Essence to Essence

by Donovan

Essence to Essence cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: December 1973
  • Label: Epic
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Length: 37:50
  • Community rating: 3.02/5 from 2 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Reverting to his acoustic roots after a brief foray into glam rock, the Scottish troubadour delivered a highly introspective, spiritually focused collection produced by Andrew Loog Oldham. The gentle, sparsely arranged compositions are heavily imbued with themes of transcendental meditation, eastern philosophy, and pastoral romanticism, backed by elite session players including Carole King. The record perfectly captures the mellow, seeking ethos of the early 1970s acoustic movement.

Genres

Descriptors: Acoustic

Tracklist

  1. Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth (3:31)
  2. Lazy Daze (4:45)
  3. Life Goes On (2:41)
  4. Dignity of Man (5:21)
  5. Yellow Star (3:05)
  6. Divine Daze of Deathless Delight (3:09)
  7. Boy for Every Girl (4:17)
  8. Saint Valentine's Angel (3:58)
  9. Life Is a Merry-Go-Round (4:01)
  10. Sailing Homeward (2:57)

Credits

  • Donovan - primary artist, acoustic guitar, artwork, harmonica, vocals
  • Jack Emblow - accordion
  • Neil Hubbard - acoustic guitar, electric guitar
  • John Kosh - artwork
  • Bobby Whitlock - backing vocals, organ
  • The Scratch Band - backing vocals
  • Alan Spenner - bass
  • Carl Radle - bass

More from Donovan: full discography