Donovan
b. Donovan Leitch, 10 May 1946, Glasgow, Scotland. Uncomfortably labelled ‘Britain's answer to Bob Dylan’ the young troubadour did not fit in well with the folk establishment. Instead, it was the pioneering UK television show READY STEADY GOthat adopted Donovan, and from then on success was assured. His first single Catch The Wind launched a career that lasted through the '60s with numerous hits, developing as fashions changed. The expressive Colours and Turquoise continued his hit folk image, although hints of other influences began to creep into his music. Donovan's finest work, however, was as ambassador of ‘flower power’ with memorable singles like Sunshine Superman and Mellow Yellow. His subtle drug references endeared him to the hippie movement, although some critics felt his stance was just a bit fey and insipid. He enjoyed several hits with light material such as the calypso influenced There Is A Mountain and Jennifer Juniper (written for Jenny Boyd during a much publicized sojourn with the guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi). Donovan's drug/fairy tale imagery reached its apotheosis on the Lewis Carroll influenced Hurdy Gurdy Man. As the '60s closed, however, he fell from commercial grace. Undeterred, Donovan found greater success in the USA; indeed, many of his later records were first issued in America and some gained no UK release. His collaboration with Jeff Beck on Goo Goo Barabajagal (Love Is Hot) showed a more gutsy approach, while a number of the tracks on the boxed set A GIFT FROM A FLOWER TO A GARDEN displayed a jazzier feel. He had previously flirted with jazz on his b-sides, notably the excellent Sunny Goodge Street and Preachin Love’. COSMIC WHEELS in 1973 was an artistic success; it sold well and contained his witty Intergalactic Laxative. In anticipation of continued success, ESSENCE TO ESSENCE was a bitter disappointment, and thereafter Donovan ceased to be a major concert attraction. 
In 1990 after many inactive years the Happy Mondays bought him back into favour by praising his work and invited him to tour with them in 1991. Their irreverent tribute Donovan underlined this new-found favouritism. Shortly before this, he was back on television as part of a humorous remake of Jennifer Juniper with UK comedians Trevor and Simon. A new album was released and a flood of reissues arrived; for the moment at least the cognoscenti decreed that Donovan was ‘okay’ again. He undertook a major UK tour in 1992. TROUBADOUR, an excellent CD box set was issued in 1992 covering the vital material from his career.