 |
| Universal Soldier | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | September 1967 | |||
| Recorded | 1965 | |||
| Genre | folk | |||
| Label | Marble Arch | |||
| Producer | Terry Kennedy, Peter Eden, Geoff Stephens | |||
| Donovan chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   link |
Universal Soldier is the second compilation album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the UK (Marble Arch LP-MAL 718) in September 1967.
In the mid-1960s Pye Records launched budget record label Marble Arch Records to release older material on inexpensive albums in the United Kingdom. Several of Donovan's 1965 recordings for Pye were selected for release in 1967 as Universal Soldier. Donovan's version of "Universal Soldier" was a hit EP in 1965, and that name recognition was intended to boost sales.
Universal Soldier was a unique release because it collected the entire Universal Soldier EP, the b-side to "Catch the Wind", and the entire "Turquoise" single; all of which had not appeared before on LP format in the United Kingdom. The strategy of compiling non-album tracks paid off, and Universal Soldier reached No. 5 in the United Kingdom and remained on the charts for 18 weeks.
Marble Arch would go on to release several more Donovan compilations to significantly less interest, including an edited What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid in 1968 and an edited Fairytale in 1969.
In 1995, Spectrum Music released a CD compilation, also named after the title track.
All tracks by Donovan Leitch, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Original release | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | " Universal Soldier " (Buffy Sainte-Marie) | Universal Soldier EP | 2:15 |
| 2. | "To Sing for You" | What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid | 2:45 |
| 3. | "Why Do You Treat Me Like You Do?" | B-side of "Catch the Wind" single | 2:56 |
| 4. | "Turquoise" | Non-album single | 3:31 |
| 5. | "Colours (Single Mix)" | Fairytale | 2:11 |
| No. | Title | Original release | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Catch the Wind (Single Mix)" | What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid | 2:56 |
| 7. | "Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)" | B-side of "Turquoise" single | 3:08 |
| 8. | "The Ballad of a Crystal Man" | The Universal Soldier EP | 3:19 |
| 9. | "Do You Hear Me Now?" (Bert Jansch) | Universal Soldier EP | 1:50 |
| 10. | "The War Drags On" (Mick Softley) | Universal Soldier EP | 3:44 |
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!.
Pye Records was a British record label. Its best known artists were Lonnie Donegan (1956–1969), Petula Clark (1957–1971), the Searchers (1963–1967), the Kinks (1964–1971), Sandie Shaw (1964–1971), Status Quo (1968–1971) and Brotherhood of Man (1975–1979). The label changed its name to PRT Records in 1980, before being briefly reactivated as Pye Records in 2006.
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.
Fairytale is the second album from British 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.
Live in Japan – Spring Tour 1973 is the twelfth album from British singer-songwriter Donovan. It was only released in Japan in 1973. The album has never been released in either the United States or the United Kingdom.
The Real Donovan is the first compilation album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the US in September 1966.
"Colours" is a song written and recorded by British singer-songwriter Donovan. The "Colours" single was released in the United Kingdom on 28 May 1965 through Pye Records and a few months later in the United States through Hickory Records. The "Colours" single was backed with "To Sing for You" on the United Kingdom release and "Josie" on the United States release.
"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.
"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.
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.
A Touch of Music a Touch of Donovan is a compilation album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in West Germany in 1969.
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.
Donovan File is a compilation album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the United Kingdom in 1977.
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.
Catch the Wind is a compilation album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the United Kingdom in April 1986 and did not chart. This 1986 release bears little resemblance to the 1965 version of Catch the Wind released in the United States or to Catch the Wind from 1971.
Minstrel Boy is a compilation album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the United Kingdom in July 1983 and did not chart.
Summer Day Reflection Songs is a compilation album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released on 25 April 2000.
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.
"Michael (the Lover)" is a soul song originally performed by American Chicago soul group the C.O.D.'s.
