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Universal Soldier (1967 Donovan album)

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Universal Soldier
Compilation album by
Donovan
ReleasedSeptember 1967
Recorded1965
Genrefolk
LabelMarble Arch
ProducerTerry Kennedy, Peter Eden, Geoff Stephens
Donovan chronology
Sunshine Superman
(1967) 		Universal Soldier
(1967) 		A Gift from a Flower to a Garden
(1967)
Professional ratings
Review scores
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Allmusic link

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-1960s 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 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.

In 1995, Spectrum Music released a CD compilation, also named after the title track.

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.

Side one

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

Side two

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