Jennifer Juniper
{{More citations needed|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2012}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Jennifer Juniper
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Donovan
| album = The Hurdy Gurdy Man
| B-side = Poor Cow
| released = 5 February 1968 (UK)
20 February 1968 (USA)
| recorded = January 1968 CBS Studios, London, EnglandThe Hurdy Gurdy Man 2005 re-release liner notes
"Poor Cow": 17–18 September 1967
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Folk pop
| length = 2:40
| label = Pye 7N 17457 (UK)
Epic 5-10300
| writer = Donovan Leitch
| producer = Mickie Most
| chronology = Donovan UK
| prev_title = There Is a Mountain
| prev_year = 1967
| next_title = Hurdy Gurdy Man
| next_year = 1968
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Donovan USA
| type = singles
| prev_title = Wear Your Love Like Heaven
| prev_year = 1967
| title = Jennifer Juniper
| year = 1968
| next_title = Hurdy Gurdy Man
| next_year = 1968
}}
}}
"Jennifer Juniper" is a song and single by the Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan,{{cite web|url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19823/m1/ |title=Show 48 – The British are Coming! The British are Coming!: With an emphasis on Donovan, the Bee Gees and the Who. [Part 5] : UNT Digital Library |website=Digital.library.unt.edu |access-date=19 December 2015}} released in 1968. It peaked at number 5 in the UK Singles Chart,{{cite book
| first= David
| last= Roberts
| year= 2006
| title= British Hit Singles & Albums
| edition= 19th
| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
| location= London
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5
| page= 165}} and at number 26 in the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/donovan-mn0000799053/awards |title=Donovan | Awards | publisher=AllMusic |date=1 May 1946|access-date=19 December 2015}} AllMusic journalist Matthew Greenwald noted that "capturing all of the innocence of the era perfectly, it's one of his finest singles".{{cite web|author=Matthew Greenwald |url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/jennifer-juniper-mt0000717639 |title=Jennifer Juniper – Donovan | Song Info |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=19 December 2015}}
Song
The track was written about Jenny Boyd, sister of Pattie Boyd, shortly before she went with The Beatles and Donovan to Rishikesh. She married Mick Fleetwood and was, at one time, the sister-in-law of George Harrison and, later, Eric Clapton.
The song was arranged by John Cameron and features a wind section with Cor anglais, flute, French horn and bassoon, plus shaker and harp. The last stanza of the song is sung in French.
Cash Box called it a "gentle voiced ballad" with "glittering arrangement with hushed drumming, soft flute trills and a delightful small combo orchestration" and "pretty lyrics of innocence and naturalist imagery," and also praised the "exquisite artistry."{{cite magazine |title=CashBox Record Reviews |date=March 2, 1968 |page=30 |access-date=2022-01-12 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1968/CB-1968-03-02.pdf |magazine=Cash Box}} Record World called it a "charming love song" that Donovan "chants in English and French."{{cite magazine|title=Single Picks of the Week|magazine=Record World|date=March 2, 1968|page=1|accessdate=2023-06-08|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/68/RW-1968-03-02.pdf}}
Donovan also performed on a novelty cover of the single released in Britain in 1990, by comedy duo Trevor and Simon, as "The Singing Corner Meets Donovan".{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Singing-Corner-The-Singing-Corner-Meet-Donovan/master/403095 |title=The Singing Corner – The Singing Corner Meet Donovan at Discogs |website=Discogs.com |year=1990 |access-date=19 December 2015}} It spent one week at number 68 in the UK Singles Chart in December 1990.{{cite book
| first= David
| last= Roberts
| year= 2006
| title= British Hit Singles & Albums
| edition= 19th
| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
| location= London
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5
| page= 503}}
B-side
The B-side "Poor Cow" is a song produced for the film Poor Cow by Ken Loach. The original title of the song was "Poor Love". The title was changed when the song appeared in the film. It retained that title when released as the B-side to "Jennifer Juniper" in February 1968. "Poor Cow" is introduced by Donovan as "Poor Love" on his live album Donovan in Concert (1968).
Cash Box called "Poor Cow" a "folk theme with jazz touch from the current movie score".
In popular culture
The song features in The Simpsons episode "Flaming Moe", along with a character called Calliope Juniper.
Theodore Bikel covered the song on his album A New Day (1970).{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Theo-Bikel-A-New-Day/release/3679116 |title=Theo Bikel* – A New Day (Vinyl, LP) |website=Discogs.com |year=1969 |access-date=2 October 2016}}
Natalie Portman's character plays this song on the piano in Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium.
The song was featured in the 1999 film Election.
17. 12. In 1968, Czech singer Václav Neckář recorded a cover version of this song with Czech lyrics by Zdeněk Rytíř. The song is called "Čaroděj Dobroděj".{{cite web|url=https://www.supraphonline.cz/album/1778-micro-magic-circus?trackId=26435#track-26435 |title=Golden Kids – Micro Magic Circus (Vinyl, LP)}}
Joel Grey recorded the song for his 1969 jazz/pop album Black Sheep Boy
References
{{Reflist|40em}}
External links
- [http://donovan-unofficial.com/music/singles/jennifer_juniper.html Jennifer Juniper (Single) – Donovan Unofficial Site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004014105/http://donovan-unofficial.com/music/singles/jennifer_juniper.html |date=4 October 2011 }}
{{Donovan}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Song recordings produced by Mickie Most