436. Donovan / 3 songs

My new Web site is: www.lelandskla.... The new book is there and lots of goodies in the works...
Here are the directions to my new club house if you want to come and hang. flatfiv.co/pag...
My Post Office Box....Leland Sklar
PO Box 92316
600 Lincoln Ave
Pasadena, CA 91109-9998

[@Arnevideo]

I’m 70 and from Denmark. The first Donovan songs we had here were ‘Catch The Wind’ and ‘Donna, Donna’. And everyone who owned a guitar at that time, learned to play and sing theese beautiful ballads. ❤️

[@RockandRollWoman]

I'll never forget seeing Ray Cooper for the first time. I didn't go to many concerts where I grew up in Illinois, so all I knew about musicians was whatever was on the back or the sleeve of LP's. When I got my powder blue Sears portable record player, only the primary artist was credited. When names like Lee Sklar started to be listed, my girlfriends and I memorized them because what else could we find out pre-internet? We argued at length about how to pronounce Doerge. Back to Ray Cooper. I was surprised at his appearance, and whispered to my friend, "what's up with the guy in the suit?" He explained, and, kind soul that he is, has never mentioned it again. Being gentle with each other has never been more important than it is right now.

[@johnbowers3145]

I got a chance to sit in with Donovan and his band in the mid seventies at the Pioneer town bluegrass festival! Mellow yellow was one of the tunes!

[@w.geoffreyspaulding6588]

Helene here.Donovan takes me immediately back to my freshman year in college in Claremont, California in 1965/ 66. They stopped serving bananas in the student dining room because of Donovan’s song “ They Call It Mellow Yellow” which had the line “electrical banana, bound to be the very next phase” and they thought the students were drying the inside of banana skins and smoking it and getting high. 😜 what a joke....but we didn’t get bananas for awhile. I do have to say that, to me, I think Donovan was very much a part of the mid and late sixties scene and I much prefer his music from that time. This almost felt like a artist out of his time to me.

[@Seibling]

good story. had my laugh.

[@Caperhere]

As teenagers, we had built a little shelter out of boughs, in the woods.There was a rumour going around that you could get high on smoking banana peels. I remember drying out a banana peel over a campfire, and rolling it up in a bandaid wrapper, haha. That would have been in junior high, around ‘ 74, east coast Canada.

[@joycebyers6729]

I was at that Crystal Palace concert .. I remember there was a buzz around that Carly Simon was going to come on with him and sing.

[@davidmarais1048]

I hope you and Mrs Sklar have a wonderful Valentine's Day, Lee. Thank you for this delightful backstory and for the beautiful music - I'm a great Donovan fan too. I hope you are keeping well and getting time to rest.

[@ranatlas]

Thank you for another great video and another trip down memory lane, Leland. First album I ever won on the radio was...Donovan's Greatest Hits!

[@ronfreeman5857]

Wow.. the knowledge, sights, sounds and memories this man must have...remarkable..

[@FreedomRock44]

Lee you have to be kidding me.......DONOVAN!!!!!! Unreal. One of my favorite songs of all time is Sunshine Superman.....Just always gave me good feelings and screams 60's to me. Oh just Tony Joe White......Love Tony Joe......CHomp.........Chomp!!!!!

[@lastnamefirst4035]

Love TJW

[@dckmusic]

Golden Earring! Radar Love is an awesome song.

[@icanseeformiles9387]

Thank you so much for this special treat today! Just love Donovan & Steve Marriott had one of the greatest voices ever, is nice to hear him playing guitar here, just adore him, too ❤🎸

[@jackkrag]

a tear for the way back thank you

[@johnpegg6771]

Hurdy, gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy he sang. Thank you for this one sir. A real step back to the late 60's, early 70's. As my granma used to say, "Nostalgia isn't what it used to be". A UK fan in London and his valentine, Karen.

[@dandaugherty6127]

Sorry, Lee, but these 3 songs were really irritating...

[@rickspriggs2176]

I loved Donovan. I haven't thought about him in some time. This is why I love this channel. Thanks man.

