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Donovan — Sunshine Superman
Album: Greatest Hits
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2503









Released: 1968
Length: 4:26
Plays (last 30 days): 4
Sunshine came softly a-through my a-window today
Could've tripped out easy a-but I've a-changed my ways
It'll take time, I know it but in a while
You're gonna be mine, I know it, we'll do it in style
'Cause I made my mind up you're going to be mine

I'll tell you right now
Any trick in the book a-now, baby, all that I can find

Everybody's hustlin' a-just to have a little scene
When I say we'll be cool, I think that you know what I mean
We stood on a beach at sunset, do you remember when?
I know a beach where, baby, a-it never ends
When you've made your mind up forever to be mine

Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
I'll pick up your hand and slowly blow your little mind
'Cause I made my mind up you're going to be mine
I'll tell you right now
Any trick in the book a-now, baby, that I can find

Superman or Green Lantern ain't got a-nothin' on me
I can make like a turtle and dive for your pearls in the sea, yep
A-you you you can just sit there while thinking on your velvet throne
'Bout all the rainbows a-you can a-have for your own
When you've made your mind up, forever to be mine

Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
I'll pick up your hand and slowly blow your little mind
When you've made your mind up, forever to be mine
I'll pick up your hand, I'll pick up your hand
Comments (275)add comment
 soneill4920941 wrote:

Like many so-called love songs, the singers sound like stalkers.



Beware the stalkers that sound like singers
 coloradojohn wrote:

Listening to this on my turntable while doing really good shrooms with my Writing class buddy Everett, both of us dressed up for the 1986 or was it 7 Halloween Mall Crawl (before the annual celebration got banned), the sky beginning to snow large, absolutely magical flakes, when my roommate Mary comes home from studying, and Everett says, "I'll pick up your hand, little darling, and blow your little mind..." and dang, wasn't Mary disappointed that we'd eaten all the goodies, not knowing she'd be along at all... We played this song a dozen more times, then did The Mall Crawl, tripping balls and laughing so hard it felt like we'd done sit-ups, ending up crashing a party at a house I'd lived in near 17th and Marine Street with Steve and Lisa the year before, sitting in the 2nd floor hallway with six other trippers on the 10-foot sofa we all called The Green Monster, and the girls who were now living there begged me to take it away, so I got my buddy Kevin to come over the next day with his truck and it took 3 of us and half an afternoon to get it up to my 3rd floor creek-side place at 745 Arapaho, and guess what record we wanted to hear to party to when done?!


You always have cool stories.  Thank You for sharing it!
Special acknowledgment is deserved by music 🎶 that transports you directly to a particular time & place. 
 Ihatethissong wrote:

That album cover photo of Donovan, he  looks like he's not all there, if you know what I mean.

Like his mother would say, "My Donovan, he's a special boy."

8/1/2021 edit - I'd like to add that I have great respect for Donovan and love his music. My comment was purely meant as a humorous criticism of the album cover (I mean, what were they thinking?)




What was anyone thinking back then? Really.
 sfyi2001 wrote:

Whose Jimmy Page's wife?
 terrapin52 wrote:
". . . I'll blow your little mind."  Nothing like talking down to women to get in their pants.
 
Maybe a 10 year old post but ...

Back then girls rarely wore pants. They wore mostly mini skirts that were so short that you might call them belts today.

Everything was different ...  the mind set, the language.  You could even tell who was a boy and who was a girl just by looking ...

And something about keeping an aspirin squeezed between the knees.

Love the song btw, still.
 coloradojohn wrote:

Listening to this on my turntable while doing really good shrooms with my Writing class buddy Everett, both of us dressed up for the 1986 or was it 7 Halloween Mall Crawl (before the annual celebration got banned), the sky beginning to snow large, absolutely magical flakes, when my roommate Mary comes home from studying, and Everett says, "I'll pick up your hand, little darling, and blow your little mind..." and dang, wasn't Mary disappointed that we'd eaten all the goodies, not knowing she'd be along at all... We played this song a dozen more times, then did The Mall Crawl, tripping balls and laughing so hard it felt like we'd done sit-ups, ending up crashing a party at a house I'd lived in near 17th and Marine Street with Steve and Lisa the year before, sitting in the 2nd floor hallway with six other trippers on the 10-foot sofa we all called The Green Monster, and the girls who were now living there begged me to take it away, so I got my buddy Kevin to come over the next day with his truck and it took 3 of us and half an afternoon to get it up to my 3rd floor creek-side place at 745 Arapaho, and guess what record we wanted to hear to party to when done?!


