Members of Led Zeppelin helped create Donovan’s “Hurdy Gurdy Man” in the studio. The tune paved the way for a lot of the band’s later work. Donovan himself argued that Jimmy Page’s contributions to “Hurdy Gurdy Man” changed rock music.
Why Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page worked on Donovan’s ‘Hurdy Gurdy Man’
Donovan is a singer known for two types of songs: folk tunes and psychedelic experiments. His folk tunes include “Catch the Wind,” “Colors,” and “There Is a Mountain,” while his psychedelic jams include “Sunshine Superman,” “Atlantis,” and “Mellow Yellow.” “Hurdy Gurdy Man,” an early heavy metal song, was an uncharacteristic release for him. It sounds the way it does thanks to help from members of Led Zeppelin.
During a 2008 interview with Uncut, Donovan discussed the origin of “Hurdy Gurdy Man.” “Many people have said over the years how important that session of John Paul Jones,...
Why Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page worked on Donovan’s ‘Hurdy Gurdy Man’
Donovan is a singer known for two types of songs: folk tunes and psychedelic experiments. His folk tunes include “Catch the Wind,” “Colors,” and “There Is a Mountain,” while his psychedelic jams include “Sunshine Superman,” “Atlantis,” and “Mellow Yellow.” “Hurdy Gurdy Man,” an early heavy metal song, was an uncharacteristic release for him. It sounds the way it does thanks to help from members of Led Zeppelin.
During a 2008 interview with Uncut, Donovan discussed the origin of “Hurdy Gurdy Man.” “Many people have said over the years how important that session of John Paul Jones,...
- 4/10/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Donovan’s “Sunshine Superman” isn’t just a classic rock song — it’s a song with an incredible backstory. Donovan collided with The Beatles and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin when he recorded the tune. Page went on to help Donovan record another one of his classics.
‘Sunshine Superman’ singer Donovan, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin were at Abbey Road
During a 2016 interview with Billboard, Donovan discussed the recording of “Sunshine Superman.” “Mickie Most, my producer, asked, ‘What do you want on it.’ I said, ‘Harpsichord. I want jazz guitar.’ He said, ‘Ok, I’ll bring a great guitar player, a jazz band and classical instruments.’ John Cameron arranged it. We arrived at the session at Abbey Road, and next door was The Beatles.”
Subsequently, a future member of Led Zeppelin played on the track. “We started the session, and in walks Jimmy Page,” the Hurdy Gurdy Man said. “I couldn’t believe it.
‘Sunshine Superman’ singer Donovan, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin were at Abbey Road
During a 2016 interview with Billboard, Donovan discussed the recording of “Sunshine Superman.” “Mickie Most, my producer, asked, ‘What do you want on it.’ I said, ‘Harpsichord. I want jazz guitar.’ He said, ‘Ok, I’ll bring a great guitar player, a jazz band and classical instruments.’ John Cameron arranged it. We arrived at the session at Abbey Road, and next door was The Beatles.”
Subsequently, a future member of Led Zeppelin played on the track. “We started the session, and in walks Jimmy Page,” the Hurdy Gurdy Man said. “I couldn’t believe it.
- 4/9/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
No Paul McCartney song was created in a vacuum. A 1960s classic rock star said Paul took ideas from him. The star’s producer told him not to let Paul hear one of his tracks. The tune in question became a massive hit in the United States and the United Kingdom, and it is recognizable to this day.
Paul McCartney and another rock star inspired each other’s songs
During a 2016 interview with The Guardian, Donovan discussed the place he was in life when he wrote his most famous hit, the psychedelic classic “Sunshine Superman.” “At the time, I was great pals with The Beatles,” he said. “We were all experimenting, nicking sounds from each other.
“I was getting into baroque music and told my producer, Mickie Most, I wanted harpsichord on the track,” Donovan recalled. “‘You need an arranger,’ he said, introducing me to John Cameron who understood immediately.
Paul McCartney and another rock star inspired each other’s songs
During a 2016 interview with The Guardian, Donovan discussed the place he was in life when he wrote his most famous hit, the psychedelic classic “Sunshine Superman.” “At the time, I was great pals with The Beatles,” he said. “We were all experimenting, nicking sounds from each other.