[@ethnicmusiclover]

Hurdy Gurdy Man really was my favorite though Season of the Witch was my style as well. His voice worked perfectly with the effects on Hurdy Gurdy.

[@goodun2974]

Yeah I'm with you; I never much cared for Sunshine Superman or Mellow Yellow but some of the less pop-radio stuff was worth listening to. Rikki Tikki Tavvi (mongoose is gone) comes to mind.

[@dlux8735]

Love Donavon, such a Magical Artist, I was just listening to him. Thank you for sharing this. You have an amazing resume my good man! Stay safe Leland regards Dennis Lords

[@ZJ-ne9kn]

Donovan is quite a character always have dug his stuff my favorite is wear your love like heaven

[@petertaysum8947]

12 or 13 year old, seeing Steve Marriot, leather trousers, leather jacket, huge insect eyes sunglasses guitar case in hand, trucking through an international airport, coolest thing I'd ever seen. Still wouldn't want to do a long haul flight in leather trousers.

[@suzannehickman828]

U really help with these..... thank u. Seriously...lots of musicians going stir crazy with tons of new music....no way to perform it to live audience....ur stories keep our hearts afloat!!

[@Caperhere]

I’ve bought more music in the last year than I have in a decade. Trying to help keep American musicians and their causes from sinking. The faster we all get vaccinated, the faster we can open up. Hoping Canada gets some great American musicians up here before too long.

[@FreedomRock44]

Lee I love how you will play all genres of music!!!! Thanks for the Donovan!!! And Thomas yesterday...My Teens came flashing back!!!

[@kennonmoen4424]

Unquestionably and uniquely Donovan. That was another fun blast from the past. I hope Herman sent you a bag of peanut brittle as a “thank you” for turning us on to him. Can’t wait to get my bag in the mail. It’s going to be Christmas all over again. Stay safe and stay well!

[@JimFothergill]

This show never disappoints!!! Thank you!

[@MellowWind]

I love Donovan's work, particularly the early years - just so inspired/brilliant. And very prolific in the early years. His popular songs were great, but so many less popular are as well. I don't think this is his strong work, but cool you worked with him!

[@ethnicmusiclover]

Donovan. One of my favorite artists of the 60"s. Never thought of Dylan though some thought he was such in a following up way. Dylan didn't mind him a bit but so much was made of it, really strange. Or maybe not. Music says so much but to me since my angel bride passed it has become the healing of the heart and soul.

[@kennonmoen4424]

Music has a powerful way of reminding us that we’re not alone in our feelings. Some songs just touch us so deeply.

[@philiprodney7884]

Lovely to hear Donovan.

[@wynnssecret8584]

Lately my nephew and I have been going back and forth talking/ sending each other music videos. He shocks me when it comes to what and who he knows. I was determined to find some person/ band he didn't know. I decided it would be Donovan. I talked to him on Thursday, told him my plan, but NOT that it would be Donovan. After we hung up he sends me a video; it's Donovan ( Hurdy Gurty Man )😂😋😂

[@844jimthompson]

Well,with Lee..You never know what your going to get..Songs and stories..He's got a lifetime of them..Never boring around here..

[@RicG.]

What a great show you talked about! Such a wide variety of musical acts. 😎

[@charleswinokoor6023]

As anyone with even a cursory knowledge of sixties rock knows, it was Jimmy Page who played lead guitar in the studio on “Sunshine Superman.”

[@lelandsklar6363]

Might have. He was a studio musician........

[@dbassman27]

Hi Lee. Wonderful story. So many great memories I'm sure.

[@enidsnarb]

Blissful loving Donovan ! Thank You as always!

[@sethcashman1011]

I just love these moments wherein you are rediscovering the music right along with many of us. Had somehow forgotten that you recorded with Donovan, but I definitely remember some of those stories now that you’ve recounted them here. The James/lightning story is truly one for the ages. Classic.

[@g4p5l6]

Good story- can just imagine the lightning- and being on an outdoor stage during a storm. Gives the word 'live' new meaning. ;) Those were the days. First time I really dug Donovan was his 2nd vocal with Alice on Billion Dollar Babies. Couldn't play that song loud enough.

