Reviews (page 5 of 8)
There are some amazing moments on this album, but I found the mix of psychedelic, pop, folk, jazz, medieval and Indian music more a mess than a melange. Liked Songs Added: Sunshine Superman Season Of The Witch
This was a bit of a let down to be honest.
This one was good. It makes good use of interesting instrumentation like the sitar, and it was psychedelic without going too far beyond pop songwriting. Favorites were Sunshine Superman, Bert’s Blues, Season Of The Witch, and Celeste.
Garden of the Witch is a great song. Sunshine Superman is a good listen as well. But Legend of a Girl Child Linda is a complete slog…who made this the 2nd track?!?
how quaint
This took me up a Ferris Wheel to see The Fat Angel. It was quite The Trip.
Fun 60's psychedelic pop. Standouts: Sunshine Superman, Season of the Witch
Ok, there are the classics everybody knows. I never realized that the title track and Season of the Witch were by Donovan. The rest of the album is quite listenable, with nothing really outstanding, except perhaps Celeste and Guinevere.
Really interesting album. Didn't really connect with the more flowery or psychedelic folksy songs but the rock-ier songs were really interesting and catchy. Pretty cool sound with heavy use of sitar too. Top tracks: Bert's Blues, Season of the Witch, The Trip
Couple of bangers in there, U enjoyed sunshine superman and Season of the witch
Fav tracks: Sunshine Superman , season of the witch, the trip, Celeste I liked it throughout , sounds like 60s folk can get a bit samey after a while
I guess he no longer lives in a van.
Ik vind het een wat lastig te raten album. Ik vind het best oké muziek en ik vind het sfeertje ook echt leuk, maar tegelijkertijd heb ik er al meerdere dagen niet echt zin in. Ik denk dat het komt door het goede weer, daar past dit niet helemaal bij op de één of andere manier. Hoewel de liedjes eigenlijk prima zijn lijkt de tijd compleet tot stilstand te komen wanneer dit album aan gaat. En dan niet op een lekkere manier. Ik kan op dit moment niet hoger geven dan 3 sterren.
I wanted to like it more than I actually did. The title track is an all-timer for me though. Rating: 3.1
proto Jon Brion, proto velvet underground, proto many modern music genres??? I wonder if the Seinfeld effect should've been called the Donovan effect. honestly some great tracks here. don't know if I will ever listen again but I'm glad I did this time!
Boy, if there was ever an artist from the 60's... And the same, if there was ever an **album** from the 60's... I mean, yeah, this thing's dated as hell to 1966 exactly. I imagine that to most people that's the big turn-off. But, y'know, whatever about other people. To my ears, there's nothing wrong with getting a slice of the exact sound of a decade every now and then. That's not an issue to me. What more is just that... Oh, goodness, I didn't have much to think about while I was listening to this thing. It's absolutely not bad, but it ends up being one of those records that's so crushingly "fiiiiine" that I can hardly bring myself to care. Y'know, sure I like the sitar, and I'm not someone who recoils at the sound of a harpsichord, but other than that — goodness me... I'll tell you right, my problem with this album is the "renaissance fair folk" of it all. If he wants to write about medieval times, about the King Arthur mythology and all that, sure. It's just that the compositions around them often aren't anything to write home about. Maybe my problem is that I'm too used to my psych music being, y'know, psych music, and rock on top of that, 'coz those songs actually have an energy and feel like they're not hitting the same note over and over again. Honestly, with the way I listen to music, there were times I legit could not tell if I was hearing the first minute of the song or the last. Which is like, hey, some of these instrumentals are actually really pretty, but goodness me, when you don't do **anything else** around it... At least regular singer-songwriter folk, for the most part, keeps their accompaniment spare to focus on the lyrics. With this — I mean, it fits, and I don't find it insincere, but dammit, could you please actually **do something interesting**? I'm not mad at this album. It's just... Not to my tastes, is all. I can hear how it could be, but I don't wanna rate this album for what I wanted to be rather than it is. And it's just fine. Nothing I can get all too excited about. I mean, if you wanna hear the platonic ideal of 60's hippie folk music, here yah go. Me, though... I'unno. I might just go listen to ARE YOU EXPERIENCED.
I’m at a 3.5 that I’ll bump down to a 3. Not too much to say; pretty solid psychedelic folk. I liked 6 of the 10 tracks here a lot, so batting 60% on “pretty good” is a fine enough bar to hit. However, this album is just glacially slow, which is why I can’t give it a 4 in good conscience. It’s not because it’s a bad album – in many ways, I’d honestly recommend it as a showcase of psychedelic standards of the time with more Bob Dylan-esque folk sensibilities. It makes for a really cool soundscape when it’s at its most upbeat, and even on a lot of these slower tracks, there’s something about the tone of his vocals and the imagery produced by some of the lyrics that makes each track feel just a little bit intoxicating. It is THAT damn slow though. A number of tracks loop the instrumental to the point of losing the luster, and a good chunk reuse lyrics in a way that enhances a feeling of deja vu that persists throughout the 40 minute runtime here. There’s not even a bad track, or a bad soundscape. It’s really a fine enough album that’s dragged down by how often it spins the wheels. Each track overstays its welcome by just enough to feel consistently bothersome, and the 4 tracks I didn’t click with enhance that “bothersome” factor by a lot. Again – nothing is bad here, and in terms of playlist stuff, a lot of this is super easy listening that would feel great at an individual level. It just drones on as an album. Hence, the bump down to a 3. I still liked it, though. “The Trip” really should’ve been a bigger track, by the way. That one was rad.
Интересно, оригинально, но монотонно
This album made my hair grow 10 inches and now I can't stop saying "flower power"
A great story teller with soft lyrics. Reminded me of BJ Thomas in certain ways. Great album.
A couple of better songs, but a lot that didn’t resonate with me.
Sorry Donovan, you have some very good songs but honestly I could probably make do with like a best of. Anything I hadn’t heard before was deeply underwhelming.
I have a particular fondness for Donovan. We have a handful of records of his. I recall one evening, Shea and I were playing cribbage and listening to records and I randomly threw on on. When it was done we both sort of went. “Should we just play another of his?” Since then, he has been a favored musician in our home. Sunshine Superman is one of my favorite his, and Season of the Witch is great. The rest is good, but doesn’t meet those levels. Realistically, this is a 3.
