Essence to Essence
Essence to Essence | ||||
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Studio album by Donovan | ||||
Released | December 1973 | |||
Recorded | September–October 1973 | |||
Studio | Morgan Studios | |||
Genre | Folk rock | |||
Length | 42:21 | |||
Label | Epic | |||
Producer | Donovan Leitch Andrew Loog Oldham | |||
Donovan chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
Essence to Essence is the eleventh studio album, and thirteenth album overall, from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in both the UK (Epic SEPC 69050) and the US (Epic KE 32800) in December 1973.
History
By late 1973, Donovan abandoned the style of glam rock featured on his Cosmic Wheels album earlier that year. Andrew Loog Oldham was brought in (replacing Mickie Most) to co-produce Donovan's next album, which would highlight the subdued style of his previous work. Many of the songs were released on Live in Japan: Spring Tour 1973, but that album was not released outside Japan.
In a clear sign of Donovan's waning popularity, Essence to Essence became the third Donovan album after H.M.S. Donovan and earlier Fairytale to fail to reach the top 25 in the U.S. charts. Essence to Essence missed the UK album charts altogether and peaked at No. 174 in the United States.
On Essence to Essence, Donovan focuses on spirituality and meditative lyrics. The album art features Donovan clothed in white robes, kneeling as in meditation. While the album was derided as a critical failure at the time of its release, many of the songs went on to form a major part of Donovan's live repertoire throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Reissues
- On 26 January 1998 Epic/Rewind Records released Essence to Essence in the UK (Epic/Rewind 489443 2), marking the first CD release for the album.
- On 23 February 2004 Diablo Records released Cosmic Wheels/Essence to Essence (DIAB8051) in the UK on CD. This compilation includes all of Cosmic Wheels and all of Essence to Essence on one disc.
Track listing
All tracks by Donovan Leitch.
Side one
- "Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth" – 3:28
- "Lazy Daze" – 4:43
- "Life Goes On" – 2:37
- "There is an Ocean" – 4:49
- "Dignity of Man" – 5:19
Side two
- "Yellow Star" – 3:07
- "Divine Daze of Deathless Delight" – 3:10
- "Boy for Every Girl" – 4:15
- "Saint Valentine's Angel" – 3:57
- "Life is a Merry-Go-Round" – 4:00
- "Sailing Homeward" – 2:56
- Note: on some album centres "Divine Daze of Deathless Delight" is incorrectly timed as 4:00 and "Life is a Merry-Go-Round" as 3:13.
Personnel
- 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
References
- ^ Allmusic review
External links
- Essence To Essence – Donovan Unofficial Site
- 1973 Donovan – Essence To Essence at Sessiondays.com.
- v
- t
- e
- What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid (Catch the Wind)
- Fairytale
- Sunshine Superman
- Mellow Yellow
- A Gift from a Flower to a Garden
- The Hurdy Gurdy Man
- Barabajagal
- Open Road
- HMS Donovan
- Cosmic Wheels
- Essence to Essence
- 7-Tease
- Slow Down World
- Donovan
- Neutronica
- Love Is Only Feeling
- Lady of the Stars
- Sutras
- Pied Piper
- Sixty Four
- Brother Sun, Sister Moon
- Beat Cafe
- Shadows of Blue
- Donovan in Concert
- Live in Japan: Spring Tour 1973
- Rising
- Rising Again
- Greatest Hits Live: Vancouver 1986
- "Catch the Wind"
- "Colours"
- "Universal Soldier"
- "Turquoise" / "Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)"
- "You're Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond"
- "To Try for the Sun"
- "Josie"
- "Remember the Alamo"
- "Sunshine Superman"
- "Mellow Yellow"
- "Epistle to Dippy"
- "There Is a Mountain"
- "Wear Your Love Like Heaven"
- "Jennifer Juniper"
- "Hurdy Gurdy Man"
- "Atlantis"
- "Laléna"
- "Barabajagal"
- "Rock 'n' Roll with Me"
- "Season of the Witch"
- "Billion Dollar Babies"
- "I Am the Shaman"
albums
- The Best of Donovan (1969)
- Catch the Wind (1971)
- Catch the Wind (1986)
- Atlantis Calling
- Donovan's Greatest Hits
- Donovan's Greatest Hits and More
- The Collection
- Colours (1972)
- Colours (1991)
- Definitive Collection
- Donovan File
- Universal Soldier
- Wonderful Music of Donovan
- Early Treasures
- The Early Years
- This Is Donovan
- A Touch of Music a Touch of Donovan
- Sunshine Superman: The Very Best of Donovan
- Sunshine Superman: 18 Songs of Love and Freedom
- The Real Donovan
- Peace and Love Songs
- Minstrel Boy
- Mellow
- Love Is Hot, Truth Is Molten
- Like It Is, Was, and Evermore Shall Be
- Storyteller
- Summer Day Reflection Songs
- Eco-Song
- Troubadour: The Definitive Collection 1964–1976
- Try for the Sun: The Journey of Donovan
- Linda Lawrence (wife)
- Donovan Leitch (son)
- Ione Skye (daughter)
- Kirsty Hume (daughter-in-law)
- Ben Lee (son-in-law)
- Ad-Rock (son-in-law)
- There Is an Ocean
- The Sports Play Dylan (and Donovan)
- Island of Circles
- Open Road
- One Night in Time
- The Sensual Donovan
- Category