Reviews (page 5 of 8)
I mostly enjoyed this. Had listened to a bit of Donovan but never an entire album.
Donovan wrote some beautiful and timeless songs for children that I still listen to, sometimes - but not for this album. These sings sound very dated, and though I like 60s music generally, these are not the best.
Not as good as I thought it would be
Excelente álbum de folk-rock, con muchos elementos de psicodelia temprana. De hecho, salió el mismo mes que Revolver de los Beatles. Me encanta la combinación ecléctica de instrumentos orientales como el sitar o el bouzouki. Y también la voz de Donovan, muy cálida, perfecta para este tipo de temas. Los temas no son tan rockeros como en Revolver, tirando más hacia el folk, pero igual de experimentales y pioneros. Aunque también es cierto que algunas canciones, sobre todo hacia la segunda mitad del álbum, no son tan atrevidas y suenan estrictamente como el resto de música de su época. Un álbum muy bueno y que representa perfectamente la explosión creativa de los Swinging Sixties en el Reino Unido.
Sunshine Superman Season of the Witch
Kinda boring outside of the two hits songs
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!
There are two good songs, the rest is too far out for me, man.
Good music
First bit of news: Donovan is not American! That's news right? Someone should alert the authorities. Anyway, I really, really enjoyed this. There's a funk and a swagger alongside the more traditional folk stuff, and it all adds up nicely.
Not for me, too old
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.
3.5
Dull, dreary, repetitive hippy nonsense
What a quirky dude. Love all the flowers and sunshine.
I thought the singing was really good in this, it is a very influential album I have found out, in my opinion a bit boring at times I feel like there could have been a bit more to it.
The usual Donovan fare here...actually saw him support YES in the early 80s and he was ok
The A-side was very average, but the B-side picked it up a little bit.
Other than Season of the Witch (which is bagnin) this album is everything that sucked about the psychedelic 60s. It’s a boring white guy trying on musical costumes because he’s hip.
This really was a miss for me. It was all very boring and I did not love his vocal delivery. There were some nice guitars here and there but that was all I could appreciate. Also, I hate sitars.
On the one hand, this album could be the soundtrack of a Get Smart or Austin Powers movie--which really isn't its fault, since this sound hadn't yet become cliche when the album was released. On the other hand, I might have liked this more on a re-listen. Donovan has a Don McLean-ish voice.
Very 60s but not overwhelming in any direction. It was just ok, season of the witch stays on my Halloween playlist
The first half I really thought this is a 4! Then it lost me. 3.5 rounded down.
First listen I enjoyed it more than I had expected, and the Beatles-y tracks stood out to me. Second time around and the folksiness got a bit annoying. Averages at 3 stars across those listens.
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
Enjoyed this album way more than I expected to. Maybe I thought Donovan was a different dude because of his Partridge Fam looks, but this album is really well done.
82% Best: Sunshine Superman; Ferris Wheel; Season of the Witch; The Trip Must-Hear? Sure
fw this one heavy. excellent vibes
It was fine. What was the cultural penetration on Green Lantern in 66 tho?
I like the folksy vibe but a bit boring tbh.
I figured I would hate this, but it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I even found myself enjoying it a little here and there. It's very much at the pop end of psychedelia, but that isn't the end of the world. I'm going with a strong 3 stars.
A little too much psychedelic and eastern influence.
= the Beatles
I'm gonna listen to so much less boomer 60s rock slog albums in about a year when I'm down with this list haha
One of Donovan's best albums that tells great stories in catchy tunes with the right instrumentations bordering into folk, rock and raga.
First song (title track) is a blast from the past. Track 2 is not good. Ok every song has many tropes of 60s British music I don’t like - sitar, bingos, harpsichord, tangerine eyes.
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"
Great
Very good
I liked it. I didnt think I would but some good songs on here and a 60s chilled out vibe
2/5
3.5 stars. Two excellent tracks - title track and "Season of the Witch" surrounded by mediocre folk. Hard to rate the album of a whole given the gap between those two and the rest of the tracks.
Listening to this album you can clearly tell the time period it was released in. It is straddling the trad folk of the time while also being influenced by the psyche pop released in the late 60s. Despite this, I found it quite a boring listen. Nothing wrong with it, just a very middling listen for me.
Another late-60s psychedelic album knocking it out of the park. Like with the Jefferson Airplane album, it had some sort of long weird detours I didn’t love as much as some of the more immediate stuff, but it was still beautiful and wondrous most of the way through. Must-listen #103!
Jesus Christ this was boring as shit
Way too lame vocally and way too old fashioned for me.
I know some of Donovan's bigger singles (Catch the Wind, Mellow Yellow, etc.) but had never listened to any of his albums. It's kind of strange how Donovan was in the same orbit as the biggest acts in history — Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles , Led Zeppelin — but has ended up as more of a footnote in comparison. I'm sure accusations of his copying Dylan and his record releases being hamstrung by contract fights with his label didn't help, but it's still surprising that more of his catalogue isn't as well-known (or maybe that's just me?). In terms of the actual album, it was a pretty good listen. It's definitely eclectic, jumping from acoustic folk ballads to bluesy rock to psychedelic pop — it's part Van Morrison, part Nick Drake, part Rufus Wainwright. I didn't realize he did Season of the Witch, but I knew the song as soon as it came on — it's probably my favorite track off the album. He has a good voice, though his phrasing is sometimes odd, and he does sound a little like Neil Diamond at times. Some of the folkier, medieval fairytale songs get a bit repetitive after a while. I did enjoy the album for the most part, and his influence on music history is clear. It's not one of my all-time favorites, but I'd listen to this again. 4/5
Solid
Some great stuff, some mind-numbingly boring stuff.
Decent song to start then a massive downhill slide. Little bit of a recovery towards the end but overall a miss for me.
pretty solid psychedelic album. Enjoyed it very much, probably 4.5. Had some folk sounds.
Wasn't sure I was going to like this album outside of the famous hits, but I really enjoyed it.
Season of the Witch is such a banger
Hmm
The ass production made it sound like i was listening on vinyl instead of digital, otherwise good folk music.
Some very nice tracks here - loved sunshine superman and season of the witch
This one…was weird. I sort of liked aspects of it, but am not a fan over all. I found a lot of the songs overly long and generally uninteresting and could not quite bring myself to enjoy it, including the title track. This was the second album in this list I’ve encountered that made me think, “…is this supposed to be good?” It may be that it’s very much a product of its time that just does not translate well today. At least not to me.
Enjoyed it. Its weird 60s psychedelic folk what is not to like
If there is one thing I've learned from this project, it's that i really hate 60's psychedelic music. It's a fine album, just not for me.
# Album Name: Sunshine Superman # Artist: Donovan # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Great opener with Sunshine superman. Nice vocals, melody and guitar. Everyone will have heard this song at some point of their life. Very 60s. Season of the witch is also a great tune. APart from that, the rest of the album was alright. Nothing stood out though. Decent background music. # Top Tunes: Sunshine superman and season of the witch # Would I listen to it again? hmmmm
reminds me of school , I hated school
"Sunshine Superman" is the third studio album by Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. Psychedelia, folk, psychedelic folk and raga rock are the Wiki-listed genres. Oh yeah, plus a few others. Donovan said that the lyrics portray "swinging London" and an insider's look to the mid-60's pop scene. Donovan was lead vocalist and played guitar and organ. Other bandmembers included Bobby Ray (bass), Eddie Hoh (drums), Shawn Phillips (sitar), Lenny Maitlin (Hammond organ), Cyrus Faryar (bouzouki), Peter Pilifian (electric violin), John Carr (bongos) and a few other surprises. The album was produced by Mickie Most and arranged by John Cameron. It was Donovan's most successful album hitting #11 in the US and #25 in the UK (the album in a slightly different version was released in the UK later in 1967 due to label issues). A bass, percussion and acoustic and electric guitar open "Sunshine Superman." A harpsichord also. Ah, yes pyschedelia! Sunshine was a nickname for LSD (maybe still is). "She going to be fine." Yes, she is. A nice pyschedelic guitar solo...and guess who was on guitar and bass, none other than Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones. The bongos started on the third song and continue on "Ferris Wheel." Donovan has a nice tenor and delicate voice and he based this song on a tip to NYC where he met a girl who claimed her hair got stuck in the spokes of a Ferris wheel. The acid is kicking in now. A sitar gives this an Indian vibe. Of the course, the eagles are building nests in the Ferris wheel. The scratchy guitar, bass and drums start off the classic "Season of the Witch." A dark foreboding atmosphere and a tale of the paranormal. The song builds in the chorus. We are back in 1966. "The Fat Angel" was written about and to Mama Cass. Bongos and a sitar. He name checks the Jefferson Airplane and tells the story of getting drugs from a dealer on a motorcycle and finding happiness in a pipe. The album closely with "Celeste." All instruments are appropriately used here...guitar, drums, bass, bouzouki, sitar and electric violin. A lovely, dreamy and pyschedelic song. One of the Donovan best vocals and a great deep cut on this album. This album just oozes pyschedelia. I know Donovan was angry about the delayed release in the UK since he thought his music was ahead of the "pyschedelic" curve. Besides pyschedelia, the music covers a span of genres including folk, baroque, Indian, jazz and blues. The number of instruments has already been mentioned and I particularly liked the arrangement/production details on the placement of the instruments in songs. The lyrics are pyschedelic (drugs) and fantasy focused; Hades, fairy castles, witches, lucifer, queens, jesters, ravens, seagulls and stallions are all mentioned. If I had to pick one album to go back and experience pyschedelia this might be it. I quite enjoyed this album.
Not my thing. But I understand. The Beatles did this along with many others for a song or two, but this guy went full bore with this. Season of the Witch is a banger, sounds kind of like Lynyrd Skynyrd in a weird way. There's a spot on the rolling stone 500 for a compilation of pysidelic rock, this would be better.
Enjoyed Sunshine Superman, Season Of The Witch, and The Trip. Rest of the album was forgettable to me. Not my thing. Greatest Hits compilations are great for an artist like Donovan for people like me.
I know people are just going to say that this is a Dylan ripoff, but I’d rather listen to this than Dylan honestly. While he’s not as good of a songwriter, he’s got a much better voice and there’s no overbearing harmonica. Plus, I’m a sucker for that British folk sound and that hippie psychedelia vibe. Unfortunately, he’s a bit inconsistent as when he’s on he’s really killing it, but when he’s off it’s very forgettable.
It’s a mathematical certainty that your mom (or grandma, depending on your age) got high while listening to this album in 1967.
Donavan was a Scottish singer/songwriter with a confident, strong voice. Sunshine Superman was his debut album, and the title of one of his first successful singles. His songs have a wide-eyed optimism, which made him a good fit with the early part of the 60s hippy psychedelia. These are sparse, bass-heavy songs, centered on Donavan's relaxed, engaging delivery. He had a few popular singles which, like Sunshine Superman, brought a little bit of edgy "rock-n-roll" to the otherwise folk-centered world of singer/songwriters.
Season of the Witch is just so good. Everything else was okay. 3/5
Listened to a lot Donavan as a kid. Hits are better than the album.
This album was brought to you by acid
01) Sunshine Superman - 7,5 02) Legend of a Girl Child Linda - 7,0 03) Three King Fishers - 6,5 04) Ferris Wheel - 6,5 05) Bert's Blues - 6,0 06) Season of the Witch - 7,5 07) The Trip - 6,5 08) Guinevere - 6,0 09) The Fat Angel - 6,0 10) Celeste - 6,0 TOTAL: 6,55 (66/100) Current ranking: 334/462
I enjoyed it.
I had a ton of fun listening to this psychedelic masterpiece and look forward to taking more trips with Donovan.
Title track and Season of the Witch are obviously all timers that most people will know. Beyond that what do we have. Pastoral ballads with sitars. Pleasant, interesting, downbeat. Really feels like the two great songs are chucked in for commercial appeal and the rest is what Donovan really wanted to do. King Fishers the obvious highlight of these perhaps. Which is of course, completely fine, especially common in this era of heavy record label control. It just makes for an odd album. I enjoyed it. I probably won't return
A very cool and colorful record. This was my first time hearing Sunshine Superman and I’ll definitely be returning to it. More people should be hip to this.
Gdyby Bob Dylan umiał śpiewać i pisał piosenki o średniowiecznych giermkach to chyba brzmiałby dość podobnie. Taka dość jesienna płyta z głębokim męskim wokalem. Zalała taka nostalgia i tęsknota za czymś czego nie pamiętam. Lekko naiwna, ale takie były lata 60. 8.5/10 równane w dół
This album has a great Wikipedia article, so instead of me saying " this is just a Beatles rip-off," I know this came before the Beatles added sitars into their music. I also learned Jimmy Page (of Led Zeppelin fame) played guitar for Donovan, and that this album contains basically the first music in the psychedelic genre. I wish more albums on this list were so well-documented. 3.5
Flavours of Dylan who came just before him and the Velvet Underground who came just after. The title track is the highlight for me.