[@hillaryroberts3623]

Peter Allen and Dave Bromberg on the same bill at a community college theater was by far the most unexpected concert combo I have attended. Donovan played the following weekend and rocked the house...great memories.

[@lelandsklar6363]

The weirdest billing I ever attended was Jimmy McNicol, Kristy’s brother, opening for James Brown.

[@hillaryroberts3623]

@@lelandsklar6363 you win 😉 !

[@charleswinokoor6023]

That Laugh In reference with one person clapping made my day. I don’t know how the hell they put together a bill for an outdoor concert with James Taylor headlining and following all those loud rock acts. Doesn’t make a lot of sense, but apparently it somehow worked out in the end. Golden Earring had that one great jukebox song “Twilight Zone.”

[@lastnamefirst4035]

Radar Love

[@PeaceMusic53]

Wow! Bringing up some bands from way back. Donovan is such an underrated artist. Great sonwriter and musician. He taught John Lennon a fingerpicking style, that I can't remember the name of, that John used on Dear Prudence. According to Wikipedia this album was recorded at Morgan Studios in West London. There is a long list of musicians including Leland (of course), Carl Radle, Steve Marriot, Peter Frampton, Carole King, Nicky Hopkins, Bobby Whitlock, Jim Gordon, Tom Scott and Henry McCullough amongst others. Quite a lineup. Take care and thank you.

[@onnobaardman7452]

You mentioned Golden Earring in your talking about the crystalpalace event in 1973. Yesterday the News came our the band had to stop performance after 60 years. The Longest still active rockgroup in the word, has to stop due to severe illness of one of the founders of the band, George Kooymans, frontman and guitarist . Hé is diagnosed having ALS. Such a pity...

[@bennettwolf3821]

The first Backdoor album is a real favorite of mine. I understand that extraordinary bass player Colin Hodgkinson will be on the new Ten Year After album arriving soon. I saw Donovan open for Yes at Madison Square Garden in 1977.

[@cloudsmesh]

Donovan is great. As you said its been a long time, please consider a virtual meet with him. Its always a pleasure to experience his sage like personality. The Mountain is a mesmerizing track from Slow Down World.

[@bazgolin1036]

Crystal Palace is about 20min down the road from where I live. Used to take my sons there when they were little. There’s a maze, a small zoo, the lake with dinosaur statues from the 19th century, an Olympic size pool/basketball court, a small football stadium/concert venue (saw Springsteen there once) and under the stadium there’s huge sports injury rehab clinic. There was a ‘Crystal Palace’ there transplanted from Hyde Park (built for the 1851 Great Exhibition), but it was destroyed. That was flashback 1 from this video. When Donovan started singing, flashback 2: learning Mellow Yellow phonetically because none of the kids in my 7th grade band could understand the lyrics. We didn’t know Saffron was a girl’s name - we thought it was code for something illegal! His voice and sense of melody were always unique. Having said that, he could’ve fit into the sounds on the 1930s, 40s, and 50s with that voice and many of his songs. And if the control room at the studio you were in was upstairs, it sounds like Abbey Road, No.2, aka ‘The Beatles Studio’. Another trip down Memory Lane... thx!

[@dmlevitt]

love the lil' Hermans old fashioned brittles product placement. I gotta gets me some.

[@maryskogen6681]

I just ordered 4 dime bags - you'd best get a move on if you want to get you some 😆

[@dmlevitt]

@@maryskogen6681 I just got a few dime bags myself. thanks for the prompt.

[@maryskogen6681]

Poor Herman is going to have to hire some help after this shout-out from Leland!

[@torchandhammer]

Don't miss out on Herman's KZbin channel while you're munching that brittle. It will turn your life around.

[@gustavoborchert]

Thanks, Leland!

[@georgepauls2911]

Saw Donovan at the Santa Monica Civic in 73 or 74, great show!

[@terriblemook]

That memory of yours....love Donovan and love your bass playing, always it seems. Stay safe🖕

[@gustavoborchert]

I would be very interested in hearing Leland talk about something that he may have done with Jim Gordon. Keep safe and best to everyone...

