Sunshine Superman | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 26 August 1966 | |||
Recorded | December 1965–May 1966 | |||
Studio | ||||
Genre | ||||
Length | 42:59 | |||
Label | Epic | |||
Producer | Mickie Most | |||
Donovan chronology | ||||
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Singles from Sunshine Superman | ||||
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UK version (1967) | ||||
Sunshine Superman is the third studio album by Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the United States on August 26,1966, [7] but was not released in the UK because of a contractual dispute. In June 1967,a compilation of tracks from this album and the follow-up Mellow Yellow was released as Sunshine Superman in the UK.
The album featured Donovan's titular hit single, [8] which was initially released in the US in July 1966. The album was Donovan's most successful,peaking at number 11 in the US and remaining on the Billboard Top LPs chart for six months. The 1967 UK edition peaked at number 25.
The tracks from Sunshine Superman and Mellow Yellow were not mixed into stereo,with the exception of "Season of the Witch",until the 2011 2-CD deluxe edition issued by UK EMI.
Whilst still incorporating folk music,these recordings mark a distinct change in Donovan's music,representing some of the first psychedelia released. [9] [10] A full rock band backs up Donovan on many of the songs,and the instrumentation had been expanded,being one of the first pop albums extensively to use the sitar and other unique musical instruments. [11] 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. [12]
Sunshine Superman integrates psychedelic rock and folk styles. [13] The album's lyrical content encompasses Donovan's increasing ability to portray "Swinging London" and give listeners an insider's look into the mid-sixties pop scene. He was 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, [8] and hit number 2 in the UK. Donovan's penchant for name-dropping in songs such as two influenced by his travel to Los Angeles, [8] "The Trip" and "The Fat Angel" (written for Cass Elliot) 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. The title track was also inspired by Brian Jones' girlfriend Linda Lawrence. [14]
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.
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2021) |
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [15] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [16] |
The Independent | [17] |
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | 3/5 [18] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [19] |
In 2017, Sunshine Superman was ranked the 199th greatest album of the 1960s by Pitchfork . [20]
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 . Monster Magnet covered "Three King Fishers" (as "Three Kingfishers") on their 2013 album Last Patrol , with a live version included on 2014's Milking the Stars: A Re-Imagining of Last Patrol .
All tracks are written by Donovan.
Side one
Side two
Due to the contractual dispute between Pye Records and Epic Records, Donovan's releases were held back in the UK throughout 1966 and early 1967. During this time, Donovan released Sunshine Superman and Mellow Yellow in the US. 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.
Side one
Side two
On "Sunshine Superman" and other tracks recorded in England:
Psychedelic rock is a rock music genre that is inspired, influenced, or representative of psychedelic culture, which is centered on perception-altering hallucinogenic drugs. The music incorporated new electronic sound effects and recording techniques, extended instrumental solos, and improvisation. Many psychedelic groups differ in style, and the label is often applied spuriously.
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, psychedelic rock, and jazz stylings.
Michael Peter Hayes, known as Mickie Most, was an English record producer behind scores of hit singles for acts such as the Animals, Herman's Hermits, the Nashville Teens, Donovan, Lulu, Suzi Quatro, Hot Chocolate, Arrows, Racey and the Jeff Beck Group, often issued on his own RAK Records label.
Herbert Jansch was a Scottish folk musician and founding member of the band Pentangle. He was born in Glasgow and came to prominence in London in the 1960s as an acoustic guitarist and singer-songwriter. He recorded more than 28 albums and toured extensively from the 1960s to the 21st century.
"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".
"Mellow Yellow" is a song written and recorded by Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. Released in the US in 1966, it reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside the US, "Mellow Yellow" peaked at No. 8 in the UK in early 1967.
A Gift From a Flower to a Garden is the fifth album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan, released in December 1967 through Pye Records in the UK and Epic Records in the US. It marks the first double-disc album of Donovan's career and one of the first box sets in pop music. In the US, Epic also released the two discs separately as the stand-alone albums Wear Your Love Like Heaven and For Little Ones.
Mellow Yellow is the fourth album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the US in February 1967 (Epic Records LN 24239 / BN 26239, but not released in the UK because of a continuing contractual dispute that also prevented Sunshine Superman from a UK release. In June 1967, a cross-section of both albums was released as Sunshine Superman in the UK. "Mellow Yellow" was the name of Donovan's hit single released the previous November.
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.
Lady of the Stars is the seventeenth studio album, and nineteenth album overall, by the Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the UK in 1983 and the US in January 1984.
The Real Donovan is the first compilation album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the US in September 1966.
Definitive Collection is a compilation album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the Netherlands and Austria on 7 November 1995.
Donovan in Concert is the sixth album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan, and the first live album of his career. It was recorded in the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California on 17 November 1967. It was released in the United States in June 1968 and in the United Kingdom in September 1968. The album reached No.18 on the US charts.
Shawn Phillips is an American singer-songwriter and musician, primarily influential in the 1960s and 1970s. His work is rooted in folk rock but straddles other genres, including jazz fusion and funk. Phillips has recorded twenty-eight albums and worked with musicians including Donovan, Paul Buckmaster, J. Peter Robinson, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Bernie Taupin, Tim Hardin, Manos Hatzidakis and many others.
Storyteller is a compilation album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released on 16 September 2003 and was the first Donovan album released as a Super Audio CD/CD hybrid.
This is the discography of Scottish singer, songwriter and guitarist Donovan.
"Season of the Witch" is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan released in August 1966 on his third studio album, Sunshine Superman. The song is credited to Donovan, although sometime collaborator Shawn Phillips has also claimed authorship. Because of a dispute with Donovan's record company, a UK edition with the song was not released until June 1967.
Sunshine Superman may refer to:
John Cameron is a British composer, arranger, conductor and musician. He is well known for his many film, TV and stage credits, and for his contributions to pop recordings, notably those by Donovan, Cilla Black and the group Hot Chocolate. Cameron's instrumental version of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love", became a hit for his group CCS and, for many years, a version of Cameron's arrangement was used as the theme music for the BBC TV show Top of the Pops.
Edward Hoh was an American rock drummer who was active in the 1960s. Although primarily a studio session and touring drummer, Hoh exhibited a degree of originality and showmanship that set him apart and several of his contributions have been singled out for acknowledgment by music critics.