Shining A Light On The Sunshine Superman

Donovan Phillips Leitch…

e’s one of modern music’s best kept secrets, having living in the shadow of Bob Dylan for much of his career, but Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan was always much more than Greenwich Village’s answer to Shakin’ Stevens.

And you only have to listen to Donovan’s songs to know that. Hits such as Catch The Wind, Sunshine Superman, Hurdy Gurdy Man and Mellow Yellow were more than just hits in their time. They still get played, and covered, today.

And the latter is about to happen on a grand scale tonight, in The Hot Spot in Greystones, when another gleefully eccentric folkie legend, Leo O’Kelly, teams up with his regular sidekick, Garvan Gallagher, and a bunch of friends to celebrate Donovan’s music.

In the meantime, we asked Leo to tell just what it is about Donovan that inspired him to dedicate an entire show to one man’s work…

First records I ever bought, as a 15 year old in Cartlow, were Donovan’s Universal Soldier EP and What’s Bin Did And What’s Bin Hid LP. First song I ever sang in public was Catch The Wind, with the Tropical Showband, at The Mayfair Ballroom, Kilkenny. That song immediately attracted me; it heralded freedom; freedom from electricity and cables… no strings attached! The road beckoned, and just as well; when I got sacked from the showband because my hair got too long, I was ready to go, and I did!

Sonny Condell and Leo O’Kelly 2018 Pic: Niall Reddy

Donovan’s first album was coming from a lot of places, blues, skiffle, protest, folk… all the things I was into. I looked forward to his second album, and even dreamt about it.

It lived up to my wildest dreams, but even then, I wasn’t ready for the poetry and psychedelic pop of Sunshine Superman – everything a young dewy eyed teenager could wish for.

I have loved his records for all those 50 years, and really love playing the songs again. Garvan Gallagher is as avid a fan as I am. Our informal set covers from the folky (Colours, Ballad Of Geraldine) to the downright psychedelic (Sunshine Superman and Season Of The Witch).

I met Donovan for the first time last year, over breakfast, when Tir na nOg and he played the Lunar Festival in Tanworth In Arden. It was right across from Nick Drake’s burial place.

Donovan was most gracious and it was great to meet and have a little chat after all those years…