Colours (Donovan song)

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"Colours"
Donovan-Colours single.jpg
Dutch (Pye / Negram) sleeve
Single by Donovan
from the album Fairytale
B-side
  • "To Sing for You" (UK)
  • "Josie" (United States)
Released28 May 1965 (UK)
June 1965 (United States)
Recorded1965
Genre Folk [1]
Length2:44 (Side A)
2:46 ("To Sing For You")
3:29 ("Josie")
Label Pye 7N15866 (UK)
Hickory 45-1324 (United States)
Songwriter(s) Donovan Leitch
Producer(s) Terry Kennedy, Peter Eden, Geoff Stephens
Donovan UKsingles chronology
"Catch the Wind"
(1965)		"Colours"
(1965)		"Turquoise"
(1965)
Donovan USAsingles chronology
"Catch the Wind"
(1965)		"Colours"
(1965)		"Universal Soldier"
(1965)

"Colours" is a song written and recorded by British singer-songwriter Donovan. [2] The "Colours" single was released in the United Kingdom on 28 May 1965 through Pye Records (Pye 7N 15866) and a few months later in the United States through Hickory Records (Hickory 45-1324). The "Colours" single was backed with "To Sing for You" (previously included on What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid ) on the United Kingdom release and "Josie" (from What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid) on the United States release.

Contents

Release and reception

Swedish release of "Colours" single. Donovan-Colours single Sweden.jpg
Swedish release of "Colours" single.

Donovan followed up the success of "Catch the Wind" with "Colours", which featured a similar folk style. The single matched the success of "Catch the Wind" in the United Kingdom, reaching No. 4 on the charts. [3] In the United States, "Colours" reached No.61, [4] and marked a decline in the artist's popularity relative to "Catch the Wind". A different mix of the song (without harmonica) was released on his second album Fairytale . Billboard praised the "intriguing lyric and melody." [5] Cash Box described it as a "tender, slow-moving, rhythmic pledge of romantic devotion sold by the songster in his distinctive Bob Dylan-ish style." [6]


When Epic Records was compiling Donovan's Greatest Hits , they were either unable or unwilling to secure the rights to the original recordings of "Catch the Wind" and "Colours". Donovan re-recorded both songs in the studio with Big Jim Sullivan playing guitar, John Paul Jones on bass and keyboards and Clem Cattini on drums, produced by Mickie Most. The re-recordings were included on the greatest hits album.

Other versions by Donovan

Covers by others

"Colours"
Single by No-Man
B-side
  • "Drink Judas"
  • "Colours (Remodelled)"
ReleasedJuly 1990 (7")
November 1990 (12")
RecordedNo-Man's Land, Hemel Hempstead (Title track)
Genre Art rock, dream pop
Length10:29 (7")
Label Hidden Art (7")
Probe Plus (12")
Songwriter(s) Donovan Leitch
Producer(s) Steven Wilson, Tim Bowness and Ben Coleman
No-Man singles chronology
"Colours"
(1990)		"Ocean Song"
(1992)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donovan</span> Scottish musician (born 1946)

Donovan Phillips Leitch, 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 music. He has lived in Scotland, Hertfordshire (England), London, California, and—since at least 2008—in County Cork, Ireland, with his family. Emerging from the British folk scene, Donovan reached fame in the United Kingdom in early 1965 with live performances on the pop TV series Ready Steady Go!.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Ain't Me Babe</span> 1964 song by Bob Dylan

"It Ain't Me Babe" is a song by Bob Dylan that originally appeared on his fourth album Another Side of Bob Dylan, which was released in 1964 by Columbia Records. According to music critic Oliver Trager, this song, along with others on the album, marked a departure for Dylan as he began to explore the possibilities of language and deeper levels of the human experience. Within a year of its release, the song was picked up as a single by folk rock act the Turtles and country artist Johnny Cash. Jan & Dean also covered the track on their "Folk 'N Roll" LP in 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunshine Superman (song)</span> 1966 single by Donovan

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<i>Whats Bin Did and Whats Bin Hid</i> 1965 studio album by Donovan

What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid is the debut album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the UK four days after his nineteenth birthday on 14 May 1965, through Pye Records. Terry Kennedy, Peter Eden, and Geoff Stephens produced the album. The album was released in the US as Catch the Wind on Hickory Records in June 1965. Hickory Records changed the title to match that of Donovan's debut single.

