7-Tease is an album by the Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the US (Epic PE 33245) in November 1974 and in the UK (Epic SEPC 69104) in January 1975.
The album peaked at No. 135 on the Billboard 200.
History After the low chart success of Essence to Essence, Donovan entered the studio in late 1974 with a different producer and a new set of songs. The songs were originally intended for use as part of an operetta about the preceding 10 years of Donovan's life and times.
Some of the songs on 7-Tease feature lyrical lines or melodies from earlier Donovan songs. "The Voice of Protest" features a line about a ship going "all on her starry way", in a direct lift from a line in "The Voyage of the Moon" on H.M.S. Donovan. The melody on "How Silly" is nearly identical to "A Funny Man" from H.M.S. Donovan.
Critical reception AllMusic wrote that "a fair hearing of 7-Tease reveals an album steeped in disillusionment, yet built upon beautiful melodies and some of the most diverse and appealing sounds and arrangements of [Donovan's] career, and a harder rocking sound than he was usually known for."
Reissues On 19 April 2004, Diablo Records released 7-Tease/Slow Down World (DIAB8052) in the UK on CD. It includes all of 7-Tease and all of Slow Down World on one disc, and marks the first time all of 7-Tease was released on CD. On 22 November 2004, Repertoire Records released 7-Tease in Germany (Repertoire RR2315) on CD. It includes four bonus tracks, including the single versions of "Rock and Roll Souljer" and "Salvation Stomp" and two tracks that were previously released on Troubadour The Definitive Collection 1964–1976 in 1992.
Track listing All tracks by Donovan Leitch.
Original album
2004 Repertoire Records version
Personnel Donovan – vocals, acoustic guitar, bass, harmonica Reggie Young – electric guitar Teddy Erwin – electric guitar on "Your Broken Heart" and "Moon Rok" Johnny Christopher – rhythm guitar Norbert Putnam – bass guitar David Briggs – keyboards, string arrangement Kenneth Buttrey – drums, percussion Ben Cauley, Charlie Rose, Harrison Calloway, Harvey Thompson, Ronnie Eades, Bill Puett, George Tidwell, George Bohanon, Johnny Rotella, Tony Terran – horns Buffy Sainte-Marie, Byron Warner, Florence Warner, Ginger Holladay, Lea Jane Berinati, Mary Holladay – background vocals Sheldon Kurland – concertmaster Red Callender – bass guitar on "Salvation Stomp" Mike Melvoin – keyboards on "Salvation Stomp" Earl Palmer – drums, percussion on "Salvation Stomp" Charts
Chart (1974) Peakposition US Billboard Top LPs135 US Cashbox Top 100 Albums148 References
External links 7-Tease – Donovan Unofficial Site