Hurdy Gurdy Man

Donovan - Hurdy Gurdy Man

Hurdy Gurdy Man
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CD Details

Artist: Donovan
Edition: Music CD
Format: Extra tracks, Import, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2005-05-16
Music Label: EMI Europe Generic
Soundtracks:
  1. Hurdy Gurdy Man
  2. Peregrine
  3. The Entertaining Of A Shy Girl
  4. As I Recall It
  5. Get Thy Bearings
  6. Hi It's Been A Long Time
  7. West Indian Lady
  8. Jennifer Juniper
  9. The River Song
  10. Tangier
  11. A Sunny Day
  12. The Sun Is A Very Magic Fellow
  13. Teas
  14. Teen Angel
  15. Poor Cow
  16. Lalena
  17. Aye My Love (Mono)
  18. What A Beautiful Creature You Are
  19. Colours
  20. Catch The Wind

Music reviews of Hurdy Gurdy Man

Music Review: album: five stars; remaster: four
Rating: 5 Stars

While I can't imagine that you wouldn't want this crisp, more evenly balanced remaster, it isn't quite the unmitigated success that the remaster of "Mellow Yellow" is, and if you'd rather save your money and hold on to the earlier CD edition, you'll be fine. The remastering here leaves several things as they were, although they could have used some finessing: for instance, the guitar solo on the title track still kicks in in a sharply broken manner between left and right channels (starting on the left and suddenly continuing on the right side), and there is neither the continuity that would make it sound like one guitar flowing across channels nor a distinction that would make it sound like two different guitars.
The extra tracks aren't as breathtaking as the extra tracks on "Mellow" are, either. While the demos on "Mellow" are a good look into the artist's creative process, and several alternative versions are different enough from the originals to justify buying the album, the extras on "Hurdy Gurdy Man" are not revelatory. They are very charming but light; some are throwaways, brief documents of fun and games in the studio, but nothing you absolutely must have or haven't heard elsewhere, except for "Colours" and "Catch the Wind." These songs stand out: they are dramatically rethought versions and present a mature Donovan with his many stylistic quirks, such as adding tremolo to his voice and sort of wind-whispering close into the mike. Personally, I find this version of "Colours" more appealing and interesting than the original, but "Catch the Wind" lacks urgency. Both songs were released on the first edition of "Greatest Hits," which is NOT the same as the "Greatest Hits" currently available.
So much for the caveats. The basic album itself has always been one of my favorites. By the time of the "Hurdy Gurdy Man," Donovan's management had found the perfect pattern to send his albums up the charts (I suppose Mickey Most had a large part in these decisions): the single that was clearly the stuff that hits are made of would give its name to the ensuing album, which would make the uninitiated think that the whole album was similar to the single: The Trip, Mellow Yellow, Hurdy Gurdy Man, Barabajagal. Nothing was further from the truth, and I suppose those who expected an LP-worth of Donovan gone Led Zep must have felt betrayed. As can be heard on this album, immediately after the roaring rocker at the beginning, everything goes down several thousand decibels and settles into a pattern of brilliant, minimal melodies, often as short as they are simple. This is Donovan at his most beguiling, a melodist without peer. Songs such as "The Entertaining of a Shy Girl," "The River Song," "A Sunny Day" and "Teas" are vignettes of a moment, told with the clarity and imagery of poetry. Interestingly, the lyrics are not as transparent as Donovan's audiences had come to expect. There is a certain opacity throughout that lends itself to different interpretations: Is "The Entertaining of a Shy Girl" a bit of a paternal emotion awakening in an older man speaking to a very young girl or is it the older man's bitterness as he realizes that he can no longer court such a young girl (her boyfriend makes an appearance and the narrator quickly sates that he, too, has someone waiting for him)? In "Hi, it's been a Long Time," Donovan, the maven of psychedelia, seems to announce the end of the hippy era and its ideals, as seen in the wasted life of an acquaintance. "Tangier" is downright depressing in its depiction of North-African poverty, and "Get Thy Bearings" is poossibly the coolest jazzy number Donovan has ever recorded. According to the booklet, the song became a performance staple of King Crimson, which is both amazing and logical.
So perhaps, much as the song "Hurdy Gurdy Man" is timelessly great, one could say, go beyond it and listen to the album "Hurdy Gurdy Man." It's an altogether different affair, and very rewarding.
More Hurdy Gurdy Man free music reviews:
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Description of Hurdy Gurdy Man

2005 Digitally remastered re-issue features six bonus tracks 'Poor Cow', 'Lalena', 'Aye My Love', 'What A Beautiful Creature You Are' 'Colours' and 'Catch The Wind'. The album forshadows the coming discontent which eventually drove Donovan out of the music business. The title song, 'Hurdy Gurdy Man,' combines what are upbeat lyrics with a very dark performance. This ambivalence continues in a set of songs with a very bitter edge like 'Teas', 'Tangier', and 'Hi It's Been a Long Time', 'Yet 'Jennifer Juniper' & 'Peregrine', among others, stand in stark contrast. EMI. 2005.

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