Sunshine Superman (album)

Infobox Album
Name = Sunshine Superman


Type = studio
Artist = Donovan
Released = September 1966
Recorded = Jan–May 1966, Columbia Recording Studios, Hollywood, California
Abbey Road Studios
Genre = Folk rock, psychedelic rock
Length = 42:59
Label = Epic LN24217 (Mono)/ BN26217 (Stereo)
Producer = Mickie Most
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0u3gtq6zmu45 Original album]
*Allmusic Rating|2|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gm2zefbkhgf4 1997 version]
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:2gqpg4sxtv3z 2005 reissue]
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gajgtq3zpu43 link (UK version)]
Last album = "Fairytale"
(1965)
This album = "Sunshine Superman"
(1966)
Next album = "Mellow Yellow"
(1967)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption =UK version, 1967
Type =studio


Lower caption =

"Sunshine Superman" is the third album from Welsh singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the United States in September 1966 (Epic Records LN 24217 (monaural) / BN 26217 (stereo)), but was not released in the UK because of a contractual dispute. In June 1967, a compilation of the "Sunshine Superman" and "Mellow Yellow" albums was released as "Sunshine Superman" (Pye Records NPL 18181) in the UK. "Sunshine Superman" was named after Donovan's hit single released the previous July.

History

These recordings mark a distinct change in Donovan's music, representing some of the first psychedelia released. A full rock band backs up Donovan on many of the songs, and the instrumentation has been expanded to include sitar and other unique musical instruments. This change is partially the result of working with producer Mickie Most, whose pop sensibilities led to chart hits for many other artists at the time.

Donovan's lyrics began to encompass his increasing ability to portray "Swinging London" and give listeners an insider's look into the mid-sixties pop scene. He was known to be close to The Beatles and Brian Jones at this time, and he became widely known after "Sunshine Superman" became a chart-topper in the US, and hit #2 in the UK. Donovan's penchant for name-dropping in songs such as "The Trip" and "The Fat Angel" (written for Mama Cass) coupled with his chart success helped elevate him to superstar status. In addition to noting the people in the pop scene, Donovan recorded "Bert's Blues" for his friend and folk music notable Bert Jansch.

Contrasting this modern bent was Donovan's fascination with medieval themes in such songs as "Legend of a Girl Child Linda" (written for Brian Jones' girlfriend Linda Lawrence) and "Guinevere". The rich descriptions of color and environment that Donovan developed in individual songs on "Fairytale" were now evident throughout his writing.

Several other songs were recorded for "Sunshine Superman", but did not make the cut. These include "Museum" (later rerecorded and released on "Mellow Yellow"), "Superlungs My Supergirl" (later rerecorded and released on "Barabajagal") and "Breezes of Patchulie" (originally called "Darkness of My Night" and released on Donovan's 1964 demo collection "Sixty Four"). The "Sunshine Superman" recordings of these songs were all included on "Troubadour The Definitive Collection 1964–1976".

In the video for the Beatles' "A Day in the Life", a close up of a spinning turntable shows the Epic Records version of "Sunshine Superman" playing. The film was shot at the recording sessions for the song, which was included on "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band".

A cover version of "The Fat Angel" was recorded by Jefferson Airplane for their 1968 live album Bless Its Pointed Little Head.

Personnel

*Donovan - vocals and acoustic guitar
*Bobby Ray - bass
*"Fast" Eddy Hoh - drums
*Shawn Phillips - sitarOn "Sunshine Superman":
*Donovan - vocals and acoustic guitar
*Jimmy Page and Eric Ford - electric guitars
*John Cameron - keyboards and arrangement
*Spike Healey - bass
*Bobby Orr - drums
*Tony Carr - percussion

Track listing

All tracks by Donovan Leitch.

Original album (U.S.)

ide one

#"Sunshine Superman" – 3:15
#"Legend of a Girl Child Linda" – 6:50
#"Three King Fishers" – 3:16
#"Ferris Wheel" – 4:12
#"Bert's Blues" – 4:99

ide two

#"Season of the Witch" – 4:56
#"The Trip" – 4:34
#"Guinevere" – 3:41
#"The Fat Angel" – 4:11
#"Celeste" – 4:08

2005 EMI version (UK) bonus tracks

#

"Breezes of Patchulie" – 4:35
#"Museum (song)" – 2:52
#"Superlungs" – 3:17
#"Land of Doesn't Have to Be" – 2:42
#"Sunshine Superman" – 4:44
#"Good Trip" – 1:37
#"House of Jansch" – 3:47

The UK version

Due to the contractual dispute between Pye Records and Epic Records, Donovan's releases were held back in the United Kingdom throughout 1966 and early 1967. During this time, Donovan released "Sunshine Superman" and "Mellow Yellow" in the United States. To catch up to the Epic Records schedule in America, Pye Records compiled a cross-section of both albums and titled it "Sunshine Superman".

It was released in the UK (Pye NPL 18181) in June 1967 and reached #25 in the British charts.

Tracks:
*Side 1:"Sunshine Superman", "Legend of a Girl Child Linda", "The Observation", "Guinevere", "Celeste", "Writer in the Sun"
*Side 2: "Season of the Witch", "Hampstead Incident", "Sand and Foam", "Young Girl Blues", "Three Kingfishers", "Bert's Blues"

:(Titles "in italics" are from "Mellow Yellow")

Reissues

*On October 5, 1990, Epic Records reissued the U.S. version of "Sunshine Superman" (Epic EK 26217) in the U.S. on compact disc.
*On October 24, 1994, EMI released "Four Donovan Originals" (EMI 7243 8 30867 2 6) in the UK. "Four Donovan Originals" is a compact disc box set containing four Donovan albums that were not previously released in the UK. The U.S. version of "Sunshine Superman" is disc one of that set.
*On October 7, 1996, EMI reissued the U.S. version of "Sunshine Superman" (EMI CDGOLD1066) on compact disc.
*On March 12, 1998, Beat Goes On Records reissued the UK version of "Sunshine Superman" (BG0CD 68) in the UK on compact disc.
*On May 24, 2005, EMI reissued the U.S. version of "Sunshine Superman" (EMI 8735662) on compact disc in the UK with seven bonus tracks.