The Real Donovan


The Real Donovan is the first compilation album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the US /LPS 135 ) in September 1966.

History

When Donovan signed a contract with Epic Records, he became entangled in a legal dispute with Pye Records over the rights to his music. These legal proceedings withheld any new Donovan releases in the United Kingdom until late 1966. In the meantime, Pye Records' United States distributor Hickory Records compiled The Real Donovan from Donovan's Pye Records releases, choosing several songs that had not yet appeared on any United States release.
The Real Donovan was released within the same month as Donovan's first Epic Records album Sunshine Superman. Both albums were intended to capitalize on the success of the "Sunshine Superman" single, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts in the United States. While it did not match the Billboard chart success and sales of Sunshine Superman, The Real Donovan did chart, ultimately reaching No. 96.

Album origins of tracks

The following is a list explaining the original releases of each song. Tracks that were previously unreleased in the United States are noted with *, followed by explanations of their origin.
All tracks by Donovan Leitch, except where noted.

Side one

  1. "Turquoise"
  2. "Oh Deed I Do"
  3. "Catch the Wind"
  4. "Remember the Alamo"
  5. "Ballad of a Crystal Man"
  6. "Colours"

    Side two

  7. "Hey Gyp "
  8. "Belated Forgiveness Plea"
  9. "Rambin' Boy"
  10. "The War Drags On"
  11. "Josie"
  12. "To Try for the Sun"