5 months later, on Halloween no doubt, I dig this story and will join you in spirit if not in time.  LLRP and (and these cubensis I'm chewing on right this second...! )
One of my favourite artists from yesteryear! He looked like a dork in 2007 but I still like him!
Excellent!! Back in 1967, he got everybody to try "smoking dried banana peels"! It was the "new rage", too funny! I haven't heard this song in a while.  Thanx RP!
Listening to this on my turntable while doing really good shrooms with my Writing class buddy Everett, both of us dressed up for the 1986 or was it 7 Halloween Mall Crawl (before the annual celebration got banned), the sky beginning to snow large, absolutely magical flakes, when my roommate Mary comes home from studying, and Everett says, "I'll pick up your hand, little darling, and blow your little mind..." and dang, wasn't Mary disappointed that we'd eaten all the goodies, not knowing she'd be along at all... We played this song a dozen more times, then did The Mall Crawl, tripping balls and laughing so hard it felt like we'd done sit-ups, ending up crashing a party at a house I'd lived in near 17th and Marine Street with Steve and Lisa the year before, sitting in the 2nd floor hallway with six other trippers on the 10-foot sofa we all called The Green Monster, and the girls who were now living there begged me to take it away, so I got my buddy Kevin to come over the next day with his truck and it took 3 of us and half an afternoon to get it up to my 3rd floor creek-side place at 745 Arapaho, and guess what record we wanted to hear to party to when done?!
I still remember in 1996 Imani Coppola sampling this for "Legend of a Cowgirl".  I don't like hip hop or US dance pop, but that song had a good groove.  I also remember some stories in the newspapers about the pilots at a small airfield being pissed when they were shooting the music video for that song, as they were kind of taking over the facility.


VIDEO -
(click) :
(197) Donovan performs Sunshine Superman - YouTube




I remember when this song came out, he had everybody smoking banana peels! ...too funny!
Classic! & Iconic!
 DaidyBoy wrote:

The least they could have done is light the shot properly.  I'm sure they could afford it...


It's a compilation album released by the label, so Donovan probably had little or nothing to say about what imagery would be used on the cover.  Some underling at Epic records was probably given the task to throw together a cover for the album.
"We're releasing a 'greatest hits' album for this guy, find a photo from his press kit and be sure to use that 'Arnold Böcklin' typeface."
 Ihatethissong wrote:

That album cover photo of Donovan, he  looks like he's not all there, if you know what I mean.

Like his mother would say, "My Donovan, he's a special boy."



But he still showed John Lennon how to play guitar claw hammer style (listen to Julia) and convinced him to sand off the finish on his casino so it could "breath" better. Can't be all bad I guess.
 rhyfelgar wrote:

What a curious looking chap.




Kind of looks like a young Jeremy Clarkson on the album cover...
I'd like to further explore Donovan Leitch's fascination with  Comics Superheroes
 Ihatethissong wrote:
That album cover photo of Donovan, he  looks like he's not all there, if you know what I mean.

Like his mother would say, "My Donovan, he's a special boy."
 
The least they could have done is light the shot properly.  I'm sure they could afford it...
 rhyfelgar wrote:
What a curious looking chap.
 

Don't post this without including a photo of yourself!
This should be followed by "In the Summertime" by Mungo Jerry. Dammit. 
 soneill4920941 wrote:
Like many so-called love songs, the singers sound like stalkers.
 

Deathcab For Cutie has a lock on that.
Like many so-called love songs, the singers sound like stalkers.
Repetetive and annoying.
 Ihatethissong wrote:
That album cover photo of Donovan, he  looks like he's not all there, if you know what I mean.