On first listen, this sounded like pretty generic ’60s psychedelic rock. But on a second spin, I appreciated the effort, especially the use of different instruments that add depth to the sound. For 1966, Donovan was definitely ahead of his time.
While it starts off great, the record becomes a drag after a couple of tracks
Only really liked season of the witch
heard before 3/5
2.3
This dude tweaking
Leeeeento, y nada interesante. No me gustó para nada.
I surprisingly quite enjoyed this - the swirling Indian ragas mixed with rock (ie, psychedelia). The songs are catchy too including a couple of well-known ones I like and didn’t know were Donovan. Although now this sounds a little formulaic and of its time, 1966 is early for this so I give Donovan his props.
Pleasant
title track and Season of the Witch are obviously iconic songs but unexpected standouts to me: Ferris Wheel, Bert’s Blues, Celeste.
Donovan is indeed often forgotten, unfortunately. A truly underrated artist, even more: a forgotten pioneer. And this is his best album. There is not a single weak song on it, every song is fantastic, with 'Sunshine Superman' and 'Season of the Witch' as standouts; Donovan's two best songs.
Flower power folk, almost painfully earnest in its presentation. Any discussion of 60s music would be incomplete without mentioning Donovan. For me, there's definitely a distinct sort of mood I have to be in to appreciate mellow folk like this... I had this album generated a couple weeks ago, actually, but I put it off until I finally entered one of those contemplative, under caffeinated states. It's a snow day, I've lost my voice, it's a good time to get a little wistful about the way the hippie dream got crushed by an avalanche of late stage capitalism.
Legend of a Girl Child, Bert's Blues and Guinevere never seemed to end. The Trip was a good song Sunshine Superman was one I knew before and liked. It was just a psychedelic rock album, not bad, just didn't feel special. Now one thing did say this album influenced a lot of other music in this genre, so in that case I see the influence but there were no songs that stuck with me. Side note...what is with the medieval themes?
Sunshine Superman was definitely on one of my parent's greatest hits of the 60's albums so I feel like I've been a fan of that song my whole life but I never realized this Scottish guy sang it. This is quite the collection of poetic 60's psychdelic rock without being too far off into weirdsville. Some of it has a bit of a renaissance fair vibe. Incense and peppermint. Good instrumentation and songwriting. I especially liked Sunshine Superman, Ferris Wheel, and Celeste, a tender song about love, life's changes, and the hope of togetherness. Good song to end the album.
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.
As fate would have it, I was on holiday in Glasgow (where Donovan is from) when this was my album of the day! I didn't have a chance to listen until I returned from my travels, but given I also had Thin Lizzy and Primal Scream in the few days leading up to my trip to Ireland and Scotland, this serendipitously completed a trifecta, which is pretty darn neat. That being said, I really like the two big hits on here and also liked The Trip, but while pleasant enough, the rest was a bit slow and boring to me. He has a unique and creative sound though.
Love 60s psychedelic rock. This sounds very original. I see myself revisiting some of the songs
Pleasing early psychedelia. Fun sitar and harpsichord parts, but the album definitely lags in spots.
Already knew the nice "Sunshine Superman" and the groovy and enticing "Season Of The Witch", of course, thanks to the iconic *Donovan's Greatest Hits* compilation released at the tail end of the sixties (also harboring essential cuts such as "Mellow Yellow" and "Hurdy Gurdy Man"). But I never had the occasion to listen to the album where those two songs were taken from (named after the first). I kind of expected the more folksy, less shaggadelic stuff I knew I would find there to be somewhat of a letdown, but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. Those deeper cuts are actually as good as their "Greatest Hits" equivalents. In that specific genre, I especially enjoyed the very charming "narrative" second track "Legend Of A Girl Child Linda", for instance. You can easily picture a poetic and colourful cartoon illustrating the song in your head... The rest of side one ("Three King Fishers", "Ferris Wheel", "Bert's Blues") is also ripe with all sorts of instrumentations and catchy arrangements that were obviously quite trendy by 1966 (sitar, harpsichord...), but if they're not a full surprise , they're nicely pulled off and bring what those particular songs need. After "Season Of The Witch", the album somewhat loses its momentum at times, but its closer "Celeste" is a thing of wonder thanks to its tight chord sequence and dreamy-albeit-effective-and-memorable vocal lines. I get why Donovan was this popular during the sixties. He could be a little sugary, sure, but he was also versatile enough to explore all sorts of turf with a certain flair and rather significant class. 4/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums. 9/10 for more general purposes (5 + 4) Number of albums left to review: around thirty or twenty, as I've gone over the 1000 line and this generator is including albums from all editions of the book Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 461 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 273 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 334
2/5 for season of the witch - classic. Rest of the stuff was meh
Mixed feelings about this, did not like the first song which put me on the back foot, but it has some good bits like the Season of the Witch one
After having a fairly decent few albums on this list, it really stood out that this one sucked. It was so boring and all whimsical, and not in a good way that made it endearing and enjoyable. Turns out I struggle to enjoy stuff from the 60s
I liked it. Above average so far. Added “Sunshine Superman” and “Celeste”
Some very good pop songs mixed in with some dreck
Great story telling
All right, has the 'season of the witch', but I dont feel very drawn to it.
