Donovan, Sunshine Superman, and Midcentury Medieval｜Vinyl Monday REMASTERED 

I WAS RIGHT THE FIRST TIME IT IS THREE KING FISHERS

For those that may care, and it's worth searching for, Donovan has a video from 2019 or so that was directed by David Lynch. The song is "I am the Shaman" and it's as trippy as you may think. The song is pretty good too.

Let’s not forget the amazing Incredible String Band with their contributions of 5000 Layers of the Onion, the Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter, Wee Tam and the Big Huge. I’m sure they were aware of each other but have no evidence to back it up ❤️

My favourite, A Gift from a Flower to a Garden.

Thank you so much for covering this. Donovan deserves more attention than he gets. You might be interested to read my book on him that was published last year called 'Donovan in the 1960s'. I do a deep dive into all his 60s music. I interviewed John Cameron for the book so I got a bit of the inside scoop on some of the production! Anyway, great video, I enjoyed your insights into this wonderful music. Thanks Abbie!

Very Good with your presentation. Big Jim Sullivan has been also thought to play guitar on " Sunshine Superman". Like your book collection too. Donny would get Beatle Paul to help sing on " Mellow Yellow" and THE JEFF BECK GROUP ( also produced by Mickie Mouse - as Beck would call Most) to play on 3 of his songs. Of course Pagey would play on at least 3 Donny LPs- confirmed in his autobiography/ interviews at the time/ past liner notes.

Hey Abigail: I wanna tell you a story 'bout my introduction to this album. I was a youngster who read an advert in a magazine-send in a cigar ring purchase 'n receive Sunshine Superman on vinyl for free. So I bought a pack o' Swisher Sweets, sent in a cigar ring 'n received the album. I went to a drive in theater, sat in the bleachers in front o' the screen 'n proceeded to smoke my first cigar. Immediately I felt awful, laid down on the bench 'n wished I had died rather than experience this misery. I haven't smoked a cigar since but am forever grateful for my introduction to Donovan. I met him briefly years later by chance in London 'n saw him several times in concert there after. Thank you so much for this extraordinary glimpse into this important time for this incredible artist!

A few years ago the album was released for the first time in STEREO! About time!

I bought it new in '66. Unfortunately, it's mono. Still have it.The cover has the Epic logo on the bottom of the cover and that upper tan space is also at the bottom instead of at the top. I was 16 when this came out and it seemed to fit the times perfectly. It was great and, well, just another great album. Also, you can't mention "Mid-Century Medieval" without discussing Steeleye Span, Maddy Prior, Fairport Convention, The Pentangle, Sandy Denny and Richard Thompson. It's such a trip hearing about the music of my teens and twenties from the prospective of someone so young.

Hi Abby, I'm so glad you showcased this album. I've loved Donovan since I heard "Wear Your Love Like Heaven"..it was the background song for Love Cosmetics on T.V. commercials when I was a teen. Hurdy Gurdy Man has that great guitar riff ( I think Jimmy Page played on that song too.) I'm a fool for an electric guitar riff , and don't get me started with the "Wah Wah Peddle"...Anyway...thank you for the great video ! You were right..your outfit didn't disappoint ! If you left the flowering vines in your hair you'd look like the painting Lady Of Shalott by my favorite artist John Waterhouse ! David Crosby wore a leather, and fringe cape on a Byrds album ....he sang a song called Guinevere at Woodstock..Serendipitous.

Part of the reason Donovan got busted for pot was one year earlier he released the song, “Sunny Google Street” which describes him taking the train to Google Street Station to buy hash. This bust led to George Harrison getting busted. Then Mick and Keith, and finally John Lennon. Good video this week!

Yes! You are right this is the truth ! Thank you so much…

You are an absolute delight. The television networks need to be aware of you. I really can see you as an entertainment/music reporter. A good fit would also be on one of the morning shows.

This is my new favorite channel

I really enjoy how you dress in appropriate attire for each review and to match the album art and motifs. Excellent point that Donovan was really in the vanguard of incorporating the whole classical baroque, folk, jazz, psychedelic, eastern Raga elements into his music. Leading the way for the Byrds, Yardbirds, Traffic, the Incredible String Band, and even the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. You're right, Donovan was a pioneer psychedelic minstrel.

i think i love your show

This was an unexpected treat. Donovan is an artist who is largely unknown to younger generations. He, very much, helped shape the sixties, and was the music behind the Flower Child movement. For me, the first single I ever bought was Sunshine Superman and it was one of my first albums as well. I have over twenty of his albums and have listened to them so many times and they always bring me back to pleasant memories of a time of peace and love. I have seen Donovan in person twice and got to meet him backstage, but was too over-awed to say much except "thank you for your music". He was as pleasant and welcoming in person as he is in his music.

