AMG Review of What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid [Expanded]

John Bush
All Music Guide

Donovan's album debut, What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid, presented his breakout British single, "Catch the Wind," and added an assortment of pleasant folky jams. Though he was often derided at the time as a pale imitation of Bob Dylan, there isn't a lot of evidence here; true, he does cover the Woody Guthrie song "Car Car (Riding in My Car)" and gives it some twang worthy of the master, but his style is his own, slanted toward the mysticism of British folk less than the earthiness of its American cousin. Donovan summons the proper age-old weariness for "Goldwatch Blues," gets a bit bluesy for "You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond," and lets it all hang out for "Keep on Truckin'." [A 2002 reissue by Castle added four bonus tracks, including versions of "Catch the Wind" and "Colours," plus the B-sides "Why Do You Treat Me Like You Do" and "Every Man Has His Chain."]