Happy Birthday Donovan! Jack White, Donovan, The Raconteurs, and ‘Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)’

by Chris Murray on May 10, 2019
The Raconteurs from Bandcamp page. Copyright Bandcamp.

Jack White is one of the hippest musical artists in the world. He embraces the coolest traditions in his music and in his life.

Rolling Stone published a story on Jack White and The Raconteurs covering Donovan’s “Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)” on their new LP, Help Us Stranger.

Jon Blistein writes for Rolling Stone:

“The Raconteurs unveiled a blistering cover of Donovan’s 1965 song “Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)” as part of the launch of Third Man Records’ new Bandcamp page. The cover, which features on the reunited band’s upcoming LP Help Us Stranger, finds the Raconteurs turning the brisk acoustic blues-rocker into a no-frills ripper, with Jack White’s vocals chugging alongside drums that pump like pistons. The song builds steadily to a final freak out that screams with razor-edge guitars and a fiery harmonica.”

“Hey Gyp” was featured on Donovan’s second album, Fairytale, in 1965, which also included his classic hit song “Colours.” Below is the cover from his album Fairytale. “Hey Gyp” refers to artist “Gypsy” Dave Mills, Donovan’s longtime best friend and tour manager.

Fairytale album, featuring “Hey Gyp” and “Colours.”
Donovan and Gypsy Dave in 1966. Govinda Gallery archive.
Donovan and Gypsy Dave backstage at the Royal Albert Hall in London during Donovan’s Sunshine Superman concert in 2011. Photo by Virgilio Fino.
Donovan and his wife Linda with Gypsy Dave’s sculpture Lover’s Leap at the Center for Hellenic Studies, Nafplio, Greece in 2010. Photo by Panee Mills.
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