Donovan – The Hurdy Gurdy Man (Impex, 180g)

"Although Donovan had already captivated listeners with hits like 'Sunshine Superman' (a #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit in September of 1966) and 'Mellow Yellow' (#2 on the chart in December of that year), it's The Hurdy Gurdy Man issued in the fall of '68 that became a benchmark of the psychedelic era. The album artfully captured the essence of the moment with its fresh, smart and stylistic approach to songwriting, endearing melange of rock, pop, drone, folk, world and jazz overtones (coupled with deeper psychological undertones, i.e. transcendental consciousness and a yearning for an 'ideal' world).

"Musically, Donovan and [producer Mickie] Most made liberal use of multiple feels inspired by a wide range of styles, most remarkably the drone: a harmonic effect in which a note or chord is continuously repeated throughout a composition and commonly forms the tonality on which the piece is built. This brought an unusual and memorable quality to many tunes on the album, as did Donovan's whimsical, spiritual-esque vocals. Then, too, both 'The Hurdy Gurdy Man' and its namesake album reflect a tougher rock sound than the singer's earlier recordings."

—Charles L. Granata

Our AAA HQ-180 33.3-rpm LP was mastered from 1 to 1 copy of the US analog master tape by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, plated and pressed at RTI for flat and silent surfaces and incredible detail. The 4-page insert features a new appreciation by producer, author, and historian Charles L. Granata that puts in context the positive effects of Donovan's clever, innovative writing and performances.