Background
In 1989 Mr. Doctor began work on two compositions: "The Black Holes of My Mind", a 45-minute composition incorporating esoteric quotations and subliminal messages; and "Eliogabalus", a 60-minute composition inspired by Antonin Artaud's book Heliogabalus: Or, The Crowned Anarchist.
In December, Devil Doll entered Tivoli Studios with Jurij Toni to record the album. Hurdy Gurdy's budget limitations forced Mr. Doctor to cut down the two former compositions, in order to include both on a single vinyl release.
Only the Italian section, and the Slovenian guitarist Bor Zuljan, was recruited to record the album.
Eliogabalus was released in 1990, with the shortened version of "The Black Holes of My Mind" renamed "Mr. Doctor" for this release, while "Eliogabalus" retained its name.
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!.
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.
Rising is the third live album, and twentieth album overall, from British singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released on Permanent Records in 1990. The live versions of Donovan's hits guaranteed that Rising would receive a release in both the United States and United Kingdom. Rising was retitled The Classics Live in the United States, 25 Years in Concert in Europe and Atlantis in the UK for marketing reasons. Since the release of Rising, there have been many reissues of the songs from the album under many different titles.
Rising Again is an expanded version of the 1990 live album Rising from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the UK on 22 May 2001.
The Girl Who Was ... Death is the debut album by Italian-Slovenian rock band Devil Doll. Its official release date was March 4, 1989, but there was a pre-release of cassette tapes in December 1988. This was the second album by Devil Doll, but their first to be released to the public.
"Barabajagal" is a song by British singer/songwriter Donovan Leitch, released by Donovan in 1969. It was later used as title track to the album Barabajagal. The instrumental backing is provided by The Jeff Beck Group, with backing vocals by Lesley Duncan, Suzi Quatro and Madeline Bell.
Clive William Bunker is a British drummer. Bunker is best known as the original drummer of the rock band Jethro Tull, playing in the band from 1967 until 1971. Never a self-professed technical drummer, Bunker engaged with the essence of blues and rock and roll, influenced by Ginger Baker and Mitch Mitchell. He was also inspired by Buddy Rich and The Hollies' Bobby Elliott.
Picturesque Matchstickable Messages from the Status Quo is the debut studio album by the English rock band Status Quo, released in September 1968. It features several covers, including "Green Tambourine" by The Lemon Pipers.
Jackdaw was a Celtic rock band from Buffalo, NY from 2000 to 2009. One of the group's members, George Tutuska, was a former drummer for the Goo Goo Dolls.
"Hurdy Gurdy Man" is a song by the Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was recorded in April 1968 and released the following month as a single. The song gave its name to the album The Hurdy Gurdy Man, which was released in October of that year in the United States. The single reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. and number 4 on the UK Singles Chart.
The Hurdy Gurdy Man is a studio EP by American alternative rock band Butthole Surfers, released in 1990.
The Hole Truth... and Nothing Butt is the first compilation album by American punk band Butthole Surfers, officially released in March 1995. All songs were written by Butthole Surfers, except for "Come Together" and "Hurdy Gurdy Man".
Dies Irae is the fourth and final studio album by Italian-Slovenian rock band Devil Doll, released in February 1996.
Mr. Doctor is an Italian singer, musician and composer. He is the leader of the rock band Devil Doll.
Cold Blow and the Rainy Night is the third album by the Irish folk group Planxty. It was recorded in Sarm Studios, Whitechapel, London during August 1974 and released the same year. It takes its title from the third song on the album, "Cold Blow and the Rainy Night".
Devil Doll is an Italian-Slovenian rock band formed in 1987 by the mysterious "Mr. Doctor". The band has gained a cult following, taking influences from gothic rock, classical and Slavonic folk music, and fronted by the sprechgesang of Mr. Doctor himself. The band is notable for very lengthy epics, none under 20 minutes.
Schandmaul is a German medieval folk rock band from the Munich area.
The Sacrilege of Fatal Arms is an album by Italian-Slovenian rock band Devil Doll. It is a reworked, remixed, extended version of their previous release Sacrilegium. It is the original soundtrack to the film of the same name, which was written and directed by Mr. Doctor, the creative force behind Devil Doll.
Evocation I: The Arcane Dominion is the third studio album by Swiss folk metal band Eluveitie. It was released on 17 April 2009 through Nuclear Blast. Contrary to their previous works, this album is almost entirely acoustic. The vocals are primarily handled by hurdy-gurdy player Anna Murphy. The album cover represents Cernunnos, a Celtic deity of nature. The lyrics are partly based on Gaulish inscriptions, e.g. "A Girl's Oath" uses the text of the Larzac tablet, and "Dessumiis Luge" that of the Chamalières tablet.
Everything Remains (As It Never Was) is the fourth studio album by Swiss folk metal band Eluveitie. The album was produced by Colin Richardson, and released on 19 February 2010 through Nuclear Blast.
