7-Tease

History

After the low chart success of Essence to Essence, Donovan entered the studio in late 1974 with a different producer and a new set of songs. The songs were originally intended for use as part of an operetta about the preceding 10 years of Donovan's life and times.

Some of the songs on 7-Tease feature lyrical lines or melodies from earlier Donovan songs. "The Voice of Protest" features a line about a ship going "all on her starry way", in a direct lift from a line in "The Voyage of the Moon" on H.M.S. Donovan. The melody on "How Silly" is nearly identical to "A Funny Man" from H.M.S. Donovan.

Critical reception

AllMusic wrote that "a fair hearing of 7-Tease reveals an album steeped in disillusionment, yet built upon beautiful melodies and some of the most diverse and appealing sounds and arrangements of [Donovan's] career, and a harder rocking sound than he was usually known for."

Reissues

• On 19 April 2004, Diablo Records released 7-Tease/Slow Down World (DIAB8052) in the UK on CD. It includes all of 7-Tease and all of Slow Down World on one disc, and marks the first time all of 7-Tease was released on CD.
• On 22 November 2004, Repertoire Records released 7-Tease in Germany (Repertoire RR2315) on CD. It includes four bonus tracks, including the single versions of "Rock and Roll Souljer" and "Salvation Stomp" and two tracks that were previously released on Troubadour The Definitive Collection 1964–1976 in 1992.

Track listing

All tracks by Donovan Leitch.

Original album

2004 Repertoire Records version

Personnel

• Donovan – vocals, acoustic guitar, bass, harmonica
• Reggie Young – electric guitar
• Teddy Erwin – electric guitar on "Your Broken Heart" and "Moon Rok"
• Johnny Christopher – rhythm guitar
• Norbert Putnam – bass guitar
• David Briggs – keyboards, string arrangement
• Kenneth Buttrey – drums, percussion
• Ben Cauley, Charlie Rose, Harrison Calloway, Harvey Thompson, Ronnie Eades, Bill Puett, George Tidwell, George Bohanon, Johnny Rotella, Tony Terran – horns
• Buffy Sainte-Marie, Byron Warner, Florence Warner, Ginger Holladay, Lea Jane Berinati, Mary Holladay – background vocals
• Sheldon Kurland – concertmaster
• Red Callender – bass guitar on "Salvation Stomp"
• Mike Melvoin – keyboards on "Salvation Stomp"
• Earl Palmer – drums, percussion on "Salvation Stomp"

Charts

References

References

1. "7-Tease - Donovan | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic".
2. (2006). "The Encyclopedia of Popular Music". MUZE.
3. (1992). "The Rolling Stone Album Guide". Random House.
4. "Donovan | Biography & History".
5. (6 January 1984). "There's A Little Change, But Donovan Is Still 'Mellow Yellow'". Emmis Communications.
6. "Donovan".
7. (30 November 1974). "LIVELY SONGS BUILD NEW DONOVAN IMAGE". The New York Times.
8. Hoffmann, Frank W.. (1975). "The Cash Box Album Charts, 1955–1974". Scarecrow Press.