Sunshine Superman

I have a very special place in my heart for Donovan. I don't know if I can quite articulate it. I get the sense he was very true to himself somehow... I guess that it comes down to the fact that I don't get the slightest trace of cynicism from him. I feel like he was one of the hippies who actually believed in the flower power and in doing so had a hard time adjusting after the summer of love came to an end. I don't know if he has an entire album that is a masterpiece per se but I love his sound, even as it changes from song to song. Always interesting arrangements and fusion of influences. Dare to be gentle. Favorite tracks: "Season of the Witch" and "Celeste." Sounds like this album could use a good remastering.

Hey Siri, play me what the 60's sounded like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymH-Zv5RLxQ If Bob Dylan doesn't like him, then I like him...

As I've found out over this process, my relationship with 1960s psychedelia is very hit and miss. Some of it surprises me, by being more appealing to my tastes than I would have thought. Sadly, this record is not one of those... It's a sort of cheesy pastiche of "ye olde Englishe folke" filtered into mediocre 60s pop. Moreover, it is just quite boring, with vocals and music both being unremarkable. 1.5

Really loved this album. I loved the sounds of the harpsichord and the sitar in some of the songs. Favorites include "Sunshine Superman", "Three King Fishers", and "Season of the Witch".

I really enjoyed this album. I was only aware of the title song before. This is definitely the first success story of this project for me, I would have never purposely sought out this album myself. When the album finished I immediately restarted it. Highlights include: Sunshine Superman Three Kingfishers Bert's Blues

Whiny folk drivel saved by some catchy riffs.

Heck yeah. Early psychedelic rock it's where it's at. I'm only familiar with his 'hits' and I've been missing out. This stuff is pretty fantastic. I need to dig deeper into his catalog. Extra stars for having half the mighty Led Zep playing on the title track.

it was different world. very 60's. Quite rubbish really but a couple of tunes. 2.

Not bad, but I wasn't 'grabbed' by a single song and I was a bit bored.

Hated a lot of it, liked a couple songs

Vibrant and nostalgic. Very groovy.

Absolutely loved this album. Favorite tracks were Bert's Blues and Season of the Witch.

First half = good Second half = good but not as good Low 4

Wow, what an unexpected treat. I know Donovan only for the hit "Season of the Witch," which is on here, so we're off to a great start. The title track sounds familiar, but I can't be sure when or where I may have heard it. Regardless, there's an impressive degree of variety to this album, lots of great psychedelic departures and eclectic instruments. This released in the same month as Revolver! Obviously not as highly regarded but damn, it's pretty dope. Definitely comes out ahead of a lot of the '60s albums we've had that get repetetive, this one was excellent and refreshing. Favorite tracks: Season of the Witch, Sunshine Superman, Three King Fishers, Ferris Wheel, Bert's Blues, Guinevere, The Fat Angel. Album art: Absolutely love this design, the text and framing is really cool, great use of color too. This picture of I assume Donovan....looks EXACTLY like Kristen Stewart. Does anyone else see that? 4.5/5

Donovan definitely has a distinctive sound. It's not my favorite, it doesn't rock my world, but it's gentle and inoffensive ... like vanilla soft serve.

Mixed. Heady mid/late 80's fare - you hear a lot of other influences from and in these songs. Enough with the medieval minstral tones!!!

Hmmm never been a fan and I'm not converted, but I am quite impressed how early he got his psychedelic touchstones in a row. 1966 does seem early for sitar, and the use of gloomy cellos and and the like seem to pre-figure Led Zep and the British Folk Rock Scene. I still find him somewhat patronising in tone and it's all pretty lightweight. Inoffensive and faintly interesting. Very much of it's times.

not for me

A lot of these tracks are pretty monotonous and the medieval lyrical themes are really corny. The rockier tracks are decent enough but every musical idea gets played out like 2 minutes before the track actually ends. High 2 probably

hippy shit

kinda epic, got distracted towards the end lol

This album is SO me. It reminds me of Megan Robbin. Lots of trippy 60s instruments. And I kind of like that his voice isn't perfect. I love the sitar as well.

I enjoyed that. Again, would have been a great hippie me.