"Sunshine Superman" - my favorite Donovan album. Great song after great song. "For Little Ones" number two

I have always loved the trippy guitar solo on "Sunshine Superman", particularly on the longer 4+ minutes version of the song.

Hi Abigail, This is one subject that we're in total agreement. I'm an old hippie and have loved Donovan since the early days. I have been able to recite or half sing Epistle to Dippy since the 9th grade.(and yes, I do roll my Rs the right times). My most impressive brag is that I've been introduced to and shook the hand of Ravi Shankar. Keep up the extraordinary work, and I will definitely keep watching.

Your cape is fiddlesticking awesome my dear.

My fav song in this álbum is celeste ...what a beautiful song !!!!!

Never heard of Donovan before, and I'm like super old, lol!

Holy shit, a Gabor Szabo reference, on top of Donovan stuff! This channel rocks!

Donovan is such an underrated artist, definately one of the best of the psychadelic era. He was always referred to as the British Bob Dylan (a label he hated). Sunshine Superman is one of his best albums (Season of the Witch is my favorite track), you should check out Hurdy Gurdy Man, you'd dig it.

My little mind is blown!

We rocked Donovan between 67 and early 70. Hurdy Gurdy Man was a favorite.

My favourite Donovan Album. Thanx for this review! Your channel is a piece of art

One of my favorite albums. Love Donovan.

Great review, Abi! Love Donovan. I never understood the comparison with Dylan as they're nothing alike. Shawn Phillips is a genius. Faces is a masterpiece.

Credit for any psychedelic pioneering, I liked him in the Pied Piper movie but it makes me mix him up with Crispian St. Peters. It's bad enough I already mix 'eem up with Donny Osmond but sometimes I'll see Donny Osmond and shout "Marc what the heck are you doing", even though Donny Osmond probably works just like a regular Donny Osmond

I remember my downstairs neighbors drunkenly singing along with "Mellow Yellow" in South St. Paul in the early 1990'S...EFFING hysterical

You have such a Rockin Collection!! Keep on Collecting, Vinyl is just the best!!

I love this album! Just watched my first Abigail video and now I am hooked! I found out that my favorite track, "Ferris Wheel" is not even included on the UK version of this album which came out a year later. Definitely will check out the Gabor Szabo cover of this. Keep up the fantastic work and you have a new fan!

I am so hooked on your channel. You are very entertaining.

Awesome cooy of Sunshine Superman! That's a hard one to find! I've just got a greatest hits comp on vinyl.

You have great taste in music. Another of my favorites

I consider Donovan a romantic-influenced writer. I was buying "Sunshine Superman" and "Mellow Yellow" singles in grade school, and then his Greatest Hits album in 1969. In the 1970s, it was only Cosmic Wheels that made it's way into my collection via a friend of my sister who turned me on to it. But I didn't really get into his other albums until the 1980s and 1990s. Just recently I decided he was my second favorite artist of all time, displacing The Beatles which seems inconceivable. (Yes is #1.) I compiled all the video about him I could find into a youtube folder: Donovan: rare artifacts from an artistic quest: ru-vid.com/group/PL9CL8hZyysWkE7lbgI75sshwQBW6a8sD_

You mention the singer/songwriter Shawn Phillips a couple of times in your video. The impresario Bill Graham once called him "the best kept secret in the music business". His 1970 album Second Contribution is one of my favorites. The opening song, She Was Waiting For Her Mother At The Station In Torino And You Know I Love You Baby But It's Getting Too Heavy To Laugh", more commonly known as Woman is beautiful. His songwriting, twelve string guitar and four octave range will blow you away. I also think you will love the cover art on the album. He's wearing a cape!!

I recently picked up an original Canadian pressing of this album because of this Vinyl Monday.

Love that album i'm glad he's in the Rock n roll hall of fame i've got lots of his albums Sunshine Superman was the first song I heard from him since then i've loved his music.

