Donovan Woods-Without People (November 6, 2020) • Page 3

This is going to be impossible to find, but man, I’d love to have “That Hotel” and “Portland, Maine” on vinyl.

https://recordstoreday.com/SpecialRelease/15705

 

Some really sad news. Abe was a Nashville songwriter and he and Donovan wrote a lot of great songs together, including “Portland, Maine,” “What They Mean,” “Leaving Nashville,” and Charlie Worsham’s “The Beginning of Things.”

 

New album, called Things Were Never Good If They're Not Good Now, out July 12.



Vinyl up for preorder on his website: https://donovanwoods.merchtable.com/music

1. Rosemary
2. 116 West Main, Durham, NC
3. Trompsingel (Another Life)
4. It’s Been Like That For A While
5. Living Well
6. Well Read
7. Back For The Funeral
8. Don’t Talk to Her at Night
9. I’m Just Trying to Get Home (feat. William Prince)
10. When Our Friends Come Over (feat. Madi Diaz)
11. All Raked Flat

Bonus Tracks (Vinyl Only):

1. I'm Around
2. How Good

 

Pumped there’s a song with Madi Diaz

 

It actually really annoys me that he does this, ha. I can't think of another artist who so routinely leaves some of their best songs off albums ("That Hotel," "Portland, Maine," "Way, Way Back"). Hard Settle, Ain't Troubled would be at least a full letter grade better (and, frankly, a borderline masterpiece) if you swapped those first two in for, like, "We Never Met" and "Do I Know Your Name."

At least this time he's putting them on the vinyl. But, c'mon man, "I'm Around" is amazing! Don't make it a b-side!

 

I'm deeply disappointed in "I'm Around" not being on the record. Just from seeing it live twice, I think it's my favorite song of his.

For the love of god, please release an Around the Well-style B-sides odds and sods record, Donovan.

 

He did the Not a Greatest Hits thing last year, which at least got a few all-timers on vinyl.

 

You see, that first part just doesn’t bother me. The album is forever. I’d rather have an A-grade album that I’ve heard 2-3 songs from prior to release day than a B-grade album where everything is new, which is kind of his track record. All his albums should be a little better than they are.

 

I firmly believe “That Hotel” is not only his best song, but one of my 100 or so favorite songs ever. Will never make sense to me that he could have put it on an album and didn’t.

 

Without People is my favorite, and I think is the only one that doesn’t dip in quality somewhere in the middle. Both Ways is basically perfect for the first half and then loses some steam, IMO. I could trade out tracks 7-9. But then it closes with one of his 4-5 best songs. Good album, but I think it has some of the same issues as the others.

His first three albums are really good, especially The Widowmaker. Recommend spending more time with them.

 

Excited for this. I came on board at Without People and I really need to take the time to go back through his catalog. I've only listened to a few tracks here and there, not enough to really retain anything.

 

That one was so frustrating for me. Juuuuuust enough uncollected material to make it tempting while most of it is totally redundant for someone who owns the whole catalog. That's some 80s-90s greatest hits shenanigans.

 

I believe the tracklist was fan voted, which is kind of cool. And I’m glad to have some of those songs on vinyl. But also, like, had none of the people voting heard The Widowmaker? Nothing from that album is on there, and that one never got a vinyl pressing.

 

I've needed a new Donovan album for a while. Looking forward to this. Too bad we have to wait until mid summer, but nothing beats late night sunsets on the porch with Donovan on the speakers.

 

It's weird how much people (himself in included) seem to act like his career started with Don't Get Too Grand or even Hard Settle, Ain't Troubled.

The Widowmaker is REALLY fucking good.

 

It's funny to go back to it and remember that I used to say "he's got some similarity to John Mayer if he was more of a singer-songwriter" in my sales pitch to people because that part of his musical recipe disappeared entirely over time.

 

Yeah, I feel like Hard Settle is when he started doing a lot of songwriting work in Nashville and found a new audience that way. But the Widowmaker erasure sucks! Probably my third favorite album of his.

 

:"Loooooooord lift me up over alllllll gentlemen" is still one of the best hooks he's ever written

 

I enjoyed Rosemary when I first listened last week but man is it really hitting the more I play it. Just love his songwriting. Makes it seem so easy.

 

I actually made a "fake album" from some of his b-sides recently. Pretty solid, if I do say so myself!

 

I want this album. I may have to figure out how to acquire these songs and burn this for car usage.

 

Check your DMs.

 

Really shines a light on how deep his bench of songs must be. Imagine tossing some of these away!

 

I toyed around with adding those, but that prompted the "What about Big Hurt Boy?" question, and I ultimately just decided to go with songs that didn't have a home on any larger project. I also just like it as a tight 12-song record. But those songs could definitely slot in if you don't mind a little longer!