''The Real Donovan'' is the first compilation album 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 was released in the US (Hickory LPM 135 (monaural) /LPS 135 (stereo)) in September 1966.
History
When Donovan signed a contract with
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America
Sony Corporation of America (SONAM, also known as SCA), is the American arm of the Japanese conglomerate Sony Group ...
, 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 No. 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 No. 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 30 October 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
A fairy tale (alternative names include fairytale, fairy story, magic tale, or wonder tale) is a short story that belongs to the folklore genre. Such stories typically feature magic, enchantments, and mythical or fanciful beings. In most cul ...
'', released 22 October 1965)
* "
Catch the Wind" (from ''
What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid'', released 14 May 1965)
* "
Remember the Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo (February 23 – March 6, 1836) was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a siege of the Alamo, 13-day siege, Mexico, Mexican troops under president of Mexico, President Antonio López de Santa Anna, Gen ...
" (from ''What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid'', released 14 May 1965)
* "Ballad of a Crystal Man"* (from ''The Universal Soldier'' EP, released 15 August 1965)
* "
Colours
Color (American English) or colour (British English) is the visual perceptual property deriving from the spectrum of light interacting with the photoreceptor cells of the eyes. Color categories and physical specifications of color are associa ...
" (from ''Fairytale'', released 22 October 1965)
* "Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)"* (b-side of "Turquoise", released 30 October 1965)
* "Belated Forgiveness Plea" (from ''Fairytale'', released 22 October 1965)
* "Ramblin' Boy" (from ''What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid'', released 14 May 1965)
* "The War Drags On"* (from ''The Universal Soldier'' EP, released 15 August 1965)
* "
Josie" (from ''What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid'', released 14 May 1965)
* "
To Try for the Sun" (from ''Fairytale'', released 22 October 1965)
Track listing
All tracks by Donovan Leitch, except where noted.
Side one
#"Turquoise"
#"Oh Deed I Do" (
Bert Jansch)
#"Catch the Wind"
#"Remember the Alamo" (
Jane Bowers)
#"Ballad of a Crystal Man"
#"Colours"
Side two
#"Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)"
#"Belated Forgiveness Plea"
#"Rambin' Boy"
#"The War Drags On" (
Mick Softley)
#"Josie"
#"To Try for the Sun"
External links
The Real Donovan – Donovan Unofficial Site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Real Donovan, The
Real Donovan
Real Donovan
Hickory Records compilation albums