Donovan-The Hurdy Gurdy Man (1968)

 


Artist: Donovan

Title:The Hurdy Gurdy Man

Label: Epic

Format: LP

Catalog Number: BN 26420

Year of Release: 1968

Country and Year of Edition: US 1968 Pitman

Sell Price: $10.57

Sell Date: 8/17/26

Condition: G+/G+

Discogs Last Sold: 8/12/26 M/NM $65.00

Low: $1.60 G+/VG+

Median: $9.94

Average: $13.37

High: $65.00

Current low price: $5.00 G+/F

Curren Number on Sale at Discogs: 58

Have/Want: 6209/1470

Where Sold: Greensboro, NC

Time It Took To Sell:  2 years

Where and When Bought: whatnot auction

Gwiz-gau Letter Grade: A-

Sad To See It Go: No

Donovan's peak era climaxed around here with Jimmy Page and Allan Holdsworth (!) adding a guitar onslaught to the title track.  John Paul Jones arranged and played bass on the track and Led Zeppelin were formed shortly thereafter.  It's hard to top that and Donovan doesn't.  From 1965-1973 Donovan had a slew of top 30 Billboard album and this was no different peaking at #20 on a 20 week run with "Hurdy.." going to #5 in June after "Jennifer.." hit #26 in March of 1968 but the album didn't come out until October.  The single released that month, "Lalena" wasn't on the album.

The rest of the album is more typical Donovan "faire"  The other big hit is "Jennifer Juniper" which asks blythely if the subject loves her then answers.  A Q&A for the ages.  Perhaps even  directly quoted without knowing the source.  The songs that surround it are among the strongest of the rest: the flauty "West Indian Lady" and "The River Lady" are all good.  The merge of Celtic-Folk and the Indian classical overlay from the Scotsman makes for an original sound on "Tangiers."  

"Here comes the Roly Poly Man..." as Gibby Haynes later interpreted.

FOR FURTHER REVIEW:

Sunshine Superman (1966)

Various Artists-Psych Out! (2006)


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