Formation and early years (1964-1965)
The band had its roots in the folk music scene based in the Greenwich Village section of lower Manhattan during the early 1960s.
Sebastian, who grew up in contact with music and musicians, was the son of a much-recorded and highly technically accomplished
classical harmonica player. He had reached maturity toward the end of the American folk music revival that spanned from the 1950s
to the early '60s. Sebastian was joined in the Spoonful by guitarist Zal Yanovsky from a bohemian folk group called The Mugwumps,
playing local coffee houses and small clubs (two other members, Cass Elliot and Denny Doherty, would later form half of the Mamas
& the Papas.)[1] Drummer-vocalist Joe Butler and bassist Steve Boone rounded out the group.
The group first recorded four tracks for Elektra Records in early 1965, but elected to sign with Kama Sutra Records that same year.
The Elektra tracks were released on the 1966 various artists compilation LP What's Shakin' after the band's success on Kama Sutra.
Pop success (1965-1966)
Working with producer Erik Jacobsen, the band released their first single, the Sebastian-penned "Do You Believe in Magic", in August
of 1965. Unlike many pop groups of the day (the early Beatles being a notable and influential exception), The Lovin' Spoonful played
all the instruments on their records, with the exceptions of the orchestral instruments heard on their soundtrack album You're A Big
Boy Now and some later singles. Additionally, aside from a few covers (mostly on their first album) they wrote all their own material.
[2][3]
"Do You Believe In Magic" became a Top Ten hit in the US, and the band followed it up with a series of hit singles and albums throughout
1965 and 1966, all produced by Jacobsen. The Lovin' Spoonful became known for such folk-flavored pop hits as "You Didn't Have to Be So
Nice", and "Daydream", which went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100."[2] [4] Arguably the most successful pop/rock group to have jug band
roots, nearly half the songs on their first album were modernized versions of jug band standards. Their popularity revived interest in
the form, and many subsequent jug bands cite them as an inspiration. The rest of their albums featured mostly original songs, but their
jug band roots showed up again and again, particularly in their big hit "Daydream" and the lesser-known "Money", which featured a
typewriter as percussion. They even had a crossover hit, as "Nashville Cats", a number eight pop hit, reached the country charts.
Other hits were "Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind" (another #2 hit), and "Younger Girl". Their only song to reach #1 on the
Billboard Hot 100 chart was the harder-edged "Summer in the City", an indelible part of the soundtrack for the summer of 1966.
Early in their recording and airwave career, Lovin' Spoonful members termed their approach "good-time music". In the liner notes of
"Do You Believe in Magic", Zal Yanovsky said he "became a convert to Reddy Kilowatt because it's loud, and people dance to it, and it's
loud". Soon-to-be-members of the psychedelic rock band the Grateful Dead were part of the West Coast acoustic folk music scene when The
Lovin' Spoonful came to town while on tour. They credited The Lovin' Spoonful concert as a fateful experience, after which they decided
to leave the folk scene and "go electric."[citation needed]
At the peak of its success the band was originally selected to perform on the television show that became The Monkees,[citation needed]
and also gained an added bit of publicity when Butler replaced Jim Rado in the role of Claude for a sold-out four-month run with the
Broadway production of the rock musical Hair. The Lovin' Spoonful's song "Pow!" was used as the opening theme of Woody Allen's first
feature film, What's Up, Tiger Lily. John Sebastian composed the music for Francis Ford Coppola's second film, You're a Big Boy Now,
and The Lovin' Spoonful played the music for the soundtrack, which included yet another hit, "Darlin' Be Home Soon". Both films were
released in 1966.
[edit] Personnel changes (1967)
In early 1967, the band broke with their producer Erik Jacobsen, turning to Joe Wissert to produce the single "Six O'Clock", which would
hit #18 US.
Yanovsky left the band after the soundtrack album You're a Big Boy Now was released in May 1967, primarily due to a drug bust in San
Francisco, in which he was arrested for possession of marijuana and pressured by police to name his supplier. As a Canadian citizen and
fearing he would be barred from re-entering the U.S., he complied.[5] He would later open a restaurant in Canada, the immensely popular
Chez Piggy in Kingston, Ontario. The restaurant is now owned and run by his daughter.[6]
Yanovsky's replacement was Jerry Yester, formerly of the Modern Folk Quartet. Around this time, perhaps coincidentally, the band's sound
became more pop-oriented.
This new line up of The Lovin' Spoonful would record two moderately successful Wissert-produced singles ("She Is Still A Mystery" and
"Money"), as well as the 1967 album Everything Playing. Sebastian then left the group by early 1968 to go solo.[5]
[edit] The final years (1968-1969)
The group was now officially a trio, and drummer Butler (who had previously sung lead on a few album tracks) became the group's new lead
vocalist. Up to this point Sebastian had written (or co-written) and sung every one of The Lovin' Spoonful's hits; the band now turned to
outside writers for their singles, and used a variety of outside producers. The band's last two Hot 100 entries ("Never Going Back" and "Me
About You") were sung by Butler, and written by professional songsmiths. In addition, "Never Going Back" only featured Yester and Butler's
playing -- the other musical parts were played by session musicians, a first for the group.
