Sunny Songs: Sunshine Superman
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (86623)
United States
July 16, 2025 11:25am CST
No, this isn’t the portion of the countdown brought to you by the raccoon & cat master in Illinois. It’s merely a coincidence of alphabetizing that the song he was waiting for came yesterday, and today it’s followed up with his favorite Alice Cooper duet partner! 
Keep on the sunny side (yes, that song didn’t make it) and let’s sing along with this psychedelic classic!
Sunshine Superman - Donovan
Donovan sang on the title song to Alice Cooper’s Billion Dollar Babies album. That sounds like a weird combination, but if you think that’s odd, how about members of Led Zeppelin playing on THIS song?! Okay, let’s be honest: this was recorded in 1966, before Led Zeppelin existed. Therefore, the fact that Jimmy Page played guitar on the song and John Paul Jones played bass and they both later ended up in Led Zep is just a coincidence.
This has long been touted as the first “psychedelic song” to be a single. It’s one of the signature songs for Donovan (Leitch is his last name, although he never used it in his recordings). It still gets FM rock airplay…probably because of the presence of Jones and Page.
Enjoy the trip back in time!
Sunshine Superman
Written by Donovan
Recorded by Donovan
From Sunshine Superman, 1966
I know a beach where baby:
Keep on the sunny side (yes, that song didn’t make it) and let’s sing along with this psychedelic classic!
Sunshine Superman - Donovan
Donovan sang on the title song to Alice Cooper’s Billion Dollar Babies album. That sounds like a weird combination, but if you think that’s odd, how about members of Led Zeppelin playing on THIS song?! Okay, let’s be honest: this was recorded in 1966, before Led Zeppelin existed. Therefore, the fact that Jimmy Page played guitar on the song and John Paul Jones played bass and they both later ended up in Led Zep is just a coincidence.
This has long been touted as the first “psychedelic song” to be a single. It’s one of the signature songs for Donovan (Leitch is his last name, although he never used it in his recordings). It still gets FM rock airplay…probably because of the presence of Jones and Page.
Enjoy the trip back in time!
Sunshine Superman
Written by Donovan
Recorded by Donovan
From Sunshine Superman, 1966
I know a beach where baby:Your browser isn’t supported anymore. Update it to get the best YouTube experience and our latest features. Learn moreRemind me later
11 people like this
9 responses
@FourWalls (86623)
• United States
17 Jul
There was a comedian who accurately described him: "Donovan had this really great voice like he was sitting in front of a fan that was going real slow."
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381928)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Jul
@FourWalls Well I guess that is one way to describe it! lol
1 person likes this
@Orson_Kart (8261)
• United Kingdom
17 Jul
@JudyEvI couldn’t see the video either.
He was the Hurdy Gurdy Man, who came singing songs of love
“Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy gurdy” he sang.
They don’t write them like that anymore.
2 people like this
@Orson_Kart (8261)
• United Kingdom
16 Jul
That video wasn’t available to me, but I know the song well. 
Donovan - the British Bob Dylan. He wrote and sung some great songs in the 60’s. I got him more mixed up with Cat Stevens than Bob Dylan, but maybe that’s just me. 
P.S. How’s the back?
Donovan - the British Bob Dylan. He wrote and sung some great songs in the 60’s. I got him more mixed up with Cat Stevens than Bob Dylan, but maybe that’s just me.
P.S. How’s the back?2 people like this
@Orson_Kart (8261)
• United Kingdom
17 Jul
@FourWalls Yep, I agree with that description.
Good you can rest up now you’ve got your supplies in.
Good you can rest up now you’ve got your supplies in. 1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86623)
• United States
17 Jul
Funny you'd say that, Max. The same comedian that I quoted to Judy ("Donovan had this really great voice like he was sitting in front of a fan...") said, in the same routine, "Then they sped the fan up and got Cat Stevens." 
My back's a little sorer today because I went to the grocery store yesterday. I'll get to rest it for the rest of the week. Thank you. 
My back's a little sorer today because I went to the grocery store yesterday. I'll get to rest it for the rest of the week. Thank you. 1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189820)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Jul
Donovan wrote some cute songs didn't he?
2 people like this
@celticeagle (189820)
• Boise, Idaho
17 Jul
@Orson_Kart ......Enjoy that one a lot.
2 people like this
@Orson_Kart (8261)
• United Kingdom
17 Jul
@celticeagle
I’m just mad about Saffron,
Saffron’s mad about me…..
I’m just mad about fourteen
Fourteen’s mad about me…..
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (222280)
• United States
17 Jul
I LOVE DONOVAN! I'm just wild about Saffron, she's just wild about me....they call me Mellow Yellow...quite rightly.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86623)
• United States
17 Jul
Way down below the ocean! Where I wanna be she may be!!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86623)
• United States
18 Jul
@LindaOHio — he may have been…it was the era, after all.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222280)
• United States
18 Jul
@FourWalls He was always so mellow (yellow). Sounded like he was stoned.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86623)
• United States
18 Jul
Nowadays he couldn’t release this because they’d sue him over copyright infringement for using “Superman” or “Green Lantern.” I’m so thankful Sparks recorded “Mickey Mouse” when they did. 
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86623)
• United States
19 Jul
@porwest -- probably is. Poco was originally going to be called Pogo, but Walt Kelly, who drew the Pogo comic strip, said, "Oh no you don't."
1 person likes this
@porwest (112804)
• United States
19 Jul
@FourWalls If I remember correctly, I believe Green Day was originally Green Jello, but as soon as they got signed they had to change the name. Not sure if that's true, but I remember reading it somewhere.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (34046)
•
16 Jul
Donovan
Maryhill in Glasgows finest son
Quite a good song about his wife Linda
Most of his songs were quite good.
Don't know if he still performs
He is a about 80 now.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86623)
• United States
17 Jul
Yep, turned 79 in May. According to his website, he did a 60th anniversary concert last month in Paris. If he's retired or semi-retired he's certainly earned it!
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (34046)
•
17 Jul
@FourWalls
He could walk round our town and nobody would know who he was.
well I would
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86623)
• United States
17 Jul
Yes, more "Fighting Side of Me" and less "Eve of Destruction."
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97954)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Jul
LOOOOVE Donavan and this song, I turn it on up the volume and close my eyes and drift,
1 person likes this
