Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan (Donovan Phillips Leitch) celebrated his 80th birthday on May 10, 2026. Born in Glasgow in 1946, the folk-rock pioneer and “Sunshine Superman” artist was celebrated for his iconic 1960s hits and his lasting influence on the psychedelic music era
We also celebrate the birthday of songwriter Burt Bacharach (May 12, 1928), and a remembrance of a tragic May 12 car accident in 1969, involving the greatest British folkrock band of all-time, Fairport Convention.
Along the way, we’ll hear new stuff from Margaret Glasby. Jason Isbell, and Cat Clyde.
Audio available for 2 weeks after air date | Clip begins with final minutes of Matt Mania’s always-awesome show The Trip
THE COFFEE HOUSE IS OPEN
– Fairport Convention “Book Song” (R Thompson) What We Did on Our Holiday 1968
– Margaret Glasby & Norah Jones “Jesus, etc.” (J Tweedy) The Golden Heart Protector, 2025
– Jason Isbell “Foxes in the Snow” 2025
– Aldous Harding “One Stop” Train on the Island, 2026
– Donovan “Sunshine Superman, 1967
– Cat Clyde “My Love” Mud, Blood, Bone 2026
HAPPY BURT-DAY
– Shelby Lynne “Anyone Who Had a Heart” (Burt Bacharach) Just a Little Lovin’ 2009
– Burt Bacharach “Trains, Boats & Planes” Hit Maker, 1965
– The Weisstronauts “I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself” (Burt Bacharach) Featuring Perky, 2005
– Katell Keineg “On Yer Way” High July, 2004
HAPPY {{ 80th }} BIRTHDAY, DONOVAN LEITCH
– Donovan “Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)” Fairytale, 1965
– Donovan “Sunshine Superman’ Sunshine Superman, 1967
– Donovan “Candy Man’ (Mississippi John Hurt) Fairytale, 1965
– Judy Collins “Sunny Goodge Street” (D Leitch) In My Life, 1966
– Excepts from BBC Radio 4’s Mastertapes series (Series 5) 2016
– Donovan “Colours” Fairytale, 1965
– Donovan “Catch the Wind” Catch the Wind, 1965
– Donovan “Season of the Witch” Sunshine Superman, 1967
– Donovan “Jennifer Juniper” Hurdy Gurdy Man, 1968
– Donovan “There is a Mountain” A Gift From a Flower, 1967
– Donovan “Mellow Yellow” 1967”
– Donovan “Atlantis” Barabajagal (with the Jeff Beck Group) 1969
– Paolo Nutini “Candy” Sunny Side Up, 2009
GOODBYE LITTLE CLO
– Jerry Jeff Walker’ ”My Buddy” (Donaldson / Kahn) A Mann Must Carry On, 1977
– Phil Ochs “Changes” LIVE 1965
– Madison Cunningham “In My Life” (Lennon/McCartney)
– Margaret Glasby w Madison Cunningham “The Book of Love”(S Merritt) The Golden Heart Protector, 2025
– Margaret Glasby w Julian Lage “Fruits of My Labor” (Lucinda Wiliams) The Golden Heart Protector, 2025
– Margaret Glasby w Andrew Bird “Sometimes You Need” The Golden Heart Protector, 2025
In the early morning hours of May 12, 1969, as the group traveled back from a celebratory gig in Birmingham shortly after wrapping up work on their next album, their van veered off the road. In the aftermath of the crash, Fairport Convention would never be the same. The wreck killed drummer Martin Lamble (who was just 19 at the time) as well as fashion designer and magazine columnist Jeannie Franklyn, who’d been dating guitarist Richard Thompson. Thompson suffered a broken shoulder and bassist Ashley Hutchings was sent to the hospital with assorted serious injuries, while guitarist Simon Nicol, who’d been sleeping on the floor of the vehicle when it went off the road, escaped with a concussion.”when it stopped moving, I was the only one left. All the gear had gone out of the back and all the people had gone out through the windows and doors.”
TALE IN HARD TIMES May 12,1969 RIP Martin Lamble and Jeannie Franklyn
– “Tale in Hard Times” What We Did on Our Holidays, 1969
– “Meet On the Ledge” What We Did on Our Holidays, 1969
– “The Lord Is In this Place (How Dreadful is This Place)” What We Did on Our Holidays, 1969
– “I’ll Keep It With Mine” (Dylan) What We Did on Our Holidays, 1969
GOODNIGHT
– Greg Brown “The Train Carrying Jimmy Rodgers” The Iowa Waltz 1981
– Iris DeMent “Mama’s Opry” Infamous Angel 1992