The Beatles Bible - Topic: Donovan, John and Paul

kelicopter on Donovan, John and Paul

Fri, 04 May 2012 12:52:29 +0100

Joe said
Sunshine Superman is being used in an eBay ad over here. It always sounds good, that song.

That's actually what made me properly listen to Donovan for the first time recently.

Joe on Donovan, John and Paul

Thu, 03 May 2012 15:52:31 +0100

I never knew McCartney was on Mellow Yellow. Thanks for that.

Sunshine Superman is being used in an eBay ad over here. It always sounds good, that song.

Into the Sky with Diamonds on Donovan, John and Paul

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:55:59 +0100

Gniknus said, "I've been looking to get into some Donovan albums recently, any suggestions on where to start? Colors is one of my absolute favorite songs."

Gniknus, great to hear from you.

I agree with you on "Colours" - great song (and easy to play on the guitar!) [and also starts with "yellow," right?]

I have 3 Donovan albums (+Greatest Hits): Fairy Tale, Hurdy Gurdy Man, and the more recent Beat Cafe. They all feature a mixture of great and not-so-great stuff.

I would start with his Greatest Hits album (apparently The Essential Donovan is just being released - not sure what's ...

meanmistermustard on Donovan, John and Paul

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 03:05:43 +0100

Paul is on Mellow Yellow, no idea what was first.

GniknuS on Donovan, John and Paul

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 01:23:44 +0100

That's awesome, I've been looking to get into some Donovan albums recently, any suggestions on where to start? Colors is one of my absolute favorite songs.
Paul's "fingerpicking" style is most definitely his own because he doesn't really pick all of the strings like we see on Julia, it's more of a fast, precise strum seen on Blackbird and Mother Nature's Son which I've actually always found more difficult to play. That's what makes Paul so freaking cool, he has so much style as a musician and is able to embellish simpler things so well. I do find it curious ...

Into the Sky with Diamonds on Donovan, John and Paul

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:50:17 +0100

1966 was the year of psychedelic yellow: "Mellow Yellow" "Yellow Submarine"...

Maybe not a coincidence - Donovan was at the crazy "Yellow Submarine" recording session.

Any other colors come to mind?

The White Album, ....

Ben Ramon on Donovan, John and Paul

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:42:47 +0100

Haha how wonderful! I did in fact imagine it rather like that- Paul sheepishly eying Donovan teaching John to fingerpick and developing his own style rather than coming to Donovan for help. Also Paul and Donovan wrote "Heather", a lovely song of which there is a demo or two banging around.

Into the Sky with Diamonds on Donovan, John and Paul

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 02:56:22 +0100

Met Donovan last night. That was a thrill; a great free spirit. Still has that twinkle in his eye.

I asked him if it was true that he taught John the finger picking of "Julia."

Yes, he said. When the Beatles and Donovan were in India, the Beatles only had acoustic guitars. They would strum them perfectly well, but didn't finger pick the strings.

But John was interested, and he wanted to use it on a song he was writing about the mother he never knew, and imagined being on a beach with her.

He also used the finger picking on "Dear Prudence."

"Paul's a ...