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.


The song proved quite accessible for a number of artists of different musical genres, including Murray Head, Claudine Longet, Patty Duke, The Kingston Trio, Percy Faith, and Country Joe.

Other versions by Donovan

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 emerged from the British folk scene in early 1965, and subsequently scored multiple international hit singles and albums during the late 1960s. His work became emblematic of the flower power era with its blend of folk, pop, psychedelica, and jazz stylings.

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

"Sunshine Superman" is a song written and recorded by Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released as a single in the United States through Epic Records in July 1966, but due to a contractual dispute the United Kingdom release was delayed until December 1966, where it appeared on Donovan's previous label, Pye Records. The single was backed with "The Trip" on both the US and UK releases. It has been described as "[one of the] classics of the era", and as "the quintessential bright summer sing along".

<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. In Canada the album reached No. 2.

"Universal Soldier" is a song written 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">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

Early Treasures is a compilation album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the United States in 1973.

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

Catch the Wind is a compilation album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the United Kingdom in 1971 and did not chart. This 1971 release bears little resemblance to the 1965 version of What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid released as Catch the Wind in the United States.

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

The Best of Donovan is a compilation album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the US in November 1969. The Best of Donovan marked the third Hickory Records compilation of Donovan's 1965 Pye Records material in the United States, following the Like It Is, Was, and Evermore Shall Be from 1968.

<i>Universal Soldier</i> (1967 Donovan album) 1967 compilation album by Donovan

Universal Soldier is the second compilation album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the UK in September 1967.

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

Summer Day Reflection Songs is a compilation album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released on 25 April 2000.

<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.
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