In this black & white solo performance, Donovan tells us that “Celeste” is just a “pretty girl’s name” — but I respectfully disagree. I find Donovan’s original 1966 studio recording “Celeste” to be a particularly effective one in capturing a certain incipient sound (and let’s be honest, I think much of it has to do with the mellotron) – the sound, in fact, of 1967, albeit one year early in order to same time:
“Celeste” Donovan 1967
Sure enough, as one would hope, given the song’s title, an actual celeste makes its appearance around the 2:06 mark. Unlike a piano, the celeste (also known as celesta) employs its hammers to strike metal keys, not strings.
celeste by Mustel of Paris
Despite the song’s strong commercial potential (in my humble opinion), I have to say I am a little surprised to see “Celeste” remain solely an album track but with one interesting exception: “Celeste” also enjoyed release on a Sunshine Superman EP – but only for the German market.
Also worth noting: Scott (“Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair”) McKenzie released his own version of “Celeste” as the B-side of the uplifting and affirmative, “No, No, No, No, No.”
The Celeste in Rock, Pop & Soul: Not Just for Symphonies
When I read Ray Charles’ memoir (his collaboration with David Ritz), I remember my brain being tickled by the fact that Charles played a celeste – a “serious” instrument more commonly associated with an orchestra – on one of his earlier jazz-inflected blues from 1949, “Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand.” This blog piece about Donovan’s psych pop classic, “Celeste” got me to thinking: what other rock, pop, jazz and soul tunes have also utilized the services of a celeste? Here’s a short, though by no mean definitive, list —
"Basin Street Blues" Louis Armstrong's Hot Five 1928
"I'll Never Smile Again" Frank Sinatra 1940
"Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand" Ray Charles 1949
"In the Wee Small Hours" Frank Sinatra 1955
"Everyday" Buddy Holly 1957
"Wurlitzer and Celeste" Sun Ra 1964
"Baby It's You" The Beatles 1964
"Girl Don't Tell Me" The Beach Boys 1965
"Celeste" Donovan 1966
"Sunday Morning" Velvet Underground 1966
"The Gnome" Pink Floyd 1967
"Cadence and Cascade" King Crimson 1970
"Penetration" The Stooges 1973