrison develop his songwriting skills. Releasing his debut album “What’s Bin Did and What’s Bin Hid” in 1965, the album peaked in the UK charts at number three and featured his first two singles “Catch the Wind” and “Colours” and marked the beginning of fame.ĭonovan contributed with lyrics on The Beatles 1969 hit “Yellow Submarine” and took part in the final orchestral performance on the Abbey Road session of McCartney and Lennon’s collaboration on “A Day in the Life, the grand finale of Sgt. With similarities to his American counterpart, Bob Dylan the media created a fictional rivalry between the two, a rumour which would remain a constant throughout both of their careers. Influenced by Woody Guthrie and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Donovan recorded a ten track demo which featured an early recording of future hit “Catch the Wind”- the beginning of his spectacular rise to fame. As Donovan began writing his own original material, he tested out the waters by busking locally in 1964 while honing the craft of traditional folk and blues.įollowing an appearance on the TV series “Ready Steady Go” in 1964, Donovan signed a deal with Pye Records. Surrounded by local musicians, it wasn’t long before he took an interest in learning the cross-picking guitar technique a skill he passed onto the late John Lennon and Sir Paul McCartney. ![]() But the version to look out for must surely be the 1970 recording by Eartha Kitt from her album Sentimental Eartha.Having relocated to Hatfield, Hertfordshire from a young age, Donovan developed a love for English folk music. ![]() The song has been covered at least a dozen times by the likes of Butthole Surfers, Steve Hillage and even Neil from The Young Ones. ![]() It's hard to think of another record this side of the Beatles which taps into the 60s zeitgeist so comprehensively. George Harrison wrote a few lines for the song which were not recorded and Donovan now sings the Quiet One’s 'lost verse' when he performs “Hurdy Gurdy Man” live. Eventually the task fell to session player and future Blue Mink guitarist Alan Parker who, under the circumstances (no pressure, then?), played an absolute blinder. Don originally wanted Hendrix to play on the record, but Jimi was unavailable and so was second choice Jimmy Page. It combines elements of everything that made Donovan’s records so beguiling: psychedelic whimsy, eastern influences, otherworldly vocals and a killer guitar solo. Written alongside the Beatles in India during their 1968 visit to study Transcendental Meditation under the Maharishi, “Hurdy Gurdy Man” is a 3-minute psych masterpiece and one of the most original pop singles of the 60s. ![]() With so many classics to choose from, picking Donovan’s best track was never going to be an easy task, but after much deliberation I’m opting for this one.
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