[@garanceadrosehn9691]

Ray Cooper: Very cool guy. (I've always been a huge fan of Elton and Bernie).

[@MrCarl220]

You just know Donovan when you hear that echoing voice!!

[@Funny4450]

OMG I love-love Aaron Copland also -

[@cortical1]

So excited, Lee! Long time fan of Donovan. Thanks!

[@4himsanctified]

Quite the modulations in this song.

[@sethcashman1011]

“Some of the best stuff gets played at the end of fades.” Every damn time. Would love to see a boxed set comprised of the cool stuff people play during fade outs. Anyway, off to snag some of that peanut brittle..

[@jimmycampbell78]

Pink Floyd 'Pigs' springs to mind for me...David Gilmour is totally shredding on that fade-out and just how often did he unleash playing like that...love the Sheep intro but wouldn't mind a bit more of that!

[@DanFrechette]

I have this on vinyl - listen to it often

[@juergensguitarlounge]

Donovan had his heyday in the sixties with the sunshine superman, universal soldier, hurdy gurdy man etc. His style was his close up soft intimate voice with a message, Back up vocals were not really his thing. Very recognisable guitar intro by Steve Marriott on the third song. I also loved the Small Faces and Humble Pie .

[@w.geoffreyspaulding6588]

Lee...you are a very bad influence on me. I need candy like I need a hole in the head, but my mouth was watering for brittle by the time you were done and a ordered a bag. It better be worth the calories! 😋😏

[@gzaq]

that tabla in the second song made it so funky

[@mattymoi]

Lovely thank you. What a nice surprise. I live in Mallow, Co Cork, Ireland and so does Donovan.

[@mickman36]

Another Irish Lee sklar fan from Ireland myself from kildare

[@mattymoi]

There must be many of us !

[@mickman36]

@@mattymoi I've seen a few here alright mate

[@chaipup7045]

Colours is a great song.

[@jimbroughton]

Happy Saturday Leland!

[@rikconverse8726]

I saw Back Door at the Whiskey - Colin Hodgkinson - lead bass & vocals; Ron Asprey - Sax, Flute & Keys, Tony Hicks (not that one) Drums! Interesting jazz rock group.

[@goodun2974]

Rik, I saw Colin Hodgkinson playing as part of the Jan Hammer Trio several times in the late seventies or early eighties (no guitarist, just bass, drums and synth). He was fantastic, certainly one of the most unique bass stylists I've seen. He played a solo version of Robert Johnson's Preaching Blues that just ripped!

[@eaglerayrob]

I've seen pics of JT from this 1973 show, very clean cut look playing what would've been a very new Whitebook guitar and what looks like a Gibson ES-175 on a guitar stand behind him. Jame's would've been recently wed to Carly about this time, wouldn't he?

[@lelandsklar6363]

Yes to all...

[@eaglerayrob]

@@lelandsklar6363 Good morning, it's early in your part of the world.

[@rikconverse8726]

Donovan - vocals, acoustic guitar Henry McCullough, Danny Kortchmar, Doug Schlink, Neil Hubbard, Steve Marriott, Peter Frampton - electric guitar Alan Spenner, Carl Radle, Leland Sklar, Paul Ossola - bass guitar Danny Thompson - double bass on "There is an Ocean" Carole King, Craig Doerge, Jean Roussel - piano Nicky Hopkins - piano, Fender Rhodes on "Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth" Bobby Whitlock - Hammond organ on "Lazy Daze" Bruce Rowland, Denny Seiwell, Jim Gordon, Russ Kunkel - drums Ray Cooper - percussion Tom Scott - woodwind Jack Emblow - accordion Chris Nicholls - bass flute Simon Jeffes - koto The Scratch Band - background vocals Andrew Powell, Del Newman, Nicky Harrison - strings

[@dmlevitt]

thanks Rik. that is a stellar group. Henry McCullough was in Wings too.

[@rikconverse8726]

@@dmlevitt Neil Hubbard, Alan Spenner & Bruce Rowland - all “Greasers”! ;-)

[@sceiron1]

Hi Rik, the same Andrew Powell that did a lot of the choral / instrumental with Alan Parsons.??

