1960’s Music Site
John Sebastian Lovin Spoonful Guitar Bk/CD/DVD (Homespun Tapes)
Do You Believe in Magic
The Lovin' Spoonful - Do You Believe in Magic? [DVD]
The Lovin' Spoonful - Greatest Hits
The Lovin’ Spoonful
The Lovin’ Spoonful DVD
The Lovin’ Spoonful Albums
The Lovin’ Spoonful Singles
A Sides and B Sides
You Didn't Have to Be So Nice
Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?
Didn't Want To Have To Do It
Revelation:Revolution `69
Do You Believe in Magic
The Lovin' Spoonful's 1965 debut set the tone for their entire career: summery good-time
music with its roots in Greenwich Village's jugband folk scene of the early '60s.
However,besides the massive hits of the title track and the slyly funny "Did You
Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?", a good chunk of this brief album consists of snappy,
slightly electrified versions of traditional American folk songs like "Blues in the
Bottle" and "The Sportin' Life". The combination of these slices of juiced-up trad
folk and Brill Building pop, like the Mann/Weil hit "You Baby", works better than
one might expect, because John Sebastian and Zal Yanovsky, the leaders of the group,
seem to make no distinctions between the two styles. Later albums would be even poppier,
but Do You Believe in Magic has a folk-rockin' charm all of its own.
Daydream
The Lovin' Spoonful was the first famous band this critic ever saw in concert, but
back then I had no idea that their name came from a song by the great fingerpicking
bluesman Mississippi John Hurt. The song "Jug Band Music" spoke to the folkie roots
of the band's "good time music," but it was always John Sebastian's songs that set
the band apart. "Daydream," with its hint of ragtime, was one of his very best tunes,
with "You Didn't Have to Be So Nice" not far behind. "Didn't Want to Have to Do It"
suggested that even with the Spoonful, all the times weren't good. But frankly, if
this is going to be your only Spoonful collection, go for the anthology of the band's
hits. --John Milward
Greatest Hits
It sometimes feels as though the Lovin' Spoonful have been reduced to a footnote
in the history of rock & roll. Yet few of their contemporaries could match the likes
of "Daydream," "Summer in the City," and the transcendent "Do You Believe in Magic?"--a
song that can still turn January into June. Legend has it that the Spoonful auditioned
for The Monkees, and they'd have been good in those roles, having the right candy-sweet
sound and a warm humour in constant evidence. But it wouldn't have lasted: lead songwriter
John Sebastian was too willful and idiosyncratic, coming on like an American Ray
Davies on songs such as "Younger Generation," a prescient meditation on the hippie
generation's future parental dilemmas. Greatest Hits is a fine introduction to a
perennially underrated band. --Taylor Parkes
The Lovin' Spoonful - Do You Believe in Magic? [DVD]
The Music of John Sebastian & The Lovin Spoonful features classic, full-length TV
performances of their chart-topping hits performed by group members Steve Boone,
Joe Butler, Zal Yanovsky and John Sebastian. Our host on this nostalgic journey is
John Sebastian himself, who not only provides fascinating insights into the creation
of the band and their music but also into some of the milestone moments of the group
s career. Songlist: Do You Believe in Magic, You Didn't Have To Be So Nice, Daydream,
Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind, Rain On The Roof, Summer in the City, Nashville
Cats, She's Still A Mystery. Also Darling Be Home Soon and Welcome Back (Kotter)
performed by John Sebastian. Bonus Features: John Sebastian Commentary on Childhood
and Musical Influences, Greenwich Village and the Folk Scene, Forming the Lovin'
Spoonful, Songwriting. Reflections: John Sebastian and Denny Doherty (Mamas and Papas)
pay tribute to Zal Yanovsky. "Tower of Song" interview with Zal Yanovsky.
The Lovin’ Spoonful Book
John Sebastian Lovin Spoonful Guitar Bk/CD/DVD (Homespun Tapes)
Includes the book The John Sebastian Songbook (00306218) and the DVD John Sebastian
Teaches Eight Lovin' Spoonful Hits (and "Welcome Back") (00642017) in one money-saving
pack. The songbook features John's commentary on his music, great photos by his wife
Catherine, and 29 of his best songs: Boredom * Coconut Grove * Daydream * Did You
Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind? * Do You Believe in Magic * How Have You Been * Jugband
Music * Nashville Cats * Rain on the Roof * Six O'Clock * Summer in the City * Welcome
Back * Younger Generation * and many more! In the DVD, legendary songwriter John
Sebastian guides learning guitarists through nine of his timeless songs, teaching
the arrangements and techniques that give each one its distinctive sound. He adds
insights into the music and some delightful tidbits of rock history based on four
decades of experience in the music business. Includes: Do You Believe in Magic *
Daydream * Summer in the City * Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind * Nashville
Cats * You Didn't Have to Be So Nice * Welcome Back * Younger Girl * Darling Be Home
Soon.
© All rights reserved SixtiesMusic.org
Click inside the box below for Track Listings, Reviews, Comments and Biographies.
