Search - Donovan :: Classics Live

A good live set..

08/13/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a live recording of many of his hits, as well as some previously unreleased songs. The recordings were individually selected from a number of dates, so you're getting some really good live material. This version of "Hurdy Gurdy Man" features a really cool bit in the middle, where Donovan talks about his time in India with the Beatles, studying with the Maharishi, and he finally reveals the unrecorded verse that George Harrison wrote for the song. It kind of skimps a bit on "Atlantis", but definitely worth getting."

My people were fair and had sky in their hair...

anybody else or | Orbis Tertius | 12/03/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Another album that takes you back to the era of peace, love, freedom and HOPE that was the sixties. If you have only a passing interest in Donovan or are looking for an album to start with, this is NOT the one to get, though. A really nice live concert that will please even casual Donovan fans. I myself am one, and after hearing 'Yellow is the colour of my true love's teeth... but it doesn't matter to me' a hundred times, it still cracks me up. Also, this album includes a memorable 'Hurdy Gurdy Man' version that ends with 'the long last verse of George [Harrison]'. Yes, we love you George (R. I. P. :*( ), and we love you too Don..."

You Gotta Get this One, You Really Do

Danielle Lane | Horseshoe, North Carolina | 07/21/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This record was orginally released as "Donovan Rising" and was recorded live from several concerts from 1982 to 1986, but it was put together so beautifully that you'd never know. It's been released under several different names and on several different labels. But no matter what label, no matter what cover, no matter what they call it, this is still one fine recording. Listening to this CD, and I'm calling this a CD and not a record, because this was the first Donovan recording to come out on CD, everything before was put out on black vinyl first, you remember those big discs that played on turntables, whoops, I'm digressing, like I was saying, when you play this CD you can almost imagine Donovan as that eighteen-year-old teenager who burst upon the scene with "Catch the Wind" back in 1965. He sounds as young on these songs as he did then.



And you can tell that whoever put this together really cared, really understood Don's music, really went for quality of not only sound, but performance as well. Boy, what I wouldn't have given to be able to spend the hundreds of hours pouring through all the songs and performances, being there through all of that must have been glorious.



Donovan's recording of "Catch the Wind" here sends chills up your spine. His rendition of "Hurdy Gurdy Man" with George Harrison's missing verse is equally chilling. The acoustic versions of "Sunshine Superman" and "Cosmic Wheels" are stunning. The version of "Young Girl Blues" takes me right back to the "Mellow Yellow" period. It has always been one of my favorite songs. I could go on, keep gushing about this fine live record, but I'll stop now. Oh wait! I forget to tell you that this is a must own Donovan disc for anybody who is even remotely interested in his music. You gotta get this one, you really do!"