I discovered Donovan in 1965 or so as a kid and he has been my fav even since. I actually met him briefly a few years ago and he was as nice as I had imagined. This was a great episode.

A side note: I was saddened by the passing of David Crosby. I wonder if at some point you could review "If I Can Only Remember My Name. I have played it a few times since his death, and find it both comforting and haunting at the same time.

Hi Abby, I've got that Bob Dylan book behind you! Anyway, I love Donovan music, great artist, a bit underrated. I've got all his early albums

If you haven't already seen it, you might be interested in this clip of Donovan performing (and being interviewed) on Pete Seeger's 1966 television program, "Rainbow Quest": ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gBQaY6I5grg.html Also, again if you never heard them before, Steeleye Span most certainly embodied the spirit of "Midcentury Medieval" on their first albums. Members Maddy Prior and Tim Hart made a great album together featuring such music: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-UXUYy4ZxvDM.html

I think this was the most fun/ interesting episode to watch. Thank you abbie!

I have just found this channel after clicking on the Rubber Soul upload this week. Really looking forward to watching all the previous episodes. I LOVE Donovan's music and would so like to meet him one day. Thanks for this video, it was really interesting and I learnt so much! Cheers

Holy heck! I knew you did this album somewhere in your oeuvre... Thanks, Abi, I'm a Donavan fan!!

You were right the second time. The printed references to Three King Fishers are typographical errors made by the record company. The title is Twelve King Fishers. Those are the first three words of the song. Overall, a good review of a great record. Donovan was one of my early favorites. I've been captivated by him since I bought Catch the Wind when I was 15.

Omg. Wear Your Love Like Heaven also ruled the airwaves. Donovan is much beloved in 60s SoCal. Lawd, kiss me once more, fill me with song, Allah, kiss me once more, that I may, that I may, wear your love...listen to what the Psychedelic Furs used as inspiration.

always a treat to hear of the joy Abigail Devoe finds in music, and the only of a young woman fashion expression done in parallel, by a woman who somehow incorporates laughter into her speaking patterns, where for most ordinary people speech is a separate event from laughter . Sometimes a young woman's expressive joy is like skipping through dappled sunshine. I once read in a los angeles newspaper about some guy speculating how he saw the opportunity for Donovan to be the next big thing in music, a standalone singer songwriter star, but he couldn't get past a bunch of business problems to get him released in the US, and Dylan got to that star niche acclaim first, leading to some people saying this unique talent was just a wanna be follower of Dylan, just because of timing , according to the guy in the newspaper. And perhaps , for some critics needing attention at the expense of others, because he was a somewhat lesser light in comparison.

My mom had this record! I didn’t care much for it back in the day, but it has grown on me throughout the years! Totally dig the blue eye color!

the song Sunshine Superman is the last song James Paul McCartney sang before his untimely death also this song Billy Shears sang on so both James Paul and his replacement William sang on it, you can clearly here Billy in the party part of the song. James Paulis doing the whispering. Fact Billy is Sir Paul , James Paul is dead

At this point I only have "Greatest Hits" but I will look out for his other albums. Also, I have always loved Bloomfield, Kooper, and Stills interpretation of Season of the Witch.

Mello Yellow ruled the airwaves in SoCal. I'm not kidding, we dried and smoked banana skins. Nobody got high on banana skins. Ga-BOR ZHA-bo.Hungarian? We smoked banana skins because of a song on the radio.

I was listening to Donovan's Greatest Hits album in the background while watching this video. You help make the Monday blahs a little less... Well blah! 👌🏼

One of the few albums I originally bought back in 1966 that I still listen to today on a regular basis including his first album "What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid" retitled "Catch The Wind" for the US release. Celeste from Sunshine Superman and Catch the Wind are my two favorite all time Donovan songs. Side note got to see him perform live in concert in Oct 1969.

Yes, its my first time here! Your look is fabulous. It reminds me of people I used to see around when I was five years old.

I absolutely love this record, I’ll admit that I was one of those ppl that fell in love with Donovan’s music cause of Lana del Rey’s cover of ‘Season of the Witch’ and I’m so glad I did. Also, we need to bring capes back, I bought one on Depop and I love it!

