- Show everything (121)
- Released as Donovan (101)
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Credits on others' music (21)
- Tracks on others' music (255)
![Sunshine Superman [US]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61yCjn8SwoL._SS105_.jpg "Sunshine Superman [US]")
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Donovan
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Donovan
Edit- Born:
- May 10, 1946, he's 66 and Scottish.
- Birthname:
- Donovan Phillips Leitch.
- Snapshot:
- An Artist with 101 releases, and credited 21 times on others' music. 19 collaborations.
Biography
EditDonovan Leitch struggled to escape the frequent comparisons which tagged him as Britain's Bob Dylan, though he did seem to be happier, and perhaps somewhat prettier, than his US counterpart.
Donovan was born in Scotland, but moved to England when he was ten. When he left school he eschewed art college and chose instead to travel with his best friend Gypsy Dave, busk and play in clubs during the emerging British folk scene. In 1964, at the age of 18, he was offered his first recording contract. He recorded several of the songs he had been writing including his first hit, "Catch the Wind". Within a short time he was appearing on the weekly TV pop show Ready Steady Go!.
What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid (Catch the Wind in the US) was his 1965 debut album which reached No.3 in the UK charts and No.30 in the US. He followed this up with Universal Soldier. The EP was notable for its anti-war stance, especially in view of America's involvement in Vietnam at that time.
In 1965 Donovan was introduced to Linda Lawrence his future wife and muse whom "Catch the Wind was dedicated to. Mickie Most who went on to be the producer of so much of Donovan's output. 1966 saw an increasingly hippy-inspired Donovan release "Sunshine Superman". The track moved away from folk and towards jazz, blues and Eastern influences. The Sunshine Superman album was released in 1966
He followed it up with "Mellow Yellow" whose title song was believed to be about smoking bananas, "Hurdy Gurdy Man" which he wrote while on the Beatles' famous trip to India and "Atlantis".
In 1969 he had a falling out with Most and Open Road, the first release since the split, marked the start of a decline in his popularity. He reconciled with Most in 1973, but the bubble had burst. Donovan albums have continued to be released - there are 23 studio albums to date and he is currently working on a two disc album and another worldwide tour.
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Trivia
Edit- Donovan went to India to study TM with the Beatles, Mike Love, Mia Farrow and Paul Horn among others.
- Donovan's film credits include: Poor Cow, If It's Tuesday..., Pied Piper (his only starring role in a movie) and Brother Sun Sister Moon.
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Websites
Edit- Official sites
- http://www.donovan.ie/
- Fan sites
- The Land of Doesn't Have to Be
- Other sites
- Wikipedia - Donovan
- Amazon.com Artist Store
- IMDb
- Musicbrainz
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