Epistle to Dippy
Encyclopedia
Epistle to Dippy is a song and single by Donovan
, released in 1967 only in the USA. It charted in the USA (Billboard: #19).
Musicians featured are Donovan on vocals and acoustic guitar, Jimmy Page
on electric guitar, John Cameron
on keyboards and arrangement, Danny Thompson on bass and Tony Carr on drums. Strings provided by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
.
Written in the form of an open letter to an old school friend, the song had a strong pacifist message in addition to its florid psychedelic imagery. The real "Dippy" was at the time serving in the British Army
in Malaysia. According to Brian Hogg, who wrote the liner notes for the Donovan boxed set, Troubadour, Dippy heard the song, contacted Donovan and left the army as a result.
Chart positions were:# 19 (USA Billboard), # 10 (USA Cashbox), # 10 (USA Record World)
Donovan
Donovan Donovan Donovan (born Donovan Philips Leitch (born 10 May 1946) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Emerging from the British folk scene, he developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music...
, released in 1967 only in the USA. It charted in the USA (Billboard: #19).
Musicians featured are Donovan on vocals and acoustic guitar, Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
on electric guitar, John Cameron
John Cameron
-Life and academic career:Cameron was born at Glasgow and received his early education in his native city. After having taught Greek in the university for twelve months, he removed to Bordeaux, where he was soon appointed a regent in the college of Bergerac. He did not remain long at Bordeaux, but...
on keyboards and arrangement, Danny Thompson on bass and Tony Carr on drums. Strings provided by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
.
Written in the form of an open letter to an old school friend, the song had a strong pacifist message in addition to its florid psychedelic imagery. The real "Dippy" was at the time serving in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in Malaysia. According to Brian Hogg, who wrote the liner notes for the Donovan boxed set, Troubadour, Dippy heard the song, contacted Donovan and left the army as a result.
Chart positions were: