Donovan: Riki Tiki Tavi

Donovan’s “Riki Tiki Tavi,” our bubbling under song from 1970, was one I remember hearing quite a bit on Pittsburgh’s KQV radio during that year. I can’t say that I’ve ever heard it anywhere else – but that was back in the days before radio became akin to McDonalds and Wal-Mart’s mission of one size fits all. This is certainly how radio developed from the late 1970s onward. I liked the old days, as there was more variety.

“Riki Tiki Tavi” charted at #55 and was on his “Open Road” LP, which featured the band of the same name that included Mike Thompson on bass, Mike O’Neill on keyboards, and John Carr on drums.

It is also the first album that Donovan produced. His previous recordings were produced by Mickie Most. Most produced a host of 60s & 70s musicians such as The Animals, Herman’s Hermits, Jeff Beck, and Suzi Quatro.