I mostly enjoyed this. Had listened to a bit of Donovan but never an entire album.
Excelente álbum de folk-rock, con muchos elementos de psicodelia temprana. De hecho, salió el mismo mes que Revolver de los Beatles. Me encanta la combinación ecléctica de instrumentos orientales como el sitar o el bouzouki. Y también la voz de Donovan, muy cálida, perfecta para este tipo de temas. Los temas no son tan rockeros como en Revolver, tirando más hacia el folk, pero igual de experimentales y pioneros. Aunque también es cierto que algunas canciones, sobre todo hacia la segunda mitad del álbum, no son tan atrevidas y suenan estrictamente como el resto de música de su época. Un álbum muy bueno y que representa perfectamente la explosión creativa de los Swinging Sixties en el Reino Unido.
Kinda boring outside of the two hits songs
3.5
I thought the singing was really good in this, it is a very influential album I have found out, in my opinion a bit boring at times I feel like there could have been a bit more to it.
The usual Donovan fare here...actually saw him support YES in the early 80s and he was ok
The A-side was very average, but the B-side picked it up a little bit.
On the one hand, this album could be the soundtrack of a Get Smart or Austin Powers movie--which really isn't its fault, since this sound hadn't yet become cliche when the album was released. On the other hand, I might have liked this more on a re-listen. Donovan has a Don McLean-ish voice.
The first half I really thought this is a 4! Then it lost me. 3.5 rounded down.
First listen I enjoyed it more than I had expected, and the Beatles-y tracks stood out to me. Second time around and the folksiness got a bit annoying. Averages at 3 stars across those listens.
It was fine. What was the cultural penetration on Green Lantern in 66 tho?
I like the folksy vibe but a bit boring tbh.
I figured I would hate this, but it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I even found myself enjoying it a little here and there. It's very much at the pop end of psychedelia, but that isn't the end of the world. I'm going with a strong 3 stars.
A little too much psychedelic and eastern influence.
= the Beatles
I'm gonna listen to so much less boomer 60s rock slog albums in about a year when I'm down with this list haha
I liked it. I didnt think I would but some good songs on here and a 60s chilled out vibe
3.5 stars. Two excellent tracks - title track and "Season of the Witch" surrounded by mediocre folk. Hard to rate the album of a whole given the gap between those two and the rest of the tracks.
Solid
Some great stuff, some mind-numbingly boring stuff.
Some very nice tracks here - loved sunshine superman and season of the witch
Enjoyed it. Its weird 60s psychedelic folk what is not to like
If there is one thing I've learned from this project, it's that i really hate 60's psychedelic music. It's a fine album, just not for me.
# Album Name: Sunshine Superman # Artist: Donovan # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Great opener with Sunshine superman. Nice vocals, melody and guitar. Everyone will have heard this song at some point of their life. Very 60s. Season of the witch is also a great tune. APart from that, the rest of the album was alright. Nothing stood out though. Decent background music. # Top Tunes: Sunshine superman and season of the witch # Would I listen to it again? hmmmm
Enjoyed Sunshine Superman, Season Of The Witch, and The Trip. Rest of the album was forgettable to me. Not my thing. Greatest Hits compilations are great for an artist like Donovan for people like me.
I know people are just going to say that this is a Dylan ripoff, but I’d rather listen to this than Dylan honestly. While he’s not as good of a songwriter, he’s got a much better voice and there’s no overbearing harmonica. Plus, I’m a sucker for that British folk sound and that hippie psychedelia vibe. Unfortunately, he’s a bit inconsistent as when he’s on he’s really killing it, but when he’s off it’s very forgettable.
Donavan was a Scottish singer/songwriter with a confident, strong voice. Sunshine Superman was his debut album, and the title of one of his first successful singles. His songs have a wide-eyed optimism, which made him a good fit with the early part of the 60s hippy psychedelia. These are sparse, bass-heavy songs, centered on Donavan's relaxed, engaging delivery. He had a few popular singles which, like Sunshine Superman, brought a little bit of edgy "rock-n-roll" to the otherwise folk-centered world of singer/songwriters.
Season of the Witch is just so good. Everything else was okay. 3/5
Listened to a lot Donavan as a kid. Hits are better than the album.
This album was brought to you by acid
01) Sunshine Superman - 7,5 02) Legend of a Girl Child Linda - 7,0 03) Three King Fishers - 6,5 04) Ferris Wheel - 6,5 05) Bert's Blues - 6,0 06) Season of the Witch - 7,5 07) The Trip - 6,5 08) Guinevere - 6,0 09) The Fat Angel - 6,0 10) Celeste - 6,0 TOTAL: 6,55 (66/100) Current ranking: 334/462
Title track and Season of the Witch are obviously all timers that most people will know. Beyond that what do we have. Pastoral ballads with sitars. Pleasant, interesting, downbeat. Really feels like the two great songs are chucked in for commercial appeal and the rest is what Donovan really wanted to do. King Fishers the obvious highlight of these perhaps. Which is of course, completely fine, especially common in this era of heavy record label control. It just makes for an odd album. I enjoyed it. I probably won't return
This album has a great Wikipedia article, so instead of me saying " this is just a Beatles rip-off," I know this came before the Beatles added sitars into their music. I also learned Jimmy Page (of Led Zeppelin fame) played guitar for Donovan, and that this album contains basically the first music in the psychedelic genre. I wish more albums on this list were so well-documented. 3.5
On first listen, this sounded like pretty generic ’60s psychedelic rock. But on a second spin, I appreciated the effort, especially the use of different instruments that add depth to the sound. For 1966, Donovan was definitely ahead of his time.
Only really liked season of the witch
heard before 3/5
I surprisingly quite enjoyed this - the swirling Indian ragas mixed with rock (ie, psychedelia). The songs are catchy too including a couple of well-known ones I like and didn’t know were Donovan. Although now this sounds a little formulaic and of its time, 1966 is early for this so I give Donovan his props.
title track and Season of the Witch are obviously iconic songs but unexpected standouts to me: Ferris Wheel, Bert’s Blues, Celeste.
