Fun Music of the 60s
Lonnie E. Holder | Columbus, Indiana, United States | 07/05/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The 60s were such fun years, and Donovan was part of the fun. As the 60s wore on his music went from folk to psychedelic rock, stopping along the way at pop and ultimately ending up with music that had a faster beat with a harder edge ("Barabajagal," as an example).
I tend to divide Donovan's music (probably incorrectly, but it helps me to organize the scope of his music) into folk, hippie/psychedelic, and rock. The second category spans a large range in its own right, but generally includes peace, love and flower power songs with the slightly surreal.
Donovan's folk music might include "Colours," "Catch the Wind," "Lalena," "There Is a Mountain," and "Jennifer Juniper." Some of this music could also fit into the next category down, which takes no great stretch of the imagination because many folk singers ended up as part of the hippie movement.
The hippie/psychedelic music would include "Mellow Yellow," "Colours," "Hurdy Gurdy Man," "Epistle to Dippy," "Sunshine Superman," "Wear Your Love Like Heaven," "Season of the Witch," "Atlantis," and "To Susan on the West Coast Waiting." This last song is also an anti-war song relating to the Viet Nam war.
The faster paced music would be "Barabajagal" and "Riki Tiki Tavi." These two songs anchor one end of Donovan's music. I generally remember Donovan more for his hippie/psychedelic music, so I'll not spend any more time are these two songs.
Donovan did very well as a folk singer. Moving on to more surreal music was very little stretch for Donovan. Included in his music is a variety of styles and influences. "Catch the Wind" sounds a lot like Bob Dylan. "Hurdy Gurdy Man" is very psychedelic, and could owe influences to people like Jimi Hendrix. The Beatles have been credited as influences on songs like "Mellow Yellow."
My own personal favorite is "Atlantis". There was a strong desire in the 60s to ascribe a mystical origin to all civilizations, one which included a civilization greater and more peaceful than any in existence any time since; a sort of Eden of civilization, where arts and sciences were predominant and the people had nothing to fear from other civilizations or from each other. A civilization where there was plenty for all and people were happy. This theme was a strong part of the hippie movement, which for some seemed to be a desire to recapture a past that as far as we know never existed.
I suppose every era would like the claim of being unique, and unlikely to be repeated. Looking back over the last six decades, each was unique, but for most of those decades, while technology, education, political conditions and so on have changed significantly, the human condition has kept a remarkable similarity during most of that time. However, the 60s were an exception. Large numbers of people attempted to create a different sort of society; to create a different standard of civilization. In the course of that attempt, wonderful music was created. Donovan was a part of that attempt, and created some of the most interesting and socially reflective music of the era.
This particular version of "Donovan's Greatest Hits" is an imported 1999 release with "extra tracks." However, you can now get the same extra tracks for much less money. I recommend you survey the available versions of this CD and purchase the one that best meets your needs. Good luck!
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Track Listings (15) - Disc #1