Donovan: Early Prog or Just Psych? - Progressive Rock Music Forum

psych pop IMO, very very good psych pop

But I can't comment on his early to mid 1970s work which might have incorporated more prog

Edited by kenethlevine - October 14 2014 at 07:52

Not prog at all. I can't think of a proggy Donovan song. Repeating a chorus for several minutes on Atlantis does not prog make.

...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined
to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology...

I'm going to have to say just psych, with a dash of prog.

He looks at this world and wants it all... so he strikes, like Thunderball!

But of course Steve Hillage covered "Hurdy Gurdy Man" on "L" and a more spaced out Prog version of the song is featured on "Live Herald". Progressive rockers have a track record of re-doing old Psychedelic Pop songs. Has anyone ever noticed that? Maybe this is an insignificant point, but then what lies within the interest to do that?

Edited by TODDLER - October 09 2014 at 09:02

I don't really see him as early prog, mind you he did support Yes on a tour once.

^Good question. Very rudimentary. Not even proto as, you stated yourself, there is no clear form. Perhaps just avant or just oddball like the 2 minute speach that opens Atlantis to be followed by only a cascading repeating chorus.

Btw, the drummer on Hurdy Gurdy Man was John Bonham before he joined you know who. Just kidding, but it's a great imitation.

Edited by SteveG - October 03 2014 at 15:22

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I've often thought it to be psychedelic folk rock ....because stylistically if you've noticed....it has that British 70's Rock feel. In some sense...I can hear Ray Davies singing "Sunshine Superman" and "Hurdy Gurdy Man" is reminiscent of The Beatles approach on Magical Mystery Tour. I personally can hear Ringo's snare drum effect on "Hurdy Gurdy". The effect that can be duplicated by placing a bath towel on the snare.and hitting it with a stick..which creates the snare drum sound on "Strawberry Fields" or "Helter Skelter". Donovan has the 60's British Psychedelic Pop sound and so maybe just elements within his songs cross paths with Prog. Not structure though. Only choice of sounds and oddball ideas. It's been too long since I've heard Atlantis and I can't comment. Many of the ideas in 60's British Psychedelic Pop filter through in Prog, but we could always point that detail out in many of the British artists of that decade and not just the usual suspects.

Edited by TODDLER - October 02 2014 at 20:40