Donovan


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Donovan
Hurdy Gurdy Man
Release Date: 1968 10 zz
Running Time: 35:02
Label: Epic
Rating:

Having Mickie Most as producer could be a double-edged sword. On The Hurdy Gurdy Man, his over-ambitious nature and scattershot production sense occasionally sabotaged Donovan's songs rather than emphasizing their strengths. (The credits shamelessly list "Produced by Mickie Most" and "A Mickie Most Production," right next to each other.) As with the last few LPs, the program began with the hit title track (one of Donovan's best singles), a dim, dark song balancing psychedelia with the heavier, earthier rock championed during 1968 by Dylan and the Beatles. Though the next two tracks -- an eerie, trance-like "Peregrine" and the endearing acoustic number "The Entertaining of a Shy Girl" -- are excellent performances, any sense of mood is soon shattered by a hopelessly overblown music-hall showtune, "As I Recall It." This terrible problem of pacing and song placement continually afflicts The Hurdy Gurdy Man, rendering ineffective many solid songs. As for the writing, Donovan certainly wasn't expanding his songbase; as usual, the album overflowed with playful songs on girls ("West Indian Lady," "Jennifer Juniper") and pastoral themes ("The River Song," "A Sunny Day," "The Sun Is a Very Magic Fellow"). Most of these featured more inventive, sympathetic accompaniment, combined with Donovan's usual spot-on delivery. Despite the great songs and (usually) solid performances, though, The Hurdy Gurdy Man is a very difficult listen. John Bush, All Music Guide

Tracks:
TitleComposerTime
1Hurdy Gurdy ManDonovan [1]3:13
2PeregrineDonovan [1]3:34
3Entertaining of a Shy GirlDonovan [1]1:39
4As I Recall ItDonovan [1]2:06
5Get Thy BearingsDonovan [1]2:47
6Hi It's Been a Long TimeDonovan [1]2:32
7West Indian LadyDonovan [1]2:15
8Jennifer JuniperDonovan [1]2:40
9River SongDonovan [1]2:14
10TangierDonovan [1]4:10
11Sunny DayDonovan [1]1:52
12Sun Is a Very Magic FellowDonovan [1]3:31
13TeasDonovan [1]2:29

Other Releases:
Hurdy Gurdy Man [Bonus Tracks]
Release Date: 1968
Label: EMI Music Distribution








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