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This is Donovan's third or fourth album, depending on whether or not you're British or American. Gone is the innocent folksinger, accompanied by only his guitar and harmonica. With "Superman" Donovan burst onto the scene as a rock and roll force to be reckoned with, a power matched by only the Beatles, Stones and, of course, Bob Dylan.
This is probably some of the first psychedelic music to be released, out before the Jefferson Airplanes "Surrealistic Pillow" and the Beatles "Sgt. Pepper." Even Playboy magazine recognized this record for what it was, a new direction in pop rock. The drug culture had arrived (even though in the not too distant future Donovan would disavow it). This record made Donovan a superstar, no doubt about it and the psychedelic songs interspersed with sort of a medieval atmosphere captured the rock and roll world.
Then there is the matter of the extra songs included here. They fit in so nicely with the original record. Too bad they didn't come out way back then, but I suppose the problem was that you could only fit so much time on a side of a record, something like about twenty-five minutes. Anyway it's nice to have the extra stuff, especially the recording of "Superlungs."
"Sunshine Superman" is one of my favorite all time records. Donovan was cooking back then, really cooking. It's just too darned bad that we can't stay young forever. If you wanna get a good taste what is was like back then, get this record, cuz this is what the cool people were listening too. The others, whose names I won't mention, but I think one of them is the leader of the free world, were listening to something else.
Rating:  -
Along with the first Procol Harum LP, these 1967 Donovan recordings are the last mono or rechanneled albums issued. Three tracks from this and the Mellow Yellow original LPs (Sunshine Superman, Season Of The Witch and Sunny South Kensington) have been mixed into stereo. Strangely, only Sunshine Superman is in stereo here....the other two are mono!
I'm very disappointed that they did NOT remixe Legend To A Girl Child Linda, Ferris Wheel, Bert's Blues, The Trip, Guinevere, The Fat Angel, or Celeste into stereo.
To my ears, these tracks sound no better than the US Epic original CDs.
Rating: -
"Sunshine Superman" remains to this day Donovan's greatest work, a pioneering masterpiece which ranks as one of the best albums of all time. That the 19-year-old could write and perform a work so ahead of its time--he was working on the same artistic level as The Beatles, who were recording "Revolver" during the same months--seems astonishing today, but it took forty years for a proper version of the album to be released.
"Sunshine Superman" originally appeared in September 1966 in the US only in "reprocessed stereo", and when it was finally released in the UK in June of '67 (which made it seem less pioneering than it was in those heady times) it was combined with songs from "Mellow Yellow" in a mono version that sounded OK but in spite of the clear genius of the songwriting and arrangments, the sound on both versions seemed "off" and the CD versions up to this point did nothing to improve matters. Finally, forty years later, some wizard at EMI properly remastered the sound and the results are astonishing: the acoustic guitars, sitars, tablas, harpsichords and organs have a deep, rich resonance to them which wraps around the listener's ear like a fine silk tapestry.
The album contains not a single weak track and although the pace towards the end of the first side slows to a crawl (with three slow tracks in a row), all are gorgeous. The title track and "Season Of The Witch" were memorable psychedelic rockers, while stoned ballads like "Three Kingfishers" and "Guinevere" are awash in a dreamy, novel synthesis of Indian and Celtic influences that is simply intoxicating. The combination of acoustic and electric guitars, electric violin, harpsichord, strings, sitars and tablas made it one of the first pyschedelic reocords and Donovan has since belatedly been recognized for his contributions to the movement, his influence on The Beatles being particularly strong (see The White Album).
The next two albums, "Mellow Yellow" and "A Gift From A Flower To A Garden" were equally focused and essential but "Sunshine Superman" remains his greatest, both lyrically and musically,
and the measure by which all of his later works were compared.