I liked it. Would listen again. Didn't sound as 60's as I thought it would

Somber pyschedelia is the shit. Standout Tracks: Legend of a Girl Child Linda, Ferris Wheel, Guinevere, The Fat Angel, Celeste

It’s a mathematical certainty that your mom (or grandma, depending on your age) got high while listening to this album in 1967.

I literally thought "That's over, that's good" when it ended

Really did not enjoy this one. 1.5 bc jimmy page is on track one, but I’m not a fan of anything mickie most produced. Almost every song is about King Arthur or something and they all sound like medieval folk songs. Too much harpsichord for my taste

false

I have always loved this album’s title track, “Sunshine Superman.” One of the apex songs of 60’s psychedelia. And I think I have grown to love “Season of the Witch” even more. But that is the extent of my familiarity with this album. Those two songs are so good that the rest of the album would largely have to be seriously disastrous for me to not give this a great rating. Is this album unmistakably of its time? Definitely - a very good thing. I was surprised at how much of this album was psychedelic folk with rambling storytelling lyrics, sitars, harpsichords and bongo drums. I started longing to be grooving along to this music reclined in some 60’s hashish lounge. The fantasy-filled storytelling of damsels and castles and knights and jesters and kings (with a psychedelic commercial interruption from “Trans Love Airways”) took me away from the worry-filled news. I can’t help but wonder it was the events in another time of stress and upheaval that inspired the creation of this. I loved the dreamy “Ferris Wheel” featuring one of my favorite birds (seagull - which also makes another prominent appearance later). Donovan’s stuttery singing on “The Trip” won me over instantly - it’s practically a crime that I have never heard it before. “Bert’s Blues” has some great orchestra arrangements that made it stand out. The final track, “Celeste,” was a perfect finale. I had a ton of fun listening to this psychedelic masterpiece and look forward to taking more trips with Donovan.

It's a bit dated listening to this Whimsical album in the 21st century but that's part of its charm. The UK edition of the album gets the edge by virtue of having more tracks. Donovan was one of the foremost and influential exponents of the UK hippy music scene. The album has elements of pop, folk, jazz and chamber arrangements. There's lots of sitar n spice moments throughout (Three Kingfishers, Ferris Wheel, Guinevere) but there's also some groovy tracks like the title track, Season of the Witch and The Fat Angel. Most impressive is the baroque arrangements on several tracks and the hazy shimmering vibe of Celeste. Best enjoyed on a glorious summer afternoon with a couple of beers and a smoke!

Very interesting album. Has a consistent vibe and if I’d call it something it'd be Acid Folk.

Yes, I will take more pyschedelic songs about Fantasy and Arthurian Legend.

Started out strong with the title track, but then track 2 was so bad it ruined any good will the album had. There were a couple other really good songs, and a whole lot of very of-their-time filler tracks. Overall, just the low end of okay. 2 1/2 stars.

This isn't terrible, but I can't imagine I'll ever want to listen to it again, over most of the other music on this list from the 60s

Pleasant enough. The big two songs are really good. The rest are standard 60s Psych-Folk fare.

Sunshine Superman FYI I listened to the original US release. I always enjoyed the Donovan Best Of I used to have, but have never really delved into any of his albums. This is an interesting listen, if a little uneven. The psychedelic and folkish-mystical whimsy occasionally pushing things off course for me, Legend of a Girl Child Linda, Guinevere and Celeste being the most culpable in that regard. I think it fairs better when it marries Indian Instruments to folk-ish guitars or is more folk-bluesy. The double bass harpsichord combo on Sunshine Superman is excellent, it's obviously a great song, even if the recording sounds very very wobbly and the fade out is amateurishly abrupt. Three Kingfishers I really like, the folk guitars and Indian instrumentation work really well together. And it’s also the drinks order at an Indian restaurant, which nicely completes the yin and yang of time being a flat circle. I really like Ferris Wheel too, particularly the chorus. ert’s Blues probably edges too far into whimsy for me, the clarinet and harpsichord feeling a little too on the nose. Season of the Witch is the other obviously well known track and it is a brilliant bit of folky-bluesy- mid 60s British psychedelia, with some excellently toned bass. I like The Trip, powered by a nice bassline and some echoey guitars. I like the bass and sitars on The Fat Angel and the ‘far out’ lyrics man. It’s interesting how it is held up as companion to Pet Sounds and Revolver, having been recorded before Revolver, and while it has its moments, and is far more interesting than a lot of contemporaries self consciously dabbling in psychedelic music, it just doesn’t have the consistency of songwriting and song quality as the Beatles and the Beach Boys, and sonically it sounds very rough in comparison. I think that adds up to a high 3, it’s not quite something I will return to that often 🦸🦸🦸 Playlist submission: Season of the Witch

