POP MUSIC REVIEW : Donovan, Still Mellow but Yellowed, Coming to O.C. : The amiable ‘60s singer is touring again with his charming oldies but an uninspired set of new songs. He will play at the Coach House on Saturday.

They called him Mellow Yellow, and quite rightly.

During his mid-’60s heyday, Donovan was the Phil Collins of flower power, a British import who captivated America with a string of mild-mannered, daydream-like rockers.

After two decades away from the public eye and ear, Donovan (real name: Donovan Leitch) is enjoying a revival of sorts in England, thanks primarily to--of all things--the Happy Mondays. The trend-setting Manchester band recently incorporated some of his lyrics into a song called “Donovan” and had the erstwhile hippie open a few of its shows in England.

Buoyed by all the attention, Donovan has booked a brief acoustic tour in the United States, accompanying himself on guitar and harmonica. At the Ventura Theatre last Saturday, he displayed much of the wry, understated charm that once shot his records to the top of the charts. Unfortunately, little of it was evident in the new songs he performed: musically pretty ballads marred by fatuous lyrics.

The listless material was all the more disappointing following a clever reworking of his “Hurdy Gurdy Man.” The latter featured a witty narrative about a visit to the Maharishi, a never-recorded verse supposedly written by George Harrison and a vocal rendering of the guitar part that Jimmy Page contributed to the original record.

“Mellow Yellow” and other oldies, while not so elaborately retooled, also came across well.

Whatever the failings of Donovan’s recent work, the adoring audience of all ages seemed eager Saturday for Donovanmania to cross the ocean once again.

Copies of his recent live album, “Rising,” were being snapped up by the tie-dyed throngs even faster than the crystal jewelry on sale in the lobby.

* Donovan and Milo Binder will appear at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on Saturday .