Laléna Explained

Laléna
Type:single
Artist:Donovan
B-Side:Aye My Love
Released:October 1968
Recorded:September 1968
Label:Epic Records
Producer:Mickie Most
Chronology:Donovan USA
Prev Title:Hurdy Gurdy Man
Prev Year:1968
Next Title:Do You Hear Me Now?
Next Year:1968
Lalena
Artist:Deep Purple
Album:Deep Purple
Released:21 June 1969 (US)
November 1969 (UK)
Recorded:January – March 1969 at De Lane Lea, London
Genre:Hard rock[1]
Label:Harvest Records (UK)
Tetragrammaton (US)
Polydor (Canada)
Producer:Derek Lawrence

"Laléna" (also spelled "Lalena") is the title of a composition by Donovan. Billboard described the single as a "beautiful and intriguing original ballad."[2] Cash Box said that "sweet strings accent a hauntingly beautiful folk-flavored ballad which gets stronger with each listen."[3] Record World said that Donovan "uses his reedy voice exquisitely."[4]

History

In 2004, Donovan revealed that the song was inspired by the actress Lotte Lenya and that the song's lyrics, addressed to a societally marginalized woman, were Donovan's reaction to Lenya's character in the film version of The Threepenny Opera:

"Laléna" was recorded in a September 1968 session at Olympic Studios produced by Mickie Most, session personnel being Harold McNair on flute, Bobby Orr on drums, Danny Thompson on bass with the Royal Philharmonic strings; John Cameron was the arranger. Donovan was not working toward an album when he recorded "Laléna", having completed the tracks which would comprise his The Hurdy Gurdy Man album in April 1968; that album and the single "Laléna" both were issued in the US in October 1968

"Laléna" made its first album appearance in 1969 on Donovan's Greatest Hits and was a bonus track on the 2005 CD reissue of The Hurdy Gurdy Man.

In 1975 Donovan recorded a version of the song with Marc Bolan in Munich which has been lost.[5] [6]

In 1978 a bootleg emerged which featured Donovan performing the song in a studio with Paul McCartney on acoustic guitar: this tape was likely made November 1968 at EMI Studios London where McCartney was producing tracks for Mary Hopkin's Postcard, an album on which Donovan played guitar.[7]

Chart performance

In the US, "Laléna" was a Top 40 single in the autumn of 1968, reaching #33 on the Hot 100.[8] (Donovan was at this time unable to have product released in the UK due to a contractual dispute). The single was also a hit in France reaching #22.

Television appearances

Donovan's performed the song on December 8, 1968, on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,[9] along with two other tunes: "Happiness Runs" and "I Love My Shirt".[10]

Other versions

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eder. Bruce. Deep Purple - Deep Purple Songs, Reviews, Credits. 25 June 2021. AllMusic.
  2. News: Billboard. 22 February 2021. September 21, 1968. 72. Spotlight Singles.
  3. CashBox Record Reviews . September 21, 1968 . 18 . 2022-01-12 . Cash Box.
  4. Single Picks of the Week. Record World. September 21, 1968. 1. 2023-05-30.
  5. Web site: Interview: Donovan – Hit Channel . Hit-channel.com . 2014-06-20 . 2 October 2016.
  6. Web site: Index of /~ikocmarek/ . Home.cogeco.ca . 2 October 2016.
  7. John C. Winn That Magic Feeling: The Beatles' Recorded Legacy Vol Two 1966-1970 (2009) p.225
  8. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn

    . Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012 . Joel Whitburn . 2013 . Record Research . 251.

  9. Season 3, Episode 8, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour – Best of Season 3 (Time Life).
  10. Web site: The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967–1970) : Episode #3.7. IMDb.com. 2 October 2016.