[@rikconverse8726]

@@sceiron1 Apparently he is. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Powell Not to be confused with Andy Powell that was one of the twin guitarists in Wishbone Ash en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Powell

[@sceiron1]

@@rikconverse8726 Couldn't really get those two mixed up having seen Wishbone Ash here in NZ many many many yrs ago, like when ARGUS had just been released. And to illustrate how backward this place was back then Steve Upton got himself in a power of shit when he announced the track FUBB and then proceeded to to do the translation for us. 😁 🤣 🙄 didn't bother me or my mates in the slightest.

[@philip2750]

Carole King and Peter Frampton also offered their talents on this album.

[@dmlevitt]

I have lots of Donovan but not this LP. gotta get it now. Donovan & Cat Stevens--similar voices. really like the last song. long fades indeed.

[@robster7316]

They call him Mellow Yellow-Donovan Leitch is an interesting cat! Great story, Lee! 👍😊

[@lastnamefirst4035]

Songs by Donavan make me sad. Ive not heard them since I was very young. "Who knows where the time goes" fc

[@tenlittleindians]

I didn't know he did anything after the 60's. Radio stations killed him off long ago as they have done with so many great artists.

[@leemdynamo]

That's not exactly true. He continued to record. He's still around.

[@gatekeeper65]

I've never heard these songs before. If you didn't tell us who it was, I would have guessed some obscure Bee Gees stuff I'd never heard before. Good stuff. Take care and have a great day.

[@matermangros]

Awesome video Lee... Happy valentimes day!

[@FreedomRock44]

Ohhhhhh a guy mentioned that to you in the comments the other day and thanked you for turning him on to it!!! So as you just said.....It must be the SH*#!!!!! Hahahaha...Going to try it!!!!

[@FreedomRock44]

Jeff Beck.....Hero!

[@FreedomRock44]

Lee I just watched a video from 1981 of Stevie Nicks Edge of Seventeen.....Well There is a guitarist with his back to the audience playing the famous Riff to that song.........Because of you I saw the back of his head and was like.......That looks like Waddy!!!! I looked it up and it was!!!!!! Such a simple riff but so Awesome to the song!!!!! Waddy hit the right sound to just make the song killer. A little write up: Throughout the song, a distinctive 16th note guitar riff is played by Waddy Wachtel, progressing through C, D, and E-minor chords. During the bridge, the chords alternate twice between E-minor and C. Wachtel claimed[6] that The Police's "Bring On the Night" was the inspiration for the riff.

[@wynnssecret8584]

FreedomRock44.....That song is just as much Waddy's as it is Stevie's ( if not more )😉

[@FreedomRock44]

@@wynnssecret8584 Absolutely!!!!!!!!!! Agreed!

[@FreedomRock44]

I bet you Stevie herself would say that!!!!!!

[@michaelgormley8686]

Great to hear a mention of Back Door. The bassist was Colin Hodgkinson and he was incredible. Did you get a chance to hear him that day in London?

[@ronniebijleveld6265]

Good evening Leland 🎶

[@rikconverse8726]

A lot of the Grease Band were on the album too

[@richardlynch5632]

Remember how proud that I scored Donovans 1st album "Season of the Witch" on the day it came out for sale. Had the story of how Donivan got busted for ripping off a cigarette machine!🤣👍😎 His vocal vibrato almost sounds like a square wave tremolo pedal?👍😎 Loved that album👍😎 Learned "Mellow Yellow" on the trumpet🤣👍😎 Wonderful memories of that time👍😎 👍😎❤🖖 Love brother

[@johnniebgoode]

Took me forever to figure out he sang, "Oh, but I may as well...." try and catch the wind.

[@Gina-ly5bp]

That bag of brittle looks almost empty! 😂

[@brettmarlar4154]

The drummer for my Open Stage house band loves singing Season of the Witch. Other than that, whenever I hear the name Donovan, I think of Frank Zappa's song The Blue Light.

[@claudepalmer2290]

Don has something to say. Wild story.