“I was getting into baroque music and told my producer, Mickie Most, I wanted harpsichord on the track,” Donovan recalled. “‘You need an arranger,’ he said, introducing me to John Cameron who understood immediately.
- 4/1/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles and Donovan both made some of the defining songs of the 1960s. Donovan revealed that “Sunshine Superman” reused a musical trick that was in several Fab Four songs. Notably, “Sunshine Superman” reached a milestone that several Beatles songs did. However, it aged better than some of those songs in the long run.
Donovan said ‘early Beatles songs’ inspired the chords of ‘Sunshine Superman’
During a 2013 interview with Performing Songwriter, the “Hurdy Gurdy Man” singer discussed the inspiration behind “Sunshine Superman.” “Musically, the song is built on a chord structure that came from listening to early Beatles songs,” he said. “I was messing with C7th and the odd G changes.” While “Sunshine Superman” takes some inspiration, it doesn’t sound much like any of The Beatles’ songs. While it’s a psychedelic tune, none of The Beatles’ psychedelic tunes have a comparable groove.
“The Latin groove was coming from my love of jazz,...
Donovan said ‘early Beatles songs’ inspired the chords of ‘Sunshine Superman’
During a 2013 interview with Performing Songwriter, the “Hurdy Gurdy Man” singer discussed the inspiration behind “Sunshine Superman.” “Musically, the song is built on a chord structure that came from listening to early Beatles songs,” he said. “I was messing with C7th and the odd G changes.” While “Sunshine Superman” takes some inspiration, it doesn’t sound much like any of The Beatles’ songs. While it’s a psychedelic tune, none of The Beatles’ psychedelic tunes have a comparable groove.
“The Latin groove was coming from my love of jazz,...
- 4/1/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Due to his tremendous popularity, Elvis Presley changed lives across the globe. Elvis’ ’68 Comeback Special changed Suzi Quatro’s life in particular. She went on to pay tribute to him numerous times. The ’68 Comeback Special also influenced pop culture in a number of surprising ways.
Suzi Quatro’s look was inspired by Elvis Presley’s ’68 Comeback Special’
During a 2022 interview with Tidal, Quatro said she was a fan of Elvis since she saw him sing on The Ed Sullivan Show. That performance made her want to follow Elvis’ career path. She didn’t think being a girl would stop her from doing that.
“Then you fast-forward to the Comeback Special,” she said. “I was on the road since the age of 14. I was in the band for four years by that point because I started in ’64, and then in ’68, we switched on the TV, and he was in leather. So...
Suzi Quatro’s look was inspired by Elvis Presley’s ’68 Comeback Special’
During a 2022 interview with Tidal, Quatro said she was a fan of Elvis since she saw him sing on The Ed Sullivan Show. That performance made her want to follow Elvis’ career path. She didn’t think being a girl would stop her from doing that.
“Then you fast-forward to the Comeback Special,” she said. “I was on the road since the age of 14. I was in the band for four years by that point because I started in ’64, and then in ’68, we switched on the TV, and he was in leather. So...
- 12/14/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
Jimmy Page was hired to play power chords on Donovan’s “Hurdy Gurdy Man” instead of Jimi Hendrix. Donovan said his style of guitar playing inspired Page. “Hurdy Gurdy Man” was a huge pop hit in the United States and the United Kingdom. Led Zeppelin | Chris Walter / Contributor
Future Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones worked on Donovan’s “Hurdy Gurdy Man.” Donovan explained that Jimi Hendrix was originally supposed to work on the song. Subsequently, Donovan discussed Led Zeppelin’s enduring legacy.
Led Zeppelin stars played on Donovan’s ‘Hurdy Gurdy Man’ when Jimi Hendrix was busy
During a 2008 interview with Uncut, Donovan discussed the recording of “Hurdy Gurdy Man.” “Many people have said over the years how important that session of John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, and me — and maybe [John] Bonham, who said he was there — doing ‘Hurdy Gurdy Man’ was,” he said.
