The song’s mentioning of an “electrical banana” gives it away to anyone born before 1960. In fact, Donovan claims to have heard the rumour only three weeks before ‘Mellow Yellow’ was released as a single.ĭonovan has since cleared away the forest of rumours sourcing the song’s provenance. According to the liner notes for Donovan’s Greatest Hits, the rumour asserting the banana’s medicinal properties was espoused by Country Joe McDonald in 1966. Of course, that theory has since been debunked, so don’t be getting any ideas. This rumour sounds so ridiculous, even today. Initially, the song was rumoured to be about smoking dried banana skins, which were rumoured to have psychedelic properties in the ’60s. In fact, ‘Mellow Yellow’ was steeped in myth almost instantly after release. However, Donovan has dispelled this myth.
It was also rumoured to have been McCartney whispering the slightly creepy “quite rightly” in the chorus. It is also alleged that McCartney played bass in parts of the album Mellow Yellow but was uncredited. The Beatles bassist lends his hand to the song with a clap and the cheer at the end. Showing that Donovan’s illustrious list of friends did not end there, his quintessential song features an uncredited Paul McCartney. It was arranged by none other than John Paul Jones, the only member of the future Led Zeppelin we have not mentioned till this point. The title track and solo single from Mellow Yellow, the song is a psychedelic trip in of itself. One of the hits that culminated in Donovan’s ubiquity was 1966’s ‘Mellow Yellow’. In 1968, Donovan even taught John Lennon a folk style of finger-picking that the Beatles frontman would employ in ‘Dear Prudence’ and ‘Julia’ to name but a few. His friendship circle included Joan Baez, Brian Jones, and, yes, the Beatles. He would develop an eclectic and distinctive style- this blended elements of folk, jazz, pop, psych-rock and world music.Īlong the way, Donovan would become as famous for his friends as for his iconic music. In adopting psychedelia, and all things bright and beautiful, Donovan’s sonic palette expanded greatly. These included John Bonham, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, soon to be of Led Zeppelin fame, Jack Bruce of Cream and the Jeff Beck Group. The influential independent producer had recorded a string of smash-hits with the likes of Lulu, The Animals and Herman’s Hermits.įurthermore, this relationship would bring him into contact with a handful of future legends, who at the time were plying their trade as some of London’s most sought after session musicians and would at points play in his backing band. He began a long and highly successful partnership with prominent British record producer Mickie Most. Another Donovan made song would also culminate in his star rising exponentially.
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