George's Hurdy Gurdy Man

[Fluxus]

I last saw our Donovan the summer of 2003. He told a great story about being in India with the Fabs and how George wrote a middle verse for "Hurdy Gurdy Man" (which features half of Led Zepplin btw). Apparently the song was too long in the studio so they cut the George bit out. Then Donovan played the "restored" version. It was amazing. The bit was totally George in 1968!

Does anyone know of any live Donovan recordings with this version?

[Hari's Chick]

Donovan~ The Classics Live on GNA records (Great Northern Arts, Ltd) has the version with George's verse and also Donovan telling about it. Hope that helps.

[Fluxus]

Yeah! I'm gonna order it right now! Ta.

[beatlebangs1964]

I saw him in Chicago in 2003. My favorite Donovan song was always Atlantis, his stellar gem of 1968.

On his 1966 song, Mellow Yellow, please tell me what the significance of "14" is and what the heck is a "trick of banana?" I heard that Paul sang the whispered part on that song.

[Hari's Chick]

You're welcome! Enjoy, it's a great CD! :smile1:

BB, 14 is just a girls age... well, remember Don was pretty young too back then. :wink2: He was only 20 when he released the song. Electrical Banana is about this~
http://ebanana.orcon.net.nz/

:smile1: hehe, silly hippie

[luvsthebeatles]

Ohhh I love Donovan! I would love to hear the version with George's part on it.

BB, 14 is just a girls age... well, remember Don was pretty young too back then. :wink2: He was only 20 when he released the song.
I've always liked that part, since I'm 14. :wink2:

[beatlebangs1964]

Thanks, folks.

Still, what on earth is a trick of banana?

[Hari's Chick]

BB, it sounds like 'trick of a banana', but he really sings Electrical Banana. I guess it was about smoking banana's? Silly me and my dirty mind, I thought it was something entirely different, lol.

[FPSHOT]

That "Live" version is really amazing. Donovan tells the whole story about the words that George added and indeed also the reference to George's age at the time make it all so beautiful, George was so wise at young age.

There is not so much about George and Donovan in India, they must have spent time there, whereas it is a known fact that Donovan was with John quite a bit teaching him how to play guitar (lol) so I think that George may have thought "I'd better go for a nice walk whilst they learn how to play guitar"

[lennonluvr9]

I heard Donovan do George's verse when I saw him in 2003, but I didnt know that it was on a cd somewhere! Maybe i'll try and find it..