Separately released in the U.S. as the pop record from 1967's double-LP
A Gift From a Flower to a Garden,
Wear Your Love Like Heaven stands on its own as one of the brightest, most pleasant works
Donovan ever recorded. The title track and "Oh Gosh" were the only nods to the charts (and, tellingly, the only songs produced by
Mickie Most). For once in
Donovan's career, the remainders far outshone the singles, with brisk, breezy productions and the thoughtful playing of an actual band behind
Donovan -- usually just bass, keyboards, and soft, whisking drums or bongos.
Donovan's voice is better than ever, playful and unassuming on romps like "Mad John's Escape," "Skip-A-Long Sam," and "Oh Gosh," while expressive and controlled for the slower material. He also makes evocative folkie nostalgia work much better than it should on "Sun" and "Little Boy in Corduroy," helped by the breathy flute playing of
Harold McNair.