CD REVIEW
Sunshine Superman, Donovan, Digimode, 1999
Elsewhere in this space I have reviewed a 2007 Donovan benefit concert in Los Angeles, “Donovan: Live In L.A.”, for the movie director David Lynch’s meditation center. As part of that review I noted that the now 60-something Donovan, my contemporary from the”Generation of ‘68”, had lost a step or two after viewing that performance. He kind of mailed it in there. I also noted that if one had a choice between that DVD, which I gave three stars to, and the five stars CD under review here then grab this one with both hands. Without getting all nostalgic about it these tracks, many of them covered in the documentary, jump with the spirit, naiveté, and hopes of the 1960’s. Donovan was, and is, an extraordinary songwriter. But more than that, in his prime he epitomized the hopes and dreams that we could create a “newer world”. That we failed in that important task does not negate that his music was part of that mix in trying to “turn the world upside down”.
Just listing his songs here evokes a whole youth of color, change, causes and clashes. That said, those who decide to get this CD will get a full cycle of Donovan’s early work, including the simple but strong melody of “Colors” and the wistfulness and yearning of “Catch The Wind” (recently used in an automobile commercial-not good) that first brought Donovan’s music to my attention. “Jennifer Juniper” (didn’t we all have dreams of our own Jennifer, or wanted to), the funky, funny sing-along “ Mellow Yellow” , the pacifically-inclined and strongly anti-war Buffy St. Marie song “The Universal Soldier” and Donovan’s theme song “Sunshine Superman” are also included. As are the mystical “Atlantis” and the semi-mystical “Hurdy Gurdy Man”. Ah, those were the days.