<i>Fairytale</i> (album) 1965 studio album by Donovan

Fairytale is the second album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was first released in the UK on 22 October 1965 through Pye Records. The US version of Fairytale was released by Hickory Records in November 1965 with a slightly different set of songs. Peter Eden, Geoff Stephens and Terry Kennedy produced the original album.

<i>Donovans Greatest Hits</i> 1969 greatest hits album by Donovan

Donovan's Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the United States in January 1969 on Epic Records and in the United Kingdom in March 1969 on Pye Records. Donovan's Greatest Hits peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, and has been certified platinum by the RIAA.

"Universal Soldier" is a song written and composed by singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie. The first released recording was a single by The Highwaymen, released in September 1963. The song was also released on Sainte-Marie's debut album It's My Way!, released in April 1964. "Universal Soldier" was not an immediate popular hit at the time of its release, but it did garner attention within the contemporary folk music community. It became a hit a year later when Donovan covered it, as did Glen Campbell. Sainte-Marie said of the song: "I wrote 'Universal Soldier' in the basement of The Purple Onion coffee house in Toronto in the early sixties. It's about individual responsibility for war and how the old feudal thinking kills us all." The idea was based on that politicians, with power over the military, in democratic states are elected by the people.

<i>The Real Donovan</i> 1966 compilation album by Donovan

The Real Donovan is the first compilation album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the US in September 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catch the Wind</span> 1965 single by Donovan

"Catch the Wind" is a song written and recorded by Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. Pye Records released "Catch the Wind" backed with "Why Do You Treat Me Like You Do?" as Donovan's debut release in the United Kingdom on 28 February 1965. The single reached No. 4 in the United Kingdom singles chart. Hickory Records released the single in the United States in April 1965, where it reached No. 23 in the United States Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turquoise (song)</span> 1965 single by Donovan

"Turquoise" is a song written and recorded by British singer-songwriter Donovan. The "Turquoise" single was released in the United Kingdom on 30 October 1965 through Pye Records and charted, peaking at No.30. The "Turquoise" single was backed with "Hey Gyp " and only released in the United Kingdom. "Turquoise" was released as the b-side on "To Try for the Sun" in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">To Try for the Sun</span> 1966 single by Donovan

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josie (Donovan song)</span> 1966 single by Donovan

"Josie" is a song written and recorded by British singer-songwriter Donovan.

"Remember the Alamo" is a song written by Texan folk singer and songwriter Jane Bowers. Bowers details the last days of 180 soldiers during the Battle of the Alamo and names several famous figures who fought at the Alamo, including Mexican general Santa Anna and Texans: Jim Bowie, William Barrett Travis and Davy Crockett. It champions the Texans' efforts against Mexico to establish an independent republic.

<i>Like It Is, Was, and Evermore Shall Be</i> 1968 compilation album by Donovan

Like It Is, Was, and Evermore Shall Be is a compilation album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the US in April 1968. Like It Is, Was, and Evermore Shall Be marked the second Hickory Records compilation of Donovan's 1965 Pye Records material in the United States, following the moderately successful The Real Donovan from 1966.

<i>Early Treasures</i> 1973 compilation album by Donovan

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<i>Catch the Wind</i> (1971 album) 1971 compilation album by Donovan

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<i>The Best of Donovan</i> (1969 album) 1969 greatest hits album by Donovan

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<i>Colours</i> (1972 Donovan album) 1972 compilation album by Donovan

Colours is a compilation album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the United Kingdom in June 1972 and did not chart.

<i>Summer Day Reflection Songs</i> 2000 compilation album by Donovan

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hickory Records</span> American record label

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References

  1. ↑ Stanley, Bob (13 September 2013). "An English Pastoral: Folk Rock". Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. p. 299. ISBN   978-0-571-28198-5.
  2. 1 2 "Show 48 – The British are Coming! The British are Coming!: With an emphasis on Donovan, the Bee Gees and the Who. [Part 5] : UNT Digital Library". Digital.library.unt.edu. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "officialcharts.com". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  4. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 251.
  5. ↑ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. 24 July 1965. p. 14. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  6. ↑ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 24 July 1965. p. 12. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  7. ↑ "Colours by No-Man (Single, Art Pop): Reviews, Ratings, Credits, Song list". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  8. ↑ "Colours by No-Man (Single; ; PP 27 T): Reviews, Ratings, Credits, Song list". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  9. ↑ "Steven Wilson – The Complete Discography (9th Edition)" (PDF). Voyage-pt.de. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  10. ↑ "Colours". Valley Entertainment. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
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