Like his mother would say, "My Donovan, he's a special boy."
 

Yellow Sunshine.
What a curious looking chap.
I can still remember going to my first job about a week in and listening to this song.  I was  thinking "what the hell am I doing".  I still went in.  It was a epic job. 
Yup.  That is me.  Listening to the radio in 1968 and having this song "permanently etched in my mind".
 Ihatethissong wrote:
That album cover photo of Donovan, he  looks like he's not all there, if you know what I mean.

Like his mother would say, "My Donovan, he's a special boy."
 

He may have thought the photoshoot is over and almost run off 😬
 mgtom wrote:
Good memories.... Playing on the Lake Erie beach with a new girl I met and hearing this song on my transistor radio. Geeze, I think I was 14 .
 
How is she?
He's got few only few hits but really good ines
In those  days 'Me  Too' meant something else, I feel...
Another song that has been Played  to death
 terrapin52 wrote:
Chicks dig it when you tell them they have a little mind.
 
Just a little less than they like being called "chicks".
Did not know that he was Ione Skye's dad.  Thank you RP (and wiki)
Good memories.... Playing on the Lake Erie beach with a new girl I met and hearing this song on my transistor radio. Geeze, I think I was 14 .
What I LOVE about Donovan is that he always had his tongue planted somewhere in his cheek, even though ever so lightly.  He never took the hippie movement as the slathering worship of disregard for reality that it ultimately became which always made me so uncomfortable.
How many young women today would accept the offer of having  their little minds  blowing? 🤔. Just a random thought. 
That album cover photo of Donovan, he  looks like he's not all there, if you know what I mean.

Like his mother would say, "My Donovan, he's a special boy."

8/1/2021 edit - I'd like to add that I have great respect for Donovan and love his music. My comment was purely meant as a humorous criticism of the album cover (I mean, what were they thinking?)
"they were mellow there were yellow
they where donovan fans" :) 
To me  a strong 7 - Quite Likeable  almost 8
 LowPhreak wrote:

You don't have lawns in Noo Yock, man. ;)

 
Donovan - 10  (he meant "get the fuck off my stoop you dopey jerx!!!"  : )
 Axelito wrote:
It sucks so muchhhh!!!

 
It really does...1
..... wonderful heady stuff, it's a 9
Always brings a smile to my face and a tap to my feet to hear this, even on a blustery cold mid-winter's night! Such happy trippy music!
It sucks so muchhhh!!!
 pallasathene82 wrote:

You kids! Get off my lawn!

Rad song, though.

 
You don't have lawns in Noo Yock, man. ;)
Put in to context this song is brilliant period!
 
 kingart wrote:
Most songs are of their time. Still, for me, this is as classic as it gets. There ought to be some statute that will allow the flogging of those who weren't there or then from dissing a tune such as this that evokes so much for so many.  

 
You kids! Get off my lawn!

Rad song, though.


Hey look.....it's Casey Affleck
 terrapin52 wrote:
Chicks dig it when you tell them they have a little mind.

 
funny!
Chicks dig it when you tell them they have a little mind.
 Cynaera wrote:

This just made me grin from ear to ear.  SO glad you had hippie parents. You were probably hearing his music before you were even born, and I bet your mom and dad danced to it with flowers in their hair.  That's great.  Lucky you!!!! {#Sunny}{#Daisy}
 

miss you so much, Cynaera...

love this song...
 

 Relayer wrote:
I just watched a replay of the 2012Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony that included Dovovan.  He wrote a really cool poem as his acceptance speech, and that was damn classy.  Good job Donovan.  Here it is:

From my wandering days on lonely sands
where I sang my song to the moon and stars
To the world’s great stage , hounoured am I
to sing my song to a million fans

Always my wish to be of service
to ease emotion deep in the heart
Always your poet , a shaman am I
to lead us all to the realm within

Yet I was branded for my beauty
yet protected by my art
Many plundered me for booty
only one did steal my heart

How she keeps it in her casket
still remains a mystery
Like the moonrise in a sunset
like the silence of the sea