This remastered version also contains the essential outtakes "Breezes Of Patchulie", "Museum" and "Superlungs" which are all in the same breathtaking mold as the album (all three should have been included, actually, and "Museum" and "Superlungs" may have balanced the album a bit more with rockers, but both found their way in satisfactory versions on later works), as well as a few acoustic demos never before released. In all, an essential purchase for all Donovan fans, who have been waiting years and years for something like this to come out--and unlike some reviewers here, I thought the liners were fine and quite detailed.
Rating: -
I will admit, this is probably not my *favorite* Donovan album, but there is absolutely no denying the fact that it is his greatest LP. Musically and lyrically, it keeps you engaged the entire play time. Unfortunately, I hope that people aren't put off by the fact that there are only two hit titles on this album. I must clarify, that, in my opinion, Donovan was also and 'album artist' and not merely a 'singles artist.' The songs on this album can stand out on their own as brilliant pieces.
The album starts off with one of Donovan's most popular hits, "Sunshine Superman" which gets you engaged as you are about to brace yourself for the 6 minute and 45 second "Legend of a Girl Child Linda." The dreamy instruments and equally dreamy lyrics are just gorgeous. "Three King Fishers" and "Ferris Wheel" follow in the same vein as "Linda" as they are slower, more lyrically-based songs. The fifth song on the LP, "Bert's Blues" returns more to the "Sunshine" sound, although it is still slower in tempo.
Side 2 of the LP kicks off with Donovan's other hit "Season of the Witch." It goes without saying that this song is essential Donovan, and it's placement on the album (Track 6 of 10) is a strategic move that works; it holds the listener's attention and interest. "The Trip" is a fitting follow-up to "Season." It's a quick-paced beat rock that just sounds great. Next is the slow and beautiful "Guinevere" which follows much in the path of "Legend of a Girl Child Linda." "The Fat Angel" picks up the tempo for one final hurrah as it prepares you for the last track on the album, "Celeste," which is in my opinion, possibly Donovan's best song, outright. Lyrically, it is hard to be matched by any other song by Mr. Leitch, and the melody is just beautiful.
This edition contains seven bonus tracks which will please Donovan fans, as we have been without studio outtakes and demos for quite a while.
The $16.99 price for this edition is just okay. If you're a collector and want the bonus tracks, I recommend this disc, however, if you are just interested in hearing the album, the $9.99 edition will suit you fine.
Rating: -
"Sunshine Superman" was Donovan's first "Electric" album, first released in late 1966. Although producer's Micky Most has been givin much credit for creating Donovan's "new progressive" sound, there had actually been signs on his previous album "Fairytale", that he would be exploring new styles and sounds on forthcoming records. The great song and slightly jazzy "Sunny Goodge Street" would have fitted nicely into the concept of both "Sunshine Superman" and the follow-up album "Mellow Yellow"
When the album was released "Sunshine Superman" had already been a huge hit on the singles charts on both sides of the Atlantic; with its great bass intro hook.
On many tracks though, Donovan's folk background still shines through. Some songs are still very folkish, featuring only Donovan and his acoustic guitar, but with additional classical instruments like woodwinds, violins and harpsichord.
Other songs are highly inspired by Indian music featuring both tabla and sitar.
Among those the beautiful "Guinevere" and "Fat Angel" are clear favourites.
On "Bert's Blues" Donovan combines elements from both jazz and and classical music, creating an almost avantgardish new fusion.
Quite outstanding is the classic "Season of the Witch", which has been covered by various other artists; Donovan at his heaviest!
The majestic "Celeste", which closed the original album is another highlight.
The 7 bonus-tracks are all fine. Some are outtakes, others are early versions of songs that would later appear on "Mellow Yellow" and "Barabajal".
The booklet is a great read featuring biography and detalied information about each track and Donovan's collaboration with Micky Most.
Though most of the strongest tracks can be found on various compilations; and though a few songs may sound a bit out-dated, the album as a whole still appear as an essential document of how music changed in the middle 1960's, and that Donovan was more than just a softer British echo of what Bob Dylan was doing in America.
Recommended!
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