Legend of a Girl Child, Bert's Blues and Guinevere never seemed to end. The Trip was a good song Sunshine Superman was one I knew before and liked. It was just a psychedelic rock album, not bad, just didn't feel special. Now one thing did say this album influenced a lot of other music in this genre, so in that case I see the influence but there were no songs that stuck with me. Side note...what is with the medieval themes?
As fate would have it, I was on holiday in Glasgow (where Donovan is from) when this was my album of the day! I didn't have a chance to listen until I returned from my travels, but given I also had Thin Lizzy and Primal Scream in the few days leading up to my trip to Ireland and Scotland, this serendipitously completed a trifecta, which is pretty darn neat. That being said, I really like the two big hits on here and also liked The Trip, but while pleasant enough, the rest was a bit slow and boring to me. He has a unique and creative sound though.
Pleasing early psychedelia. Fun sitar and harpsichord parts, but the album definitely lags in spots.
Mixed feelings about this, did not like the first song which put me on the back foot, but it has some good bits like the Season of the Witch one
I liked it. Above average so far. Added “Sunshine Superman” and “Celeste”
Some very good pop songs mixed in with some dreck
Donovan, I bet you WHIFF - but your attitude is spot on, I get the sense you're a proper hippie who is genuinely out there making art, not milking every bit of fortune and fame the industry has to offer. Just buy some deodorant bruv,
Some good hippy trippy folk from the British Dylan
Groovy sixties
There are some real snoozers on this list, but there's also "Season of the Witch."
Bangers + some tracks in between that were trying to invent British folk rock that was done better later
Interesting psychedelic album! Witch one was my favorite! 3 stars
Although I enjoyed this album for the most part, I didn’t like it as much as I had expected. I thought a lot of the songs dragged on, especially the second one, which I thought would never end. I did appreciate the use of some unconventional instruments like the sitar and harpsichord. But in the end, it gets a disappointing three stars from me.
It had some interesting sounds. Very mediocre, but probably more appreciated when it was released. Vocals were the highlight.
that was pretty cool i enjoyed it. i like the tone of his voice, i feel like it suits the sitar/eastern influences really well for whatever reason.
The one song is good. You know the one. The rest... Eh
ok... anyway..,.
fine i guess. pretty samey and filler-y. maybe the most 2.5-star album to ever grace this list. i dunno but also i don't really care. at least the big singles are pretty good. favorites: sunshine superman, season of the witch
-apparently this Donovan guy was an influence on the Beatles. I can definitely see that because this album sounds very Revolver imo -I like the raga stuff and he has a nice voice idk -maybe a little meandering/inoffensive for my taste at times but no major complaints -Favorites are Sunshine Superman, Season Of The Witch, and The Trip
Some fine moments.
It’s ok. As with all psychedelic music, it feels dated.
The album kicks off with the familiar titular song, then transports the listener into a fantasy setting with the next three tunes - which feel straight out of a tavern off the Kingsroad in Westeros, or somewhere in Middle Earth. Definitely a bold choice to put 3 songs in that slow, mystical style back to back in the top half of the album, but I’m guessing it was an intentional stylistic choice, which I can respect. In the next three songs, beginning halfway through “Bert’s Blues”, the style takes on a more upbeat feel- almost like The Doors meets The Beatles. Then, for the final 3 songs, the style reverts to a more stripped back, mystical feel. Overall it’s an album that’s very hard to pin down. It oozes 60s rock/folk psychedelia, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Jimmy Page or John Paul Jones heard the sitar & string elements sprinkled throughout and used it as inspiration for some of Zeppelin’s more mystical repertoire. I’m confident that biblical themes and Tolkien-esque folklore - as well as ample amounts of drugs - were consumed on Donovan’s part in the writing of the lyrics.
I’ll give this 3 stars only because of “Season of the Witch” - the rest of the album is a psychedelic bore.
Really pleasent surprise enjoyed it although a bit outdated. All songs are good. Its a well made album
A very enjoyable album - trots along with some good tunes
Psychedelic
A few keepers in there
This album is clearly important as a very important departure of everything that had come before. While today it seems dated, at the time it was HIGHLY innovative and important. I'll give it that! Season of the Witch is the most recognizable as it was still getting radio play even into the 80's.
The title track gets things off to a good start, but then it gets lost in the psychedelics. “Bert’s Blues” is cool and “Season of the Witch” brings back the energy of “Sunshine Superman.” “The Fat Angel” has a kind of catchy chorus, but the rest is rather boring. Maybe it pulls you in more if you tune in mid-trip?
Donovan is a mix of exciting and boring. My favorite song is Season Of The Witch due to the palm muted guitar riff and bass line. They are simplistic, yet effective. Other highlights include Sunshine Superman and Bert’s Blues.
First paychedelic album, good stuff
Very 60's, enjoyed it but not something I normally listen to. I'd listen again and may check out other albums.
This was alright,
Sunshine Superman and Season of the Witch stand out but the whole thing is really good.
I did actually know a couple tracks on this album, although I'd never heard of this artist before. It's pretty good, kinda psychedelic, more sitar sprinkled throughout than I would have thought.
en svag trea. pluspoäng för att vara först med psykedelisk rock och för att ha influerat beatles och rollings tones. men andra låten och vissa andra är så sjukt tråkiga. öppningsspåret och titelspåret är väldigt bra.
Album 581 of 1001 Donovan - Sunshine Superman (1966) Rating : 3.5 / 5 Saw this aptly described as "somber psychedelia". For me, it is iconic as representing that moment that many (most who weren't there) consider to be the quintessential sixties complete with the bohemian styles, psychedelic colors and the feeling of some altered consciousness. Good listen.
A different album. But different was good this time.
Sweet, psychedelic melodies back by lush instrumentation. Sometimes you get elements of groovy country, sometimes you get mind-bending folk, and while the album never really blows me away, there are several fantastic songs throughout the consistently solid tracklist.
Love Donavan. This album is a bit low key than his others, but still a vibe.
Some good tunes
Decent - enjoyable but maybe get a bit samey after a couple of spins
s'alright a couple of good tracks on here. Check out Lana Del Rey's cover of Season of the Witch.