I enjoy this channel and your wonderful insight is refreshing. Don is one of my ALL Time Faves! I have been enamored with a Scottish band called Belle And Sebastian who continue to impress me with their Sunshine Superman like sound. I am not asking for a review just putting em on you radar. Thanks for another great VM Abby.

Every trick in the book. ..... Sheer heart palpitations. You're so riveting in your well informed presentation that I could totally listen to you all day. Unless you're reading the fonebook. Then my thoughts will just wander.

Bittersweet synchronicity you should be wearing a cape the week we lost David Crosby. Hope you cover something he was involved in in the future. Always took McGuinn's and Stills' and Young's sides of the many fallouts Crosby had over the years, but losing him really hit hard. On topic, I really like Donovan more than I probably listen to him, so I'll dig out his albums for a good revisit tomorrow.

Keep up the great work you are doing!! Great musical taste!!

The medieval revival of the '60s is a very interesting period bc a blend that 60's psych with folk that has medieval themes and I'm a fan of it 🌈🔮🏰🗡 ✨ Donovan has a few albums that fit this period like The Living Crystal Faery Realm which i suggest for a listen and this album Donovan's Sunshine Superman is probably the most well know 🎆🔮🏰🌈🧚‍♂✨🌃

I wasn't old enough to catch this music growing up, my first exposure to Donovan was hearing 'Atlantis' on the radio. Donovan was magical back in the '60s and he's still making music. I have all the expanded CD editions of his albums, give a listen to the 1st version of 'Super Lungs' and you'll know why it didn't get released in the moment. Other bonus tracks for this album: Breezes of Patchulie, Museum (1st version), The Land of Doesn't Have to Be, Sunshine Superman (stereo version), Good Trip (demo), House of Jansch (demo).

great video, yep I have slowly been building up a Donovan collection over the last few years. He is an astounding songwriter. I need to upgrade my copy of this album. He had a run of albums in the 60s that were mind-blowingly good.

Dear Abby Your writing prowess is becoming more evident in your monologues-that-feel-like-dialogues. I think your fan base is growing because we have so rarely seen anyone as in love with music as you are. It’s so infectious it deserves to be a pandemic. Anyhow, I’d never heard this album either. Wow, you sure did school me on psych rock mid-century medieval, making some fantastic connections to the Beatles and psych artists in both LA and San Francisco. Jeezus, did groups like The Airplane and San Francisco record producers have acetates of this album before they got all the credit for creating the “trademark” SF psych sound? You really got me thinking about the prescience of Donovan and his producer. Donovan, Donovan, Donovan… You certainly are a one-off, bro. Here’s the skinny on this one for me: I love three songs - title track, the season of the witch and Celeste. Practically all the rest, I kept yelling in my head “Where’s that confounded bridge?!” I have to admit that I like my conventional pop song structure- with deviations into songs like “the end” and “heroin.”. of course. Of the three songs I like, I’ve got a couple of observations. I first heard “The Season of the Witch” during the bloody brilliant end-credit sequence of “To Die For.” What an amazing fucking song. Here’s a half-baked theory: what if Donovan created the perfect song to combine the chiaroscuro of LA/SF psych? Or was that “2,000 light years from home?” Brilliant, Abby. Thanks for another wonderful listening experience! P.S. the melodic changes in Celeste sound a lot like the melodies the shaman sang at an ayahuasca ceremony I was once at. The song structure in “Legend of a Girl Child Linda” is very similar to Joy Division’s “Candidate.”

I’m sure you’ve heard it but just in case not there is a great version of Sunshine Superman by Gabor Szabo on his album Bacchanal.

Great vid, can’t wait to watch when I get home!

P.S. You forgot to mention "The Trip." Which was about Donovan taking acid and going out to Sunset Blvd at night and describing what he remembers about that night. Great Storytelling!!!

Another excellent video. Donovan was a very important figure in the evolution of popular music in the 60’s, but without getting the real recognition he fully deserved. Only saw him live once and that was in 1977 supporting Yes….love the cape by the way.

As so often happens with me, I came across this video while searching for something else music-related on RU-vid and very much enjoyed it - really informative and great fun! I've now subscribed and am looking forward to checking out more of your videos. Greetings from, yes, the UK!

Thanks again for bringing back those great memories of the 60’s.

I've been away but came back in time for the album that I suggested last year. I cape and crown this episode of Vinyl Monday as my favorite. Excellent history lesson m'lady.