Hahah oh this guy okay. Oh this song okay. I didn't know this song was called "Sunshine Superman" or that it was by Donovan, which is pretty funny. I don't know anything about anything, I suppose! Good song. Classic oldies station song from my childhood. Season of the Witch > Bert's Blues > Sunshine Superman > Ferris Wheel > Celeste > The Trip > Three King Fishers > Guinevere > Legend of a Girl Child Linda > The Fat Angel Some of these songs kind of a slog, and the lyrics are terrible at times, but the songs that are good are real good. A bit too much sitar for my tastes but had a nice enough time. It's a 3.

Cool to see that Bobby Orr played the drums on Sunshine Superman. Who knew ole #4 knew how to hammer the tubs. Another proud moment for Parry Sound. I guess he had to give up drumming when he started with the Bruins later in 1966. When Sunshine Superman started I was wondering if I mistakenly started to play an Austin Powers movie. If I were 20 years old when this was released and a cutie with a peace symbol embroidered on her shirt said she liked the song, I would probably agree, but it doesn't sound so special anymore. The second song is lame and had me worried the rest of the album would be torture. I'm glad to say I was wrong. Some of the later songs pleasantly surprised me. There is some cool percussion and sitar on Three King Fishers and Ferris Wheel as Donovan picked up the musical trends of the day. Also, Season of the Witch is a good guitar driven tune. Donovan was picked on back in the day for copying rather than setting the trends. The sitar on this album exemplifies that since it's a year after Norwegian Wood. Many say the early bird gets the worm. While that may be true, it's also true that the second mouse gets the cheese and Donovan got a belly full of Anster.

Two good songs

One good one then sitars everywhere. Just get back from your trip to India there, bud?

I always felt like Donovan's great talent was making sure he was at the right place at the right time, preferably standing next to someone more famous. There are a few decent songs on this record; title track, The Trip, Season of the Witch (although I prefer either the Lou Rawls or the Julie Driscoll versions), or Fat Angel (although, again, the live Jefferson Airplane versions are superior). But the filler tracks just drive me bats; overly twee, faux-medieval, semi-folk chamber pop is just so annoying I can't bear it. Seriously, though, I was looking at the track listing for the Donovan's Greatest Hits compilation, and it's a pretty solid listen and contains everything you could possibly need from Donovan (except for Barabajagal, which is a stomping single with the Jeff Beck band -- highly recommended). I see Greatest Hits from time to time in $2 bins, and will probably pick up a copy next time I see it. But I do not need a whole studio album of this self-indulgent hippie bullshit.

Such a fine pop album. Great voice. Great arrangements. Interesting instrument choices. Excellent instrumental performances. Doesn't overstay its welcome. You can hear why he inspired The Beatles. Far more enjoyable than Bob Dylan, and in my opinion, a much stronger songwriter. Donovan wrote this album to convey his undying love to his muse, and it worked. She married him 1970. How can you fault an album that achieved its success with the only audience that mattered? Favorites: "Sunshine Superman", "Ferris Wheel", "Bert's Blues", "Season of the Witch"

I have always been a Donovan fan and Sunshine Superman, Season of the Witch, and The Trip are all great songs so 5 stars or A- is my rating.

I remember I think I was 11 years old

Sunshine Superman and season of the witch are the best

This was a great album. I knew 2 songs from here. I liked the one about lucifers legion. Funny how such an upbeat happy tune can have satanic lyrics. I love the Season of the Witch and the first one Sunshine Superman.

Great 60's folk album. Definitely worth the listen. It incorporates traditional Indian music, and folk-rock. It is definitely a classic album that will definitely be worth your time.

