"Turquoise" is a song written and recorded by British singer-songwriter

Donovan Donovan Phillips Leitch (born 10 May 1946), known mononymously as Donovan, is a Scottish musician, songwriter and record producer. He emerged from the British folk scene in early 1965 and subsequently scored multiple international hit singles ...

. The "Turquoise" single was released in the United Kingdom on 30 October 1965 through

Pye Records PYE or Pye Records is an independent British record label. It was first established in 1955 and played a major role in shaping rock 'n' roll and pop music history. The Pye name was dropped in 1980 due to trademark issues, after which it produced ...

(Pye 7N 15984) and charted, peaking at No.30. The "Turquoise" single was backed with " Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)" and only released in the United Kingdom. "Turquoise" was released as the b-side on "

To Try for the Sun "To Try for the Sun" is a song written and recorded by Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. The "To Try for the Sun" single was backed with "Turquoise" and released in the United States in January 1966 through Hickory Records (Hickory 45–1402) ...

" in the United States. "Turquoise" marked a significant drop-off in Donovan's UK chart success compared to the top 10 successes of "

Catch the Wind "Catch the Wind" is a song written and recorded by Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. Pye Records released "Catch the Wind" backed with "Why Do You Treat Me Like You Do?" as Donovan's debut release (Pye 7N.15801) in the United Kingdom on 28 ...

" and "

Colours Color (or colour in Commonwealth English; see spelling differences) is the visual perception based on the electromagnetic spectrum. Though color is not an inherent property of matter, color perception is related to an object's light absorpt ...

" and the " Universal Soldier" EP. While "Catch the Wind" and "Colours" have appeared in various formats throughout Donovan's catalogue, live versions and re-recordings of "Turquoise" are conspicuously absent. The relative lack of success in the United Kingdom was most likely the reason leading to Hickory Records selecting "

You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond "You'll Need Somebody on Your Bond" (later titled "You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond") is a Gospel music, gospel song that is attributed to both tradition and to gospel blues musician Blind Willie Johnson. Johnson first recorded the song in ...

" as Donovan's next single in the United States. Hickory Records later released "Turquoise" as the b-side to "

" and made it the opening track to their 1966 compilation '' The Real Donovan''. The 45 was one of the records in John Lennon's jukebox. The song was written about Donovan's friend

Joan Baez Joan Chandos Baez (, ; born January 9, 1941) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and activist. Her contemporary folk music often includes songs of protest and social justice. Baez has performed publicly for over 60 years, releasing mo ...

, with whom he claimed he was in love. Baez recorded a version of the song on her 1967 album '' Joan''. The lyric begins: :“''Your smile beams like sunlight'' :''On a gull’s wing; and the leaves'' :''Dance and play after you;'' :''Take my hand and hold it'' :''As you would a flower;'' :''Take care with my heart, Oh darling:'' :''She’s made of glass.''” British group

No-Man No-Man are an English art pop duo, formed in 1987 as No Man Is an Island (Except the Isle of Man) by singer Tim Bowness and multi-instrumentalist Steven Wilson. The band has so far produced seven studio albums and a number of singles/outtake ...

covered the song for the 1992

tribute album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track or cassette), or digital. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century a ...

'' Island of Circles'', released by the

Nettwerk Nettwerk Music Group is an independent record label founded in 1984. The Vancouver-based company was created by principals Terry McBride and Mark Jowett as a record label to distribute recordings by the band Moev, but the label expanded in Ca ...

label. A slightly remixed version of this cover became the basis for an original song by the group called "Ocean Song", released that same year as a single by the

One Little Indian Records One Little Independent Records (formerly One Little Indian Records) is an English independent record label. It was set up in 1985 by members of various anarcho-punk bands, and managed by former Flux of Pink Indians bassist Derek Birkett. In t ...

label.

References

External links

Turquoise (Single) – Donovan Unofficial Site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Turquoise (Song) Songs written by Donovan Pye Records singles Donovan songs 1965 singles 1965 songs