Fairytale

Released in October 1965, Fairytale is Donovan's second studio album and represents a significant artistic leap from his debut. While still heavily influenced by the folk revivalism of Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan, the album sees Donovan incorporating elements of jazz and early psychedelic textures, most notably on 'Sunny Goodge Street'. Produced by Peter Eden and Geoff Stephens, the record features Shawn Phillips on twelve-string guitar, adding a shimmering depth to the arrangements. The album is notable for its inclusion of 'Colours', which became one of Donovan's signature hits, and 'Universal Soldier' (on US versions), which established his credentials as a thoughtful social commentator. Critically, the album is viewed as the bridge between his 'British Dylan' phase and the 'Sunshine Superman' psychedelic era. It remains a foundational text for the indie-folk and freak-folk movements that would follow decades later.