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''Beat Cafe'' is the 23rd studio
album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...
, and 28th album overall, from Scottish singer-songwriter
Donovan Donovan Phillips Leitch (born 10 May 1946), known mononymously as Donovan, is a Scottish musician, songwriter, and record producer. He developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelic rock and world mus ...
. It is his first collection containing newly written songs since his 1996 album ''
Sutras ''Sutra'' ( sa, सूत्र, translit=sūtra, translit-std=IAST, translation=string, thread)Monier Williams, ''Sanskrit English Dictionary'', Oxford University Press, Entry fo''sutra'' page 1241 in Indian literary traditions refers to an aph ...
''. ''Beat Cafe'' was released worldwide (Appleseed Records 1081) on 24 August 2004. The first 1000 CDs were autographed and hand numbered.


History

After the launching of his website and three new releases within two years, Donovan entered the studio with a new band including his longtime friends
Danny Thompson Daniel Henry Edward Thompson (born 4 April 1939) is an English multi-instrumentalist best known as a double bassist. He has had a long musical career playing with a large variety of other musicians, particularly Richard Thompson and John Mart ...
on bass and
Jim Keltner James Lee Keltner (born April 27, 1942) is an American drummer and percussionist known primarily for his session work. He was characterized by Bob Dylan biographer Howard Sounes as "the leading session drummer in America".Howard Sounes. ''Down ...
on drums. The new sessions, produced by John Chelew, mixed rock and roll with a
beatnik Beatniks were members of a social movement in the 1950s that subscribed to an anti-materialistic lifestyle. History In 1948, Jack Kerouac introduced the phrase "Beat Generation", generalizing from his social circle to characterize the undergr ...
style. In addition to handling production duties, Chelew contributed keyboards to many of the songs on the album. While many of the songs were new compositions, Donovan also revamped a few older compositions. Among these songs are "Poorman's Sunshine", originally titled "Poor Man's Sunshine (Nativity)", and "Lord of the Universe". Both originated during the ''
Barabajagal ''Barabajagal'' is the seventh studio album and eighth album overall from British singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the United States on 11 August 1969 ( Epic Records BN 26481 (stereo)), but was not released in the United Kingdom be ...
'' sessions. "Lover O Lover" was originally released on '' Love Is Only Feeling'' in 1981.


Critical reception

''Beat Cafe'' was positively received by music critics. They indicated that the album managed to preserve the beatnik atmosphere Donovan was famous for.


Track listing

All tracks by Donovan Leitch, except where noted.


Original album

#"Love Floats" – 4:18 #"Poorman's Sunshine" – 4:02 #"Beat Cafe" – 4:14 #"Yin My Yang" – 3:35 #"Whirlwind" – 4:46 #"Two Lovers" – 3:42 #"The Question" – 3:06 #"Lord of the Universe" – 4:47 #"Lover O Lover" – 4:56 #"The Cuckoo" (Traditional) – 3:49 #" Do Not Go Gentle" (poem by
Dylan Thomas Dylan Marlais Thomas (27 October 1914 – 9 November 1953) was a Welsh poet and writer whose works include the poems "Do not go gentle into that good night" and "And death shall have no dominion", as well as the "play for voices" ''Under ...
, music by Donovan Leitch) – 4:27 #"Shambala" – 5:29


Personnel

*Donovan – guitar, vocals, artwork *
Danny Thompson Daniel Henry Edward Thompson (born 4 April 1939) is an English multi-instrumentalist best known as a double bassist. He has had a long musical career playing with a large variety of other musicians, particularly Richard Thompson and John Mart ...
– double bass *John Chelew – keyboards *
Jim Keltner James Lee Keltner (born April 27, 1942) is an American drummer and percussionist known primarily for his session work. He was characterized by Bob Dylan biographer Howard Sounes as "the leading session drummer in America".Howard Sounes. ''Down ...
– drums, percussion


References


External links


''Beat Cafe'' - Donovan Unofficial Site
{{Authority control Donovan albums 2004 albums Cultural depictions of Dylan Thomas