The Journey Of Donovan
09/05/2008
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(PR) SPV will release a three-hour feature-length documentary about the career, the music and the cultural impact of singer/songwriter Donovan Sunshine Superman: The Journey Of Donovan on October 7.
Seven years in the making, Sunshine Superman: The Journey Of Donovan traces Donovan's humble beginnings on through his early inspiration with Jack Kerouac and the '50s Beats; his folk-music protest songs; and on into superstardom via a stunning string of songs that uniquely captured the essence of an era like no other artist: 13 straight hit singles from 1965 to 1969 including "Catch The Wind," a cover of Buffy Sainte Marie's "Universal Soldier," "Mellow Yellow," "Sunshine Superman," "Epistle To Dippy," "There Is A Mountain," "Wear Your Love Like Heaven," "Hurdy Gurdy Man" , "Jennifer Juniper," "Lalena," "Atlantis" and "Riki Tiki Tavi."
Along the way is a fascinating series of sidetrips including his early meeting with Bob Dylan (represented by a classic scene at a hotel suite in England which finally proves there was no rivalry). A scene from India where Donovan, four Beatles, one Beach Boy, and others meditate with the Maharishi, one gem of a TV show where Donovan performs with Pete Seeger, and many classic concert clips that show the majesty, the rare beauty, the Pied Piper-esque aura of this grandiose and dramatic onstage performer that fit in perfectly with the times and influenced every generation since.
Packaging includes second DVD with two additional hours of bonus material: television appearances from 1965, 1966 and 1996, six music videos (including one with Arlo Guthrie), four unreleased songs, seven concert performances (including one of "Season Of The Witch" from New York City in 2008) and "The Private Donovan" (his poet father, family album, his being awarded a prestigious Doctor Of Letters from the University of Hertfordshire in Saint Albans Cathedral in 2003, and a section on his lifelong promotion of and love of Transcendental Meditation, which he works at to this day with his wife Linda and film director David Lynch. (Dr. Donovan Leitch heads up the music wing of the David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace.) He also announced in 2007 that he will build The Invincible Donovan University for Consciousness Based Education and The Arts in his birth country of Scotland.
Over the past few years, Donovan has experienced something of a renaissance. His 2004 Beat Café album was well-received. The 2005 box set—Try For The Sun—lovingly chronicles the music. A book published by Arrow—The Autobiography Of Donovan: The Hurdy Gurdy Man—chronicles one man's incredible life.
The influence he's had on generations of musician:
§ "Donovan is as important and influential as either Dylan or the Beatles….Listen: the man is a poet" – JOHN LENNON
§ "Donovan was one of my inspirations when I first sat down with my guitar to write songs." – JOHN MELLENCAMP
§ "I really enjoyed the sessions I did with Donovan. He's a very romantic writer and he's got a lovely sense of humor when he's writing too." – JIMMY PAGE
§ "Donovan is a top man in my book and somebody I wish I would run into in a park on a warm Sunday" – BILLY CORGAN / SMASHING PUMPKINS
§ "Donovan changed my life by writing 'Season of the Witch'. It seems I have to perform that song for the rest of my life." – AL KOOPER"
§ When I first started to write descent songs in the late '60s, I badly needed encouragement. Who was there for me? Donovan." – GRAHAM NASH / CSNY
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