Thank you for this bright green laurel
resting now upon my brow
Thank you Goddess , thank you Muses
thank you … Fellow Artists All

Donovan Leitch
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Acceptance Poem
Cleveland Ohio
April 14 2012
Copyright: Donovan Leitch : Peer Music



 
Thank you for posting. As you say, good job Donovan.
Is he singing :
 "You can just sh!t there a stinkin' on your porcelain throne"?
 isocky wrote:
Am I the only one who thinks this is a really creepy stalker song?

 
creeped into R&R hall of fame and sang this in Cleveland. replay on HBO last night.
Rock Stars come in many forms and he's quite a Survivor. 
How scary, the year I was born... good song.
Somehow annoying after the 20th time...
Irritating 
To say Donovan shamelessly ripped off Dylan's sound would be an injustice to all the other 60s acts who's sound he stole from.

Still though, god tunes. 
I just watched a replay of the 2012Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony that included Dovovan.  He wrote a really cool poem as his acceptance speech, and that was damn classy.  Good job Donovan.  Here it is:

From my wandering days on lonely sands
where I sang my song to the moon and stars
To the world’s great stage , hounoured am I
to sing my song to a million fans

Always my wish to be of service
to ease emotion deep in the heart
Always your poet , a shaman am I
to lead us all to the realm within

Yet I was branded for my beauty
yet protected by my art
Many plundered me for booty
only one did steal my heart

How she keeps it in her casket
still remains a mystery
Like the moonrise in a sunset
like the silence of the sea

Thank you for this bright green laurel
resting now upon my brow
Thank you Goddess , thank you Muses
thank you … Fellow Artists All

Donovan Leitch
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Acceptance Poem
Cleveland Ohio
April 14 2012
Copyright: Donovan Leitch : Peer Music


Am I the only one who thinks this is a really creepy stalker song?
 kingart wrote:
Most songs are of their time. Still, for me, this is as classic as it gets. There ought to be some statute that will allow the flogging of those who weren't there or then from dissing a tune such as this that evokes so much for so many.  
 
Does that mean that people who are in their 80s and 90s would be allowed to flog people of younger generations for 'dissing' tunes by Rudy Vallée, Nelson Eddy, Bing Crosby, or Fred Astaire?  
Anyhow, good tune, dated or not.
Most songs are of their time. Still, for me, this is as classic as it gets. There ought to be some statute that will allow the flogging of those who weren't there or then from dissing a tune such as this that evokes so much for so many.  
Super groovy
Instant turn off!
 I think this even gets worse over time.........

aversely wrote:
instant mute.....
 


". . . I'll blow your little mind."  Nothing like talking down to women to get in their pants.
Please..... make it stop.     {#Stop}
its like someone rubbing the top of a wine glass to make that ringing noise, about 8 hours after you've stopped drinking wine.
Hard to describe to the young-uns the pleasure of hearing this on a transistor radio at the beach.
one of my all-time good-feeling favorites ... singin' along ... quietly so I don't get booted out of the office ;)
 acidreflucks wrote:
Good to hear this right after Sugar Magnolias, cos its true (It made me realize) Donovan is more similar to the Dead than to Dylan - tho when he burst on the scene as an alternative folksinger, that's who he was (somewhat derogatorily) compared to.  right when Donovan first came to the public notice, he was interviewed on tv, and asked 'aren't you copying Bob Dylan?' or some such and Donovan said in effect, 'Bob who ?'  Although he was in fact an early fan in the UK and can be seen on the great movie of Dylan touring in London, Don't Look Back,  right alongside his muse.

 
That's a great little anecdote! Thanks for sharing. I'm sure a lot of us may not have known that.
instant mute.....
 Byronape wrote:

You got your license picture taken shirtless and looking like you swallowed a handful of 'ludes while oogling underage girls?

 
Oogling?  Sounds interesting; I've ogled, canoodled shoogled and boogied sometimes, but even when CCR was at it's peak and everybody kept on shoogling, I must have missed oogling.
Serious research is indicated.

