#39 - Donovan

Donovan's inner light led him to several innovations that we take for granted in hindsight.  

  * delving into world music, including his own celtic heritage

  * developing heavily thematic songs, like Atlantis ("Way down below the ocean...")

  * having friends and connections in just about every important band of his era

  * leading the way in adopting a 'flower power' persona

  * name checking in his songs

The Donovan songs that I'm still eager to hear include the brilliant "Hurdy Gurdy Man", the beautifully titled "Wear Your Love Like Heaven"--excellent cover by Sarah McLachlan, by the way--and the weird "Season of the Witch"--several good covers).

Donovan was one of the few musicians invited to attend the final recordings for the Beatles "Day In The Life".  He was friends with the Rolling Stones' Brain Jones (later marrying the latter's ex-girlfriend).  He is in D. A. Pennebaker's film of Bob Dylan's 1965 tour, meeting with Dylan.  His "Hurdy Gurdy Man" may have been the first time that three of four Led Zepplin members played together.  He had wanted Jimi Hendrix to play in that song, but was unable to arrange it.  

A possible reason his career faded in the '70s is that in '67 he was one of the first British musicians to be busted for marijuana.  This meant that he couldn't make it to the Monterey Pop Festival that year, due to being denied entry into the US.  Another reason, is that in '69 he split up with his longtime producer Mickie Most (over a California 'session' that included Stephen Stills and Mama Cass getting a bit too lubricated...to the point of near uselessness).

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Each band or performer is graded on four things:
  1.  Innovation
  2.  Influence in my life--as a typical American
  3.  Integrity: the band's approach to music (just making a buck or honing a craft?)  
  4.  Immortality--am I, a typical American--still eager to hear their music

10/6/5/2 = 23 out of a perfect 40

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Additonal collaborations: John Paul Jones (Led Zep) arranged "Mellow Yellow".  Paul McCartney is on the tamborine and singing back-up on "Atlantis".