Donovan and Andy Williams and Martin Landau and Raymond Burr and oh my, my, my

September 1, 2010 7:20 PM

Donovan madness: Andy's Love Concert* and Aliens From Spaceship Earth**

*Wednesday, March 19, 1969

ANDY'S LOVE CONCERT (NBC. 10-11 p.m.). Andy Williams offers his tribute to affection, with help from Jose Feliciano, Donovan and the brothers Smothers.

(link sadly only goes to Donovan's contributions)

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**"Aliens From Spaceship Earth" (this link goes to complete film - sketchy 'veoh player' required for viewing, however the above youtube link in the FPP goes to a compilation of Donovan's parts) is a "wild, deeply moving insider's view into the guru/yogi/cult/consciousness/alt. spirituality explosion of the 60s and 70s. With incredible archival footage and narrated by Donovan, who also provides the film's soundtrack, this forgotten jewel of a film has original footage of the most controversial and popular spiritual leaders of the time and their followers, including Sai Baba, Yogi Bhahan, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Guru Maharaj Ji, Sri Sathya, Elizabeth Clare Prophet, Ram Dass and Father Yod (and the Source Family at morning meditation!!). This includes jaw-dropping footage of thousands of white, middle class young people walking across coals, recounting their kidnapping by "deprogrammers", chanting with shaved heads or long, long hair, and devoting themselves unconditionally, and with a deep satisfaction, to God Consciousness via their "alien" spiritual leaders.

The film also features Cybil Shepard, Martin Landau, Chicago 7 activist-turned-mystic Rennie Davis, actors Leigh Taylor Young, Linda Day George, and Raymond Burr getting starry-eyed about their gurus and God consciousness."

posted by item (13 comments total)

Thanks to youtube user/Donovan obsessive LynseyWells83.
posted by item at 7:23 PM on September 1, 2010

a good Donovan song that hasn't been played to death
posted by philip-random at 7:58 PM on September 1, 2010 [1 favorite]

I love Donovan.
posted by StickyCarpet at 8:24 PM on September 1, 2010 [1 favorite]

A good Donovan song beaten to death.
posted by Combustible Edison Lighthouse at 8:32 PM on September 1, 2010 [1 favorite]

Donovan madness
posted by stargell at 8:49 PM on September 1, 2010 [1 favorite]

James Elroy has a Donovan anecdote. Something to do with being an LA Party Animal back in the day and finding himself hungover, miles from home, wandering aimlessly through a gray California dawn. A limo pulls up next to him. It's Donovan and a sort of rolling party, except they're passing out free food. "For my people," says Donovan as the limo roars away, as quickly as it came, leaving Elroy with some dubious free food and lots of confusion.

"Fuck that guy," he concludes.
posted by philip-random at 9:45 PM on September 1, 2010 [1 favorite]

The scene in 'Dont look back' where Donovan sings the twee "To Sing for You" and looks all chuffed with himself only to have his jaw drop when Dylan sings "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" immediately after, is an absolute cracker. Donovan, just looking totally sicker and crushed. [Bonus: Dylan getting stuck into Horace in same film].
posted by unliteral at 11:43 PM on September 1, 2010

On Futurama episode where they go to Atlantais and Donavan sings the story of the city the commentary is absolutely hilarious. The guys all *want* to mock Donavan for being...Donavan, but they can't, because he did them a huge solid, so they just hint at how they want to but then don't.
posted by paisley henosis at 12:13 AM on September 2, 2010

The scene in 'Dont look back ' where Donovan sings the twee "To Sing for You " and looks all chuffed with himself only to have his jaw drop when Dylan sings "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" immediately after, is an absolute cracker.

Yeah, who would have ever believed he'd grow up and spend his time flogging knickers for Victoria's Secret?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 12:35 AM on September 2, 2010

My credits list for Aliens From Spaceship Earth
posted by shii at 5:19 AM on September 2, 2010

Donovan wrote a song about how astronauts defecate. Just so you know.
posted by neroli at 6:04 AM on September 2, 2010

He is playing the Moseley Folk Fest this Saturday in Birmingham UK. I'll be in the black and gold smoking jacket. See you there.
posted by artaxerxes at 7:25 AM on September 2, 2010

Yippee - a Donovan post.

Did I ever tell you about the time I met Don?

Yes
posted by jan murray at 4:07 PM on September 2, 2010