Universal Soldier (1967 Donovan album)

History

In the mid-1960s Pye Records launched budget record label Marble Arch Records to release older material on inexpensive albums in the United Kingdom. Several of Donovan's 1965 recordings for Pye were selected for release in 1967 as Universal Soldier. Donovan's version of "Universal Soldier" was a hit EP in 1965, and that name recognition was intended to boost sales.

Universal Soldier was a unique release because it collected the entire Universal Soldier EP, the b-side to "Catch the Wind", and the entire "Turquoise" single; all of which had appeared on LP format in the United Kingdom. The strategy of compiling non-album tracks paid off, and Universal Soldier reached #5 in the United Kingdom and remained on the charts for 18 weeks.

Marble Arch would go on to release several more Donovan compilations to significantly less interest, including an edited What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid in 1968 and an edited Fairytale in 1969.

In 1995, Spectrum Music released a CD compilation, also named after the title track.

Album origins of tracks

The following is a list explaining the original releases of each song.

Track listing

All tracks by Donovan Leitch, except where noted.

Side one

1. "Universal Soldier" (Buffy Sainte-Marie) – 2:15
2. "To Sing for You" – 2:45
3. "Why Do You Treat Me Like You Do?" – 2:56
4. "Turquoise" – 3:31
5. "Colours" – 2:11

Side two

1. "Catch the Wind" – 2:56
2. "Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)" – 3:08
3. "The Ballad of a Crystal Man" – 3:19
4. "Do You Hear Me Now?" (Bert Jansch) – 1:50
5. "The War Drags On" (Mick Softley) – 3:44