Donovan was in my Mom's rotation throughout the 70s so, of course, I love it. My personal fave is his glam damaged LP, Cosmic Wheels!

What an awesome video! 1966 is my birth year. I went through my older sister’s records long ago and saw this album in the stacks. I love your vibe Abby!

I’m so glad you chose a Donovan album. I got a copy of sunshine superman recently (I’m from the UK so it’s one of those copies) and I’ve been playing it pretty regularly

Donovan's early records were on Hickory which, at least in the `70's, was owned by MGM. Except their fist two Donovan albums, the others (like, "Like It Is") were just trying to capitalize on his new fame, thanks to Epic, and were nothing more than compilation albums. By the way, on the song, "Mellow Yellow", all the yelling during the middle of the song was done by Paul McCartney. And, at least on the title track of, "Hurdy Gurdy Man" we have a backing band that would soon become known as Led Zeppelin. All but Robert Plant were there.

Beautiful summary

Joyous video. Singer songwriter is one of my favourite categories in music: it feels like melody, lyric writing, singing and often acoustic guitar playing existing in a an intimate balance. I love the staccato like delivery in Celeste which is an inspired melody:he likes a groove as well. That's a very nice medieval velvet cape but y'know I spread that compliment around some.

Why Donovan was tagged as a poor man's Dylan, has perplexed me since the first time it was said! Just because he played an acoustic guitar and played harmonica at the same time doesn't mean that he was copying Dylan anymore than Neil Young is copying Dylan. Donovan is a great musician in his own right. Dylan has 5 top tier albums and Donovan has just as many. They are COMPLETELY different. Dylan was an ass in "Don't Look Back"! And when you watch it, you can see why he didn't want to look back! Because he knows he was an ass! Donovan has penned some of the most beautiful songs as well as some of my favorite songs! Look up Donovan playing "Three King Fishers" on the Pete Seeger show. Look at the expression on Pete's face! It says it all.

I bet somebody was smokin banana peels with this copy! ( Those dirty finger prints on the back cover tell the tale folks ....)

I do think Colours and Catch the Wind are the best Dylan songs not written by Dylan, but what no one mentions when comparing the 2 is that Donovan is 1,000 times the guitarist that Dylan is.

For almost 57 years Donovan has been my ultimate hero singer - The Sunshine Superman album is ingrained in my DNA. I saw Donovan in (about) '67 in Columbus OH. It was a huge loving crowd and a beautiful concert. His long hippie wizard gown was a surprise.

"The Trip" is one of my favorite Donovan tunes. Its on the flipside of the Epic label 45rpm "Sunshine Superman".

Your outfit is SO cool!

Thank you

The more kingfishers the better!

A classic album. One of my favorites. One of the albums I can listen to without skipping any tunes.

Great video, very well researched. I love your enthusiasm about music. Liked and subscribed.

Hello Abigail from across the pond in Yorkshire. I love your videos,so knowledgeable,I was too young in the sixties b.1965,but love different genres of the music. The Beatles are my absolute favourite. Piper....... Dawn,was a great video,not a Pink Floyd fan,but their first,Syd Barrett album influenced is great. Donovan's early Catch the Wind single here is beautiful. I need to catch up on your previous videos. Brilliant X.

Love the video! Always liked Donovan. I own the greatest hits as well as several 45's.🙂

That is such a great Album😀

The material for Sunshine Superman was originally mixed in mono 'n Epic records decided to release the album in fake stereo (electronically re-processed for stereo) for the American version. They did the same thing with some o' the early Yardbirds albums.

I also love Open Road (Donovan album). 👏

This is such a good record

In 1966 I was 14 years old sitting on a set of monkey bars talking to a girl about this album. Boy the memories. Lol. Great episode as usual.

i am also very interested in the clothes you make

Effin Monday? Triple espresso now!!!

This is one of my favorite episodes of yours. I like how you incorporated Donovan‘s aesthetic into the whole medieval revival thing of the era. You were definitely an art major! 😊 You can’t get more medieval than the cover to Wear Your Love Like Heaven, one of the best of the era. Fat Angel is one of my favorites of his but I hate the title. It’s a bit of a backhanded compliment. Trans Love Airways is a better title. My personal favorite from Donovan is For Little Ones (the second half of Gift). That one is peak storyteller material.