WEDNESDAY FORGOTTEN OLDIE...

Today a song by a performer who hung out with the Beatles and the Stones, and was considered a leader of the 60's hippie movement. "Hurdy Gurdy Man" by Donovan was actually considered an anthem for free-spirited hippies at the time due to its psychedelic sound. It was written and recorded in early 1968 and released in May as a single. It gave its name to the album The Hurdy Gurdy Man, which was released in October of that year. It reached #5 in the U.S. and #4 in the UK pop charts. The song was written for the band Hurdy Gurdy (which included Donovan's old friend and guitar mentor Mac MacLeod) with Donovan intending to be the producer, but due to creative disagreements this collaboration was cancelled, and Donovan recorded the song himself. The song features a harder rock sound than Donovan's usual material, supplying a range of distorted guitars. Donovan had originally hoped Jimi Hendrix would play on the song, but he was unavailable. The song

also features an Indian influence with the use of a tambura. Hurdy Gurdy Man is a great song, perhaps a bit dated in sound, but heck, aren't most songs from the 60's that way?