Comment by BeatleBob on August 2, 2013 at 11:59am

"Hurdy Gurdy Man" was written and recorded in early 1968 and released in May as a single and gave name to the album The Hurdy Gurdy Man, which was released in October of that year. It reached #5 in the U.S. and #4 in the UK pop charts. The song was written for Donovan's old friend and guitar mentor Mac MacLeod. MacLeod was in a Danish band at the time called Hurdy Gurdy. The song features a harder rock sound than Donovan's usual material, supplying a range of distorted guitars. It also features an Indian influence with the use of a tambura. The tambura which Donovan himself plays on the track was a gift from George Harrison, given while they were both together in India. The record was produced by Mickie Most.

"In 1965, I was asked to be on a session at Kingsway Studios, Holborn, London. It was for Donovan. One of the songs recorded that afternoon was Sunshine Superman; it was a massive hit in the UK and the US. I got to work with Donovan as a hired hand on a number of tracks on Hurdy Gurdy Man." -- Jimmy Page.

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