Time hasn't really been kind to Donovan. He really was cutting edge for a while, but had the bad luck to be peers with Dylan and the Beatles. My first introduction to him was watching a video of Dylan playing a song to him and Donovan visibly realising they just aren't in the same league. But judging this on its own merits, it's a solid effort. Some elements are dated, and perhaps overused, but underlying this are some songs that are genuinely really good. Bit of a margin call but I think that this deserves a 5 if you judge it without the baggage

Very nice. Tracks 'Sunshine Superman' and 'Legend Of A Girl Child Linda' are perfect.

Straight up wizard music

BOOYAH

Esse álbum é um espetáculo!

Solo había escuchado unas canciones sueltas.Pero muy buenos temas en general, y muy místico.

I knew Donovan was known to be a great songwriter, but I was not prepared for how ahead of its time this album was. It was so eclectic and enthralling and I could hear so many songs that would come later in the tracks that were clearly influenced by it.

I love this album. Is it dorky at times? Yes. But so am I.

Fav: sunshine Superman 5/5

im just such an easy sell for this period and flavor of sweet psychy folk music. a little frontloaded (at least, thats where the lushest songs that are most easily appreciable with my tastes are) but donovan pens such watery whirling melodies and attaches them to lyrics so detached from reality theyre almost hippie self-parody but man, i find them so soothing. some rly nice arrangements on here too...nothing super new if u know this kind of music but i appreciate the effort to individualize the songs. just a type of album i could hear a couple dozen of and still probably want a few more...patient, and extremely attentive and present, to a world that doesn't exist.

Underrated. This is a great album.

This album is a really solid piece of 60s psych rock that holds up incredibly well. Donovan nails the dreamy, experimental vibe throughout, and the title track is beautiful... that sitar-driven sound is just incredibly catchy and innovative. "Season of the Witch" is a classic re-listen for me, a song often on my top songs of the year lists, and shows that he's got serious songwriting chops beyond just the flower-power aesthetic. Some moments are very much of their era in ways that don't always translate for me today. But honestly, the highs are high enough that the weaker moments don't drag it down.

I have ALWAYS Loved Donovan’s Music It’s Excellent

Best Song: Berts Blues Incredible psychedelic album. Such interesting lyrics and instrumentation. Never boring despite being over an hour. Donovans performance is great, I can't believe he is Scottish

I've heard it before. Great album. Very enchanting

Superb tunes

Peak 1966. You've got everything: sitars. Acid trips. Medieval revival.

Sunshine Superman is definitely a different direction from Donovan’s prior albums. This album is one of the first to fully embrace the psychedelic sound that was beginning to take shape. The music is a blend of folk, rock, and baroque pop. One of the elements I really enjoyed about this album was the percussions. During the production, they brought in an expert percussionist to add more layers and rhythms, giving the album a richer and more textured sound.

Great

Great album!

Donovan is so timeless and unique. You’re telling me Subshine Superman and Season of the Witch are on the same album? That’s insanity.

Yes.

Fantastisk folk album fra Donovan. Gode psykedeliske undertoner

Great fall music. This is a vibe that isn't for everyone, but if it's for you, you will love it. Some absolute classics here.

everything I encounter from donovan is just so lovely. this might be the best

I didn’t expect this one to be so good.

Enjoyed the album had that psychedelic funky feeling to it. Favorite song on the album Sunshine superman

Some kind of groovy gentle folk Psychadelic 1960's music that just sounds famliair easy to like. and yes its all new to me, as far as I can tell. I'd expect to be on the soundtracks of the era / Vietnam war films. "Season of the Witch", apparently his most popular track, is both groovy and immediately catchy - and for me completely unfamilair (except for occasional reminders of Sugarman). I wonder what he meant. [some marginalia: His live album from 1967 is very spacey, and so soft and gentle and calming, especially when heard from 2025. The intro by his proud Dad is very sweet.] FYI I have apobserved I am using a 3 point rating scale. 1=yuck 3= Meh, didnt especially excit me 5= I liked it/I wish to hear it again. (it was taking up too much itme and effort to get more granular)

I knew a lot of these songs but I didn't knew which artist was... So, after all this years, I'm glad that I had this opportunity! Overall, a master classic, really enjoyable album

