Track Listing
1. Please Don't Bend
2. Give It All Up
3. Sleep
4. Everlasting Sea
5. High Your Love
6. Clear-Browed One, The
7. Way, The
8. Deep Peace
9. Nirvana
10. Eldorado
11. Be Mine
12. Lady of the Lamp
13. Ever Now, The
14. Universe Am I
| Details | | Contributing Artists: | Benmont Tench, Danny Thompson, David Navarro, Jonny Polonsky, Josh Haden, Lili Haydn, Steve Ferrone | | Producer: | Rick Rubin | | Distributor: | WEA (Distributor) | | Recording Type: | Studio | | Recording Mode: | Stereo | | SPAR Code: | n/a |
Album Notes
Personnel: Donovan (vocals, guitar); Lili Haydn (violin); Michael Severens, Gerri Sutyak (cello); David Navarro (Fender Rhodes, Chamberlin, mellotron, keyboards, background vocals); Benmont Tench (keyboards); Danny Thompson (acoustic bass); Josh Haden, Jonny Polonsky (bass); Steve Ferrone, Evan Hartzell (drums); Juliet Prater (percussion).
Personnel include: Donovan (vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica); Benmont Tench (keyboards); Josh Haden (bass instrument); Steve Ferrone (drums, percussion).
Recording information: 1994 - 1996.
The idea of taking a somewhat loopy, 50-year-old British folk-rock hero and teaming him up with some L.A. alternative-rock stars may not seem too viable at first. But Donovan's SUTRAS, produced by Rick Rubin (who did the same sort of thing with Johnny Cash), is a mesmerizing album, full of classic folk songs.
SUTRAS is an album of morose, acoustic ballads with themes of romantic and spiritual enlightenment. Donovan's breathy, lilting baritone is set off by a warm acoustic guitar; strings and organs fade in and out. The all-star backing band, featuring members of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Spain, is a precise one. The players don't obscure Donovan's vision; rather, they accentuate it with lucid, understated instrumentation. The rock songs "The Way" and "Nirvana" spice up the album with driving electric guitars and solid drums. SUTRAS' charm and elegance proves that Donovan has held on to his muse through all these years. He's not lost his golden touch.
Editorial Reviews
...While he bypasses the electric pop of `Sunshine Superman' for an acoustic, metaphysical merging of Buddhism, environmentalism, and romantic love, his deep-in-the-forest baritone is as hypnotic as ever. - Rating: B
Entertainment Weekly (10/18/1996)
It takes courage and a personality that knows itself to present the world with a style as distinct as Donovan's....the guy could always assemble an engaging melody out of a few astonishing-though-simple ideas....the guy's still got it...
Musician (12/01/1996)
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