Open Road (album)

Open Road is the eighth studio album and ninth album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It can also be considered the debut album from the band Open Road. Open Road was released in the United States sometime before July 25, 1970 (Epic Records E 30125 (stereo)), and in the United Kingdom sometime before September 12, 1970 (Dawn Records DNLS 3009).

After splitting with Mickie Most during the Barabajagal sessions, Donovan decided to move back to the United Kingdom against the wishes of his management, who most likely objected due to the heavy taxation in the country and the distance from the American market. There he began recording and producing the tracks that would form his next studio album. Donovan's production was much rougher and more organic than Mickie Most's cleanly polished production on Donovan's hits of the 1960's.

During these sessions, Donovan assembled the band Open Road with drummer John Carr, keyboardist Mike O'Neil, and bass and guitar player Mike Thompson. The band played a style that was dubbed Celtic rock by Donovan. Many of the songs on Open Road ponder the negative side of industrialization and the lost peacefulness of a previous time. While some of this had been touched on in Donovan's previous work, this is the first album where the topic is expounded at length.

After the release of this album, Donovan left Open Road to focus on his family and finish recording his next album H.M.S. Donovan. After losing Donovan and subsequently Mike O'Neil, Mike Thompson and John Carr reformed Open Road with Barry Husband on guitar and vocals and Simon Lanzon on keyboards. They recorded and released one more album in 1971 (Windy Daze) before disbanding. Open Road subsequently became part of Donovan's canon, and the band Open Road was largely forgotten.

Track Listing

Side 1

1. "Changes" (Donovan Leitch) – 2:56
2. "Song for John" (Donovan Leitch) – 2:43
3. "Curry Land" (Donovan Leitch) – 4:38
4. "Joe Bean's Theme" (Donovan Leitch) – 2:52
5. "People Used To" (Donovan Leitch) – 4:09
6. "Celtic Rock" (Donovan Leitch) – 3:37

Side 2

1. "Riki Tiki Tavi" (Donovan Leitch) – 2:55
2. "Clara Clairvoyant" (Donovan Leitch) – 2:57
3. "Roots of Oak" (Donovan Leitch) – 4:53
4. "Season of Farewell" (Donovan Leitch) – 3:25
5. "Poke at the Pope" (Donovan Leitch) – 2:47
6. "New Year's Resovolution" (Donovan Leitch) – 4:45