The Real Story Behind Donovan’s Sunshine Superman

Shawn Phillips and Jimmy Page

After a 45-year icy relationship between Donovan and his roommate, co-writer, and instrumentalist Shawn Phillips I got an email.

On June 3, 2011, I plan to have the 45th Anniversary reunion concert of the Sunshine Superman album. I’ve invited Jimmy Page. The show will include the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. I would like you to play sitar on the same 6 songs you recorded on the album. — Donovan

I was Shawn Phillips manager.

I convinced him to let bygone be bygone and accept the invite. It could be a boost to his career. He accepted.

The rift was over the song “Season of Witch.” Phllips claimed he co-wrote it. Donovan admitted the truth 30 years later in an interview with the Guardian.

Creatively, Phillips served as a silent partner in the gestation of many of Donovan’s songs from the era, with the singer later acknowledging that Phillips primarily composed “Season of the Witch”. — Wiki

I’ll get back to that story.

Sunshine Superman is the third album by British singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the United States on August 26, 1966, but was not released in the UK until a year later because of a contractual dispute.

Donovan was 20 years old when he recorded the hit album and dubbed the Bob Dylan of England. He is 75 years old today.

Originally, the “Sunshine Superman” single was subtitled “For John and Paul,” a reference to Lennon and McCartney. Donovan was friends with the Beatles.

Jimmy Page played lead guitar on the album.

Page was a session musician at the time. He played five tracks including “Sunshine Superman,” “Hurdy Gurdy Man,” “Teen Angel” and “The Trip.” But it’s his work on “Season of the Witch” and the LP’s title track that brings eerie psychedelia to the album.

This was one of the first-ever overtly psychedelic pop records. Donovan played down the drug implications of the song, but they were certainly implied: “Sunshine” was a name for LSD.

The song was Donovan’s only single to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The songs on the album

Sunshine Superman

Legend of a Girl Child Linda

Three King Fishers

Ferris Wheel

Bert’s Blues

Season of the Witch

The Trip

Guinevere

The Fat Angel

Celeste

Back to the earlier story

In the early 60s, before anybody knew Donovan or Shawn Phillips they were roommates. They rented a flat in central London.

Phillips shared that Donovan and he would jam on guitars to all hours of the night. Riffs and song ideas were shared. They were two young guys pursuing their dream in music and didn’t have managers and contracts (yet).

Phillips had (2) folk albums out on Columbia at the time and he recorded on Donovan’s early albums. Including, writing the song covered by Donovan “Little Tin Soldier.”

Through Donovan, Phillips met the Beatles and provided backing vocals for the Beatles’ “Lovely Rita.” Phillips is also one of the first western musicians to use sitar. He said he showed Harrison the instrument before Shankar.

Can you imagine what a flat in London was like during the height of the 60s music era? Two single good-looking artists in their 20s playing guitar. Their hippie crash pad often saw future stars come and go like the comedian, actor Bill Cosby.

Another unknown young singer/songwriter stopped by often. He liked to show the guys melodies he was working on. He played what would be a classic, “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme”— Paul Simon.

Down the street at Phillips music publisher, Dick James, was another young guy banging on the piano, looking for attention. His name was Elton John.

Phillips didn’t share how they met, only how they broke up.

I could understand the confusion of the times as a reason for Donovan forgetting Phillips.

However, it is customary when the record label issues Gold and Platinum record award plagues the players on the album receive a copy. I don’t know if Page got his awards but Phillips did not.

Sunshine Superman

Phillips and I arrived in London in late May 2011. Phillips hadn’t played the sitar in 40 years but he picked it up and remembered Donovan’s songs without a problem.

There was a soundcheck at Royal Albert Hall. Afterwards we returned backstage to our dressing room.

I took a stroll around the famous Royal Albert Hall and took in all my favorite concerts that were performed there.

The place felt like I was walking inside a record jacket.

Jimmy Page headed out to do his soundcheck and I approached him for a photo. He jabbed me for introducing myself as a manager. Like Donovan I took it he had no love for managers.

The show went down without a hitch. I thought Donovan was a bit off his game. The Royal Albert Hall was 60% full. Not quite the number he needed to break even.

After the show, we hung out for a press release party.

The guitar legend Jimmy Page sat quietly at the bar nursing a glass of water. He had been through sobriety treatment. In a few moments, he was surrounded by fans.

Donovan had a gypsy tent built over a table. Inside like a crystal ball reader he gave interviews with the press.

The next day Donovan had breakfast with us. Donovan and Phillips made small talk.

Donovan talked about his kids, future projects, and his place in Ireland.

45 years in the making, Donovan and Phillips shook hands and a hug. I hoped they would be friends and write another hit together.

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