“Mellow Yellow” is Donovan’s second of five top 10 singles in the US, peaking at #2 in late 1966. It was also certified Gold. The song was also a top 10 hit in the UK and Australia. Beatle Paul McCartney’s voice can be heard in the background.
In an interview in the June 18, 2011 edition of the NME, Donovan was asked what the song was actually about? He replied:
Quite a few things. Being mellow, laid-back, chilled out. ‘They call me Mellow Yellow, I’m the guy who can calm you down.’ [John] Lennon and I used to look in the back of newspapers and pull out funny things and they’d end up in songs. So it’s about being cool, laid-back, and also the electrical bananas that were appearing on the scene – which were ladies vibrators. — About the lyrics
A rare surreal film clip of early Deep Purple Mark I playing their 1968 top 5 (US) smash hit 'Hush', song written by Joe South. This bizarre mimed performance is believed to be from German TV, where the band were asked to act as prehistoric cave men!
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