Has a couple of bangers on it, but a couple of bangers do not required listening make. Happy I got to hear Celeste, however. Not one of the more well-known Donovan tunes, and I really liked it.
See, I think that an exceptional album, like, an album that you really love and want to share, has to have at least half of its tracks be such great songs that it makes the entire album raise up. That is not the case for this album. Its got 2 good songs, only one of them a classic. Wouldn't recommend to, well, pretty much anyone. 3/5
Fun album with a lot of diverse sounds and influences, probably 3.5
I liked this- it's Lou Reed with a bit more tunefulness, a better singing voice, but not quite as biting with the lyrics. Season of the Witch was my favourite, the album as a whole is a bit hit and miss, but a comfortable 3 for me.
Non ricordo quindi 2.5
Does 1 or 2 songs make a great album? No, they do not. Donovan killed it on the singles. Sunshine Superman is a banger! 100. Season of the Witch might justify you buying the album. The rest is very meh or worse. Just add Sunshine Superman to your golden oldies playlist and Season of the Witch to your Halloween playlist and skip the rest.
I have trouble connecting with the folkier songs. Unlike, say, Simon and Garfunkel, I don't have history with Donovan and the time/genre gap is too hard to bridge. They just kinda bounce off me. On the rockier stuff though, you can either feel Jimmy Page's contribution, or hear the influence Donovan had on Led Zep (it's hard to untangle which tracks Page played on). Season of the Witch is, and the kids say, a banger. Overall - I think with a bit less sitar and a bit more guitar, this would have aged a lot better.
Not my favorite Donovan record. There are a few great songs. But the rest is mid for him.
Ok. I can definitely tell this was early psychedelic music. 3/5
Somewhat nice music with some songs having an old timey sound or theme.
It’s a little cheesy, but for whatever reason, I enjoyed this quite a bit today. Psychedelic music usually isn’t my thing - I think the overearnest folksiness somehow worked in its favor here. Favorite tracks: Three Kingfishers, Bert’s Blues, Season of the Witch 3.5?
Sunshine Superman was an album that was quite a bit better than i was expecting. At first, i was kinda expecting a rather mediocre psychedelic folk rock album but this one did quite a few things to get itself into my good graces. The music on this album was pretty good and could frequently change it's mood to sound either more upbeat and catchy to more mellow and somber. The vocals and the music were also pretty decent here too. This album isn't really anything super special but for what it does, it does a pretty fine job. Best Song: Sunshine Superman Worst Song: Three King Fishers
Album was okay. Some familiar songs, but nothing that notable otherwise. 2.5/5 Probably won’t listen again
Starts off strong, but fades at the end. 2.5/5
fun album overall. no songs i disliked but it didn’t stand out as amazing.
#359. Most of it was just alright, but a few pretty good songs in the mix. 3/5: good.
Outside of the first track I could leave the rest
Kinda boring. Rating 3 instead of 2 because I like Season of the Witch
All these 60s psychedelia albums start to blend together at a point. Nothing remarkable here
The maker of this list really has a hard-on for 60s Brit Pop. Without knowing it, I was familiar with a few Donovan songs already. He did “Mellow Yellow” too, which isn’t on this album. This is a hard one to rate. I’m giving it a 4 because I enjoyed the experience today, but I don’t think I’ll ever revisit Donovan for any reason, so I guess that makes it a 3.5.
This was so outrageously psychadelic 60's in a nutshell... Mostly in a good way but sometimes a little too ridiculous. Lots of random medieval vibes and random sitar.
So British. So 60's. When it works it really works, like the huge opener Sunshine Superman, Season of the Witch, and Bert's Blues. However I find the king and castles stuff pretty wearing.
El lehetett hallgatni, nem utáltam, de semmi sem hívta fel benne a figyelmem.
Little too out there for me. I recognized a couple songs that I do like.
Excellent highlights but it leaves me desiring more psychedelia than pure folk. It doesn’t have the best track order (the US version) in my opinion. Highlights: “Sunshine Superman” & “Season of the Witch”. 3 stars.
Un autre album de psychédélique, pour une fois qui se distingue un tantinet plus à cause de l'incorporation plus importante de folk. Mais rien de si mémobrable. 6/10.
3.5
Some cool tracks, mainly the hits, but too uneven and very of its time
Has a couple of notable classics that open each half with the title song and Season Of The Witch. There are some enjoyable light, medieval textures throughout along with Donovan’s wispy, freakay, Bowiesque-before-Bowie troubadouring. There are also a couple too many song that lack any kind of colour or magic though so it ends up being a patchy listen. 3.5 stars.
Enjoyed it more than I thought I would, but really nothing memorable after the first song.
Never heard this before. There are a couple of memorable songs, but most of this trippy flower-power psychedelic folk album is hard to take seriously. I'll give it a soft 3 stars.
Decent enough
I listened to a history podcast about the 60s recently so this went well with that! Very interesting to hear the origins of flower power hippie music! As for the rating, I don't really remember what I thought of it - I ended up listening to it twice through so I must have quite liked it but I don't remember any of it
Fun enough
It's ok. But not more.
I had to listen to this in a couple of sessions, because I started it when I was commuting home on the train and kept dozing off. That’s not really a knock on the album, but it does have a kind of sleepy, fairy tale quality.
Interesting voice, great articulation, groovy lyrics. A little too flower power pilled for me to swallow at times.
A nice one to have heard.
The hits are good, but the rest is pretty yawn inducing for me...
Listening to his album brings radio that I really like… But his stuff just never took route… Good rhythm, but not really my jam
I have a thought time with Donovan. Looking at his work through the lens of someone born shortly after this album was released doesn't give me the experience to rate this kind of music from a contemporary point of view. Being considerate of the impact Donovan has and had on music I get where he's coming from and while Sunshine Superman and Season of the Witch are well known enough, the rest of the album strikes me as the kind of music I never understood or could get into. 3/5
I like donovan but didn't love this one. found it a bit tedious to listen to. season of the witch still great. 3
Classic
I like how light it is. It's enjoyable. I didn't really get "into" it, but I liked the listen
White guy at the farmers market with the sitar I hate the way he writes his songs. I don’t have the technical vocabulary for it, but he has like an A/ B verse and it gets really irritating after the fourth or fifth time he does it.
