Troubadour: The Definitive Collection 1964-1976 (CD - 1992)

TROUBADOUR is a collection of hits, demos and previously-unreleased tracks. Initial pressings came in a special "keeper box." As of October 1996 it is available in a standard double-CD jewel box.

Personnel includes: Donovan Leitch (vocals, guitar, harp, banjo, harmonica); Mike O'Neil (vocals, piano, keyboards); Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Allan Holdsworth, Eric Ford (guitar); Shawn Phillips (sitar, bouzouki); London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic (strings); Tom Scott (recorder); Jack Emblou (accordion); Charlie Rose, Ronnie Ross (horns); David Foster (piano, synthesizer); Nicky Hopkins, David Paul Briggs (keyboards); John Paul Jones, Ron Wood, Clive Chaman, Brian Locking, Spike Healey, Bobby Ray, Allen Spenner (bass); Jim Keltner, John Bonham, Kenny Buttrey, Denny Seiweill, Cozy Powell, Tony Newman (drums); Madeline Bell, Suzi Quatro, Leslie Duncan, Graham Nash, Don & friends, Valerie Carrington, Jill Utting, Gaynor Stewart, Julie Forsythe, Leslie Ash, John McCartney, Lesley Fyson, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Ginger Holladay, Mary Holladay, Lea Jane Berinati, Florence Warner, Byron Warner (background vocals).

Producers includes: Donovan Leitch, Terry Kennedy, Peter Eden, Michael Peter Hayes, Geoff Stephens.

Includes liner notes by Brian Hogg and Derek Taylor.

Personnel: Donovan (vocals, whistling, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, banjo, harp, harmonica, programming); Mike Thomson (vocals, guitar); Mike O'Neill (vocals, piano); John Candy Carr (vocals, drums); Mike McCartney, Graham Nash, Gaynor Stewart, Lesley Duncan (vocals, background vocals); Julie Forsythe, John McCarthy (vocals); Valerie Carrington, Jill Utting (soprano); Johnny Christopher (guitar, electric guitar); Henry McCullough, Jay Graydon (guitar); Eric Leese, Eric Ford, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Allan Holdsworth, Reggie Young (electric guitar); Chris Spedding (bouzouki, strings); Shawn Phillips (sitar); A. Friend (violin, electric violin); Patrick Halling (violin); Douglas Davis (cello); Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra (strings); Harold McNair (flute); Jack Emblou (accordion); Tom Scott (recorder); David Foster (woodwinds, piano); Danny Moss, Harrison Calloway, Ronnie Ross, Ben Cauley, Charles Rose, Harvey Thompson, Ronnie Eades (horns); Jean Roussel (Clavinet); David Briggs , Gabriel Mekler, John Cameron, Nicky Hopkins (keyboards); John "Rabbit" Bundrick (Moog synthesizer); Mike Carr (vibraphone); Cliff Barton (electric bass); Cozy Powell, Denny Seiwell, Eddie Hoh, Keith Webb, Bobby Orr, Clem Clatini, Fast Eddie Hoh, Jim Keltner, John Bonham, Kenneth A. Buttrey, Tony Newman (drums); Candy John Carr (congas, bongos); Tony Carr, Jim Gordon (percussion); Mary Holladay, Byron Warner, Florence Warner, Leslie Fyson, Ginger Holladay, Leslye Ash, Madeline Bell, Suzi Quatro, Lea Jane Berinati, Buffy Sainte-Marie (background vocals).

Liner Note Authors: Derek Taylor; Brian Hogg.

Recording information: A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA; American Recording Company, Los Angeles, CA; CBS Studios, London, England; Columbia Recording Studio, Hollywood, CA; EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England; Morgan Studios, North London, England; Olympic Studios, London, England; Peer Music, London, England; Quadrafonic Sound Studios, Nashville, TN; Sound Factory West.

Unknown Contributor Role: Donovan.

While by no means a complete retrospective, this two-disc compilation contains a healthy sampling from Donovan's first dozen years as a formidable musical figure. His chameleon-like sensibilities not only adapted to, but likewise defined the '60s folk, pop, acid rock and the scene of swingin' London. As well as hitting some of the more obvious high points, Donovan -- who personally oversaw the project -- included a couple of unissued demos ("London Town"/"Codine"), alternate versions ("Museum"/"Superlungs"/"Riki Tiki Tavi") and previously unearthed titles ("Breezes Of Patchulie"/"Age Of Treason"/"What The Soul Desires"). The set charts a chronological examination commencing with a handful of the earthy acoustic demos and sides cut for the Pye (U.K.) /Hickory (U.S.A.) label(s) -- ultimately yielding Catch The Wind (1965) and Fairytale (1965) as well as over a dozen knock-off titles sporting the exact same material. [Note: Enthusiasts looking for a more thorough overview of the nearly three dozen sides documented during this era are encouraged to investigate the two-CD Summer Day Reflection Songs (2000) collection.]. The remainder of the first volume focuses on the fruitful '66 through '67 era that produced a string of hits ranging from the happy hippy anthems "Sunshine Superman" and "Mellow Yellow" to the decidedly dark and foreboding "Season Of The Witch" and the Mod trendy pop art of "Sunny South Kensington"." Also included are a healthy sampling of album tracks. "The Trip," "Writer In The Sun" and the "Tinker And The Crab" are among the most timeless as his folksier nature resurfaces. The second volume of Troubadour picks up with Donovan at the peak of his popularity with Hurdy Gurdy Man (1968) -- which featured the respective talents of Jimmy Page (guitar), John Paul Jones (keyboard/orchestral arrangements) and John Bonham (drums). This was followed by the equally impressive line up that included Jeff Beck (guitar), Ron Wood (bass), Nicky Hopkins (keyboards) as well as Jim Gordon (drums) for Barabajagal (1968). Donovan slowed down as the decade came to a close re-emerging with the understated Open Road (1970) and Cosmic Wheels (1970). Again, he surrounded himself with top-shelf talent such as Cozy Powell (drums) and Chris Spedding (guitar). This produced works such as the quaint and bouncy "Maria Magenta" and the ethereal "I Like You" -- which is reminiscent of the Incredible String Band's choral folk leanings. Among the latter standouts are the unreleased tracks "Age Of Treason" and "What The Soul Desires" -- both of which were recorded just prior to the Nashville sojourn that resulted in 7-Tease (1974). Until his seminal Epic Recordsdiscs are offered in an expanded and remastered form, Troubadour is as definitive a collection as is available under one title. ~ Lindsay Planer

Subtitled THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION, 1964-1976, this two-disc 1992 compilation is just that. Starting with two 1964 demos, able but not definitive versions of Buffy Sainte-Marie's "Codeine" and Tim Hardin's "London Town," TROUBADOUR quickly skips through Donovan's underrated folk-rock period--"Catch the Wind," "Colours," and Sainte-Marie's "Universal Soldier" are it--before hitting track six.

"Sunshine Superman," one of the most daffily inspired and silly pop songs of its time, ushered in Donovan's psychedelic magpie era, when his lighter-than-air visions were set to some of the most enchantingly twee pop tunes of the era. "Mellow Yellow," "Hurdy Gurdy Man," "Atlantis," and "Jennifer Juniper" are all here, and don't sound dated in the least. Some of the more earnest later material on Disc Two doesn't hold up as well, but mostly TROUBADOUR hits all the high points of Donovan's post-1968 career. minimize