Do you remember Donovan? He is seventy eight years old now and lives in County Cork, Ireland - not far from Dave Northsider - our esteemed blogging colleague. Donovan's full name is Donovan Phillips Leitch and he was born in Glasgow, Scotland though both of his grandmothers were Irish.
I must confess that when Donovan broke into the British folk-pop scene in the mid-sixties I was drawn to his music. It was pure, simple and unprocessed, driven principally by the lyrics. His output owed things variously to the hippy movement, to Bob Dylan and to anti-war artists. I saw him in concert three or four times and many years later saw him here in Sheffield. However, it didn't seem as those he had advanced.
I even learnt to play several of his songs on my guitar, including the following one which many would argue is his best and best-known song - typical of him in his heyday. Please listen...
In the East Yorkshire village where I grew up, my best friend during my teens was a lad called Paul Budd. We were almost exactly the same age. Paul was a pretty good footballer and in the summer of 1969 he joined a trip to Lemgo in West Germany where he played a few games. I don't think he had ever been abroad before.
When he returned, he kindly gave me a vinyl single he had bought in Lemgo. It was by Donovan and on the A side there was "Atlantis" with the following song on the B side. It's "To Susan on the West Coast Waiting". It imagines an American G.I. in the jungles of Vietnam writing home to his sweetheart from what was such a foolish and futile war. The song is far less well-known than "Catch The Wind"...
I remember him and thought him a bit quirky. My first thought when I hear his name is Mellow Yellow. Now, I will listen to the links you provided and remember some others.
ReplyDeleteHe was often seen as the poor man's Bob Dylan - a pale imitation.
DeleteI don't much about him but I remember hearing his voice every so often and enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteYou are probably too young Bob!
DeleteI've heard his name brought up among the music artists I listen too but I'm not sure I've heard his songs before. Judging from the two you linked, he is my cup of tea and I should investigate his music futher.
ReplyDeleteWell I am glad that I highlighted him if just one blog visitor seeks more of his songs.
DeleteI remember his songs as easy to listen to but was never a fan. I've never seen a green guitar. I'm glad he is still going.
ReplyDeleteNot everybody liked pared-down and self-penned folk music.
DeleteWhile I know the name, I am not familiar with the music. I was born in 1968 and my parents listened to a wide mix of musical styles during my childhood and youth, but Donovan wasn't among them. And when I was old enough to choose my own music and buy my own records or create tapes from what I liked on the radio, I was heavily into ABBA. As I hit puberty, the 80s were in full swing.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that your impression is that Donovan has not advanced. Maybe he found his style early on and knew that was just him, and didn't feel the need to develop or advance.
Sometimes I wonder what would have become of some of the musicians who died so young, such as Buddy Holly. He came from Country music, then shot to fame with Rock'n Roll and was apparently just starting to dabble in Latin music, thanks to his wife of Puerto Rican origin.
In my opinion, it is in the nature of music to advance rather than resting on your laurels. You were probably too young for Donovan.
DeleteNostalgia and 'Mellow Yellow' of the 60s. Are we defined musically by that era I wonder?
ReplyDeleteIn some small degree I think I am defined by the music that just preceded 1970 and went beyond that year.
DeleteDonavan hats were all the rage when I was at school, my mum made me one using the official school dress material, I got into so much trouble wearing it in school, which made me want to wear it more, mum made more for my friends.
ReplyDeleteWhy must schools make pupils follow dress codes? It is worse now than it was back then.
DeleteA blast from the past. He seemed such a sweet boy.
ReplyDeleteAt first and perhaps even today there is a kind of innocence about Donovan.
DeleteI also remember him and have some of his records still. I too played some of his songs on my guitar. We're from the same era!!
ReplyDeleteI think over here Donovan was known for just a few songs and quite honestly, I don't know that I ever heard "Catch the Wind." It sounds so derivative of Dylan that it's almost painful. I remember "Mellow Yellow" and "Hurdy Gurdy Man" and "Sunshine Superman" and some others.
ReplyDeleteI had a friend who named one of her sons Donovan. I'm sure she wasn't the only one.
Quite rightly, I remember him for Mellow Yellow and Hurdy Gurdy Man. I liked Donovan. This reminds me of my college days - wearing hip-hugging, wide-legged bell bottom jeans that dragged on the ground and got frayed at the cuffs!
ReplyDeleteGosh, Neil, thanks for bringing these memories back to me today! :)
I remember Donovan, and Catch the Wind sounds familiar. I never had any of his records myself though, and I wouldn't have recognised him by the photo, so I assume I just remember him from radio. (In my teens I had a transistor radio on which I could listen to Radio Luxembourg...)
ReplyDeleteI saw him at Glastonbury in 1989 and he has wasted past me here in West Cork. Universal Soldier is my favourite song of his.
ReplyDeleteI think "Susan" may be a better-known song in the states than it is here. I can't believe Donovan is 78. Then again, Bob Dylan is 83! The first CD I ever bought was Donovan's "Sunshine Superman."
ReplyDeleteHere's a bit of trivia for you: In the Simon & Garfunkel song "Fakin' It," a woman speaks the line "Good morning Mr. Leitch, have you had a busy day?" And Mr. Leitch was so named because of Donovan, who was friends with the musician who spoke that line. (I just learned all this the other day!)
Amazing! Had you not identified him in that last photo I would have thought it was an aging woman!
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely his best. By a long shot! I, too, did and still do, admire his talent and his skill with a pen.
ReplyDelete