Sunshine Superman – Live At The Cavern Club
Cause I can make like a turtle …
Donovan’s music and lyrics to us are the perfect combination of weird and wonderful.
A few weeks ago we uploaded our first ever “What’s On The Table” video, where we listened to Donovan’s album Sunshine Superman and shared our thoughts about it with you. We absolutely love that record and the title track is a stand out song in our book. We have been playing it live ever since our “Austria” days and it has evolved quite a lot over the years. It is one of those songs that never sounds the same twice.
Luckily Lisa had her slide with her this time. She’d often use a harmonica, glass or even the backside of her capo as a makeshift slide when she had left her proper ones at home. I mean it still worked 😉
As always, we have the great Callum Williams and Charlie Skeggs on bass and drums.
Enjoy!
♥
Mona & Lisa
WOW Man, truly a ROCKER !! Great vocals, Lisa, your slide was OUTSTANDING. I do love the way you ladies take a song, and cover it in your own way, and not just note for note. RIGHT ON and FAR OUT….lets not forget……GROOVY BABY….Peace , Love and Happiness
For Mona since you do drumming on studio takes found this on Hurdy Gurdy Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZuB1Fpta7E
Ladies I looking for the chords for Hurdy Gurdy Man and found something I never knew. George Harrison had written a verse for Donovan that was not used in the original.
If you ever do a take on Hurdy Gurdy Man please do it with Geroge’s verse.
This is Georges verse which is down below where if fall in the song.
When truth gets buried deep
Beneath a thousand years of sleep
Time demands a turn-around
And once again the truth is found.”
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Here are lyrics. You may know this already living in Liverpool.
Thrown like a star in my vast sleep
I opened my eyes to take a peek
To find that I was by the sea
Gazing with tranquility
‘Twas then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Came singing songs of love
Then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Came singing songs of love
Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy,
Hurdy gurdy gurdy,” he sang
Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy,
Hurdy gurdy gurdy,” he sang
Histories of ages past
Unenlightened shadows cast
Down through all eternity
The crying of humanity
‘Twas then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Came singing songs of love
Then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Came singing songs of love
Includes a missing verse that George Harrison wrote:
“When truth gets buried deep
Beneath a thousand years of sleep
Time demands a turn-around
And once again the truth is found.”
‘Twas then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Came singing songs of love
Then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Came singing songs of love
Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy,
Hurdy gurdy gurdy,” he sang
Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy,
Hurdy gurdy gurdy,” he sang
The band was so tight on this. Great drumming By Charlie. Great slide playing by Lisa. Which made your version great. Mona great vocals. The Roly Poly Man and Hurdy Gurdy Man would have love this. Ladies ever consider Atlantis or Season of the Witch. Stay Groovy !!
Wow! Who woulda thunk this song could rock like that!? And love how Charlie plays drums with his mouth. Really brings out the beat.
Please excuse my spelling as I have to use speech text for lack of typing skills. I’m sure you understand?
Moana I enjoy listening to you sing to me and Lisa,WOW you make that Gretch talk!!!???? I just can’t get enough of it.
Wow! FIRST time I viewed this video and I am blown away! Vocals, guitar, and slide guitar!!! Has any one shared this with Ronnie Wood or Eric Clapton?? They would be very happy to hear such great slide guitar. And again proves the point you ladies are fabulous! Such talent!! Thank you so much for this song from Donovan one of his greatest and he has to be so happy that you both did this and did such a great job!!! Please keep it coming!
Did I ever tell you that we stayed at the “Donovan Suite” at the Joshua Tree Inn? It’s a kind of infamous hole-in-the-wall motel near Joshua Tree National Monument in California. It’s not too far from L.A. but yet it’s a whole different world. I think that’s why Joshua Tree attracted people like Donovan, Keith Richards and Gram Parsons, who died just a few doors down from where we stayed. I’ll bet that Donovan could tell some stories about that place. I think there’s some video out there with him talking about it!
Excellent version! Donovan had birthday on Sunday so this like present to him. Great slide playing Lisa !
This is such a toe-tapping version of this great tune; Lisa didn’t even appear to be concentrating during the slide lead, it seemed so natural…and, any chance you could tell us what Mona said to Lisa near the end of that lead that cracked her up so? So much fun on that stage…
This song and others around the same time reminds of my first summer with an access to a car. Donovan was in the 8 track player………reminds of a time of freedom just rolling around the town. Mona did a great job singing it and I am beginning to think that if it has a string, Lisa can play it. I have not heard many do as well on the slide as she did in this one. Just all around good music.
