Josie (Donovan)

1 MAY 1966


This was a frustrating year for folk singer Donovan Leitch. After three UK Top 10 hits in 1965, he found himself at the centre of a contractual dispute between Pye and Hickory Records, meaning that his new recordings were barred from release in the UK.

Without consulting Donovan himself, the two record companies instead started releasing older material as singles. In the US, Hickory brought out 'You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond, and 'To Try for the Sun', while Pye released 'Josie' in the UK in February 1966. This was a so-so album track from his debut album 'What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid'. None of these singles made the charts.

Despite these legal wranglings and chart failures, Donovan was about to enjoy what was arguably his finest two years of creative and commercial success.

Released: 18 February 1966 (UK)
Recorded: 1965
Length: 3:28 
Label: Pye 7N17067
Writer: Donovan
Producer: Terry Kennedy, Peter Eden, Geoff Stephens