Jimmy Page was hired to play power chords on Donovan’s “Hurdy Gurdy Man” instead of Jimi Hendrix. Donovan said his style of guitar playing inspired Page. “Hurdy Gurdy Man” was a huge pop hit in the United States and the United Kingdom. Led Zeppelin | Chris Walter / Contributor
Future Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones worked on Donovan’s “Hurdy Gurdy Man.” Donovan explained that Jimi Hendrix was originally supposed to work on the song. Subsequently, Donovan discussed Led Zeppelin’s enduring legacy.
Led Zeppelin stars played on Donovan’s ‘Hurdy Gurdy Man’ when Jimi Hendrix was busy
During a 2008 interview with Uncut, Donovan discussed the recording of “Hurdy Gurdy Man.” “Many people have said over the years how important that session of John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, and me — and maybe [John] Bonham, who said he was there — doing ‘Hurdy Gurdy Man’ was,” he said.
- 6/6/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Jimmy Page with a guitar in his hands comes off as one of the most confident musicians ever. How confident? Enough to quit his lucrative session musician job and finally join the Yardbirds. Still, Page said recording with the Yardbirds was terrifying, and we understand why.
Jimmy Page and the Yardbirds in 1967 | Ivan Keeman/Redferns Jimmy Page got a ‘terrifying’ response while recording with the Yardbirds
Page made a good living as a session guitarist, but the grind wore on him. He initially had creative freedom to play whatever riffs fit the song, but then producers increasingly told him what to play note-for-note. Plus, he was performing more muzak and less music on the job.
So when the Yardbirds came calling a third time, he jumped at the chance to join.
Page and friend (and fellow guitar maestro) Jeff Beck briefly overlapped in the Yardbirds. When Beck quit, his pal...
Jimmy Page and the Yardbirds in 1967 | Ivan Keeman/Redferns Jimmy Page got a ‘terrifying’ response while recording with the Yardbirds
Page made a good living as a session guitarist, but the grind wore on him. He initially had creative freedom to play whatever riffs fit the song, but then producers increasingly told him what to play note-for-note. Plus, he was performing more muzak and less music on the job.
So when the Yardbirds came calling a third time, he jumped at the chance to join.
Page and friend (and fellow guitar maestro) Jeff Beck briefly overlapped in the Yardbirds. When Beck quit, his pal...
- 3/30/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The shorthand summary of the story of Suzi Quatro story is simple: a pioneering female rock ‘n’ roll musician from Detroit who became a big star overseas in the 1970s but couldn’t find the same appreciation at home. And “Suzi Q,” a film by Liam Firmager that premieres on VOD this week, tries to right that imbalance, trotting out an array of female musicians to testify about Quatro’s importance in helping establish the very idea that it was Ok for women to pick up instruments and play rock alongside the guys.
That’s a worthy goal for the film, given Quatro’s influence on people like Joan Jett, Debbie Harry, the Talking Heads’ Tina Weymouth and the Go-Go’s Kathy Valentine, among others. Valentine, for one, said she’d never even thought of women playing instruments — and then she saw Quatro on the British TV show “Top of the Pops,...
That’s a worthy goal for the film, given Quatro’s influence on people like Joan Jett, Debbie Harry, the Talking Heads’ Tina Weymouth and the Go-Go’s Kathy Valentine, among others. Valentine, for one, said she’d never even thought of women playing instruments — and then she saw Quatro on the British TV show “Top of the Pops,...
- 6/29/2020
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
The bass-playing singer and songwriter, Suzi Quatro, is an icon. Maybe not so much in the U.S. where she is best known for her Happy Days role as Leather Tuscadero, backed up by The Suedes and playing sock hops in middle America. But to the rest of the world, Quatro was the first female face of the rock generation.
Directed by Australian filmmakers Liam Firmager and Tait Brady, the documentary Suzi Q shows Quatro as a true pioneer. She redefined the role of women in rock ‘n roll. There were female singers and musicians before Suzi, but she was the first to break through as lead vocalist who was also just part of the band. Female musicians took note and took notes, if not patterns. In the new documentary, Tina Weymouth of the Talking Heads says Quatro was the reason she chose the bass.
Quatro was a British sensation...
Directed by Australian filmmakers Liam Firmager and Tait Brady, the documentary Suzi Q shows Quatro as a true pioneer. She redefined the role of women in rock ‘n roll. There were female singers and musicians before Suzi, but she was the first to break through as lead vocalist who was also just part of the band. Female musicians took note and took notes, if not patterns. In the new documentary, Tina Weymouth of the Talking Heads says Quatro was the reason she chose the bass.