This guy makes hard rock without it being hard or rock, amazing stuff

This was surprisingly good. Very psychedelic - before that was even really a thing, and it features what would become Zeppelin's Page and Jones on a number of tracks. Finally, Donovan's voice is fantastic in my opinion. 4.5/5.0: Excellent

I quality this as psych folk, and a masterclass in the genre. I love the album art, bringing back art nouveau. There are some well known standouts, like the title track and Season of the Witch. His voice feels like a bowl of soup and a grilled cheese. It's so warm and smooth. And I love the addition of orchestral instruments on most of the songs! Like yes! Give me oboe!! Give me harp! Imagine being 19 and literally changing music history. I love the lyrics, perfectly balanced stories that still have catchy hooks and interesting wordplay. This album is like what I imagine a traveling bard would write in an idealistic fantasy world. This album draws from so many different genres and time periods. There's eastern melodies and instruments, there's songs that sound like renaissance music, there's songs that sound like folk music, songs about the legends of Arthur. It's all perfectly blended together into one cohesive album.

- 5 for the title track and Season of the Witch .... -

❤️

Great first listen! All the way through felt like summer.

Great album that holds up to the test of time. Stands out for its early influence on psychedelic rock but blends this style nicely with singer/songwriter/folk styling.

9/10.

I love this Scottish weirdo and his psychedelic folk music. There’s that one greatest hits album of his where he’s like shirtless on the cover of something, and I swear everyone who bought a record player post-2000 has that album. Sunshine Superman is a great album, and the title track is one of his best songs. “Celeste,” “Season of the Witch,” and “Legend of a Girl Child Linda” are the other highlights, but if you’re like me and enjoy Donovan, you’re going to like every song here. Honestly he has better individual songs on other albums, but as a whole this is probably his strongest album.

Classic - PEACE

Love me some psychedelia. Solid 5 Stars.

I was 7 years old and saved my allowance for a used turntable and some old records. I loved the cover art, and this album was only a quarter, so I bought it. SO glad I did! This was mind-blowing stuff for a 7-year-old kid!

Sunshine Superman is definitely a different direction from Donovan’s prior albums. This album is one of the first to fully embrace the psychedelic sound that was beginning to take shape. The music is a blend of folk, rock, and baroque pop. One of the elements I really enjoyed about this album was the percussions. During the production, they brought in an expert percussionist to add more layers and rhythms, giving the album a richer and more textured sound.

What a quirky dude. Love all the flowers and sunshine.

5/5. It's hard to define exactly why this album stands out to me, it kind of feels like a solid collection of the aesthetic of other albums released at this time while still sound original. And from start to finish, it's quiet yet feels epic, like a story is being told with different acts and themes. It is just a collection of songs, but it has a Bowie/Beatles vibe coming before both of their ventures into their similar albums. This is an excellent album and I'm glad this list reminded me of it, putting back on the repeat repertoire. Best Song: Season of the Witch, Sunshine Superman, Legend Of A Girl Child Linda, Celeste

One of Donovan's best albums that tells great stories in catchy tunes with the right instrumentations bordering into folk, rock and raga.

A lovely modern-day folk album with psychedelic influences and mythological references- of course I'm going to love it. The fact that it is now sort of dated serves to add to the charm, in my opinion. Contrasting the mythic themes with contemporary things really elevates the album, maybe a ferris wheel or an airplane is just as fantastical as King Arthur. Favorite tracks: "Three King Fishers," "Guinevere," "Season of the Witch"

I’m loving the free spirited, semi-hippy, whimsical vibe here. It’s poppy and super trippy, mainly due to the use of a LOT of sitar.. These songs have lovely orchestral touches and other interesting instrumentation going on throughout. I learned that Jimmy Page plays on Season Of The Witch. I went deep into this pool and came out baptized a Donovan fan.

Love 60s psychedelic rock. This sounds very original. I see myself revisiting some of the songs

Great story telling

I love Donovan’s psychedelic records. Just good vibes and fun here.

i absolutely loved this album - it's everything i love about the 60s and 70s sort of singer-songwriter with the mysticism inspired instrumentation over top of the very forward/mono mix of the singer and the playful sort of imagination fueled fever dream that happens when you write on LSD.