Donovan ‎– Fairytale

Folk, World, & Country

Acoustic, Folk

1965

Fairytale is Donovan's second album. It was first released in the United Kingdom on October 22, 1965 through Pye Records (catalog number NPL 18128). The U.S. version of Fairytale was released by Hickory Records (catalog number LPM 127 [monaural] / LPS 127 [stereo]) in November 1965 with a slightly different set of songs. Peter Eden and Geoff Stephens produced the album.

Fairytale finds Donovan evolving his styles further towards British folk, especially on songs such as "Summer Day Reflection Song" and "Jersey Thursday". "Sunny Goodge Street" foreshadows the jazzy feel and descriptions of life in urban London that Donovan would continue to explore over the next two years. For release in the United States, Hickory Records added a cover of Buffy Sainte-Marie's "Universal Soldier" and removed a cover of Bert Jansch's "Oh Deed I Do".

• In January 1969, Fairytale was reissued in an edited form (Marble Arch Records MAL 867) in the UK. "Colours" and "The Little Tin Soldier" were both removed from the album.

PERSONNEL:
Donovan (banjo, guitar, harmonica, vocals); Shawn Phillips (guitar, 12-string guitar); Brian Locking (bass); Skip Alan (drums); Harold McNair (flute); Terry Kennedy & Peter Eden (producer); Ren Grevatt (liner notes).

REISSUES:
• In February 1991, Castle Records reissued the UK version of Fairytale on compact disc (Castle CLACD226) in the UK.

• In 1996, Sequel Records reissued the U.S. version of Fairytale on compact disc (Sequel 1004-2) in the U.S.. The CD features 7 bonus tracks.

• On February 19, 2002, Sanctuary Records reissued the original UK version of Fairytale on compact disc. The CD features 6 bonus tracks.

• On February 22, 2005, Silverline Records reissued the original UK version of Fairytale on DualDisc. The DualDisc has an identical track listing to the 2002 Sanctuary Records reissue.