Quatro was a British sensation...
- 6/24/2020
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
It’s a remarkable story of personal and professional friendship, all the more so because it plays out within the notoriously volatile realm of show business.
Two young men skip university to become chartered accountants. They run a partnership for almost two decades, serving and representing many of the preeminent musical attractions of their time. After deciding to go separate ways, they remain the best of friends, and almost 60 years after they met are reunited as co-executive producers on “Judy,” an awards season front-runner.
And it all happened on the strength of a handshake.
“We never had a piece of paper,” claims Laurence Myers.
“We never signed a contract or anything,” Ellis M. Goodman confirms.
Myers left school early. “I wanted to be a Latin-American percussionist, but if I’d told my mother that at 16, I wouldn’t have made it to 17.” He and Goodman met in 1962 while studying for their accounting certification.
Two young men skip university to become chartered accountants. They run a partnership for almost two decades, serving and representing many of the preeminent musical attractions of their time. After deciding to go separate ways, they remain the best of friends, and almost 60 years after they met are reunited as co-executive producers on “Judy,” an awards season front-runner.
And it all happened on the strength of a handshake.
“We never had a piece of paper,” claims Laurence Myers.
“We never signed a contract or anything,” Ellis M. Goodman confirms.
Myers left school early. “I wanted to be a Latin-American percussionist, but if I’d told my mother that at 16, I wouldn’t have made it to 17.” He and Goodman met in 1962 while studying for their accounting certification.
- 2/1/2020
- by Carole Horst
- Variety Film + TV
On September 7th, 1968, Led Zeppelin played their first live show ever in, of all places, a converted gym in Gladsaxe, Denmark. They weren’t yet billed under their soon-to-be world-famous name but were instead performing under the guise of the New Yardbirds, a relaunch of the British Invasion blues rockers who’d imploded just months before. The only known quantity among this new lineup was guitarist Jimmy Page, who’d funded the tour through Scandinavia out of his own pocket, but that was enough draw a young crowd to the venue,...
- 9/7/2018
- by Corbin Reiff
- Rollingstone.com
From Mvd Entertainment Group, Sneak Peek the music documentary "Jeff Beck: A Man For All Seasons", available February 10, 2015 on DVD:
"...at the end of 1964, guitarist Eric Clapton left the 'Yardbirds', a band still searching for their first hit. His replacement was a player of very different capabilities - a 'feedback' technical and sonic pioneer who helped propel the group from their former status as a blues covers act to become one of the most innovative and daring musical collectives working in the UK.
"This film traces Jeff Beck's music and career throughout the 1960's - his formative influences and early groups, his work with The Yardbirds, his brief, bizarre reinvention by producer Mickie Most as a solo pop star, and the first incarnation of the 'Jeff Beck Group', during which Beck played with vocalist Rod Stewart and second guitarist Ron Wood.
"Featuring a plethora of rare performance and studio footage,...
"...at the end of 1964, guitarist Eric Clapton left the 'Yardbirds', a band still searching for their first hit. His replacement was a player of very different capabilities - a 'feedback' technical and sonic pioneer who helped propel the group from their former status as a blues covers act to become one of the most innovative and daring musical collectives working in the UK.
"This film traces Jeff Beck's music and career throughout the 1960's - his formative influences and early groups, his work with The Yardbirds, his brief, bizarre reinvention by producer Mickie Most as a solo pop star, and the first incarnation of the 'Jeff Beck Group', during which Beck played with vocalist Rod Stewart and second guitarist Ron Wood.
"Featuring a plethora of rare performance and studio footage,...
- 12/9/2014
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
Sir Michael Caine wants to put his expertise about music to good use - by releasing his own compilation of 'chill out' music. The Get Carter actor is hoping his record producer pal Mickie Most will put the collection out under the title Mike's Mix. Caine says, "I'm great friends with record producer Mickie Most. We have lunch a lot, and I told him I was an expert on modern music, especially chill, and that I make my own CD collections. He told me to bring it in and maybe he'd put it out as a chill out collection through his record company."...
- 9/18/2001
- WENN
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