The Lovin’ Spoonful Anthology
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Artist: The Lovin’ Spoonful
Album: Anthology
Released: 1990
Rhino R2-70944
Info: Allmusic.com
Genre: Folk Rock
Hash: Lovin’ Spoonful Anthology
Reviews
I've always been a little surprised that the big New York folk scene didn't kick out more groups. I guess that may be because the folk scene was so vibrant it crowded out everyone else. Let's see - there's the Lovin' Spoonful (the folky/country band) the Youngbloods (more rock/country), the Blues Project (R&B and a little bit of everything), with a couple of infamous weirdos as well (the Velvet Underground, the Fugs).
The Lovin' Spoonful was mainly John Sebastian, a smiling man with glasses who sounds like the nicest guy you'll ever meet. Alongside noted goofball and guitar chamelion Zal Yanovsky, the Spoonful charted course for all the down-home good-time places that music could go. The band scored some early success with happy-go-lucky songs like "Do You Believe in Magic?" and then ventured further into their roots. Some people really like Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful, but I'd say start with Do You Believe in Magic? first and then work your way down. The band never really embraced any experimentalism or psychedelia, and fell apart after Yanovsky got busted for drugs in mid-'67. Sebastian stayed on for one uneven album, Everything Playing, before bailing. He launched a semi-successful solo career as a singer-songwriter, most known today for making the theme to the Welcome Back Kotter TV show.
Even though the band isn't really cool or hip (more goofy) they made some good music anticipating the post-Altamont return of the roots.
Contributions to music:
Instrumental in popularizing "folk-rock" music
Helped provide an American response to the "British Invasion" of the Sixties
Brought a jug-band sense of instrumentation and arangement into the folk-rock genre
Leader John Sebastian is considered one of the era's most accomplished and uniquely individual songwriters
One of the first rock acts to revisit straight country music
The first rock band to record on a 16-track console
One of the first rock bands to perform on college campuses
Early years: The Lovin' Spoonful had its genesis in the Greenwich Village folk scene of the early Sixties; indeed, leader John Sebastian had already played with several of the genre's leading lights before he and Zal Yanovsky met in 1964. Mutual friend Cass Elliot -- later of the Mamas and Papas -- invited both to her house to watch the Beatles' historic first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, and the two decided to form a rock band on the spot. By 1965, the Spoonful were a fulltime endeavor.
Success: After landing a steady gig at New York's Night Owl cafe, the Spoonful were signed to the fledgling Kama Sutra label in 1965, scoring an immediate hit with "Do You Believe In Magic?" It epitomized the openhearted Spoonful style, specifically the songwriting of Sebastian; more influenced by jug-band and blues music than pure folk, the group epitomized the radio-friendly face of folk-rock. (The exception was their biggest hit, the uncharacteristically gritty and urban "Summer In The City.")
Later years: In 1967, Yanovsky was busted for marijuana, however, and when he gave up the name of his dealer, his name became mud in the counterculture, forcing him to leave the group. Not sure what to do with psychedelia and the acid-rock of the late '60s, the group disbanded a few years later. Sebastian played Woodstock and enjoyed a somewhat successful solo career, scoring a #1 hit with the theme to the television show Welcome Back, Kotter (titled simply "Welcome Back"). Zal died of heart disease in 2002.
Personnel:
Steve Boone (bass), Joe Butler (drums, vocals), John Sebastian (vocals, guitar), Zal Yanovsky (lead guitar, vocals). Yanovsky left after You're a Big Boy Now, replaced by Jerry Yester (guitar, vocals).
Track listing
1 Good Time Music
3:10
2 Do You Believe In Magic
2:07
3 You Didn't Have To Be So Nice
2:30
4 Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind
2:00
5 You Baby
2:57
6 Younger Girl
2:21
7 Fishin' Blues
2:02
8 Daydream
2:23
9 Jug Band Music
2:54
10 Didn't Want To Have To Do It
2:40
11 Summer In The City
2:43
12 Pow!
2:28
13 Rain On The Roof
2:16
14 Nashville Cats
2:39
15 Full Measure
2:45
16 Lovin' You
2:32
17 Coconut Grove
2:45
18 Darling Be Home Soon
3:36
19 You're A Big Boy Now
2:33
20 Lonely (Amy's Theme)
3:23
21 Six O'clock
2:45
22 She Is Still A Mystery
3:04
23 Money
1:59
24 Younger Generation
2:44
25 Never Going Back
2:53
26 Me About You
3:46
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