A Gift From A Flower To A Garden
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Average of 3 reviews
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The UK mono edition is absolutely amazing. I've been the owner of the US stereo edition since way back in '68 and have always believed this to be Donovan's finest album. I couldn't have imagined that the sound on the first UK mono pressing would surpass the stereo version. The acoustic guitars have a more authentic tone, and the vocals harmonize so much better with the instruments. The mono soundstage has such incredible depth, it makes the stereo version seem rather flat.
The initial album does have an excess of bass in the blend. However, you barely notice it on the second one, which is gentler and more enjoyable. That's primarily because there's hardly any bass on this second record. Record 2, titled "For Little Ones", was intended for kids and Donovan mainly uses fingerpicking/flatpicking technique on his acoustic guitar. All in all, I value the qualities of this pressing. I was able to find a NM copy and I am truly content. Lovely album.
I picked up this fresh mono reissue a little while back, having only just found out about it. It's a bit pricey, but absolutely worth every penny. I've got a Dual turntable setup with a mono cartridge, perfect for spinning these mono records, and the sound quality is impeccable. Not a single click or pop on either LP – the vinyl is top-notch and looks nearly identical to the original UK 1960s Pye label. The first thing I did was swap out the paper inner sleeves for polythene ones. The box comes with a digital download card, a couple of A5 sheets about the reissue, and the 12 cards, etc. Mine is numbered (159/500), though there's no autograph. The colors of the cards are different from my old Terre Haute US stereo pressing, which is falling apart – the paper hinge on the US copies that attaches the lid to the tray isn't very sturdy. This new box is better in that the lid just lifts off. The old US box with records and inserts weighs just over 700 g, while this new box is about 940 g – so it's a thicker pressing than the original US vinyl. On a quiet recording, like the 2nd LP in this set, it's a huge help to have a noise-free sound. That's the main reason to buy this new box over earlier 'Mint' copies. I haven't compared this new mono box with the old stereo records, but this new pressing was a joy to listen to. My first impression was that the string bass stood out more. And what a fantastic voice Donovan has – perfect for this kind of music. The ISB helped define what would later be called UK folk-psych on their 2nd LP, released in August 1967, but I'd rather listen to Donovan. Actually, Donovan was there first with several of the folk-psych songs on the Sunshine Superman LP, released in the US in August 1966, but delayed in the UK until June 1967, with some tracks from Mellow Yellow added to make a compilation – so the US edition is better for Sunshine Superman. Donovan has the superior voice, better melodies, and doesn't mess around with 35 different instruments from all over the world, like on the 3rd ISB LP, which is certainly more experimental and a bit more challenging to listen to. The 2nd LP in this box, for children, is the ultimate 1960s UK folk-psych record, with not a sitar in sight, and a pleasure to listen to. Keep it simple. You can hear the influence of this 2nd record in the Marc Brierley - Welcome To The Citadel LP, which came out about a year later, and which is arguably the definitive UK 'acid' folk record from the 1960s. I prefer it to ISB's 3rd LP. I love the word-play and mind-images I get from listening to Citadel. If you enjoy Donovan's music in this box, there's plenty to enjoy on the Marc Brierley record. In 2024, this Donovan box set feels like a snapshot of a brief, golden era in UK popular music that's long gone – similar to The Beatles and Sgt. Pepper in that respect. Records like these won't come again.
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