The Donovan Concert – Live In L.A. (MVD Visual DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C     Concert: B-

 

 

In the mid-1960s, Donovan became one of the voices of conscious in Bob Dylan’s wake and the result was a series of hit albums and singles that have stood the test of time.  Apparently, he knows and understands this as evidenced in a new concert from the Kodak Theater in Hollywood in mid January 2007.  The Donovan Concert – Live In L.A. starts out with an introduction by no less than co-sponsor David Lynch, Donovan performs many of his classics including:

 

1)     There Is A Mountain

2)     Catch The Wind

3)     Colours

4)     Try For The Sun

5)     Happiness Runs

6)     Universal Soldier

7)     Jenifer Juniper

8)     Dream

9)     Sunshine Superman

10)  Young Girl Blues

11)  Season Of The Witch

12)  Hurdy Gurdy Man

13)  Mellow Yellow

 

 

He still has the voice, but decides in each song to do interesting variations that announce he is not just a legacy artist, but one who is more relevant than ever and after being censored by Rollback forces, is overdue for rediscovery.  This is a concert with a unique energy and a welcome release on DVD everyone should check out.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 is a bit soft for a recent HD production, but it is still watchable.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is better than the Dolby 2.0 Stereo mix, but not by much.  Maybe DTS would have helped in this situation.  Extras include four bonus song performances oddly not in the main concert footage, including Lalena, Sand & Foam (Mexico), There Is An Ocean and The Illusion.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo