The Hurdy Gurdy Man

For the EP by Butthole Surfers, see The Hurdy Gurdy Man (EP).
The Hurdy Gurdy Man
Studio album by Donovan
Released October 1968
Recorded November 1967 - April 1968
Genre Rock, psychedelic rock, raga rock, folk rock
Length 35:02
Label Epic
Producer Mickie Most
Donovan chronology
Donovan in Concert
(1968)		 The Hurdy Gurdy Man
(1968)		 Barabajagal
(1969)
Singles from "The Hurdy Gurdy Man"
  1. "Hurdy Gurdy Man" b/w "Teen Angel"
    Released: August 1968
  2. "Jennifer Juniper" b/w "Poor Cow"
    Released: October 1968

The Hurdy Gurdy Man is the sixth studio album (seventh overall) by Scottish singer/songwriter Donovan, released in the US in October 1968 (Epic Records BN 26420 (stereo)), but not in the UK, because of a continuing contractual dispute that also prevented Sunshine Superman and Mellow Yellow from a UK release. A songbook of lead sheets to the album was nonetheless issued in both countries.

History

Donovan wrote and recorded much of The Hurdy Gurdy Man in late 1967 not long after recording the songs that would form A Gift from a Flower to a Garden. The rest of The Hurdy Gurdy Man was recorded in April 1968, after he visited Rishikesh, India to study under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi; John Lennon, Cynthia Lennon, George Harrison, Pattie Boyd, Paul McCartney, Jane Asher, Ringo Starr, Mia Farrow, Prudence Farrow, Brian Wilson, and Mike Love were there as well. Donovan has since said in concerts that Harrison wrote a verse for "Hurdy Gurdy Man" when they were in India, but it wasn't recorded for the studio version. On his 1973 live album Live in Japan: Spring Tour 1973 and his 1990 live album Rising, Donovan explains the story and sings the previously omitted verse. The last verse of "Hurdy Gurdy Man" written by George Harrison is: "When the truth gets buried deep, beneath a thousand years of sleep, time demands a turn around, and once again the truth is found".

Donovan's songwriting for The Hurdy Gurdy Man centered on drones on such songs as "Peregrine", "The River Song" and "Tangier" (the latter two being compositions by his good friend Gypsy Dave AKA Gyp Mills), and pop music on most of the other tracks. "As I Recall It" continues Donovan's infatuation with jazz. "Jennifer Juniper" and "Hurdy Gurdy Man" were both released as singles well before the album was released.

The recording sessions for the album are purported to have included future Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones. Page was in The Yardbirds at the time and was actively looking to rebuild that band.[1] The album credits John Bonham for percussion on the song and Clem Cattini as the drummer.

Reissues

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic (Original release)
Allmusic (2005 reissue)
Trax Magazine

Track listing

Original album (US) on LP

All tracks credited to Donovan Leitch. According to BMI,[2] "A Sunny Day" and "The River Song" were collaborations with David J. Mills, but "Tangier" was written solely by Mills under its original title of "In Tangier Down a Windy Street".[3]

Side one

  1. "Hurdy Gurdy Man" - 3:13
  2. "Peregrine" - 3:34
  3. "The Entertaining of a Shy Girl" - 1:39
  4. "As I Recall It" - 2:06
  5. "Get Thy Bearings" - 2:47
  6. "Hi It's Been a Long Time" - 2:32
  7. "West Indian Lady" - 2:15

Side two

  1. "Jennifer Juniper" - 2:40
  2. "The River Song" - 2:14
  3. "Tangier" - 4:10
  4. "A Sunny Day" - 1:52
  5. "The Sun is a Very Magic Fellow" - 3:31
  6. "Teas" - 2:29

2005 CD (EMI, UK) bonus tracks

All tracks by Donovan Leitch.

  1. "Teen Angel"
  2. "Poor Cow"
  3. "Laléna"
  4. "Aye My Love"
  5. "What a Beautiful Creature You Are" (Duet with Lulu)
  6. "Colours"
  7. "Catch the Wind"

Cover versions

References

  1. ↑ Donovan's Greatest Hits
  2. ↑ BMI.com
  3. ↑ Donovan
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