Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Magician's Name is Donovan, November 9, 2006
Being born in 1949, I grew up in the sixties, and was caught up in the Folk movement of the Kingston Trio, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and the lesser-known Phil Ochs. In the midst of these protest singers was the gentle, mystical sound of a young Scotsman named Donovan. Of all his recordings, my favorites were Fairytale, Catch the Wind, and A Gift from a Flower to a Garden. So now I am one down, two to go. I love his effortless way of singing, and the soothing sound of the flute. The imagery of Circus of Sours, the delicacy of Summer Day Reflection Song, the sadness of Ballad of Geraldine (Battle? Was your proofreader napping on the job?), and the power of Universal Soldier all create an absolutely beautiful listening experience. How fortunate we are Donovan had the ability to take a chance on his songwriting and singing skills and enrich our lives and souls with his magic.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Truly a Beautiful Record, July 17, 2006
This record, like "Catch the Wind" features Donovan accompanying himself on guitar and harmonica and I believe Shawn Phillips plays on a couple of the songs. If I remember right he plays on "The Little Tin Soldier." Anyway, it's mostly just Donovan. The record opens with "Colours," and ends with it too. It's one of my favorite songs. "To Try for the Sun," which (and I don't care what some people say the song is about) is my absolute favorite Donovan song. I've got the "Reedy River" bootleg and the way he performed the song on tour in 1967 is to die for. Actually you can get a version almost like that now, because they've just released the complete Anaheim Show. Whoops, I'm digressing, back to the album at hand. "Summer Day Reflection Song" is just simply wonderful. "Belated Forgiveness Plea" is, to me, one of the saddest songs ever written. I cry every time I hear it. Another song that does that to me is the Jefferson Airplane's, "Coming Back to You." Another sad song on this disc is "The Ballad of Geraldine" where Don takes a female part. The song is heartbreaking and breathless. But the real gem on this record is "The Ballad of a Crystal Man." In my opinion it is just about the best antiwar song ever written. The young people knew so much back then, why oh why has the world turned out the way it has. Ah well, this is truly a beautiful record, one I play all the time.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Donovan's Greatest Gift, December 26, 2002
"Fairy Tale" is one of my favorite albums from the sixties. Donovan, the Scottish minstrel, has often been accused of being a Dylan wannabe. "Fairy Tale", recorded in 1965, proves Donovan to have carved-out a unique musical idenity before the folk rock explosion in the USA. All of the material is strong and the classics are "Sunny Googe Street", "Try For the Sun", "Universal Soldier", and of course, "Colors." Donovan went on to enormous popularity in the States with his cosmic mish-mash of world music. He even had three quarters of Led Zep as a back-up band before that band was formed. Then it ended as quickly as it began, it ended....Donovan got married, dropped out of public life and persued things unrelated to the shallow life of a pop music icon. Good for him...Fairy Tale is Donovan's greatest gift from his flower garden.
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