73. Sunshine Superman - Donovan

The random selection of another early album we'd never heard of did not lead our hearts to beat faster with excitement. It'd be nice to hear something slightly more familiar at this very early stage of our journey through music history. Indeed, we changed our original chronological plan for this project for the very reason that we wouldn't be listening to anything post 1990 until around 2030. Still, that is what was chosen, so we went with it.

First impressions were not bad. Sunshine Superman opens with the track of the same name, and it is very catchy, with a nice depth of sound. There's plenty of psychedelia on the album too, and liberal use of the sitar, representing an interesting look at Swinging Sixties London. There are other good tracks, notably the more traditionally rock-based Season of the Witch and the creepy yet noticeable Superlungs (not on the original UK release). However, other songs seem decent one listen, and frankly irritating the next time they come around. The more Donovan tries to produce a classic folk type song, the less convincing his sound is. 

This was Donovan's third studio album, and it built on his previous success. By this stage, he was a well-known figure, close to the Beatles and selling large numbers of records both sides of the Atlantic. This album contains some of the first examples of psychedelia committed and released on record, and so it deserves praise for that.

I think the overwhelming feeling I get when listening to the album is that Donovan is simultaneously taking it very seriously, yet producing whimsy. And lyrically it has not aged well, with lots of frankly disturbing images about school girls littering the words. I reckon that this album was probably very important at the time of its release, and played a formative role for some (many?) growing up in the 60s, but to my ears, it just isn't that cohesive, and I can't imagine that I will regularly be revisiting it.

Chloe's album rating: 4
Chloe's favourite track: 6 - Season of the Witch 
Olly's album rating: 3
Olly's favourite track: 1 - Sunshine Superman

Our next album is 332. The Dictators - Go Girl Crazy from 1975. Viva la Punk.