1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #98. Donovan - Sunshine Superman (1967)

Donovan - Sunshine Superman (1967)

Label – Pye
Producer – Mickie Most
Art Direction – Dick Smith
Nationality – USA
Running Time –49:26

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Sunshine Superman
2. Legend Of A Girl Child Linda
3. Three Kingfishers
4. Ferris Wheel
5. Bert's Blues
6. Season Of The Witch
7. The Trip
8. Guinevere
9. The Fat Angel
10. Celeste

An interesting album. Of course I have heard of Donovan and heard some of his music – but this is the first record of his I have ever heard. It kicks off with his mega hit – the title track “Sunshine Superman” just a great tune. It’s the two “side” openers, "Sunshine Superman" and "Season of the Witch," that are easily the highlights of the album. It’s the rest of the record that leaves me head scratching. The rest of the album is filled with lengthy, abstract, repetitive folk jams, that are actually pleasant enough, but lack any real punch. I read one review where they called the record a “perfect for lazy summer afternoons” listen. That’s pretty accurate, but with tracks such as "Legend of a Girl Child Linda" it plods along for nearly seven minutes not going anywhere. "Guinevere," is nice with it’s Indian backing of sitar and tabla and "Three King Fishers," and "Ferris Wheel" are pretty good – but I couldn’t help but feel empty as the record ended. Thinking I was cheated somehow. Some of songs that sound good on their own – like the hits on the radio, but overall it’s not a terribly bad record, just not a consistently good one.
Note this record appeared in two different versions, one in America and another almost 16 months later in England. (Donovan was fighting to be released from his contract with Pye Records in England.) The 1001 book lists the albums origins in the UK – but uses the US cover art and mentions songs that were on the US not UK version. It is the US version that I played and reviewed here.
This one is a toss up. I recommend SOME of the record, but not all. Listen with caution.

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You can purchase the CD here.