This is not the version on my LP!
 shakitten wrote:

Dave, I have a feeling that it would be an awesome experience to look through your collection of vinyl! You've got some great stuff.
 
Thanks! You are welcome to come see. I've got thousands of them to look through, would keep you busy a while!

 listen_n_sf wrote:
The cover looks like my first drivers license. 
 
You got your license picture taken shirtless and looking like you swallowed a handful of 'ludes while oogling underage girls?

 DaveInVA wrote:

Yes, its a model 698 that I bought new in '77. It has the lower mass arm on it and the touch button cuing. I also have the older 598 model with the medium mass arm...


 


Dave, I have a feeling that it would be an awesome experience to look through your collection of vinyl! You've got some great stuff.

oh, burn...



 lemmoth wrote:


One of Donovan's fellow Englishmen must explain - of all the superheroes to pair with of course the ultimate - Superman - why the Green Lantern?
  
Donovan doesn't have any fellow Englishmen. He's Scottish.

umm, I thnk I hear where Beck gets his inspiration.

 johnjconn wrote:
Donovan kind of resembles Greg Brady

Same timeframe
 

Nah...More like Peter Brady.....
First rainy day in 3 months. Lovely. ))
My workmate is lucky enough to not know who Donovan was.
 Proclivities wrote:

I imagine it was just because of the syllable count and/or meter - plus Donovan often seemed to favor mentioning colors in his lyrics.  Green Lantern has been around since the early 1940's; maybe he was popular in the UK.
 

Yes. There's very likely no  deep meaning behind the pairing, at least not one that occurs on a very muggy summer evening. Absolutely love this song, always have. 
Just saw him 3rd of June at Royal Albert Hall in London doing his Sunshine Superman Concert with Shawn Phillips and surprise guest was Jimmy Page who played on this tune. Was fun.
 lemmoth wrote:


One of Donovan's fellow Englishmen must explain - of all the superheroes to pair with of course the ultimate - Superman - why the Green Lantern?
 
Donovan doesn't have any fellow Englishmen. He's Scottish.

 mgoldman wrote:
 An Empire turntable?  Looks like one that I used to have.

DaveInVA wrote:


The correct artwork...Great song!
 
 
Yes, its a model 698 that I bought new in '77. It has the lower mass arm on it and the touch button cuing. I also have the older 598 model with the medium mass arm...


 lemmoth wrote:
One of Donovan's fellow Englishmen must explain - of all the superheroes to pair with of course the ultimate - Superman - why the Green Lantern?
 
I imagine it was just because of the syllable count and/or meter - plus Donovan often seemed to favor mentioning colors in his lyrics.  Green Lantern has been around since the early 1940's; maybe he was popular in the UK.


 gatorade wrote:
Superman and Green Lantern. Nuff said.
 

One of Donovan's fellow Englishmen must explain - of all the superheroes to pair with of course the ultimate - Superman - why the Green Lantern?
Hippie bravado?

I'm thinking of the lyrics done in a hardcore rap style.

I think it works. 

BTW

The cover looks like my first drivers license. 
 An Empire turntable?  Looks like one that I used to have.

DaveInVA wrote:


The correct artwork...Great song!

 


you creep out easily.
I clearly missed out on something...  that picture of Donovan creeps me out.
Good to hear this right after Sugar Magnolias, cos its true (It made me realize) Donovan is more similar to the Dead than to Dylan - tho when he burst on the scene as an alternative folksinger, that's who he was (somewhat derogatorily) compared to.  right when Donovan first came to the public notice, he was interviewed on tv, and asked 'aren't you copying Bob Dylan?' or some such and Donovan said in effect, 'Bob who ?'  Although he was in fact an early fan in the UK and can be seen on the great movie of Dylan touring in London, Don't Look Back,  right alongside his muse.

 gatorade wrote:
Superman and Green Lantern. Nuff said.
 

Don't forget Herman Munster...

