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Barabajagal (song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Barabajagal
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Donovan with the Jeff Beck Group
| album =
| B-side = Trudi
| released = June 1969
| recorded = May 1969
| studio = Olympic, London
| genre = Rock
| length = 3:20
| label = Pye (7N17778)
| writer = Donovan
| producer = Mickie Most
| chronology = Donovan UK
| prev_title = Atlantis
| prev_year = 1968
| next_title = Riki Tiki Tavi
| next_year = 1970
| misc =
}}
"'Barabajagal'" is a song by British singer/songwriter Donovan Leitch, released by Donovan in 1969. It was later used as title track to the album 'Barabajagal'. The instrumental backing is provided by The Jeff Beck Group, with backing vocals by Lesley Duncan, Suzi Quatro and Madeline Bell.
Background
The song, along with "Trudi" and "Stromberg Twins", was recorded in May 1969 at the Olympic Studios in London. Other songs were recorded with The Jeff Beck Group but they remained unreleased until they appeared as bonus tracks on the 2005 reissue of the 'Barabajagal' album.
The first UK pressings of the single use the full title "Goo Goo Barabajagal (Love Is Hot)") and give the B-side the title "Bed With Me". Subsequent pressings (most UK copies) shorten the title to "Barabajagal" and rename the B-side "Trudi". The title is a made-up name for a seductive lover mentioned in the song. In a later interview, Donovan explained that the song title was an invented word and had been inspired by the phrase "goo goo ga joob" from The Beatles' song "I Am the Walrus". The single is credited to Donovan and Jeff Beck Group. In the US it was always credited as "Goo Goo Barabajagal (Love Is Hot)" by Donovan with the Jeff Beck Group, and with the B-side "Trudi".
It reached No. 12 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 36 in the US chart. It was Donovan's final top 40 entry in either country.
The instrumental backing is provided by The Jeff Beck Group. In his autobiography, Donovan relates how Jeff Beck's guitar had not been delivered to the studio, so they had to borrow one for him to play on the track (at Beck's request, it was a Fender, his preferred instrument).Leitch, D. (2005) 'The Hurdy Gurdy Man', London: Century (U.S. (2005), 'The Autobiography of Donovan: The Hurdy Gurdy Man', New York: St. Martin's Press, ) p.333
In 2005 the track was remastered by EMI Records for the 'Barabajagal' album re-issue.
Personnel
Sources:
* Donovan guitar, vocals
* Jeff Beck guitar
* Ronnie Wood bass
* Madeline Bell backing vocals
* Micky Waller drums
* Lesley Duncan backing vocals
* Suzi Quatro backing vocals
* Nicky Hopkins keyboards
* Mickie Most producer
Legacy
In 1970 a Czech version of the song was issued, as the B-side to "Motejl Modrejl (Mellow Yellow)", by Czech singer and actor Vclav Neck on the Supraphon label.
The song was covered in 1991 by "The Love-in" on Scream Records, UK. (Scream Records were an early 90s UK hip-hop label, possibly called "From A Whisper To A Scream
").
The song was featured on the 2009 "Ronnie Chase" episode (Season 5, Episode 15) of the US television show 'Nip/Tuck'.
In 2016, the song was featured in an international Heineken advertisement campaign starring Benicio del Toro.
References
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