With commercial success waning, The Lovin' Spoonful lasted only until early 1969. They split up following the release of their album Revelation:
Revolution '69.
[edit] Reunions, revivals, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction (1980-present)
The original group (Sebastian, Yanovsky, Butler and Boone) reunited briefly for the Paul Simon film One Trick Pony in 1980.
The Lovin' Spoonful was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.[7]
Yanovsky died in 2002.[6] Sebastian has stated that he no longer wishes to perform with the remaining members of the group because of personal
differences.[8] Boone, Butler and Yester (with Butler now handling lead-singing chores) are still touring under the group name, with the
addition of two new members.
[edit] Name
The band's name was inspired by some lines in a song of Mississippi John Hurt called the "Coffee Blues." John Sebastian credits Fritz Richmond
for suggesting the name.[
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 01 - Do You Believe In Magic.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 02 - Blues In The Bottle.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 03 - Sportin' Life.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 04 - My Gal.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 05 - You Baby.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 06 - Fishin' Blues.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 07 - Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 08 - Wild About My Lovin'.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 09 - Other Side Of This Life.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 10 - Younger Girl.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 11 - On The Road Again.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 12 - Nite Owl Blues.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 13 - Daydream.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 14 - There She Is.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 15 - It's Not Time Now.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 16 - Warm Baby.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 17 - Day Blues.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 18 - Let The Boy Rock And Roll.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 19 - Jug Band Music.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 20 - Didn't Want To Have To Do It.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 21 - You Didn't Have To Be So Nice.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 22 - Bald Headed Lena.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 23 - Butchie's Tune.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 1 - 24 - Big Noise From Speonk.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 2 - 01 - Lovin' You.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 2 - 02 - Best Friends.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 2 - 03 - Voodoo In My Basement.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 2 - 04 - Darlin' Companion.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 2 - 05 - Henry Thomas.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 2 - 06 - Full Measure.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 2 - 07 - Rain On The Roof.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 2 - 08 - Coconut Grove.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 2 - 09 - Nashville Cats.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 2 - 10 - 4 Eyes.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 2 - 11 - Summer In The City.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 2 - 12 - She Is Still A Mystery.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 2 - 13 - Priscilla Millionaira.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 2 - 14 - Boredom.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 2 - 15 - Six O'clock.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 2 - 16 - Forever.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 2 - 17 - Younger Generation.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 2 - 18 - Money.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 2 - 19 - Old Folks.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 2 - 20 - Only Pretty, What A Pity.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 2 - 21 - Try A Little Bit.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 2 - 22 - Close Your Eyes.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 3 - 01 - Amazing Air.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 3 - 02 - Never Going Back.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 3 - 03 - The Prophet.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 3 - 04 - Only Yesterday.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 3 - 05 - War Games.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 3 - 06 - (Till I) Run With You.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 3 - 07 - Jug Of Wine.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 3 - 08 - Revelation Revolution 69.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 3 - 09 - Me About You.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 3 - 10 - Words.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 3 - 11 - Raven In A Cage.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 3 - 12 - You Talk Too Much.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 3 - 13 - Last Date.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 3 - 14 - Little Bitty Pretty One.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 3 - 15 - Alive And Well In Argentina.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 3 - 16 - As Long As You're Here.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 3 - 17 - Brown To Blue.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 3 - 18 - Priscilla Millionaira.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 3 - 19 - I Almost Lost My Mind.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 3 - 20 - Hip Toad.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 3 - 21 - Lt. Schtinckhausen.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 3 - 22 - She's A Lady.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 3 - 23 - The Room Nobody Lives In.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 01 - Introduction To Flick.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 02 - Pow.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 03 - Gray Prison Blues.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 04 - Pow Revisited.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 05 - Unconscious Minuet.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 06 - Fishin' Blues.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 07 - Respoken.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 08 - Cool Million.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 09 - Speakin' Of Spoken.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 10 - Lookin' To Spy.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 11 - Phil's Love Theme.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 12 - End Title.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 13 - You're A Big Boy Now.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 14 - Lonely (Amy's Theme).mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 15 - Wash Her Away.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 16 - Kite Chase.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 17 - Try And Be Happy.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 18 - Peep Show Percussion.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 19 - Girl, Beautiful Girl (Barbara's Theme).mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 20 - Darling Be Home Soon.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 21 - Dixieland Big Boy.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 22 - Letter To Barbara.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 23 - Barbara's Theme (From The Discotheque).mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 24 - Miss Thing's Thang.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 25 - March.mp3
The Lovin' Spoonful - Kama Sutra Box - Disc 4 - 26 - The Finale.mp3
Format : MPEG Audio
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Duration : 2mn 6s
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