After a couple of albums with bad sales Donovan was sacked by Epic and reunited with his old friend and producer Mickie Most, who by then managed his own RAK label. It was decided that the recent lack of success depended on Donovan hadn't been keeping up with contemporary musical ideas, so they attempted a new sound for this hoping it would reach a bigger audience. Sadly it didn't. Reviews were lukewarm and sales remained low. Listening now I find that very unfair. It's the same Donovan I've always liked in just a little different drag. In fact the songs remind me more of his late sixties period than anything else. Most of it up-tempo with electric backing, all very melodic with lyrics telling real stories. Like "Local Boy Chops Wood" - a tribute to Rolling Stone Brian Jones (who btw dated and had a child with the Linda Lawrence that later would become Donovan's wife). Or "Maya's Dance" giving a reality check from an eastern perspective. It's not a life changing album or an eternal classic, but it is Donovan doing good and that's good enough for me. Originally released on vinyl all over the world, also cassette and 8-track. First US on Arista (AB 4143) came with same cuts but alternate sequence. 1998 UK CD on BGO (BGOCD 375). Premiere UK had label as shown here and glossy cover with picture/lyric inner. (TÖW*)
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