Universal Soldier (1967 Donovan album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Universal Soldier
Type = Compilation album
Artist = Donovan


Released = September 1967
Recorded = 1965
Genre = folk
Length =
Label = Marble Arch Records
Producer = Terry Kennedy, Peter Eden, Geoff Stephens
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fqozefqkhgfj link] |
Last album = "Sunshine Superman"
(1967)
This album = "Universal Soldier"
(1967)
Next album = "A Gift from a Flower to a Garden"
(1967)|

"Universal Soldier" is the second compilation album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the UK (Marble Arch LP-MAL 718) in September 1967.

History

In the mid-1960's Pye Records launched budget record label Marble Arch Records to release older material on inexpensive albums in the United Kingdom. Several of Donovan's 1965 recordings for Pye were selected for release in 1967 as "Universal Soldier". Donovan's version of "Universal Soldier" was a hit EP in 1965, and that name recognition was intended to boost sales.

"Universal Soldier" was a unique release because it collected the entire "Universal Soldier" EP, the b-side to "Catch the Wind", and the entire "Turquoise" single; all of which had not yet appeared on LP format in the United Kingdom. The strategy of compiling non-album tracks paid off, and "Universal Soldier" reached #5 in the United Kingdom and remained on the charts for 18 weeks.

Marble Arch would go on to release several more Donovan compilations to significantly less interest, including an edited "What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid" in 1968 and an edited "Fairytale" in 1969.

Album origins of tracks

The following is a list explaining the original releases of each song.

* "Universal Soldier" (from "Universal Soldier" EP, released August 15, 1965)
* "To Sing for You" (from "What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid", released May 14, 1965)
* "Why Do You Treat Me Like You Do?" (b-side of "Catch the Wind", released March 12, 1965)
* "Turquoise" (UK single, released October 30, 1965)
* "Colours" (UK single, released May 28, 1965, different from "Fairytale" LP version)
* "Catch the Wind" (UK single, released March 12, 1965, different from "What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid" LP version)
* "Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)"* (b-side of "Turquoise", released October 30, 1965)
* "The Ballad of a Crystal Man"* (from "The Universal Soldier" EP, released August 15, 1965, different from "Fairytale" LP version)
* "Do You Hear Me Now?" (from "The Universal Soldier" EP, released August 15, 1965)
* "The War Drags on" (from "The Universal Soldier" EP, released August 15, 1965)

Track listing

All tracks by Donovan Leitch, except where noted.

ide one

#"Universal Soldier" (Buffy Sainte-Marie) – 2:15
#"To Sing for You" – 2:45
#"Why Do You Treat Me Like You Do?" – 2:56
#"Turquoise" – 3:31
#"Colours" – 2:11

ide two

#"Catch the Wind" – 2:56
#"Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)" – 3:08
#"The Ballad of a Crystal Man" – 3:19
#"Do You Hear Me Now?" (Bert Jansch) – 1:50
#"The War Drags On" (Mick Softley) – 3:44