Donovan - Mellow Yellow

2005 Digitally remastered re-issue features nine bonus tracks 'Preachin' Love', 'Good Time', 'There Is A Mountain', 'Superlungs' (Second Version), 'Epistle To Dippy' (Alternative Arr), 'Sidewalk (The Observation) (Demo), 'Writer In The Sun' (Demo), 'Hampstead Incident' (Demo), 'Museum' (Demo). Drawing on a broad range of Donovan's material from his and past present, Mickie Most once again handles the production on Donovan's second album for EMI, while John Cameron provides a selection of exquisite arrangements, with the exception of Mellow Yellow which was arranged by John Paul Jones. EMI. Album Description

more than it seems

"Mellow Yellow"--both the album and the hit single--followed "Sunshine Superman" in Donovan's canon of releases. It is perhaps a touch below the latter in terms of overall originality and vision, but only a "small touch." In this work Donovan gets down to the style that became permanently his terrain: jazz-accented and mythically-oriented light folk-pop. There's not a clunker on the entire album, which features (apart from the bizarre headliner hit itself) Donovan at his observational and reflective best--gems like 'Writer in the Sun,' 'Sand and Foam,' 'Young Girl Blues,' 'House of Jansch,' 'Hampstead Incident' and 'Sunny South Kensington'. Sidemen included the likes of Danny Thompson, Phil Seamen, Harold McNair, and Tony Carr, among others. This digitally remastered release features excellent sound, superb liner notes, and no fewer than ten additional alternate takes and demos--including two hit singles ('Epistle to Dippy' and 'There Is a Mountain') that were not even on the original album. Recommended--and not only for nostalgic hippie types who long for a return to the sixties! August 4, 2007

THANK YOU

THis was a gift for my father and he was very impressed with the quality and speedy delivery. Thanks again! January 23, 2007

The Original Made Even Better, Who Would Have Thunk it was Possible?

This is one of my favorite Donovan albums, with "Young Girl Blues," being right up there as one of my favorite Donovan songs, if not my favorite. It's a sad, weepy song that never fails to move me. "Writer in the Sun" is another song like that. One can only wonder if Donovan was thinking about bowing out of the music business, because of the problems he was having getting "Superman" and "Yellow" released in the UK. Seems those Pye guys just didn't want to let go of their number one moneymaker.

"Mellow Yellow" was a huge hit and how can you not like that song. "Sand and Foam" written, while Don was in Mexico, is absolutely beautiful. I just love this whole record, it was and is a masterpiece that laid the groundwork for some many rock and roll greats who followed. If you are into rock and roll, you've gotta have this as "Mellow Yellow" is one of those important rock records that will never die.

And then you add in the extra songs on this disc, "Superlungs" they way it was meant to be heard. The neat alternate version of "Writer in the Sun," "Epistle to Dippy," Donovan's letter in song to a lost friend and more. This is a super package. The originally "Mellow Yellow" made even better, who would've thunk it was possible? July 22, 2006

Donovan becomes eclectic with fourth LP

Donovan's fourth album, originally released in 1967, was his second with producer Mickie Most and arranger John Cameron, and though it featured the flower-power light-psych title anthem, it also reached back past the previous "Sunshine Superman" LP to Donovan's folk and jazz roots. When released, its original ten tracks comprised Donovan's most eclectic collection to date, ranging from the solo folk tunes "Sand and Foam" and "Young Girl Blues," to the ornate arrangement of "Hampstead Incident," the bohemian jazz of "Bleak City Woman" and "The Observation," and the swinging, name-checking pop of "Sunny South Kensington."

Much of this material was written during a tumultuous period in 1966 that saw Donovan separating from (and then being sued by) his initial management team, embargoed from releasing new material in the UK, and unable to promote his work in the US. Melancholy, lethargy and the pain of personal and professional setbacks permeate the lyrics. The dispirited artist stoked his artistic muse in Greece and Mexico, and spent downtime preparing material with his producer and arranger. Once back in the studio the sessions produced sophisticated, eclectic material in short order.

EMI's reissue doubles the original ten tracks with bonuses that include the single sides "Epistle to Dippy" (in both it's original electric-guitar version and a violin-based alternative), the island-styled zen koan "There is a Mountain," a second run at "Superlungs" that prominently features brass and guitar, and a quartet of songwriter demos that demonstrate the integral nature of John Cameron's arrangements for the album. This is a superb helping of Donovan's mix of folk, jazz, blues, pop and light psych, remastered in its original mono, with stereo for bonus tracks 13 and 15-20. [©2006 redtunictroll at hotmail dot com] June 17, 2006

I thought EMI would've mixed these into first-time stereo...NO WAY

Along with the first Procol Harum LP, these 1967 Donovan recordings are the last mono or rechanneled albums issued. Three tracks from this and the Mellow Yellow original LPs (Sunshine Superman, Season Of The Witch and Sunny South Kensington) have been mixed into stereo. Strangely, only Sunshine Superman is in stereo here....the other two are mono!

I'm very disappointed that they did NOT remixe Writer In The Sun, San And Foam, The Observation, Bleak City Woman, House Of Jansch, Young Girl Blues, Museum, or Hampstead Incident into stereo.

To my ears, these tracks sound no better than the US Epic original CDs.

April 3, 2006

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