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A double-CD set of Donovan’s seminal recordings titled “Donovan – The Essential Collection” will be released on April 17 through Epic/Legacy. The release will come three days after Donovan’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“Donovan – The Essential Collection” contains all of Donovan’s 18 songs that entered the Billboard Hot 100 and UK national chart between 1965 and 1973, and another 14 carefully chosen album tracks. More than half of the 18 tracks on the first disc are present in their original mono mix, including the acoustic-based folk-rock tracks recorded for the UK’s Pye Records in late 1964 and 1965, and some Epic cuts from 1966.

The collection includes four songs previously unissued on CD in the US, namely:

• an early mono version of “The Land Of Doesn’t Have To Be” from 1966 – a later version would feature on the 1967 LP “Wear Your Love Like Heaven”
• versions of “Sunny Goodge Street” and “Sand And Foam” recorded on November 17, 1967 at the Anaheim Convention Center
• a version of “Hey Gyp (Dig The Slowness)” originally featured on the CBS/Japan-only release “Live In Japan – Spring Tour 1973”.

“Donovan – The Essential Collection” tracklist

CD One

1. “Catch The Wind” (mono single, 1965) (A)
2. “Colours” (mono single, 1965) (B)
3. “Summer Day Reflection Song” (mono single, 1965) (B)
4. “Universal Soldier” (mono single, 1965) (B)
5. “You’re Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond” (mono single, 1965) (A)
6. “Turquoise” (mono single, 1965) (C)
7. “Sunshine Superman” (extended version, 1966) (D)
8. “The Trip” (single version, 1966) (D)
9. “Legend Of A Girl Child Linda” (D)
10. “Season Of The Witch” (D)
11. “Ferris Wheel” (D)
12. “Mellow Yellow” (mono single, 1966) (E)
13. “Young Girl Blues” (mono) (E)
14. “Museum” (mono) (E)
15. “Hampstead Incident” (mono) (E)
16. “Sunny South Kensington” (mono single, 1966) (E)
17. “The Land Of Doesn’t Have To Be” (early version, mono, 1966)
18. “Epistle To Dippy” (single, 1967) (J).

CD Two

1. “There Is A Mountain” (single, 1967)
2. “Wear Your Love Like Heaven” (single, 1967) (F) and (H)
3. “Sun” (F) and (H)
4. “Isle Of Islay” (G) and (H)
5. “Sunny Goodge Street” (November 17, 1967 at the Anaheim Convention Center)
6. “Sand And Foam” (November 17, 1967 at the Anaheim Convention Center)
7. “Jennifer Juniper” (single, 1968) (I)
8. “Hurdy Gurdy Man” (single, 1968) (I)
9. “Get Thy Bearings” (I)
10. “Lalena” (single, 1968) (J)
11. “To Susan On The West Coast Waiting” (single, 1969) (K)
12. “Atlantis” (single, 1969) (K)
13. “Goo Goo Barabajagal” (Love Is Hot) [with the Jeff Beck Group] (single, 1969) (K)
14. “Happiness Runs” (K)
15. “Riki Tiki Tavi” (single, 1970) (L)
16. “Celia Of The Seals” (single, 1971) (M)
17. “I Like You” (single, 1973) (N)
18. “Hey Gyp (Dig The Slowness)” (O).

Key:
(A) – from album Catch The Wind (1965)
(B) – from album Fairytale (1965)
(C) – from album The Real Donovan (1966)
(D) – from Sunshine Superman (1966)
(E) – from Mellow Yellow (1966)
(F) – from Wear Your Love Like Heaven (1967)
(G) – from For Little Ones (1967)
(H) – from A Gift From A Flower To A Garden (1967)
(I) – from The Hurdy Gurdy Man (1968)
(J) – from Donovan’s Greatest Hits (1969)
(K) – from Barabajagal (1969)
(L) – from Open Road (1970)
(M) – from H.M.S. Donovan (1971)
(N) – from Cosmic Wheels (1973)
(O) – from Live In Japan – Spring Tour 1973 (1973)

Here’s Donovan with a vintage live performance of “Jennifer Juniper”: