Cosmic Wheels/Essence to Essence [Import, Original recording remastered]

Donovan | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 1, 2004)
• Original Release Date: 2004
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Diablo Records UK
• ASIN: B0001CVBJQ
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #234,203 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Cosmic Wheels

2. Earth Sign Man

3. Sleep

4. Maria Magenta

5. Wild Witch Lady

6. The Music Makers

7. The Intergalactic Laxative

8. I Like You

9. Only The Blues

10. Appearances

11. Operating Manual For Spaceship Earth

12. Lazy Daze

13. Life Goes On

14. There Is An Ocean

15. Dignity Of A Man

16. Yellow Star

17. Divine Daze Of Deathless Delight

18. By For Every Girl

19. Saint Valentine's Angel

20. Life Is A Merry-Go-Round

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

UK twofer combines both the British folk-rock icon's 1973 albums, 'Cosmic Wheels' produced by Donovan & Mickie Most along with 'Essence To Essence' produced by Andrew Oldham & Donovan. 21 tracks. Edsel. 2004.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally on CD!, February 27, 2004

By 

"pretty_boy" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cosmic Wheels/Essence to Essence (Audio CD)

Cosmic Wheels was issued in Europe on CD for a very short time in the 1990s and went out of print shortly thereafter. Finally it's re released and available, this time as a twofer with Essense to Essense, the followup CD. Cosmic Wheels is Donovan's last great album, featuring his whimsical but still lyrical concerns with the earth, stars, astronomy, astrology, etc. There are some amazing and powerful orchestrations on this album, particularly on the title track, arranged by Chris Spedding. Great musicianship and songwriting on this overlooked and underrated album. Essense to Essense has some interesting material but is not nearly as good as Cosmic Wheels either in consistency of songwriting or in performance. Sound quality is good, thank God they refrained from using noise reduction, and this CD sounds quite acceptable.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Mystic Minstrel of the 20th Century, March 19, 2005

By 

David R. Rauh "The Vinyl Junkie" (Cincinnati, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cosmic Wheels/Essence to Essence (Audio CD)

I was glad to find these two albums paired together. I don't have to sell anyone on Cosmic Wheels, one of Donovan's better efforts from the 70's. But Essence to Essence has always been slammed as a weak album, with so-so production and subpar material. However, there are always hidden gems and this LP has a few. Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth and The Divine Daze of Deathless Delight remain two of my personal favorites. But if you are a true Donovan fan, or just now beginning to discover the wonder of his talent, then There Is An Ocean and

Sailing Homeward are absolute musts to have in your collection.

They both have minimal accompaniment and in my opinion that is when Donovan is at his best. Although he has made some great electric music over the years, all he really needs is an acoustic guitar and that great built-in vibrato voice of his to bring goose bumps to your skin. Listen and enjoy.

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 stars for Cosmic Wheels, February 20, 2011

By 

David Geschke "daveonbass" (Waupun, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cosmic Wheels/Essence to Essence (Audio CD)

COSMIC WHEELS is one of my favorite recordings of all-time. My rating is just for that album as I'm unfamiliar with the follow up recording included on this CD. But COSMIC WHEELS is worth the price of admission on it's own, Donovan at his finest :)