Decent 60s music but nothing too special
trying too hard to be Dylan
A pure 60's psych rock/folk rock record. Good pastiche of it's time. Or maybe less of pastiche or more of a time capsule. Some cool sitar, nice mixes of beachy grooves, 60's lounge pop and psychedelic rock.
++: Sunshine Superman, Season of the Witch, The Trip +: Legend of a Girl Child Linda, Three King Fishers, Bert's Blues, Celeste +-: Ferris Wheel, Guinevere, The Fat Angel 7,6/10
Some great psychedelic rock here with songs like the title track and Season of the Witch; however, half the album is nonsensical and pretentious, track 2 is particularly a stinker
Couple good songs. Was originally thinking a 2, but giving it a 3
Ok, but not very memorable
The title track and Season of the Witch are both great songs. The rest of the album is a lot of fantasy nonsense that while enjoyable … doesn’t give me any desire to return to it.
3.5
60/100 At times incredibly creative and enchanting. Other times awfully boring. The quality of singing also isn't very consistent throughout the project. Overall the positives definitely outweigh the negatives a fair bit
I'd never heard of Donovan before, so I was going into this blind. I'll quote what I actually said out loud after finishing the album - "That was pretty good!" I really like the different 60s elements that were comingled on this recording. You have the singer/songwriter stylings of a Paul Simon mixed with a little more psychedelic vibe like The Doors. It leaned a little too far onto The Doors' side of the spectrum for my liking at times, but all in all there was plenty in this album to like from my POV. I may not actively seek out Donavan much going forward, but I wouldn't skip these tracks if they came up again! Notable Tracks: - Legend of a Girl Child Linda - Season of the Witch - Guinevere - Celesete 6/10
is ok, aber war schon zu viel was so ähnlich is dabei
Meine Englischlehrerin in der Mittelstufe hat gerne Platten in den Unterricht mitgebracht und die Texte verteilt. Es gab z.B. die Beatles (The fool on the hill) oder Peter, Paul and Mary (Puff the magic dragon) oder The Animals (House of...) und - Donovan. The Universal Soldier ist bis heute bei mir unvergessen. Und wird immer aktuell bleiben. Ok, ich schweife ab. 3 Sympathiepunkte.
I think if I took enough drugs I would love this, but I didn’t and I don’t
This was an unexpectedly good album. I can see very clearly how it influenced all the psychedelic rock of the 60s. It feels innovative and fresh, but still with that distinct 1960s sound.
Rating: 6/10 Decent psychedelic album with a few decent songs and melodies.
Nice psychedelic folk album with plenty of interesting elements from a Scottish singer songwriter. Very 1960s. A little slow in places but generally enjoyable in its embellished simplicity. Rating: 3/5 Playlist track: Season of the Witch Date listened: 02/07/24
Sunshine superman Three kingfishers Season of the witch
Sunshine Superman and Season of the Witch are total bops. However, a huge part of this album is just 60s weirdness.
I liked this okay! I like Season of the Witch.
Oh, a 60s psychedelic album? You shouldn't have! Seriously, you shouldn't have. I've gotten enough of these already. Oh well, at least the album's good and the artist's important enough to be referenced in JoJo. This album's alright. Is it my favorite psychedelic album? No, but it's also not my least favorite. I actually enjoyed it. I might enjoy it more if it wasn't my 38th psychedelic rock album, but whatever. Is it special? No, but it's good enough. The singing is solid. The writing is pretty decent. The sound is good. The sitar usage is respectable. There's some pretty good songs on here. None of them are particularly bad. I think "Season of the Witch" is probably my favorite. Overall, this is a perfectly fine psychedelic album. Nothing crazy, but nothing bad either. High 3/5.
This is a nice enough album, but where it sits among the great albums I'm not sure, given it was released nearly 60 years ago. There appear to be two versions of this album that were released - I listened to some expanded version at over an hour.
Nice and smooth.
Nice! I don't think the sitar really works, but it's very pleasant pop psychedelia
There's no good reason why Donovan should have known what Green Lantern was in 1965. It feels like an anachronism. I don't like it. As for the rest of it: a little underwhelming! Those two mammoth singles dwarf everything except "Bert's Blues"
Pretty decent, but a lot of songs are forgettable.
Ég bjóst við algjöru psækadelísku rokki sem ég myndi ekki fíla þegar ég sá plötuumslagið en svo var þetta bara fínasta plata sem ég gat alveg hlustað á. Ég ætti að reyna að muna eftir henni til að reyna að spila aftur síðar en ef ég á að vera alveg hreinskilinn eru ekki miklar líkur á því.
Perfectly fine. Nothing more than that. 3.5/5
mellow and touching on magical at times (girl child linda for example). slightly too laid back to deliver something timeless or cathartic (such as astral weeks) but enjoyable nonetheless. the orchestral arrangements are often the highlights of sunshine superman and they compliment donovans own excellent ear for melody. girl child linda and celeste are highlights
Donovan has dated for sure, but this was better than I thought it might be. Three King Fishers was my favourite track
Ok
This album feels pretty uneven to me. There are a couple of really awesome songs, but I find most of them a bit dull. It's hard for the songs I enjoy like Sunshine Superman and Season of the Witch to overcome the sag I experience during Guinevere. The dumb face that he made on the cover of this album is the same dumb face I was making while listening to much of this album 3/5
Caressant et berçant, s’écoute comme des ballades qui interrogent la spiritualité humaine
decent listen. very medieval (?) feel to it
Nothing to spectacular here. It leans neither to the folk or the psychadelic side of the spectrum. It just hangs out kind of in the middle, and leaves you wishing he would have just picked one of the two genres and did it really well instead of this mish mash of average musicianship. I've noticed that dude loves singing about birds. I've counted at least 3 unrelated instances so far of nods to seagulls. Plus there is a song about Kingfishers, and he sings about ravens. Dude is a closet ornithologist. He's one species away from bird bingo, lol. Overall, aside from Season of the Witch, there isn't really much worth writing home about on this album. Favourite songs: Season of the Witch, Sunshine Superman, Three King Fishers, Guinevere Least favourite songs: Bert's Blues 3/5
Sunshine Superman Season Of The Witch
It has a bit of an Indian touch but it's not for me.
