Slow Down World

Infobox Album |
Name = Slow Down World
Type = Album
Artist = Donovan


Released = May 1976
Recorded = August 1975 – March 1976
Genre = folk
Length = 39:21
Label = Epic Records
Producer = Donovan Leitch
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|2.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:5tknu3i5an4k link]
*Robert Christgau (C-) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Donovan link] |
Last album = "7-Tease"
(1974)
This album = "Slow Down World"
(1976)
Next album = "Donovan"
(1977)|

"Slow Down World" is the thirteenth studio album, and fifteenth album overall, from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the U.S. (Epic PE 33945) in May 1976 and in the UK (Epic SEPC 86011) on June 4, 1976.

History

Over his past few album releases, Donovan had hired a succession of popular record producers in hopes of chart success – Mickie Most for "Cosmic Wheels", Andrew Loog Oldham for "Essence to Essence", and Norbert Putnam for "7-Tease". The success of these albums was mild at best, and indicated a shift in Donovan's popularity away from the superstardom of the 1960's and towards a distinctly smaller fan base. For his next album, Donovan decided to embrace this fan base by taking on the producer duties himself and writing a set of songs that were directly at odds with the popular sounds of the time. While "Slow Down World" does contain some upbeat numbers, many of the songs feature tired and resigned lyrics.

Two of the songs on "Slow Down World" were written by Donovan's longtime friend Derroll Adams. Derroll was the influence behind "Epistle to Derroll" from Donovan's 1968 album "A Gift from a Flower to a Garden". Donovan's hit "There is a Mountain" has similar lyrics to "The Mountain", one of the Derroll Adams songs covered here.

"Slow Down World" reached #174 in the U.S. charts, matching the success of "Essence to Essence" but not reaching the success of Donovan's last album, "7-Tease". More importantly, "Slow Down World" marked the last album of Donovan's Epic Records contract. Without access to Epic's promotion mechanisms, Donovan never again achieved chart success or the same level of record sales.

Reissues

*On April 19, 2004, Diablo Records released "7-Tease/Slow Down World" (DIAB8052) in the UK on CD. This compilation includes all of "7-Tease" and all of "Slow Down World" on one disc, and marks the first time all of "Slow Down World" was released on CD.

Track listing

All tracks by Donovan Leitch, except where noted.

Original album

ide one

#"Dark-eyed Blue Jean Angel" – 3:50
#"Cryin' Shame" – 4:29
#"The Mountain" (Derroll Adams) – 3:32
#"Children of the World" – 3:22
#"My Love Is True (Love Song)" (Adams) – 3:41

ide two

#"A Well Known Has-Been" – 7:25
#"Black Widow" – 5:44
#"Slow Down World" – 4:22
#"Liberation Rag" – 2:56