By the mid-1990s, the CD reissues of Donovan's 1960s albums and the Troubadour: The Definitive Collection 1964–1976 boxed set reacquainted his fans with his music.

The success of Johnny Cash's American Recordings album prompted producer Rick Rubin to search for other artists who would benefit from the same model.

Sutras received mixed reviews and failed to achieve the kind of commercial success Cash's American Recordings had.

Yet for all its lack of commercial success, Sutras galvanized Donovan's fan base by reestablishing him as a current artist releasing new material.

Donovan paid close attention to this movement, and spent the next five years reorganizing his business around the internet to better reach his fans.