I've heard a couple of these tracks individually, but never the entirety of the album. Didn't know he was Scottish, gets more jazzy than I would have expected.
A well known pop album with folk undertones. Too soft and sweet for my taste but props for longevity and popularity.
A bit poppy, but I enjoyed a few songs
Not an artist I was that familiar with, but I liked this album. Reminded me of late-stage Beatles with a bit of Dylan sprinkled in.
Medieval stylings, that I didn't necessarily hate
Donovan's "Sunshine Superman" is a psychedelic folk masterpiece that captures the essence of the 1960s with its dreamy melodies and introspective lyrics. Released in 1966, the album showcases Donovan's unique blend of folk, rock, and jazz influences, creating a sound that was ahead of its time. The title track, "Sunshine Superman," is a standout, with its infectious groove and catchy chorus. Other highlights include the mystical "Legend of a Girl Child Linda" and the introspective "Season of the Witch." While some tracks may feel dated to modern ears, "Sunshine Superman" remains a classic of the psychedelic era, showcasing Donovan's songwriting prowess and musical innovation. Overall, it's a must-listen for fans of 1960s music, earning it a solid 3 out of 5 rating.
While I enjoyed most this album's very surreal, psychedelic, and mostly tranquil presentation, I do wish it was more varied in its overall presentation. Donovan was an artist whom I was quite unfamiliar with but I effectively got what I expected given the scattered album art and genre descriptors attached to this album. With hypnotic sounds and Eastern influences in quite a few of its songs, it all feels very much like an LSD trip which was something Donovan was all too familiar with around this time. His writing is as abstract as it could get, with fantastical imagery populating most of the lyrics on the tracks here. It's a neat effect, especially early on, but it was also lulling in a way, and without many strong nor evident lyrical concepts to latch onto, I felt almost lost. Maybe this was the artistic intention, but it didn't work wonders for me. There were a few exceptions to this. For one, I love the opening title track. Reading into it more, it seems the song is about his future wife and it's really sweet in its depiction of love, if a bit forward. I enjoyed "Bert's Blues" only because of how punchy it was after the series of much slower tracks. It's the most musically ambitious track here, even exploding into a jazz classical piece near the end. The closer "Celeste" is one of the most immaculately produced songs here, with gorgeous synths and a sonic space that's filled to the brim with these atmospheric noises. I read it as another love song, possibly directed at the same person from the first song, bookending this album nicely. Donovan's LSD-filled Los Angeles trip which supposedly inspired the record certainly gives a lot of weight to the themes and ideas presented here. And while I appreciate that, I couldn't fully enjoy the aimlessness of some of the slower tracks here. It's a record that requires some digesting, and considering this is only a first listen, I expect my opinions would change on subsequent listens. But for now, I'm only lukewarm on this.
Oye, oye, a pesar de la horrible carátula este disco está muy bien, de hecho. Qué sorpresa.
This was okay. I had heard the first song "Sunshine Superman" before and didn't know who sang it. I really thought "Season of the Witch" was a great song. Which, I don't think I had ever heard before. I have since found out that it's really well known. All in all, not bad, some of the slower story telling songs aren't my cup of tea.
I enjoyed many of the tracks on this album. However, it suffers from the dreaded recording style of so many albums of the era—tinny and high-pitched. If this was recorded in a more full-bodied way, I think i would be more into it. And don't tell me they couldn't: other albums we've heard from this project sound amazing and are from earlier than this. Including the sitar in the instrumentation is a lovely, unique touch.
Yeah, Hippies
Stijltje sitars en akoestische gitaar, psychedelisch
It has one radio friendly single and the rest is a stoner album.
This album is fairly pleasant. Nothing particularly special from my ears but I can see why some would like it. Fav songs: - Sunshine Superman - Season of the Witch
Title track and Season of the Witch are stone cold classics but the rest is mostly forgettable Donovan.
Solid 3.
Doesn't really break ground. Every song sounds oddly familiar. Took a walk and had bird song mixed in to make it better. Orchestral elements also elevated.
First track of each side good, the rest a bit middling
Mostly a bit boring but the starts to both sides of the album (“Sunshine Superman” and “Season of the Witch”) are both great. It’s also very exemplary of mid-60s psych-rock.
Couple of massive bangers, for their time, but the rest of it is both a bit mental and quite dull and similar. He doesn't have the best voice.
Pretty dull 60s psychadelic rock. This list seems to be a bit saturated in this stuff now, I've lost count at how many times I've written that first sentence. 1 or 2 good tracks, the rest utterly skippable. 2.5*
absolutely serviceable
This was a bit of a surprise! I had heard of Donovan but never listened to an album. As cheesy and whimsical as it was, it reminded me of very early Bowie and Syd Barret. He sings with such conviction that it's hard not to go along with his journey. Some songs were like listening to a fantasy audio book. I am not saying it will be on high rotation, but I will definitely have a poke around his work.
This was just ok - I can’t see myself coming bank to it. Just a bit forgettable
This was nice! A little sleepy, but I wasn’t mad about it
After a few songs I started to think about that Shankar. A lot of use of the Sitar. I ripped on that guy a long time ago, but his name always pops in my head whenever I hear the Sitar. Anyway, very familiar with Sunshine Superman and Season of the Witch. I think about Sis whenever I hear Season of the Witch because I was stunned she was a fan of the song. Both good tunes and I did enjoy The Trip as well. Otherwise, I found this album to be kinda boring and a little slow. Nothing terrible, just not sure this would be the kind of album I would seek out or have interest in playing again, except Season of the Witch for Ash. This falls into that 2.5-3 range for me. Scoreboard will show 3 for the thoughts of Ash and Shankar. 3
3 Supposedly this album was among the very first psychedelia albums ever created and was heavily influential on the genre, and while I can definitely hear that, it also very much feels more like the work of a folk musician who just discovered the sitar, probably because of the Beatles incorporating the instrument on Rubber Soul a year prior. He definitely makes better use of it here than The Beatles do though - I mean, this album may very well be the reason the sound of the instrument is now associated with psychedelia. So, I’m willing to give credit to Donovan for laying the framework, though I've said it before, and I’ll say it again - just because you did it first doesn’t necessarily mean you did it the best, and I’m not here to grade solely based on influence. Don’t get me wrong, this album is fine, but whereas releases like Dark Side of the Moon, Maggot Brain, Are You Experienced?, and a Wizard/A True Star feel like enchanting, psychedelic trips even to a sober mind, this feels like it never quite left the station. Maybe it’s not fair to compare Donovan to his successors, and maybe that’s not even what he was going for, but even if you just want to consider this a folk album with psychedelic touches, there still isn’t quite enough charm to it to make me want to come back for more. The only really good song here is Season of a Witch (especially when heard around the spooky season), though I will also say Legend of a Girl Child Linda grew on me a bit across my listenings - it’s a bit long, but it’s also probably the best balance of folk and psychedelia on the album and probably the best exemplification of what Donovan set out to do with this. There weren’t really any other standouts besides those two tracks, though I did appreciate his shoutout to then up-and-coming Jefferson Airplane - whom I would consider a better psychedelic group - on The Fat Angel (though I guess its title is supposed to refer to Mama Cass, which is… kinda mean). Decent listen, but not the kind of thing to leave me with a lasting impression.
