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Donovan's music reinterpreted

Donovan
Donovan performed onstage at the Songwriters Hall Of Fame 45th annual Induction and Awards ceremony at Marriott Marquis Theater on June 12, 2014, in New York City.
Larry Busacca | Getty Images for Songwriters Hall Of Fame

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Today's Morning Edition music is from British pop star Donovan with "Lalena," which was a Top 40 hit for him in 1968.

He says he wrote it about actress Lotte Lenya's portrayal of a prostitute in the film version of "The Threepenny Opera."

It's one of the songs covered on the new album "Gazing With Tranquility: A Tribute to Donovan."

On that record "Lalena" is reinterpreted by the Minneapolis-based singer and ukelele player Savannah Smith. The album comes out next week, but you can hear it now on the "First Listen" page at NPR.org.