Neutronica

Last updated

Neutronica
Donovan-Neutronica.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 1980
Recorded1980
Genre Folk
Length36:04
Label RCA (West Germany)
Barclay (France)
Producer Donovan Leitch, Peter Walsh
Donovan chronology
Donovan
(1977)
Neutronica
(1980)
Love Is Only Feeling
(1981)

Neutronica is the fifteenth studio album (seventeenth overall) by Scottish singer/songwriter Donovan. It was released in West Germany (RCA PL 28429) in August 1980 and France (Barclay Records BA 253 200149) in 1980.

Contents

Background

After Donovan failed to chart in both the UK and US, Donovan once again left his long-time producer Mickie Most. He travelled throughout mainland Europe, bringing attention to world hunger and protesting against nuclear proliferation and weapons development. RCA signed him for a European record distribution deal, beginning with Neutronica, released in 1980. The album did not receive distribution in the US or UK.

Many of the songs Donovan wrote for Neutronica are directly related to his political views. At the time, he was campaigning against what he viewed as disproportionate military spending while famine existed across much of the world. Donovan also recorded "Mee Mee I Love You", a song co-written by his daughter Astrella Leitch, and two war-themed songs, the traditional Crimean War tune "Heights of Alma" and Eric Bogle's World War I ballad "No Man's Land". The arrangements on Neutronica range from synthesizer-based rock songs to acoustic folk songs. Donovan's vocals similarly range from the harder singing style prevalent on Donovan on the rockers, and softer singing on the acoustic numbers.

Reissues

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic (not rated) link

Track listing

All tracks by Donovan Leitch, except where noted.

Original album

Side one

  1. "Shipwreck" – 3:30
  2. "Only to Be Expected" – 3:27
  3. "Comin' to You" – 3:30
  4. "No Hunger" – 2:44
  5. "Neutron" – 2:05
  6. "Mee Mee I Love You" (D. Leitch, Astrella Leitch) – 2:45

Side two

  1. "The Heights of Alma" (traditional, arranged by Donovan) – 3:45
  2. "No Man's Land" (Eric Bogle) – 5:23
  3. "We Are One" – 3:52
  4. "Madrigalinda" – 2:47
  5. "Harmony" – 2:16

2001 Pilot Records reissue

2001 Pilot Records reissue Donovan-Neutronica 2001.jpg
2001 Pilot Records reissue
  1. "Shipwreck" – 3:26
  2. "Only to Be Expected" – 3:21
  3. "Comin' to You" – 3:28
  4. "No Hunger" – 2:44
  5. "Neutron" – 2:05
  6. "Mee Mee I Love You" (D. Leitch, Astrella Leitch) – 2:45
  7. "The Heights of Alma" (Traditional, arranged by Donovan) – 3:42
  8. "No Man's Land" (Eric Bogle) – 5:20
  9. "We Are One" – 3:46
  10. "Madrigalinda" – 2:46
  11. "Harmony" – 2:16

Bonus tracks [1]

  1. "Heights of Alma" (live) (traditional, arranged by Donovan) – 3:33
  2. "Universal Soldier" (live) (Buffy Sainte-Marie) – 2:38
  3. "Only to Be Expected" (acoustic) – 2:40
  4. "Split Wood Not Atoms" – 2:41
  5. "Shipwreck" (alt mix) – 3:45
  6. "Madrigalinda" (Alt. Version) – 2:44
  7. "Fair Ye Well" (acapella) – 1:50

Personnel

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References

  1. "Donovan – Neutronica". Discogs. Retrieved 15 November 2019.