Donovan's 'Sunshine Superman,' The First Psychedelic #1 Hit: Facts And Stories

By | September 3, 2020

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Donovan on the cover of the 'Sunshine Superman' album. Source: Pinterest

When the psychedelic revolution happened, Donovan's "Sunshine Superman" made history as the first trippy tune to top the Billboard pop chart. Hallucinogenic drugs and rock 'n roll were a match made in heaven, and in the mid-'60s the mind-altering substances were contributing to mind-blowing music. One can make the case for many acts as the "first" psychedelic rockers -- the Grateful Dead playing Ken Kesey's Acid Tests; the Beatles featuring a sitar on "Norwegian Wood;" the Byrds singing about being "Eight Miles High." Some rock historians have called the Yardbirds' "Shapes Of Things" the first real psychedelic-rock song. In May 1966, "Shapes Of Things" peaked at #11 on the US Billboard singles chart. Four months later, Donovan's "Sunshine Superman" reached the top spot.

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Source: Goldmine Magazine

A huge cultural shift was occurring during the mid-1960’s which brought previously taboo topics into the public eye, and one of the biggest causes for this change was the use of recreational drugs. Musicians began experimenting with hallucinogens hoping to open their minds to new creative levels they might never have reached soberly. The psychedelic music written during this time represented the feeling of being high through its eccentric lyrics and colorful sound. Prior to this free-spirited decade, the general public was not accepting of music that promoted any use of narcotics. However, Scottish singer/songwriter Donovan Phillips Leitch (known as Donovan) transformed this attitude with his song “Sunshine Superman,” the first psychedelic song to become mainstream.