Superman and Green Lantern. Nuff said.
This, after Josh Rouse's "Sunshine" and Richie Havens's "Here Comes the Sun"... I seriously need to be someplace warm and balmy. And I need a new MP3 player so I can load all this stuff onto it and then I need to win the lottery so I can afford to go to that white sandy beach place and disappear with all this great music... {#Meditate}{#Sunny}
 tkay73 wrote:
Just recently discovered that Donovan is my guilty pleasure. My Hippie Parents listened to him when I was little so his music is deep down in my soul and I love it!
 
This just made me grin from ear to ear.  SO glad you had hippie parents. You were probably hearing his music before you were even born, and I bet your mom and dad danced to it with flowers in their hair.  That's great.  Lucky you!!!! {#Sunny}{#Daisy}


The correct artwork...Great song!

{#Sunny}
 SmilinJimmy wrote:
Shnikies!  It's Phil Mickelson at a California beach around 1984!
 
Hahaha. Good one. One of the more scary covers.
 jagdriver wrote:


From left: George, Paul, John, Donovan, Pattie (or Jane) at the Maharishi's ashram.

(Ringo had probably had enough baked beans and already returned home.)

  {#Whisper} He has been seen with a camera in hand !
And boy,if I'v ever seen a stoned face ! (Paul) {#Smile}

 jagdriver wrote:


From left: George, Paul, John, Donovan, Pattie (or Jane) at the Maharishi's ashram.

(Ringo had probably had enough baked beans and already returned home.)

 
Thanks for the picture, Jagdriver!  Love the expression on Paul's face:  Pleease, please, heeelllp me!  And Donovan looks like he's holding a lid of hash!  (The girl looks like Patti Boyd.)


Pretty good!!  No...exellent!!

Shnikies!  It's Phil Mickelson at a California beach around 1984!

 Stefen wrote:

I'm trying to get a handle on that.  Not succeeding.
 
Well, I didn't say that Mr. Torme's version of this song was "good"; I just said it was "interesting". {#Lol}


 Proclivities wrote:

 Mel Torme does an "interesting" version of this tune.

 
I'm trying to get a handle on that.  Not succeeding.
 rtrudeau wrote:
If anything called for bananas ... {#Dancingbanana}{#Dancingbanana}{#Dancingbanana}

 
Wouldn't "Mellow Yellow" be more fitting for the bananas.  Mel Torme does an "interesting" version of this tune.

 musickat wrote:
good for you!   you are fortunate to have Hippie Parents and an open mind to music regardless of age.

 tkay73 wrote:
Just recently discovered that Donovan is my guilty pleasure. My Hippie Parents listened to him when I was little so his music is deep down in my soul and I love it!
 
 

Absolutely! Although I scoffed at many of these artists as a teen I am so gald my parents gave me a taste for the greats of their era.
I would not have an appreciation for Simon & Garfunkel, CSN & Y, Donovan and amny others if not for them. The more open your mind the more beautiful music you get to enjoy!
good for you!   you are fortunate to have Hippie Parents and an open mind to music regardless of age.

 tkay73 wrote:
Just recently discovered that Donovan is my guilty pleasure. My Hippie Parents listened to him when I was little so his music is deep down in my soul and I love it!
 


Just recently discovered that Donovan is my guilty pleasure. My Hippie Parents listened to him when I was little so his music is deep down in my soul and I love it!
 jagdriver wrote:
From left: George, Paul, John, Donovan, Pattie (or Jane) at the Maharishi's ashram.

(Ringo had probably had enough baked beans and already returned home.)
 
Great shot, and yes, I think Ringo was the first to pack his bags and get the hell outta Dodge.
Sexy Sadie, indeed.




From left: George, Paul, John, Donovan, Pattie (or Jane) at the Maharishi's ashram.

(Ringo had probably had enough baked beans and already returned home.)

Sudden urge to drive a Honda Accord...
{#Music} Yup!
hippiechick wrote:
Donovan wrote some great tunes.
  
rascal420 wrote:


when?
 
Donovan could be annoyingly twee much of the time, but the  album "Sunshine Superman" (not the one shown above) is pure enchantment from beginning to end.  Anyone who really enjoys 60's rock needs to have it in their collection.

 viciousfishes wrote:

{#Yell} I hate Donovan!


 
We don't care{#Nyah}