Folk singer Donovan is marking his 50th anniversary this year………He got off to a great start in 1965 when as an 18 year old, he had his first hit single ‘Catch The Wind’. A hit song in the charts would have been enough for most teenagers, but Donovan won an Ivor Novello Award for the song as well.

Donovan ( born Donovan Leitch in Scotland in 1946 ) arrived in the wake of folk legend Bob Dylan, but quickly set himself apart from him with quirky, psychedelic hit singles like ‘Colours’, ‘Universal  Soldier’, ‘Sunshine  Superman’, ‘Mellow  Yellow’, ‘The Hurdy  Gurdy  Man’, ‘Lalena’, Jenifer Juniper’, ‘There is a Mountain’; Wear Your Love Like Heaven’, ‘Barabajagal’ and  ‘Atlantis ’.

After many years of neglect by the music business, albeit without a leaking roof, Donovan in recent years has been recognised by his peers, inducted into The Rock & Roll  Hall of Fame in 2012 and The Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014.

In many ways Donovan’s career has been a series of firsts. In addition to creating the first psychedelic album, ‘Sunshine Superman’ in 1966, he was the first ‘Rolling Stone Interview’ in the first issue of Rolling Stone magazine in 1967. He was also the first solo artist to sell out Madison Square Garden. And he is surely the first and only artist to have influenced both Led Zeppelin and Belle and Sebastian, not to mention numerous other artists. Thousands  of  cover  versions  of  his songs  attest  to  his  importance as a songwriter and  recording studio innovator.

Donovan’s unique and highly original output continues to influence new bands and singers, but he has form as an innovator as far back as the 1960s. His album ‘Sunshine Superman’ (1965/1966) introduced “Flower Power” and the “Hippie” movement to  the  world  and  just as importantly he influenced contemporaries like the Beatles. It is said he inspired the Beatles to create  their 1967 album  Sgt. Pepper, whilst teaching  John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison to finger pick the guitar during their infamous  trip  to India to study Transcendental  Meditation.  Infact George Harrison in 1968 was quoted as saying “Donovan is all over The White Album“.

To celebrate Donovan’s 50th anniversary, a  DOUBLE  CD ANTHOLOGY – ‘DONOVAN RETROSPECTIVE’  will be released on the 8th June, including a brand new single ‘ONE ENGLISH SUMMER’. For our part, Record Press would like to mark Donovan’s 50th anniversary with this Top 5 Best Donovan Songs –

Top 5 Best Donovan Songs

1)      Sunshine Superman ( No2 1966 )

2)      Mellow Yellow ( No8 1966 )

3)      Jenifer Juniper ( No5 1968 )

4)      Hurdy Gurdy Man ( No4 1968 )

5)      Catch The Wind ( No4 1965 )

Which is your favourite Donovan song and why? Let us know in the Reply Box below.

Celebrate your love of Donovan in your home or office, by ordering your favourite Donovan song in a vinyl single or CD single format; framed and mounted as a picture disc souvenir. You can also personalise it with an inscribed / engraved plaque…… 

ORDER NOW…….. www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/

Framed vinyl singles and framed CDs with a personalised plaque, make unique presents or original gifts for a special celebration  / special occasion ie a Wedding ( Wedding First Dance Song ), an Engagement Party ( Our Song ), a House Warming Party ( New Home ), a 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th Birthday ( How about the No1 song on the day of birth? ), a Silver, Ruby or Golden Wedding Anniversary, Father’s or Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day!!  THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!!  ORDER NOW…….. www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/