7.2 WORKSHEET 7

CONTINUING WORKSHEET 7:

Once Dylan and the Byrds reached people's awareness, there sprung up many other folk and folk-rock performers. 

Donovan. Donovan, like Dylan, started out as a folk singer, that soon went electric. But Donovan, who was born in Scotland, veered more into psychedelia, nature, celtic music, and world music. He was friends with the Beatles, and is credited with teaching John Lennon a finger picking guitar style, that Lennon put to use shortly thereafter on the song "Julia."

One of his more psychedelic, harder rock hits was a song called "Hurdy Gurdy Man." The song's theme is that of an enlightened traveler showing up throughout history during hard times. Thus, the title is somewhat apt, as the hurdy gurdy is actually an instrument that dates back over 1,000 years. Here is what a hurdy gurdy looks and sounds like:

THE HURDY GURDY INSTRUMENT Links to an external site.

For our journal:

a few points:

1. John Paul Jones, who soon became part of Led Zeppelin, played bass on this recording.

2. Donovan had quite a controlled vibrato in his voice, which you can hear, especially at the beginning. Also, he was fond of repeating words and phrases while shifting the accents on the syllables around.

JOURNAL:

64. HURDY GURDY MAN - DONOVAN Links to an external site.

The Mamas and Papas. On of the most iconic songs of the time was "California Dreamin'." That song, and many other songs, were written by John Phillips (below, with guitar).

JOURNAL:

65. CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' - MAMAS AND PAPAS Links to an external site.

The story of that song and the group is fascinating, and if you are interested, here is their story:

MAMAS AND PAPAS BIOGRAPHY Links to an external site.

Simon and Garfunkel. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel were childhood friends, who first tried their hand at rock and roll, by calling themselves Tom & Jerry. When, after a few tries, that did not work out, they went into folk music, with Paul Simon (below, with guitar) being the songwriter.

After their first album, which included an acoustic guitar version of "The Sound Of Silence," did poorly, they split up. Meanwhile the producer of that original version, Tom Wilson, remixed the original tape with rock musicians (guitar bass, drums), and the song went to #1. Simon and Garfunkel, who were unaware of this, quickly reunited for a very successful career.  Paul Simon's recollection of tht time:

"I had come back to New York, and I was staying in my old room at my parents' house. Artie was living at his parents' house, too. I remember Artie and I were sitting there in my car one night, parked on a street in Queens, and the announcer [on the radio] said, 'Number one, Simon & Garfunkel.' And Artie said to me, 'That Simon & Garfunkel, they must be having a great time.' Because there we were on a street corner [in my car in] Queens, smoking a joint We didn't know what to do with ourselves."

JOURNAL:

66. THE SOUND OF SILENCE - SIMON AND GARFUNKEL Links to an external site.

The song  was ranked No. 157 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Some of you might remember the cover of this song, by Disturbed.

Simon and Garfunkel enjoyed several hits in the Top 10, before the duo split up again, with Paul Simon enjoying critical and commercial success as a solo artist, often employing musicians from around the world. Here he is, performing in South Africa, singing his song, "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes."

DIAMONDS ON THE SOLES OF HER SHOES - PAUL SIMON Links to an external site.

The Lovin' Spoonful. The Lovin' Spoonful, founded in New York City in 1965 by lead-singer/songwriter John Sebastian (below, far left),  was best known for a number of hits which include "Summer in the City", "Do You Believe In Magic", "Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?", and "Daydream".

For our journal - Singer John Sebastian is also playing a traditional folk instrument, the autoharp.

JOURNAL:

67. DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC - THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL Links to an external site.

Just for fun: Here they are doing the song live, and they have a false start, and have to start over! I love mistakes. Also, you can see John Sebastian playing the autoharp.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC (live) - THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL Links to an external site.

Now on to the last part of Worksheet 7.