Donovan, I bet you WHIFF - but your attitude is spot on, I get the sense you're a proper hippie who is genuinely out there making art, not milking every bit of fortune and fame the industry has to offer. Just buy some deodorant bruv,
## In-Depth Review of *Sunshine Superman* by Donovan Donovan's *Sunshine Superman*, released in 1966, stands as a landmark album in the evolution of psychedelic rock and folk music. It showcases a unique blend of influences, innovative production techniques, and lyrical depth that reflects the cultural zeitgeist of the 1960s. This review will explore the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and its influence on subsequent musical movements, alongside a balanced assessment of its pros and cons. ### Lyrics The lyrics of *Sunshine Superman* are characterized by their whimsical imagery and romantic themes. Donovan's songwriting is deeply personal, often reflecting his feelings for Linda Lawrence, who would later become his wife. The title track opens with the line, "Sunshine came softly through my window today," setting a tone of optimism and warmth. - **Romantic Undertones**: The song expresses a yearning for love and connection. Lines such as "I made my mind up you're going to be mine" convey a sense of determination and hopefulness. - **Psychedelic Imagery**: Many lyrics incorporate surreal and fantastical elements, such as "I can make like a turtle and dive for your pearls in the sea," which evoke a dreamy quality typical of psychedelic music. - **Philosophical References**: Donovan infuses his work with philosophical allusions, notably referencing Nietzsche’s concept of the Übermensch (Superman) to suggest an evolution of consciousness beyond mere existence. However, not all critics view Donovan's lyrics favorably. Some argue that certain songs lack coherence or depth, describing them as self-indulgent or overly simplistic. For instance, "Legend of a Girl Child Linda" has been criticized for its lack of poetic discipline, with some lines described as nonsensical combinations of visual effects without clear meaning[3][4]. ### Music Musically, *Sunshine Superman* is groundbreaking for its time. It marks Donovan's transition from acoustic folk to a more electric sound that incorporates various genres. - **Instrumentation**: The album features an eclectic mix of instruments including sitars, harpsichords, violins, and electric guitars. This diverse instrumentation contributes to its rich sonic texture. - **Production Techniques**: Produced by Mickie Most at Columbia Studios in Hollywood, the album showcases innovative production techniques that were ahead of its time. The use of layering and effects creates a lush soundscape that complements Donovan's vocals. - **Notable Tracks**: - "Sunshine Superman" is driven by jangly guitar riffs and rhythmic bongos. - "Season of the Witch" stands out with its haunting groove and bluesy undertones. - "Bert’s Blues" adds a jazzy element but has been criticized for its awkward arrangement. Overall, the musical composition reflects a fusion of folk roots with burgeoning rock influences, creating a sound that was both accessible and adventurous. ### Themes Thematically, *Sunshine Superman* encapsulates several key ideas reflective of the 1960s: - **Love and Relationships**: At its core, the album expresses romantic longing and idealism. Many songs reflect Donovan's personal experiences and emotions regarding love. - **Psychedelia**: The album captures the essence of the psychedelic movement with its exploration of altered states of consciousness and mind-expanding experiences. References to LSD culture are present but often interpreted through a lens of broader existential exploration rather than mere drug references[2][5]. - **Nature and Mysticism**: Donovan frequently draws on imagery from nature and mysticism, weaving Celtic influences into his narratives. This connection to nature reflects a broader countercultural movement that sought harmony with the environment. ### Influence *Sunshine Superman* is often credited as one of the first psychedelic rock albums to achieve commercial success. Its influence can be seen across various musical genres: - **Psychedelic Rock**: The album paved the way for artists who would follow in Donovan’s footsteps, including Jefferson Airplane and The Doors. Its fusion of folk elements with rock set a precedent for future psychedelic artists. - **Folk Revival**: Donovan's work contributed to the folk revival movement by incorporating electric instrumentation while maintaining lyrical storytelling traditions. - **Cultural Impact**: The album resonated with the counterculture movement of the 1960s, encapsulating ideals of love, peace, and exploration that defined an era. ### Pros and Cons #### Pros - **Innovative Sound**: The blending of various musical styles creates a unique listening experience that remains influential today. - **Lyrical Depth**: While opinions vary on their coherence, many listeners appreciate the imaginative quality and emotional resonance found in Donovan's lyrics. - **Cultural Significance**: The album captures the spirit of its time and has left an indelible mark on both popular music and culture. #### Cons - **Lyrical Ambiguity**: Some tracks are criticized for lacking clarity or depth in their lyrical content, leading to perceptions of self-indulgence. - **Inconsistent Quality**: Not all songs achieve the same level of impact; some tracks are viewed as weaker or less engaging compared to standout hits like "Sunshine Superman" or "Season of the Witch." - **Overly Whimsical Elements**: Critics argue that certain whimsical aspects may detract from the overall seriousness or emotional weight intended by some songs. ### Conclusion In conclusion, *Sunshine Superman* by Donovan is an essential work that encapsulates a transformative period in music history. Its innovative blend of genres, rich lyrical imagery, and cultural significance make it a landmark album in both psychedelic rock and folk music. While it faces criticism for certain lyrical choices and inconsistencies in quality across tracks, its overall impact remains profound. As both a reflection of personal experience and broader cultural movements, *Sunshine Superman* continues to resonate with audiences today—celebrating love, exploration, and artistic expression in an era defined by change.
The album didn't sound bad, but it just didn't do anything for me. Didn't hold my interest.
Some good hippy trippy folk from the British Dylan
просто не зацепило
Classic hippies 60’s music
Groovy sixties
There are some real snoozers on this list, but there's also "Season of the Witch."
Bangers + some tracks in between that were trying to invent British folk rock that was done better later
Interesting psychedelic album! Witch one was my favorite! 3 stars
Although I enjoyed this album for the most part, I didn’t like it as much as I had expected. I thought a lot of the songs dragged on, especially the second one, which I thought would never end. I did appreciate the use of some unconventional instruments like the sitar and harpsichord. But in the end, it gets a disappointing three stars from me.
I love Donovan’s psychedelic records. Just good vibes and fun here.
Ouch. Kind of unpleasant, except for Season of the Witch.
It had some interesting sounds. Very mediocre, but probably more appreciated when it was released. Vocals were the highlight.
Pretty solid
that was pretty cool i enjoyed it. i like the tone of his voice, i feel like it suits the sitar/eastern influences really well for whatever reason.
COOL!!!! it's like if you took the eastern-influenced part of the Beatles' music and turned it into its own whole developed sound. the most famous song from this album is the worst one though.
smooth transition into psychedelica and jazz and RandB
point2.
The one song is good. You know the one. The rest... Eh
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.
ok... anyway..,.
fine i guess. pretty samey and filler-y. maybe the most 2.5-star album to ever grace this list. i dunno but also i don't really care. at least the big singles are pretty good. favorites: sunshine superman, season of the witch
-apparently this Donovan guy was an influence on the Beatles. I can definitely see that because this album sounds very Revolver imo -I like the raga stuff and he has a nice voice idk -maybe a little meandering/inoffensive for my taste at times but no major complaints -Favorites are Sunshine Superman, Season Of The Witch, and The Trip
This album was a chore. I did not like it at ALL
Some fine moments.
