ten years ago, Donovan briefly lived up to their terrific name, with an insanely addictive hit single called “Mad John’s Escape”. It’s a brave and brilliant refocusing of Donovan energies, virtually a rebirth. Since completing 1968’s ‘Wear Your Love Like Heaven’, Donovan fulfilled their contract with SixSteps records and where under no obligation to release another album. If I may, I suggest “Wear Your Love Like Heaven”. That one song is amazing!
Mad John’s Escape is the albums lead single as well as biggest hit. Skip-A-Long-Sam is a good listen every once in a while. This song stands out greatly from the others. There Was A Time actually sounds so joyous, that you can practically see a smile on Donovan’s face. Oh Gosh is the song that really did it for me. Little Boy In Corduroy is, without a doubt, my favorite song, ever. I love the melodic melody of Under The Greenwood Tree* and to this day it makes me feel good. It took me a little time but I ended up loving The Land Of Doesn’t Have To Be. Someone Singing is the astounding blend of moody yet optimistic tunes. Donovan offers the kind of music here that makes you reflect on yourself. The Enchanted Gypsy - This one is lively and fun. Voyage Into The Golden Screen is a song that will not reduce you to tears but leave you thinking long after A Gift From A Flower To A Garden have ended. Isle Of Islay is an underrated song: I like its lyrics and melody a lot. The Mandolin Man and His Sec.. - This one is what it is: a powerful, primal invitation to love. This track is nearly perfect if not perfect. Donovan allows each song to breathe and flourish. Widow With Shawl (A Portrait) to me is the best you can get from Donovan. The Lullaby Of Spring is perhaps one of the best tracks of the past decade. It is succeeded by an outstanding track, however: The Magpie, which shows, blatantly, how much Donovan has evolved as a singer. I like to sing along with Starfish-On-The-Toast, though I mess up the lyrics sometimes. Epistle To Derroll - I used to hate this song, but now it’s one of my favorites.
A Gift From A Flower To A Garden CD
| Song Name | Time | ||
| Wear Your Love Like Heaven.mp3 | 2:28 |  |
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| Mad John’s Escape.mp3 | 2:21 | |
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| Skip-A-Long-Sam.mp3 | 2:26 | |
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| Sun.mp3 | 3:18 | |
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| There Was A Time.mp3 | 2:03 | |
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| Oh Gosh.mp3 | 1:49 | |
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| Little Boy In Corduroy.mp3 | 2:34 | |
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| Under The Greenwood Tree*.mp3 | 1:58 | |
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| The Land Of Doesn’t Have To Be.mp3 | 2:30 | |
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| Someone Singing.mp3 | 3:08 | |
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| Song Of The Naturalist’s Wife.mp3 | 2:53 | |
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| The Enchanted Gypsy.mp3 | 3:21 | |
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| Voyage Into The Golden Screen.mp3 | 3:16 | |
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| Isle Of Islay.mp3 | 2:26 | |
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| The Mandolin Man and His Sec…mp3 | 3:30 | |
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| Lay Of The Last Tinker.mp3 | 1:52 | |
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| The Tinker and The Crab.mp3 | 2:56 | |
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| Widow With Shawl (A Portrait).mp3 | 3:04 | |
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| The Lullaby Of Spring.mp3 | 3:29 | |
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| The Magpie.mp3 | 1:31 | |
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| Starfish-On-The-Toast.mp3 | 2:47 | |
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| Epistle To Derroll.mp3 | 5:44 | |
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