If you have seen the film Zodiac starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey, Jr. as reporters for the San Francisco Chronicle. It is based on the serial killings that took place in the late 60s and early 70s that have yet to be solved. The serial killer is known as Zodiac. In the films opening you hear Indian-inspired music by Donovan that epitomes the psychedelic era to a T. There is a lot of sitar sounds throughout, along with Donovans reverberated vocals in the beginning. Almost sounds like a precursor to autotune. My favorite part is the humming right into the microphone. It also features a tambura, an Indian instrument used to get the droning sound. Donovan wrote Hurdy Gurdy Man after he went to India for a transcendental meditation retreat with the Beatles. The song represents the numerous sounds he heard there. In the film Zodiac Donovans daughter, who is an actress, had a small role as a hitchhiker with an infant. Her character gets picked up by the Zodiac, but manages to escape. The song was also used in the film L.I.E., which gives this psychedelic song a very, very sinister new meaning. The film deals with child molestation, and this song is played as the guy is out looking in his car. It is now understood to be as follows according to John Paul Jones (who did play bass and book the session players) with regards to the session musicians: Donovan on Acoustic Guitar, Tambura and vocals Alan Parker (not the film director) on Electric Guitar John Paul Jones on Bass and Musical Director Clem Cattini on Drums Jeff Beck according to Page did play on one version which was compeletely wiped! Then they hired Alan Parker instead... //Tony
Posted on: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 10:00:42 +0000