[@sethcashman1011]

Jim Gordon wasn’t satisfied with merely being one of the greatest drumset players alive. He had to go try his hand at one of the most difficult instruments on earth to be able to play convincingly - and he succeeded. Dontcha just hate that?

[@scottkidwell3601]

I celebrate that!

[@sethcashman1011]

@@scottkidwell3601 Joking aside, so do I.

[@tanukibrahma]

Groovy, man!

[@lindastevenson6642]

god bless

[@splashesin8]

😅 I'm just mad about Donovan❣️ Omigoodness, and peanut brittle! 😁

[@buzzsmith8146]

Somebody else may have commented. Morgan Studios.

[@palestiniansojourner3231]

saw donovan in seattle when i was 14

[@alexispieltin9379]

You always said you had no bad habits, no alcohol nor drugs. Untill you made this Herman's brittles products placement! We have something special now to offer on special circumstances..., or at least something similar. Some are made with salted butter, others with almonds and nuts, others with sesame seeds: all are sponsored by you dentist🦷

[@craiglee8574]

Deeper. Voice of Smokey Robertson flavor

[@garytoro2]

Thanks again and will check out the brittle. Much appreciation 🖕🖕🖕

[@stephangielisse5527]

Golden Earring has stopped after more than 50 years last week. Very sad news about George Kooymans who is very sick.

[@lelandsklar6363]

I heard. Sad....

[@gerverra9430]

yes has ALS

[@Jepson75]

I know you didn't play on Jean Michel Jarre's album "Zoolook" - but I would love to hear you play the bass line from the track "Zoolook". As I can't play any instruments...I have absolutely no idea if it's simple or hard to play it. But I like it. :)

[@47heritage]

Hiya Lee. I Know the tunes today with Donovan will be great. But I just had to tell you that I was talking to Tobi Simmons this morning during Andreas Hellkvist's weekly Hammond B3 show. I mentioned being in your clubhouse and she said she has been trying to join but is having problems with PayPal. She said you had asked Aaron I think she said to help. I'm sure you're on top of it but I thought I would mention it here as I know she really wants to be a part of our great group with you. Listening to the first tune now and it sure is good. Hope you had a good day today and that you were able to get some rest since the other day. Take care my friend!

[@lelandsklar6363]

I will check with Aaron.......

[@47heritage]

@@lelandsklar6363 Thanks Lee. Have you ever checked out Andreas's Saturday morning hourly show? He plays a mean B3 in the style of Joey DeFrancesco. Anyway, I know Tobi would really like to be a part of the clubhouse. Thanks again!!!

[@TheClann]

Just wondering at what point in your career did you feel confident enough to play with these well established artists as equals. I worked with Steve Marriott in the early 90’s and I was a bit star stuck.

[@lelandsklar6363]

Still can be fan boy!

[@teddysalad8227]

Leland, I been watching Bobby Whitlock’s channel lately. Seems like a lot of his experiences involve some of the same cast of characters as you mention. Same time rough time frame also.

[@matermangros]

Donovan's voice was very bgish...the second song was very harfordesque.. John...and Roger Miller liked that nunsensical vocality..😆

[@joycebyers6729]

I still have the Crystal Palace ticket .. just can't find a way to post it on here ..

[@sceiron1]

Could the studio possibly have been Abbey Road.? their main studio had the control room up a big flight of stairs looking down on the studio area.??

[@lelandsklar6363]

Might have been. A long time ago!

[@leekosmin8788]

Could be Trident

[@qrptedmac]

So those long outs, you were to just keep playing till the producer said cut?

[@LEB52]

I think that you have mentioned that you had a bit to drink that night😜

[@lelandsklar6363]

Another story. It was insane........

[@kjbunnyboiler]

Evening Leland

[@lelandsklar6363]

Hi!

[@michaelvaladez6570]

What a wonderful surprise Donavan! And Steve Marriot...wow yes what an adventure.I love the way back machine...Help Mr.Wizard.love it.Were you playing your Frankenstein bass or was that to early ?

[@lelandsklar6363]

Peace / Love carved Jazz bass