Customer Reviews

Pied Piper

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have just received my copy of this new album, and it is wonderful not to be disappointed! Although there are well established songs featured (and new ones, of course) they are all new arrangements, and very good arrangements at that.
The songs featured will be well known to Donovan's fans everywhere, but the addition of childrens' voices in places, as well as new instruments, makes for a refreshingly bouyant collection of happy songs. 'Happiness Runs' and 'Mandolin Man...' are already favourites of mine!
Also featured on this CD is the Pied Piper's song 'People Call Me the Pied Piper'. If memory serves me correctly this was not used in the film (much, I think, to Donovan's disappointment) but he has performed the song several times to my knowledge here in the UK at least, and clearly rates it highly himself. And rightly so!
His new arrangement of 'Colours' will delight everyone I am sure, with new lyric much more suited to the youngsters of the family. Further, there is the story of 'Jack and the Beanstalk' which every child knows and loves, and retold in the song 'Jackie Beanstalk'.
'Voyage of the Moon' is a new arrangement where the melody line is very slightly changed. I must say, I prefer the original to the one featured here, but at least it's different. Finally, I can just imagine classes of kids in schools up and down the country singing along to 'Nature Friends'!
You've scored highly with this one, Donovan, but please don't make us wait quite so long for the next one. As for the fans, you won't be disappointed.

Donovan (who is a living legend as far as I'm concerned) still continues to record in this, his fifth decade of recording. With all due to respect to the reviewer from Victoria, Australia, I find myself liking this album quite a bit. I agree that this album is not the legendary classic that his earlier output is. However, this album should not be compared to the classics like "A Gift", "HMS", etc... This album is basically an album geared for children done with vintage Donovan guitars, melodies, and singing (backed up by children and a female vocalist). If you're expecting classic 60's/70's Donovan or "Sutras", perhaps you need to wait for his 2003 album "Beatnik Cafe" which may satisfy. I just like Donovan's guitar playing, singing and his positive attitude (which is so often sadly mistaken for 'sappy') on life so much that this album did not disappoint. There's some remakes of classics from his "For Little Ones" (2nd half of A Gift) and "HMS Donovan"(a monster classic which I consider one of the best albums of all time) done with the classic childlike innocence. Remember his purpose for this album (geared for children *but* very enjoyable for 30-and-40-and-50-somethings like myself) and don't get tangled up in comparing this to the Donovan of the 60's and 70's. This is quite an enjoyable album. Although his voice is a little more crackly and weary (heck, we all age) and worn, his voice is still "classic" Donovan. Make no mistake about it, Donovan is back and quite active. I look forward to his "Beatnik Cafe" and any of his future albums. Donovan is a living legend and this album is another chapter in his extensive discography. If you like/play accoustic guitar, you should consider giving this album a chance. One thing that seperates Donovan from other accoustical songwritting legends (Nick Drake, Jim Croce, Eric Clapton, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, etc..) is that Donovan has always possessed such an amazing positive outlook on life. He's a "the glass is half full" rather than "the glass is half empty" kind of a person. And it reflects in his amazing lyrics. Donovan prooves that you don't have to write tragic sad songs to be considered a legend. I think some folks consider that a "negative" trait and put Donovan in the "goody goody" category (which is a grave mistake to make). Oh well, their loss. I have "all" of Donovan's albums on cd just about and I can tell you that this album is worth a listen. If you listen to it with the intention that he geared this more towards a child (but not excluding an adult from really liking the melodies, arrangements and instrumentations), then I think you'll like this album. If you're expecting another "HMS Donovan" or "Sunshine Superman", this is not it. Not to say though that his "Beatnik Cafe" or future albums won't be like that as they could possibly be. Thank God this living legend is not ready to retire. Check out his www.donovan.ie official web-site...

Donovan has always had a marvelous style of music. His unique lyrics and melodies are a joy to us fans. This CD is a nice grouping that young and old can enjoy. To get an idea just listen to the clips that Amazon has provided. I don't think you will be disappointed. I am looking forward to the next CD that another reviewer mentioned. As for the reviewer that gave it one star, I think you need more fiber in your diet. You obviously aren't feeling well to be so negative about a Donovan album. It's good to hear from Donovan again after so many years.

While some of the reviews were a little mixed for this one this was perhaps Donovan's followup to his early HMS Donovan album which contained musical settings of children's poems and original compositions. He revists some of the songs here
from that album as well as childlike tunes from A Gift to a Flower to a Garden ("The Mandolin Man and His Secret", "Little Boy in Cordouroy"), Hurdy Gurdy Man ("Sun Magic" original title "The Sun is a Very Magic Fellow" and Barbajagal ("I Love My Shirt" and the ever popular "Happiness Runs"- a song which Donovan claims has been adopted as a spirtual prayer and used in several schools, not to mention a Fruity Cheerios' commercial). There is also a reworking of his second hit single from 1965 "Colours" as well as the title song from the seldom seen movie that gave the album its nameThe Pied Piper Perhaps he could have included "There is a Mountain" recently covered by Kenny Loggins on his new children's album and on the record label's (Music for Little People) own Circle Game: Folk Music for Kids not to mention "Yellow Submarine" which he contributed the "Sky of blue, sea of green..." line (which would have made up for some sixties musical trivia) While most of Donovan's own children have grown up now it is nice to see a new generation of children enjoy these songs.

...and Donovan has become one of their favorite entertainers. On road trips we bring Pied Piper along in case the kids are grumpy. I'm an all-round fan of Donovan's music. His playfulness is fully evident here.

This really is the worst album I have ever hears. I listen to a lot of kids music as my son has been crazy about music since he was a baby. I don't always love it - can do without some of the kids choruses, or the super-happy singers. But this is ten times worse. The songs are trite, and rhyme badly, Donovan's singing is unpalatable, the orchestration entirey insipid. There is one exception -- a woman sings with Donovan on the song "Colors" and her voice is extraordinarily beautiful. And then, unfortunatly, he takes over and ruins it.

Are you kidding me? These old and lovely songs are presented in a ridulous style. Children are more intelligent than the simple-minded cuteness of this recording. The inclusion of cute children's singing and talking makes this unappealing to an adult. This is not a Donovan album. Forget it.