The Real Donovan

Infobox Album |
Name = The Real Donovan
Type = Compilation album
Artist = Donovan


Released = September 1966
Recorded = 1965
Genre = folk
Length =
Label = Hickory Records
Producer = Terry Kennedy, Peter Eden, Geoff Stephens
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|2|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:5ucyxdjbjold link] |
Last album = "Fairytale"
(1965)
This album = "The Real Donovan"
(1966)
Next album = "Sunshine Superman"
(1966)|

"The Real Donovan" is the first compilation album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the U.S. (Hickory LPM 135 (monaural) /LPS 135 (stereo)) in September 1966.

History

When Donovan signed a contract with Epic Records, he became entangled in a legal dispute with Pye Records over the rights to his music. These legal proceedings withheld any new Donovan releases in the United Kingdom until late 1966. In the meantime, Pye Records' United States distributor Hickory Records compiled "The Real Donovan" from Donovan's Pye Records releases, choosing several songs that had not yet appeared on any United States release.

"The Real Donovan" was released within the same month as Donovan's first Epic Records album "Sunshine Superman". Both albums were intended to capitalize on the success of the "Sunshine Superman" single, which hit #1 on the Billboard charts in the United States. While it did not match the Billboard chart success and sales of "Sunshine Superman", "The Real Donovan" did chart, ultimately reaching #96.

Album origins of tracks

The following is a list explaining the original releases of each song. Tracks that were previously unreleased in the United States are noted with *, followed by explanations of their origin.

* "Turquoise" (UK single, released October 30 1965; Released in U.S. as b-side to "To Try for the Sun" in January 1966)
* "Oh Deed I Do"* (from UK version of "Fairytale", released October 22 1965)
* "Catch the Wind" (from "What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid", released May 14 1965)
* "Remember the Alamo" (from "What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid", released May 14 1965)
* "Ballad of a Crystal Man"* (from "The Universal Soldier" EP, released August 15 1965)
* "Colours" (from "Fairytale", released October 22 1965)
* "Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)"* (b-side of "Turquoise", released October 30 1965)
* "Belated Forgiveness Plea" (from "Fairytale", released October 22 1965)
* "Ramblin' Boy" (from "What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid", released May 14 1965)
* "The War Drags On"* (from "The Universal Soldier" EP, released August 15 1965)
* "Josie" (from "What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid", released May 14 1965)
* "To Try for the Sun" (from "Fairytale", released October 22 1965)

Track listing

All tracks by Donovan Leitch, except where noted.

ide one

#"Turquoise"
#"Oh Deed I Do" (Bert Jansch)
#"Catch the Wind"
#"Remember the Alamo" (Jane Bowers)
#"Ballad of a Crystal Man"
#"Colours"

ide two

#"Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)"
#"Belated Forgiveness Plea"
#"Rambin' Boy"
#"The War Drags On" (Mick Softley)
#"Josie"
#"To Try for the Sun"