Donovan - The Hurdy Gurdy Man

Original Mono Mixes! Complete Original Cover Art! A Psychedelic, Progressive Edge with an Exotic Eastern Flavor! Donovan's Psychedlic Classic! With 1968's The Hurdy Gurdy Man, Donovan delivered one of his most adventurous works, with a pair of memorable hits in the title track and "Jennifer Juniper." Sundazed's vinyl edition features the album's rare, much sought-after original mono mix, doing justice to the sonic presence and creative imagination of this timeless classic! In the revolutionary musical atmosphere of the second half of the 1960s, no artist embodied the era's spirit of creative freedom and freewheeling self-invention more strongly than Donovan. Born Donovan Philips Leitch, the multitalented Scottish troubadour rose from the U.K. folk scene and was initially hailed as Britain's answer to Bob Dylan. But he quickly transcended his original folkie image to adopt a more distinctive and expansive vision that put him in the vanguard of the psychedelic/flower-power explosion, while also exploring his interest in blues, jazz and Eastern music. Embracing an optimistic sensibility that exemplified the era's most idealistic hopes and dreams, Donovan was one of the few '60s artists who managed to make consistently inventive and popular albums while also scoring regularly on the singles charts, and his unique body of work remains as compelling today as when it was first created. Now, Sundazed presents Donovan's classic '60s album in its original LP configuration, featuring high-quality vinyl, definitive mono mixes and complete original cover art. With 1968's The Hurdy Gurdy Man, Donovan delivered one of his most full-realized works, with a psychedelic/progressive edge as well as an exotic Eastern flavor that reflects the influence of his then-recent trip with the Beatles to India to study with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi—an experience that helped to inspire Donovan to renounce drug use and encourage his fans to try meditation instead of chemical consumption. While the title track introduced a heavier-sounding Donovan to AM radio listeners and became one of his biggest hit singles, the smash "Jennifer Juniper" maintains his gentle, romantic side. The album's playful experimental spirit is reflected in the innovative use of drones on such tracks as "Peregrine" and "Tangier," and in the music-hall diversion of "As I Recall It," while "A Sunny Day," "The River Song" and "The Entertaining of a Shy Girl" showcase Donovan's knack for idyllic, pastoral songcraft. Sundazed's vinyl edition of The Hurdy Gurdy Man features the album's rare, much sought-after original mono mix, doing justice to the sonic presence and creative imagination of this vintage gem. "[T]he 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." - John Bush, allmusic.com "After some wordless humming and folky guitar strums, 'Hurdy Gurdy Man' evolves into an all-out psychedelic rocker with a furious electric guitar solo, Donovan singing the praises of a mysterious figure spreading songs of love." - Rolling Stone Features: • High-Quality Vinyl LP • Original Mono Mix • Complete Original Cover Art Selections: Side 1: 1. Hurdy Gurdy Man 2. Peregrine 3. The Entertaining of a Shy Girl 4. As I Recall It 5. Get Thy Bearings 6. Hi It’s Been a Long Time 7. West Indian Lady Side 2: 1. Jennifer Juniper 2. The River Song 3. Tangier 4. A Sunny Day 5. The Sun Is a Very Magic Fellow 6. Teas