Psychedelic Pop Music
Well, stories differ as to which love interest Donovan refers to in this song. Some say it was Linda Lawrence, who later became his wife, and some say it was actress Sue Lyon, whom he dated briefly. However, the drug reference to LSD, aka sunshine, is not obscured by time, and the B-Side is titled “The Trip.” Anyway, “Sunshine Superman,” written and performed by singer/songwriter Donovan (born Donovan Leitch in Maryhill, Glasgow, Scotland), was released in 1966. It went to #21 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and #2 in the U.K., Canada, Australia, and The Netherlands. It was #4 in Ireland, #7 in Germany, #9 in France, and #11 in Belgium. On the track are Donovan (vocals, acoustic guitar, tambura); Jimmy page and Eric Ford (electric guitars); John Cameron (harpsichord); Spike Heatley (double bass) and John Paul Jones (bass); and Bobby Orr (drums) and Tony Carr (percussion). The song was also featured on Donovan’s 1966 album Sunshine Superman.
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[…] read about and listen to other songs by Donovan: “Sunshine Superman” and “Mellow […]
Donovan said in an interview with The Guardian newspaper May 24, 2005, “Linda’s in all the songs. ‘Sunshine Superman,’ ‘Hampstead Incident,’ ‘Young Girl Blues’… Linda’s the muse.”