Recorded - December 19, 1965
Released - July 1, 1966 (US), December 2, 1966 (UK)
#1 for week of September 3, 1966.
In the US, folk music was continuing its increase in popularity. Overseas in Britain, there already had been several prominent groups who blended folk music with a rock sound. This includes The Searchers and Peter And Gordon. However, both of these groups failed to make an impact in the subsequent psychedelic era. That's not the case with Donovan, who managed to strike gold in 1966 with his song "Sunshine Superman".
Donovan Leitch, originally from Scotland, started off his career in 1965. If you want some good examples of his early sound, check out "Catch The Wind" and "Hey Gyp (Dig The Slowness)". Both of these songs are very much in the same style as early Bob Dylan with just acoustic guitar and vocals. Near the end of '65, Donovan not only recorded an electric song, but it was one that sounded like nothing that had come before or after.
If you have never heard "Sunshine Superman" before, it may throw you off a bit. With a very raga-rock influenced sound and some of the trippiest lyrics to appear on this blog so far, it is a far cry from some of the easy listening pop songs I reviewed from '59 to '63. Keep in mind though that very few people were writing and singing such colorful lyrics in late 1965. Even in the summer of '66, psychedelic music was not quite mainstream yet. Donovan was ahead of his time.
Instrumentally, there's quite a few players on this record. One of the guitarists is none other than Jimmy Page, and we even have John Paul Jones as one of the two bass players. For those who don't know, before becoming half of Led Zeppelin, those two musicians were prominent British session men, playing on countless British pop songs. Vocally, Donovan has one of the most unique voices of the time period. Sounding like a cross between a beat poet and a mystical folk singer, he gives "Sunshine Superman" a very otherworldly quality.
Donovan would continue to record several classics in 1966 including "Season Of The Witch" and "Mellow Yellow". He would spend early 1968 in India with the Maharishi alongside The Beatles. He was also recently, and deservedly, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Final Verdict - A refreshingly unique and different #1. If psychedelia isn't your thing, just understand how ahead of its time this song was, and its massive subsequent influence. I certainly always enjoy listening to it any chance I get.
Coming Up Next - "You Can't Hurry Love" by The Supremes.
Until Next Time - They call me Dr. Rock (Quite right-ly) -
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