3.5 Fave tracks: "Season of the witch" and "The trip"
It’s ok. As with all psychedelic music, it feels dated.
The album kicks off with the familiar titular song, then transports the listener into a fantasy setting with the next three tunes - which feel straight out of a tavern off the Kingsroad in Westeros, or somewhere in Middle Earth. Definitely a bold choice to put 3 songs in that slow, mystical style back to back in the top half of the album, but I’m guessing it was an intentional stylistic choice, which I can respect. In the next three songs, beginning halfway through “Bert’s Blues”, the style takes on a more upbeat feel- almost like The Doors meets The Beatles. Then, for the final 3 songs, the style reverts to a more stripped back, mystical feel. Overall it’s an album that’s very hard to pin down. It oozes 60s rock/folk psychedelia, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Jimmy Page or John Paul Jones heard the sitar & string elements sprinkled throughout and used it as inspiration for some of Zeppelin’s more mystical repertoire. I’m confident that biblical themes and Tolkien-esque folklore - as well as ample amounts of drugs - were consumed on Donovan’s part in the writing of the lyrics.
Nothing special - music blended together and even the imagery in the lyrics couldn’t save it.
It's ok.
I have heard for years and years about the great Donovan. The Beatles loved this guy. He was more influential than people give him credit for in the 60's. Plus, he recorded "Atlantis," so that earns him a lot of points in my book. Donovan went to India with the Beatles a couple of years after this album released, and his interest in Indian music shows here. Hell, there's elements of Indian influence, chamber pop and baroque pop, straight up rock, psychedelia, and folk. It's a eclectic mix of these genres, which at times even coexist within the same track. It's a really fun listen because you don't really know what you're going to get next. Did I love every track? No not at all. It has the feeling of an experimental album (despite the fact that it's performed with the confidence of someone who knows exactly what he's doing), and you're always going to have some misses when experimenting. But man was this a cool listen. I gotta have more. If we can have four Metallica albums or whatever on this list, we can give Donovan at least one more. Four stars. Standout Tracks: Sunshine Superman, Bert's Blues, Season of the Witch
Irgendwie nichts hängengeblieben, aber ein paar Songs waren ganz okay. Besser als das Cover denken lässt.
Hippie dippie flower power bullshit
Really hated the majority of this. Couple of ok tracks save it from being a 1/5. Just. Season of the Witch and Celeste are the best tracks. Most of it sounds horrible.
I’ll give this 3 stars only because of “Season of the Witch” - the rest of the album is a psychedelic bore.
Really pleasent surprise enjoyed it although a bit outdated. All songs are good. Its a well made album
Donovan? I'm wanting nonofhim. Pretty boring
A very enjoyable album - trots along with some good tunes
Psychedelic
A few keepers in there
This album is clearly important as a very important departure of everything that had come before. While today it seems dated, at the time it was HIGHLY innovative and important. I'll give it that! Season of the Witch is the most recognizable as it was still getting radio play even into the 80's.
I'm just mad about Saffron .... Donovan is the Ralph Steadman of music. His LSD infused madness created epic celebrated songs like Hurdy Gurdy and Season of the Witch, but lays down uninspired drivel [like] most of this album, without psychedelics. Still the few electrified bangers on this album are redeeming... https://www.ralphsteadman.com/collections/
The title track gets things off to a good start, but then it gets lost in the psychedelics. “Bert’s Blues” is cool and “Season of the Witch” brings back the energy of “Sunshine Superman.” “The Fat Angel” has a kind of catchy chorus, but the rest is rather boring. Maybe it pulls you in more if you tune in mid-trip?
Legend of a Girl Child Linda killed this album for me. Otherwise it was a solid 3.
Donovan is a mix of exciting and boring. My favorite song is Season Of The Witch due to the palm muted guitar riff and bass line. They are simplistic, yet effective. Other highlights include Sunshine Superman and Bert’s Blues.
Really nice.
this is the music that your grandpa probably got dangerously high on acid to
Glorious !
I've always liked Donovan and this album is no exception, especially the title track.
1966 folk
I would have loved to experienced what it must have been like to live when this album was charting!
I know a few of Donovan's songs, but only "Season of the Witch" is on this album (the use of "Hurdy Gurdy Man" in David Fincher's Zodiac is perfect, but alas, it's not on this album). A lot of the psychedelic music from the 60's on this list has been really hit or miss with me, so I have no idea how this will land with me. Time to get after it! Well, unfortunately, this album wasn't really my cup of tea. "Season of the Witch" was really great, and the title track was fine, but the rest of the album was mostly 'renaissance-faire-meets-Summer-of-Love,' which wore me down over the course of the album. I think Donovan is a good songwriter, and the album was pleasant enough to listen to, but it was just kind of boring to me. Donovan showed some more traditional folk rock chops on "Season the Witch," but that was really the only song that fell into that category. I wish I had enjoyed this album, because Donovan does have some songs in his broader catalog that I enjoy, but this album wasn't for me.
Couple of good songs. Title song the best
First paychedelic album, good stuff
This is #day121 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... what a big fucking yawn this album evokes. Two songs in, I was already dozing off. As I've mentioned before, I'm fine with some folk rock now and then, I do like Nick Drake, but this was such a dragging bore... Although I found the instrumentation interesting for a time, it's the 60s, so, what can you expect? This is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day122.
The title track is fun and catchy, and he sounds like a lovely happy, hippy person. I'm afraid, overall, it failed to transport me away to those happy places however.
Clearly an inspiration for both Nick Drake and Spinal Tap, so I’m thankful.
I started getting into Donovan's stuff after going down the Beatles White Album rabbit hole. I was familiar with Sunshine Superman and Season of the Witch. The rest of the album was great and I could see myself putting this one on the rotator for a while.
I enjoyed the Renaissance vibes some of the tracks had on this! His vocals don't grab me like some others do but I would definitely listen again.
I checked twice during Legend of a Girl Child Linda to see if it was somehow still the same song. Sheesh. I really disliked this album, with the exception of Sunshine Superman and Season of the Witch. Most of it just sucked. There were a few upbeat, groovy-ish songs that gave me hope, but invariably their lyrics made my brain want to move out. Which is the worse idea, that he's a sheister who thought these lyrics could be passed off as deep, or that he was sincere and thought these lyrics actually were deep?
