"Catch the Wind" is a song written and recorded by Scottish singer-songwriter
Donovan.[4]Pye Records released "Catch the Wind" backed with "Why Do You Treat Me Like You Do?"[6] as Donovan's debut release (Pye 7N.15801) in the
United Kingdom on 28 February 1965.[1][2][3][4] The
single reached No. 4 in the United Kingdom singles chart.[8]Hickory Records released the single in the
United States in April 1965 (Hickory 45-1309),[5][9] where it reached No. 23 in the United States
Billboard Hot 100.[10]
Cash Box described it as a "medium-paced, folk-styled low-down bluesey romancer," with a
Bob Dylan-like vocal.[5]Record World likewise described it as "Dylanesque."[11]
When
Epic Records was compiling Donovan's Greatest Hits in 1968, the label was either unable or unwilling to secure the rights to the original recordings of "Catch the Wind" and Donovan's follow-up single, "
Colours". Donovan re-recorded both songs for the album, with a full backing band including
Big Jim Sullivan playing guitar and
Mickie Most producing.
Cover versions
Johnny Rivers from "Johnny Rivers Rocks The Folk" (1965)
Cleave, Maureen (13 February 1965a).
"Maureen Cleave Disc Date". Evening Standard. London, Greater London, England. p. 7. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
Cleave, Maureen (17 February 1965b).
"Disc Date". Evening Post. Bristol, Avon, England. p. 6. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
Cleave, Maureen (6 March 1965c).
"Maureen Cleave's Pop Spot". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England. p. 5. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
Reynolds, Stanley (6 March 1965).
"We copied him first". The Guardian. London, Greater London, England. p. 14. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
Farmer, Bob (18 March 1965).
"The New Discs". Citizen. Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England. p. 10. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
Lincolnshire Echo staff (18 March 1965).
"Records to Put Spring into You". Lincolnshire Echo. Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. p. 8. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
Nelson, Gene (2 May 1965).
"Pop Singles Catching the Wind". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. p. 194. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
Bucks Examiner staff (4 June 1965).
"Discorner". Bucks Examiner. Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England. p. 7. Retrieved 26 February 2023.