Very 60s, much psychedelic, so hippy! Is this the first album to name check Green Lantern?
It smells like the 60s, it has this simple and enjoyable taste of a time when everything seemed brighter and simpler. It's not a masterpiece but it's genuine, and I'd be actually quite happy if today's pop has this sort of qualities. On top of that, it seems that the guy stayed true to himself through the years.
It was alright!! Title track was my favourite.
Some songs were great, others not so much
Interesting lyrics and vibes
An album representative of the decade. A blend of psychedelic, folk and eastern-influenced music. Includes one of Donovan major hits "Sunshine Superman".
MORE SITAR
One of the most intensely 60s albums I’ve ever heard. It even came before the Summer of Love, so you could argue this was pretty forward-thinking towards that era. Not a lot of great songs here and the sound is pretty thin, but there’s a charm to it that I can’t really put aside. Best song: Sunshine Superman
a bit too jangly and like quirky for me? Idk
Donovan is definitely a "greatest hits" artist for me. He's got a bunch of great songs, but the non hits are pretty much all misses.
Donovan McNabb
One classic, a solid starter, and some other stuff that says "60s."
Pleasant album yet one that i won’t ever go - ‘I’d like to put on that Donovan record…’ - I think I’ve already gotten the most out of it
It was ok
Really cool take on folk/paychedelic. Love his voice.
60’s psychadellic! And we get Season of the Witch! A classic.
Soooooooooooo oooooooooooold
estuvo graciosete sin más.no creo que lo vuelva a escuchar. 6/10. canción fav: celeste
A solid 60s psychedelic-folk romp.
I listened to this album while walking through the woods and it was a nice enhancement to the wintery scenery I had in front of me. The calm and melodic songs were really nice to listen to. I've added this to my collection
It was fine-
Some real classics on here!
Psychedelic sounds with a dreamy fantastical string of songs. Stories of jesters, and queens. It’s easy to tell how much passion was put into the articulate world building. Beautiful paintings of wonder and silk thrones, velvet linings and hills with trees, which are lined with crows and birds.
Maybe the most late-60s thing I’ve heard.
Blue's Grandpa
Granted I find a lot of these songs generic. But the title song and “Season of the Witch” are so strong that I have to give it an extra star. 3/5
2,5
This album has held up pretty well from the 60s. It can get a bit too folky/psychadelic for my tastes but overall I liked it. Highlights: Superman Sunshine Season of the Witch
I thought this was going to be some terrible 60s pop album.... Was not at all! Really quite good. Old Donovan must've dabbled in psychedelics back in the day. Much better than I expected, but not sure if I'll be back. Glad I've heard it though. Sunshine superman I recognised and was the best track. 3.5
This album was fine. Pretty middle of the road 3.
Pretty trippy to start but then mellows out a bit I thought into more traditional rock. He's got a good singing voice though. Wish it was more psychedelic like I thought it was going to be from his Wikipedia
Some songs were a vibe but others were so monotonous that, overall, the record is unexceptional. [0095/1001]
Is it just me or does Donovan look like he could be related to Harry Styles? Such a fun psychedelic album that feels very flower power like (i.e. drugs), and wouldn't be a 60s psychedelic album without the use of a sitar somewhere across the track-list. Best: Season of the Witch Worst: The Fat Angel
I wanna smoke opium to this
66/100
Du bon rock bien années 60 Season of the witch et the trip sont bien 3.5
Decent folk effort from old (young) Donovan, but nothing that really grabs me.
A pleasant visit into the realm of Donovan. Pleasant, but not that special.
A couple of songs were pretty good and fun, but this was mostly too slow and boring, and I am not on nearly enough acid to enjoy it.
George Harrison - ass album. Very impressive that he made this at 19 though, serious musicality. Hard working 3 out of 5 from me
Pretty good
Highlights: Season of the Witch, The Trip, The Fat Angel. Part folk rock, part psychedelia, light touch of baroque pop. It’s music you immediately identify with the cliched care-free part of the 60’s. Donovan was dismissed by critics as “a Dylan clone”. They’re wrong. There is a crossover but no ripoffs here. Many folk musicians- including Donovan and Dylan- would cite Martin Carthy, Woodie Guthrie, Rumblin’ Jack Elliott, Joan Baez, blues and British/Irish folk music in general as their forerunner influences. Donovan even taught John Lennon a different way to finger-pick a guitar and it was incorporated into ‘Dear Prudence’. Overall: 5/10
Sounded surprisingly modern in places.
Very cool use of instrumentals. I enjoyed Berts Blues and Season of the Witch. A groovy psychedelic rollercoaster, but just not the kind of music I would go out of my way to always listen to.
Impressions: For easy listening yet enjoyable. Genuinely enjoyed this. Favorite tracks: Sunshine Superman, Ferris Wheel, Bert’s Blues, Rating: 3/5
I think the people that created Dungeons and Dragons were definitely reading Tolkien, getting high as balls on weed and LSD, and listening to Donovan. This is one of the weirdest albums I've ever listened to. Half the songs are like LSD-soaked medieval ballads, the other half are hazy, experimental 60s pop tunes. It's not my jam but...it's not bad!
It was just ok, a couple nice tracks.
Chill men vilka usla lyrics
So close to a 4. Two great songs and another couple notable tunes. The arrangements are interesting on thier own but the record did drag on a bit
3/10, 30%
I enjoyed this album up to Season of the Witch - everything after that wasn't great.
Season of the Witch!!!
This was fine.
Kind of boring, typical mid-60s uber psychedelic summer of love type stuff. Some of it is definitely decent.
3-- seasson of the witch
I like some Donovan songs, but not enough to enjoy a whole album of them. There are a few standouts to me, the song about Linda and the song after that, but overall this didn't click for me. Sometimes the way he sings and pronounces things bothers me, it's a strange affectation that takes me out of it a bit. Probably won't be re-listening to this one.
Trippy album, solid 60’s folksy rock. Title track was good, probably won’t listen to the album as a whole again
Sunshine Superman is a classic. I always liked season of the witch, too. I never had listened to the rest of the album before. Huge eastern influence, which was popular at the time. Honestly, it’s not really my thing. Probably written mostly for 60s kids trying out LSD for the first time.
Donovan strikes me as a guy capable of turning you into a newt, so I don't want to anger him by giving his album anything lower than a 3/5. I can excuse some late 60s psychedelic pop. Especially if it vaguely sounds like weird Renaissance fair music. Shoutouts to my man Tim Buckley.
It was a chill hippie album.
60s alleged dreamboat music
Sunshine superman is opens both sides strong with the title track and the stand out The Season of the Witch, in between it floats along with stories about medieval times with acoustic guitar, sitar, tablas and strings. It’s a pretty album 6.5/10
This is a fine album, with some fun instrumentation and a few interesting compositions, though not necessarily my favorite of the 1960s folk rock sounds.
Pop. Folk. Rock.
That was fun! I thought I'd like this more than I actually did– I'm biased toward Donovan. He's the kind of slightly campy, off-kilter, a little inscrutable edge to the 60's flower power thing that I think is fun. I really started paying attention to him with Mellow Yellow, which was a centerpiece record for me for discovering a whole lot of new stuff. This one was... less exciting than Mellow Yellow, for me. Very 60's camp. The super sober, English fantasy songs are really funny. I just didn't connect with many of his songs, unlike his later records. I found his songwriting to be a little underdeveloped. I don't know whether this is the only Donovan record we get, which would be a shame, because he is a delightful counterpoint to the more *serious* rock and roll records we have here. Between a 2 and 3 for me, but rounded up for Season of the Witch which is great. 3/5
Pretty, very psych influenced. At certain points, leans into the psych a little too much to become dull and too spaced out. Solid songwriting otherwise. Favorite tracks: "Season Of the Witch", "Guinevere"
Jotain kovin viehättävää tässä oli, vaikkei sinänsä ihmeellistä.
Fun ‘60s psychedelic record. Some songs are more memorable than others.
It's not even that the songs are dated. The two songs that I knew from before I dig ("Season of the Witch" and "Sunshine Superman") when they were made, and that's not the problem. The other songs that weren't hits are just... hippie ramblings. I'm just like, wow what were you smoking, a banana perhaps? Just... no.
I don't know. Am I supposed to give this album more credit for its pioneering of psychedelia or use of sitar? It's a landmark album for sure, but it's just meh. The two hits are awesome (Sunshine Superman and Season of the Witch) but the others are just kind of beatnik blase. Maybe Bert's Blues was ok. The rest I just can't get into.
Canciones extensas sin mucho contenido ni ritmo apegante o interesante. Los blues tienen co tenido y uno quiero escucharlos, pero la dxperiencia previa experimental saca todo de contexto. Por eso es que este disco suena interesante y lamentablemente queda en eso 5/10
The album features some fun bits here and there but many of the songs for me just fell flat in the songwriting and were a little bland. 6/10
Welp, album number 300. Honestly I was hoping for something a little more exciting. It was just an okay folk-rock album with a couple of faster and more exciting tracks, but it was mostly a bit too slow and boring so didn't draw my attention, and sometimes grew whimsical to the point of just being a bit unappealing on my ears. Not the worst album, by no means the best to me. Favourite: Sunshine Superman
Man i love "Season of the Witch". The rest of the album was fine.
It has two great songs. And the rest is very very meh. I want to rate this a 2.5 but I guess I'll bump to 3 just because I like Season of the Witch so much.
Nice and chill… maybe a little too chill for its own good, tbh.
1966 seems like a good year for sitar players. Donovan comes back with one of the most-known albums in his career. Sunshine Superman digs a hole in the 60s psychedelic pop with eclectic lyrics, hypnotic harmonies, and mystic instrumentation. Some songs are dark and mysterious, others more introspective and self-reflective (and a few, mere filler). While Sunshine Superman is neither revolutionary nor transgressive, it's embedded in the 60s pop culture and still remains a solid example of how was o be young and free during those years
An early entry into the rise of psychadelic music for the 1960's. This album is best known for it's two singles: Sunshine Superman and Season of the Witch. Coincidentally, these are the only two tracks on the album that are truly noteworthy. Other songs are slow and rarely develop into anything noteworthy. Mostly, they lack the memorable hooks of the singles. It's a fair listen. Nothing terribly lacking or bad.
I like Donovan but I really only enjoyed 1 or 2 tracks from the album. However I’m going to go for 3*
Sunshine, check. Young girl, check. Wizard, check. Lute, check. Sitar, check. You shall ride, check. That’s Donovan Bingo!
what would clark kent say
Season of the Witch!
A few very cool sitar moments, and chill album, but for the most part was bored by this one.
2 really good songs, then a weird bunch of other stuff
Kind of like lots of Mellow Yellow just less mellow
Interesting. Folksy stuff. With some harpsichordy baroque stuff, and some sitar stuff.
Ég er hrifinn af Donovan, finnst hann oft ansi skemmtilegur, en þessi plata er lítið meira en fín. Titillagið er frábært sem og Nornarlagið, en hitt er ekki eins eftirminnilegt. Vantar meira beat.