Donovan

After a four-year hiatus, 1960s singer/songwriter Donovan Leitch (guitar/harmonica/vocals) -- aka Donovan -- returned to center stage on January 21, 2007 for a sold-out concert at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles. The proceeds benefit the Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace, which was instituted by none other than filmmaker/musician David Lynch. This DVD -- issued exactly a year and a day later -- packs in the hour-long main program -- as aired on PBS -- with nearly 20 additional minutes of material, including the otherwise unavailable "The Illusionist." While the "unplugged" arena may seem like a somewhat obvious choice, it also lends to the intimacy of the performance. Unlike the TV version, consumers with the ability to take full advantage of the detailed 5.1 audio option and hi-def video format can create a virtually tangible experience in their own surroundings. The auspicious occasion commences with a heartfelt introduction by Lynch -- in which he describes Donovan as "A great poet, songwriter and singer..." -- prior to a brief prepared audio/visual bio. Flanked by Icebreakers' leader Tom Mansi (bass) and Stewart Lawrence (percussion), Donovan weaves ripping yarns about the inspiration behind a fairly wide selection of his hits and even a few lesser-known deep LP sides, kicking off with a short-but-sweet revival of "There Is a Mountain" as the audience is encouraged to (and do) sing along. "Catch the Wind" and "Colours" reach to Donovan's folkie roots. They likewise bear closer resemblances to their respective 1965 incarnations -- à la pre-electric Bob Dylan -- than the comparatively psychedelic redux circa late 1968 supported by John Paul Jones (keyboards) and Big Jim Sullivan (guitar). A sign of how the times have changed can be heard in the album cut "Happiness Runs" -- which had been part of an advertisement campaign by a North American airline. As Donovan splits up the audience in a good ol'-fashioned Pete Seeger-style singalong, the attendees demonstrate their obvious familiarity and affinity for the quaint ballad. "Universal Soldier," on the other hand, is a message as relevant in the 21st century as it was in the latter half of the 20th. Donovan's updates of "Sunshine Superman," "Jennifer Juniper," "Hurdy Gurdy Man," and "Season of the Witch" are excellent. All the more engaging, however, are the Mellow Yellow (1968) sides "Young Girl Blues," "Sand and Foam (Mexico)," and -- at the behest of his daughter Astrella Celeste, who singes her own "Dream" -- the Essence to Essence (1973) tune "There Is an Ocean." Another treat during the "bonus songs" is "The Illusion," which will undoubtedly be a component of a future Donovan project. ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide