2 great Donovan classics – in a single package! Barabajagal is Donovan at his jazzy best – really picking up where Mellow Yellow left off, and pushing the jazz influences in his sound to deeper lengths! Mr Leitch is a million miles away from his Dylanesque early roots on the set – and is working in territory that's completely his own – a beautiful blend of folk, psychedelic, and jazz-based modes – handled with simple charm throughout, and performed by a group that includes funky sound library genius Alan Hawkshaw on piano, and the great Harold McNair on flute! The title track "Barabajagal" is
one of Donovan's most amazing tunes of all time – a funky
little number that dances around with some great heavy drums, and which also features guitar by a young Jeff Beck! Other titles include "The Love Song", "Trudi", "Atlantis", "Superlungs My Supergirl", "I Love My Shirt", and "Pamela Jo". Hurdy Gurdy Man is easily
one of the headiest Donovan albums of the 60s – a record that moves past the simple psychedelic pop of earlier hits, and into a range of mind-expanding themes and styles! There's a cerebral quality here that seems to take hold even on the simpler, catchier tunes – a deeply introspective approach that has Donovan working in a world that's really all his own – less concerned with hit singles, and more focused on a personal journey in music,
one that ties together many strands of music borrowed from Celtic, West
Indian, jazz, and folk sources. Arrangers are John Cameron and John Paul Jones – and titles include "Get Thy Bearings", "Peregrine", "The Entertaining Of A Shy Girl", "West
Indian Lady", "Jennifer Juniper", "Tangier", "The River Song", "The Sun Is A Very Magic Fellow", and "Hi It's Been A Long Time".