It’s fine, not bad background music, I probably liked it a tick more than I expected. They used some interesting alternatives to a traditional drum kit, but beyond that it’s kind pretty boring.
That was a slog. Just because you add in some sitar and weird organ parts doesn't make it a good psych album. I wasn't impressed nor will I be back to explore this or anything else in the Donavan catalogue.
Nope, no thank you. This kind of out of place bongo and zither shit is not my cup o' psychedelic mushroom tea.
De första 3-4 låtarna är vassa. Sen blir det lite sämre innan albumet avslutar vasst igen.
Very 60's, enjoyed it but not something I normally listen to. I'd listen again and may check out other albums.
The first half of this is really wonderful, the songs slink along beautifully and feel genuinely interested in exploring instrumentation and sound. After Season of the Witch it drops off a bit and does not retain what I loved about the first side.
Hasn't aged well.... in my opinion!
I swear, if I hear another british guy from the 60’s who uses an overload of sitar, it will be one too many. The only reason this doesn’t get a 1, are the title track and “season of the witch”, the rest is drab
OK, we get it. In the 60s you did a lot of drugs and it made you enjoy the sitar at odd times. Weird, jangly folk tunes
Psychedelic rock really feels like a product of its time and I struggle to appreciate it
Other than the title track and “Season of the Witch” I didn’t find much I liked on this record other than a bunch of meh. I’m chalking up my ambivalence to this being one of those albums that you needed to be there at the time to fully appreciate it. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-sunshine-superman-by?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
This was alright,
It was okay? Nothing crazy but equal to himself
Sunshine Superman and Season of the Witch stand out but the whole thing is really good.
I like this album alot. Groovy and relaxed Sunday sounds that is fantastically 60s/70s. Berts blues is probably the favourite track. Was also pleasantly surprised to hear season of the witch. I had not heard the original rendition before now.
This album was not for me. It was like folk with a lot of Indian motifs in there and it did not hold my attention. Standouts: Legend of a Girl Child Linda and Celeste.
Pretty great
Starts weak but ends strong. Hadn't heard of this guy before but reading up on him he is super influential and you can hear it in this album!
Not really my thing. Had a few songs I didn't dislike, but overall nothing really grabbed my interest.
I did actually know a couple tracks on this album, although I'd never heard of this artist before. It's pretty good, kinda psychedelic, more sitar sprinkled throughout than I would have thought.
Campy lyrics with a generic 60s sound
Not much that I like on this album. Lots of sitar music and it's like Donovan is on the cusp of the hippie psychedelic scene, but he's Scottish. 1.5/5 = 2 stars.
Sweet album, a little dated but still stands up
en svag trea. pluspoäng för att vara först med psykedelisk rock och för att ha influerat beatles och rollings tones. men andra låten och vissa andra är så sjukt tråkiga. öppningsspåret och titelspåret är väldigt bra.
Album 581 of 1001 Donovan - Sunshine Superman (1966) Rating : 3.5 / 5 Saw this aptly described as "somber psychedelia". For me, it is iconic as representing that moment that many (most who weren't there) consider to be the quintessential sixties complete with the bohemian styles, psychedelic colors and the feeling of some altered consciousness. Good listen.
A different album. But different was good this time.
Sweet, psychedelic melodies back by lush instrumentation. Sometimes you get elements of groovy country, sometimes you get mind-bending folk, and while the album never really blows me away, there are several fantastic songs throughout the consistently solid tracklist.
Love Donavan. This album is a bit low key than his others, but still a vibe.
Some good tunes
Decent - enjoyable but maybe get a bit samey after a couple of spins
s'alright a couple of good tracks on here. Check out Lana Del Rey's cover of Season of the Witch.
Just the 60’s in musical form.
Has a couple of bangers on it, but a couple of bangers do not required listening make. Happy I got to hear Celeste, however. Not one of the more well-known Donovan tunes, and I really liked it.
Incredible 4.8
See, I think that an exceptional album, like, an album that you really love and want to share, has to have at least half of its tracks be such great songs that it makes the entire album raise up. That is not the case for this album. Its got 2 good songs, only one of them a classic. Wouldn't recommend to, well, pretty much anyone. 3/5
Thought it would be ok when I recognized the first song. Boy was I wrong.
Fun album with a lot of diverse sounds and influences, probably 3.5
um what?
Sunshine Superman has some decent moments, notably the first and last track, but for the most part it's middling 60s psychedelia that doesn't really hit the spot. I like his voice, but I don't much like the arrangements or the musical consistency of the album. 2/5.
I liked this- it's Lou Reed with a bit more tunefulness, a better singing voice, but not quite as biting with the lyrics. Season of the Witch was my favourite, the album as a whole is a bit hit and miss, but a comfortable 3 for me.
De la pure folk, de celle qui définit le genre. Donovan déroule son album tel un conteur, un ménestrel hippie aux riches récits... On se laisse porter sans le moindre effort !
Non ricordo quindi 2.5
You know it’s ‘60s stoner rock as soon as that sitar starts playing. I have always been familiar with and enjoyed Sunshine Superman. But as I was listening to the rest I thought I needed to get some drugs to listen to the rest. Then I wanted to get some drugs to avoid hearing the rest. Celeste was pretty good, but everything in between was just too period (Stoney) specific to make a constant listen.
Does 1 or 2 songs make a great album? No, they do not. Donovan killed it on the singles. Sunshine Superman is a banger! 100. Season of the Witch might justify you buying the album. The rest is very meh or worse. Just add Sunshine Superman to your golden oldies playlist and Season of the Witch to your Halloween playlist and skip the rest.
I have trouble connecting with the folkier songs. Unlike, say, Simon and Garfunkel, I don't have history with Donovan and the time/genre gap is too hard to bridge. They just kinda bounce off me. On the rockier stuff though, you can either feel Jimmy Page's contribution, or hear the influence Donovan had on Led Zep (it's hard to untangle which tracks Page played on). Season of the Witch is, and the kids say, a banger. Overall - I think with a bit less sitar and a bit more guitar, this would have aged a lot better.
Not my favorite Donovan record. There are a few great songs. But the rest is mid for him.
Not bad but not for me Ynn
I’ll always have a soft spot for Donovan as my dad used to sing Mellow Yellow to me when I was a baby But this is fairly insipid stuff
Quite Spinal Tap in their embryonic days as hippies but ok.
They could have named this album “Mushrooms or LSD” because you really need to be on one or the other to get this. Other than the title track everything else is a mash of psychedelic noise. Skip it man.
This is the second time I am going to make a comparison to Pink Floyd; and I have yet to get anything from Pink Floyd on the generator. It's heartbreaking, really. I say this because if you have any exposure to Pink Floyd's early Syd Barrett days and were in any way a fan, Donovan's 'Sunshine Superman' will be right up your street. The opening title track 'Sunshine Superman' feels like an outlier, almost like it doesn't belong on the album; as if this was the single to get people interested. Because the rest of the tracklist couldn't be any more different. One of my favourite tracks directly follows it: 'Legend Of A Girl Called Linda', a 6+ minute folk song with relaxing, almost deliberately slow, singing featuring easy floating acoustic guitar work accompanied by a very light orchestral backdrop and tasteful use of wind instruments; as Donovan lets out mystical, fantasy-esque, and wonderfully whimsical lyrics. It took me right back to the many D&D sessions I used to have more time for. And I loved every second of it. This continues into other tracks such as 'Guinevere'. 'Three Kingfishers' and 'The Fat Angel', as well - but they expand the overall sound with more Indian flavours. But it's not all medieval inspired tales; there is the excellent, self referential, finisher 'Celeste'. Donovan also litters many songs with the kind of out-of-left-field observations a lot of 60's psychedelic rock was famous for. 'Ferris Wheel', the bluesy 'Bert's Blues', the more traditional rock based 'Season Of The Witch', and the almost country-esque 'The Trip' in which he references a particularly strange experience with LCD It's a fascinating album that you can find yourself getting totally lost in. Similar to Syd Barrett, there's just something about Donovan's voice, lyricism, and musical influences that all combine to make the music so damn engaging that it will speak to you in many different ways regardless of what your state of mind is at the time. And at 10 tracks, it feels like such a perfect length to leave you satisfied and wanting so much more. I am literally sitting here wanting to dive into the dude's discography after listening to this album three times this morning. 'Sunshine Superman', I feel, will make any fan of psychedelic music wish they were around to watch it all happen in real time during the late 60's. Between this, Pink Floyd's 'Piper At The Gates Of Dawn', The Beatles 'Revolver', Hendrix's trilogy of albums, and more. It really seems like a time of prominent artists creating whatever the hell came to their heads - and having record labels around that were willing to finance it to let it flourish. And it's a shame that the music industry today doesn't operate that way any more. Artists back then were allowed the freedom to work their way up to a magnum opus, whereas today it feels that has to be an artist's starting point. Anyway - getting back on topic - this album is a psychedelic masterpiece and I cannot stop listening to it. 5/5
OK? I guess? I wouldn't say it belongs here though. 4/10
Ok. I can definitely tell this was early psychedelic music. 3/5
Somewhat nice music with some songs having an old timey sound or theme.
A period piece of early British psychedelia - sitars, tablas, hedgerows, ravens and dark forebodings.
It’s a little cheesy, but for whatever reason, I enjoyed this quite a bit today. Psychedelic music usually isn’t my thing - I think the overearnest folksiness somehow worked in its favor here. Favorite tracks: Three Kingfishers, Bert’s Blues, Season of the Witch 3.5?
Sunshine Superman was an album that was quite a bit better than i was expecting. At first, i was kinda expecting a rather mediocre psychedelic folk rock album but this one did quite a few things to get itself into my good graces. The music on this album was pretty good and could frequently change it's mood to sound either more upbeat and catchy to more mellow and somber. The vocals and the music were also pretty decent here too. This album isn't really anything super special but for what it does, it does a pretty fine job. Best Song: Sunshine Superman Worst Song: Three King Fishers
I wasn't very into it. Will I listen to again: 0%
Album was okay. Some familiar songs, but nothing that notable otherwise. 2.5/5 Probably won’t listen again
Some catchy songs. Pretty chill album.
Starts off strong, but fades at the end. 2.5/5
feel like Donovan is super underrated
Way ahead of Dylan, and he can sing!
Honestly, I have like no feelings on this album.
fun album overall. no songs i disliked but it didn’t stand out as amazing.
#359. Most of it was just alright, but a few pretty good songs in the mix. 3/5: good. Song added to playlist: Sunshine Superman I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
Outside of the first track I could leave the rest
Kinda boring. Rating 3 instead of 2 because I like Season of the Witch
All these 60s psychedelia albums start to blend together at a point. Nothing remarkable here
The maker of this list really has a hard-on for 60s Brit Pop. Without knowing it, I was familiar with a few Donovan songs already. He did “Mellow Yellow” too, which isn’t on this album. This is a hard one to rate. I’m giving it a 4 because I enjoyed the experience today, but I don’t think I’ll ever revisit Donovan for any reason, so I guess that makes it a 3.5.
This was so outrageously psychadelic 60's in a nutshell... Mostly in a good way but sometimes a little too ridiculous. Lots of random medieval vibes and random sitar.
So British. So 60's. When it works it really works, like the huge opener Sunshine Superman, Season of the Witch, and Bert's Blues. However I find the king and castles stuff pretty wearing.
El lehetett hallgatni, nem utáltam, de semmi sem hívta fel benne a figyelmem.
ahhoz képest, hogy Donovan a szegény ember Bob Dylanjeként ismert, ez az album most a szegény ember korai, pszichedelikus pink floydja volt 🤣 still shit though.
I enjoyed listening to this album. He's got a decent voice, the songs are catchy, but not exceptional, and have a nice mellow vibe to them without putting you to sleep.
Good, enjoyable to listen to. Have to say I am a bit biased.
Quite a great album actually, I didn't expect to like it so much. Having only been familiar with the title track so far, I had never listened to the whole album, but it was definitely worth it. 4.2/5, enjoyable experience all over, will definitely listen again. I would have never listened to the entire thing by myself, so I see this as an absolute win.
I bet this one would be decent if it wasn't so boring
Spoopy sad
Little too out there for me. I recognized a couple songs that I do like.
This album surprised me. Great melodies, definitely worth a listen.
Excellent highlights but it leaves me desiring more psychedelia than pure folk. It doesn’t have the best track order (the US version) in my opinion. Highlights: “Sunshine Superman” & “Season of the Witch”. 3 stars.
What I imagine every hippie drum circle sounded like.