On this day May 10 it’s DONOVAN’s 74th birthday….Mona…Donovan has such a herky jerky phrasing and delivery in most of his songs that for most singers it would be very difficult to copy that style..but you Mona nailed it …I’ll bet Donovan himself couldn’t be more proud of your representation of his song…Lisa…you worked that slide like you were Bonnie Raitt…she in her time was considered the best slide guitar player in the business!!!…as always you two have pulled it off again ?
Goosebumps every time when I hear this cover version … wow, great! Yeah I love it!
What can I say ladies a truly wonderful peformance I’m un familier,with Donavan but I love the song all the same. This is bringing back the memories of that night at the cavern as I was lucky enough to be there
I’ve been lucky enough to see Donovan live, but not as lucky as to see MLT live. ’nuff said.
No need to dive for pearls… they’re right there on the stage.
A really huge compliment to you dear ladies, I would never have considered the possibility that this Donovan number could inspire me sooooo much! Simply brilliant – I love you!
L O V E I T ! ! ! !
I couldn’t imagine a better performance of this song!
I know, Thomas! Wow, would it have been great to have been there that night, but seeing you play live any night is fantastic!! Y’all are sooooooooo good. Love, love, loved it.
Groovy and awesome!
How lucky are those folks to be in that crowd watching these girls rockin’ out?! Lucky dogs….
Sunshine Superman is such a cool sounding gem, and your performance give it that stand out shine it deserves.
Mona’s lead vocals are just as cool and awesome perfection as always, giving the performance a unique wonderful character! Love Lisa’s funky guitar sounds with the “slide guitar” effect (never seen that done before!). What magic she can weave on that black beauty Gretsch.
Ladies, your remarkable brilliance as musicians and live stage performers truly stand out as we are treated more and more to that last show at the Cavern! Thank you!!!
Tuesday and Fridays are my favorite days of the week! 🙂
Mona adds a little grit to that excellent vocal. With all due respect to the original, I like this better. And why am I not surprised that Lisa is so good at the slide. This performance was awhile ago. I’d love to see a current demo of that skill. Seattle Bob.
I wholeheartedly agree Bob! I like MLT version better too!
Holy Cow Ladies!, this was fantastic!
Lisa, your use of the slide is ingenious! Fantastic Guitar Work!
Mona, your vocals are out of this world!
Its so very easy to see why you all are the biggest band out there!
Everything you do is FANTASTIC!
Thanks so much for sharing! Loved It!!!❤❤❤❤
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Really rockin’ out on this! You bring so much excitement and innovation to your performance. I can only dream of being there but, thanks to this video collection, its the next best thing. Loved the slide guitar Lisa!!!
Great cover version..
A super duper start to the week-end with this Donovan classic and another terrific effort from the MLT at the Cavern Club with Mona’s powerful lead vocals shining once again and Lisa giving it all on the slide guitar. The whole band is as tight as always in these live performances. I can’t wait to see the full gig from beginning to end.
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Now i have one more piece of a wonderful night.. I loved it. Thanks dear girls
Really a nice job! Super lead vocal by Mona and great slide work from Lisa … made my rainy day.
Perfect Friday Pick Me Upper….fab seguay into the Mother’s Day Wknd….Love this, done live….stellar grooving guitaring and singing, and the bass and drums just fully embrace and eminate in the accompaniment for the full effect, well done, kudos….Smiling Wee Jax saying over the pond , Canada way, Eh!?✌???
Absolutely love it. Great vocals Mona. Wonderful guitar work Lisa. You just continue to amaze me with each song you do and song you’ve done. Thanks for the beautiful music.
Oh yes! Love the energy! Lisa really killed it the slide! And Mona obviously loves to rock out on the sweaty stage! I’m really getting into the live stuff! Keep em coming! Of course I also love the duo sessions and WOTT videos too! Oh heck, I love all of it!
OMG – where to begin? First off, tremendously powerful lead vocal by Mona. I am continually amazed at my favorite duo’s ability to outdo originals that you cover and accomplish this in a live setting. Phenomenal Lisa lead slide, a talent I hadn’t seen before. And the four band mates are so tight playing together with such talent. I only wish I could have been there – Cavern was so lucky to have you all those performances.
Thanks for a great start to Friday !