Donovan

Try for the Sun: The Journey of Donovan

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AllMusic Review by James Christopher Monger

Donovan Leitch's instantly recognizable vibrato may not appear until track six, but the casual "Hurdy Gurdy Man" fan has no business picking up this four-disc/sixty-song collection of the Scottish troubadour's four decades of whimsical pop confections and beatnik balladry. Sony's Try for the Sun: The Journey of Donovan includes a previously unreleased documentary from 1970, a lovely book that chronicles the singer/songwriter's storied career, complete with quotes of praise from current hipster bards like Devendra Banhart and the Polyphonic Spree's Tim DeLaughter, and 15 B-sides, rare demos, and live recordings, all housed in the finest faux-purple velvet box one could imagine. While there are some suspicious omissions ("Roots of Oak," "Age of Treason," "Cosmic Wheels"), there's enough here to satiate even the most rabid Donovan fan for weeks. Those interested in a less time-consuming biographical experience would do well with 1992's slightly superior -- and infinitely more cohesive -- Troubadour.

Track Listing - Disc 1

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time
1	Catch the Wind Donovan	Donovan	2:17
2	Josie	Donovan	3:27
3	Co'dine	Donovan	4:47
4	Colours	Donovan	2:45
5	Universal Soldier	Donovan	2:12
6	Sunny Goodge Street Donovan	Donovan	2:55
7	Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)	Donovan	3:10
8	Sunshine Superman Donovan	Donovan	4:33
9	The Trip Donovan	Donovan	4:34
10	Legend of a Girl Child Linda	Donovan	6:53
11	Three King Fishers	Donovan	3:17
12	Season of the Witch	Donovan	4:56
13	Guinevere	Donovan	3:41
14	The Fat Angel	Donovan	4:12
15	Mellow Yellow	Donovan	3:43
16	Sand and Foam	Donovan	3:17
17	Young Girl Blues	Donovan	3:46
18	Museum	Donovan	2:56
19	Hampstead Incident	Donovan	4:42
20	Sunny South Kensington	Donovan	3:49

Track Listing - Disc 2

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time
1	Epistle to Dippy	Donovan	3:10
2	Preachin' Love	Donovan	2:39
3	There Is a Mountain	Donovan	2:35
4	Wear Your Love Like Heaven	Donovan	2:25
5	Oh Gosh	Donovan	1:48
6	Isle of Islay	Donovan	2:22
7	Epistle to Derroll	Donovan	5:43
8	To Try for the Sun	Donovan	3:20
9	Someone's Singing	Donovan	3:55
10	The Tinker and the Crab	Donovan	3:06
11	Jennifer Juniper	Donovan	2:42
12	Poor Cow	Donovan	2:57
13	Hurdy Gurdy Man	Donovan	3:20
14	Get Thy Bearings	Donovan	2:53
15	Lalena	Donovan	2:56
16	Barabajagal (Love Is Hot)	Donovan feat: Jeff Beck Group	3:24
17	Lord of the Reedy River	Donovan	3:04
18	Moon in Capricorn	Donovan	2:03
19	To Susan on the West Coast Waiting	Donovan	3:13
20	Atlantis	Donovan	5:08

Track Listing - Disc 3

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time
1	Celia of the Seals	Donovan	3:00
2	The Song of the Wandering Aengus William Butler Yeats	Donovan	3:55
3	The Ferryman's Daughter	Donovan	1:49
4	She Moved Through the Fair	Donovan	2:52
5	The Traveling People	Donovan	1:50
6	Riki Tiki Tavi	Donovan	2:55
7	Clara Clairvoyant	Donovan	2:52
8	Young But Growing Traditional	Donovan	4:33
9	Keep on Truckin' Traditional	Donovan	2:53
10	Stealin'	Donovan	4:09
11	I Like You	Donovan	5:17
12	Maria Magenta	Donovan	2:12
13	A Working Man	Donovan	3:09
14	Tinker Tune	Donovan	2:50
15	Sailing Homeward	Donovan	2:57
16	Your Broken Heart	Donovan	3:33
17	Dark-Eyed Blue Jean Angel	Donovan	3:52
18	Please Don't Bend	Donovan	4:12
19	Love Floats	Donovan	4:20
20	Happiness Runs	Donovan	3:43

Track Listing - Disc 4

		Title/Composer	Performer	Time
	1	Bonus Material	Donovan

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