It’s quite alright. It’s kind of the same as much of what also was around at that time - I just not as good - but maybe a few more listens will do the trick
Un autre album de psychédélique, pour une fois qui se distingue un tantinet plus à cause de l'incorporation plus importante de folk. Mais rien de si mémobrable. 6/10.
Wow. Dieses Album kann man heute immer noch hören. Zeitlos und wunderschöne Melodien. Da kann man nur staunen. Ich bin heute noch genauso begeistert wie damals.
3.5
4.5/5
I thought I'd like this one more... Strangely I think side 2 was the better side. Especially with both "Season of the Witch" and "Fat Angel" on that side. (8.1) ★★★★
Some cool tracks, mainly the hits, but too uneven and very of its time
Pretty cool slice of early freak folk. The title track and "Season of the Witch" are obvious highlights, but pretty enjoyable throughout - 4 stars.
2.5
Has a couple of notable classics that open each half with the title song and Season Of The Witch. There are some enjoyable light, medieval textures throughout along with Donovan’s wispy, freakay, Bowiesque-before-Bowie troubadouring. There are also a couple too many song that lack any kind of colour or magic though so it ends up being a patchy listen. 3.5 stars.
Groovy album. Fan of Donovan’s hippy dippy far out thing. 4 stars
Enjoyed it more than I thought I would, but really nothing memorable after the first song.
Never heard this before. There are a couple of memorable songs, but most of this trippy flower-power psychedelic folk album is hard to take seriously. I'll give it a soft 3 stars.
Decent enough
I listened to a history podcast about the 60s recently so this went well with that! Very interesting to hear the origins of flower power hippie music! As for the rating, I don't really remember what I thought of it - I ended up listening to it twice through so I must have quite liked it but I don't remember any of it
Fun enough
It's ok. But not more.
I recognized the title song. this album is classic 60’s psychedelic music.
nah
I had to listen to this in a couple of sessions, because I started it when I was commuting home on the train and kept dozing off. That’s not really a knock on the album, but it does have a kind of sleepy, fairy tale quality.
I thought I was gonna like it but I didn’t. Donovan’s voice annoys me and none of the songs really caught my attention, I was mostly bored. Luckily it’s short. I kinda liked Bert’s blues and Season of the witch. The rest was a bit too sameish. 2/5
Interesting voice, great articulation, groovy lyrics. A little too flower power pilled for me to swallow at times.
a little... old
A nice one to have heard.
The hits are good, but the rest is pretty yawn inducing for me...
Listening to his album brings radio that I really like… But his stuff just never took route… Good rhythm, but not really my jam
I have a thought time with Donovan. Looking at his work through the lens of someone born shortly after this album was released doesn't give me the experience to rate this kind of music from a contemporary point of view. Being considerate of the impact Donovan has and had on music I get where he's coming from and while Sunshine Superman and Season of the Witch are well known enough, the rest of the album strikes me as the kind of music I never understood or could get into. 3/5
I did own a compilation CD back in the day with some Donovon on it, and I haven't heard it in years, I love the title track. Legend of Girl Child Linda not so much. Lots and lots of sitar Bert's Blues is pretty good Love Seasons of the Witch The Trip is pretty good too, the Fat Angel is pretty groovy maybe a 2 for this album, not my favorite but some hidden gems in there and 2 tracks I love.
Title track and Season of the Witch are the highlights. Most of the rest is a snooze-fest.
I like donovan but didn't love this one. found it a bit tedious to listen to. season of the witch still great. 3
This record is so hippy-dippy, flower-power. It is corny and naive. But I love it for that. Can't we love something because it makes us happy? I can. Four stars.
Classic
Donovan is one of those artists who had a large following during his early years but seems like a more a footnote of the flower power generation today. To my knowledge, he only had a handful of really big songs (my favorite one, 'Atlantis' is sadly not on this album). Having said that, I genuinely like Donovan, or at least the little of his discography I've heard. He sounds genuine and passionate and cool in his own subtle way but without pretension. The music is heavily folk influenced with shades of psychedelia and sitar music. While that description could apply to any number of 60s artists, Donovan stands out as something special. One day, I think I should do a deep dive into his discography.
I like how light it is. It's enjoyable. I didn't really get "into" it, but I liked the listen
I mean it’s great for the times and just fine by today’s standards. A lot more folk fantasy with woodwinds and sitar than I expected. Incongruous sounds that I didn’t love together but all the same it was I’m sure groundbreaking.
As much as I want to malign Donovan, I just can't. His tunes are catchy and enjoyable, if sometimes downright creepy (Sunshine Superman).
White guy at the farmers market with the sitar I hate the way he writes his songs. I don’t have the technical vocabulary for it, but he has like an A/ B verse and it gets really irritating after the fourth or fifth time he does it.
Very eclectic without losing that signature Donovan sound. A little pretentious sometimes but still an enjoyable listen
A really interesting listen. I can hear this influence of this album reverberate through the next nearly 60 years. From Jefferson Airplane, to the Doors, to Beck, to even Smash Mouth. Elements of this album feed the inspiration of bands to come. I already knew a few songs on this album, but it was enjoyable to hear the rest.
4.0
Ich kiffe nicht. Vielleicht kriege ich deshalb keine Zugang zu dieser Platte?
Decent 60s music but nothing too special
Psychedelic, folky goodness with served up by Donovan on Sunshine Superman. The title track and Season of the Witch carry this album for sure but everything else was hazy and hit the spot. Guinevere was a little medieval for me but otherwise this was excellent. 4 stars
trying too hard to be Dylan
A pure 60's psych rock/folk rock record. Good pastiche of it's time. Or maybe less of pastiche or more of a time capsule. Some cool sitar, nice mixes of beachy grooves, 60's lounge pop and psychedelic rock.
One banger
++: Sunshine Superman, Season of the Witch, The Trip +: Legend of a Girl Child Linda, Three King Fishers, Bert's Blues, Celeste +-: Ferris Wheel, Guinevere, The Fat Angel 7,6/10
More 1960s jangle pop. 2.5
p121. 1967. 2 stars. 60's hippy-trippy nonsense, saved from a one star review by a couple of good tunes. I imagine that at the time, with a decent summer, a tab of LSD and a liberated hippy chick, this would have been fabulous. As it is, it's as faded as meadow wildflowers in autumn.
Good album
Some great psychedelic rock here with songs like the title track and Season of the Witch; however, half the album is nonsensical and pretentious, track 2 is particularly a stinker
kinda get why cartman hates hippies sm now 5/10