WHY THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL?
I love the Lovin' Spoonful's music. I always have and, since their music's been around for 40 years, I guess I always will. What an odd name when you think about it! But what great music! (the name of the group came from a line from the song "Coffee Blues" by Mississippi John Hurt, one of John Sebastian's primary mentors)
This web page is dedicated to the four original members of the group - three still alive - who produced such great music on the Top 40 for such a short time, September 1965 to November 1967.
In this page I will feature a few pictures, my memories of their music, their history and a list of what I consider their greatest songs.
I have built over 30 web sites and I can't figure out why it has taken me so long to dedicate one to one of my very favorite groups. I guess there is no answer to that. But rest assured, they have been near the top of my favorites list for these many years.
So, here it is - a site dedicated to John Sebastian (vocals,guitar), Joe Butler (vocals,drums), Steve Boone (bass and piano) and the late, great Zalman Yanovsky (guitar, vocals) - The Lovin' Spoonful!
Larry Matthews
SITE SECTIONS
An E-Mail From Steve Boone
A Spoonful of Memories
The Band's History
The Best Songs
Some Final Words.
A DVD Review and My Spoonful Memorabilia.
AN E-MAIL FROM STEVE BOONE
"Hi Larry, I came across your Lovin' Spoonful web site and I had to write and thank you for doing such a great job. It's not that others haven't tried and succeeded to one degree or another, but yours was the best I have seen. We are in the process of exploring possibilities for a definitive DVD based on the Lovin' Spoonful and it's history from the 50's on. I may want to contact you for unique info you may have if that is allright with you. Again thanks for doing such a good job. Best regards, Steve Boone"
My response: "Thank you Steve. It is an honor to hear from you and I am willing to give you any "unique" perspective I can come up with. Just let me know. Larry"
My most vivid memories of their music occured in 1967, when I was 16. My first was during a trip to Los Angeles to visit my cousin Thom in March of that year. He had a copy of "Summer in the City"/"Butchie's Tune". One night we played the hell out of both sides, over and over. I liked Butchie's Tune just as much as the flip side. I also remember that yellow Kama Sutra record label going around and around. Must have played that "45" a hundred times that night.
Another memory was in June - August of 1967. That summer I had a friend, Vern, who was a neighbor of mine in the mobile home park in which I resided in Oroville, California. He had several great albums, "Mr Tambourine Man" by the Byrds, "A Hard Days Night" by the Beatles, and "Daydream" by the Lovin' Spoonful. Even though we played all of those LP's to death, my favorite was the Spoonful album. It included "You Didn't Have To Be So Nice" and "Daydream" (still one of my favorite "fall on your face on a new mowed lawn" songs).
Another big memory of 1967 was after "Six O'Clock" came out that year. My friend John and I used to meet a couple of girls at the high school during that summer vacation. The song talked about 6 O'clock and that is the time he and I met them. Of course the song talks about 6 AM and we met them at 6 PM. Those were innocent days and nothing of any importance ever happened between we and girls. But we SURE wanted it to happen!
Even as late as December 1968, some of the tunes from the album "Daydream" provided me a music-laced background for the Christmas Formal that year. Who needs Christmas songs when you got Spoonful Music! Great memories!
- And suffice to say, when I hear these songs I think of those great memories.
CRANKSHAFT! I'M APPARENTLY NOT ALONE IN MY MEMORIES OF THE SPOONFUL!
On March 20, 2006 the comic strip CRANKSHAFT showed a memory of the Lovin' Spoonful when the character Jeff Murdoch visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and reflected on his decision to be the first in line at his record store to purchase the "Daydream" album instead of taking a college exam. The strip showed him holding the album with delight.
There was another strip on March 21st about Jeff and his girfriend going to a Spoonful concert. March 22nds strip showed Sebastian performing. On March 23rd Jeff told that, after the concert, he just had to touch the autoharp that Sebastian played during the concert.
The strip on March 25th shows them about to leave the Hall of Fame but there is Jeff holding a CD of the "Daydream" album, with the same delighted look he had in 1966 when he bought the original album. But now his look is also tinged with nostalgia.
I must say that CRANKSHAFT's writer Tom Batiuk and I must be kindred spirits. He was born in 1947 and must have been in college in 1966. Sounds like Tom is just as big a fan as I am!
I really wanted to reprint these strips right here on this web site BUT King Features Syndicate wanted (now get this!) FIFTY DOLLARS for the rights. No thanks!
BUT thanks to Tom Batiuk and his artist friend Chuck Ayers for producing this great strip, and providing me with new Spoonful memories on the 40th Anniversary of "Daydream".
THE BAND'S HISTORY
John Sebastian was a member of the Even Dozen Jug Band. He was a master at the harmonica and a wonderful song writer. Zal Yanovsky was a member of the Mugwumps with then-unknown singers Mama Cass and Denny Doherty - both later members of Mamas and Papas.
John talked to Zal about forming an American band (unlike a lot of Americans who wanted to sound British during the British Invasion in 1964). John was very impressed with Zal's lead guitar playing and his rather fun loving demeanor on stage.
Sebastian spoke of Zal, "He'd be mugging at the audience and crossing his eyes while he played, making it silly and making it funny, and taking the wind out of all those blustery guitar players. He'd play the same thing as them, only he'd cross his eyes and stick his tongue out."
They added Steve Boone and Joe Butler as the rhythm section. But Steve also brought writing talent and Joe had a great voice for vocal backgrounds and also did some lead singing on some of their better songs.
They recorded four songs for Electra records. They also were a regular act at the Nite Owl Cafe in Greenwich Village.
Their first release, "Do You Believe in Magic" was almost produced by Phil Spector. He offered but they refused and signed with Kama Sutra Records instead. Sebastian felt that Spector's records featured too much of him. What the Spoonful was doing was much more scaled down.
"Magic" was released in August 1965 and made the Top 10. The album also hit the Top 40.
Hit albums and singles followed for several years.
But all was not perfect in the Lovin' Spoonful world. In 1967, during an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show to promote their latest single, "Darling Be Home Soon", Yanovsky held a rubber frog in front of Sebastian's face as he attempted to sing. All because Sebastian had married Yanovsky's former girlfriend!
Zal and Steve Boone were also busted for possession of marijuana. Zal was threatened with deportation (he was Canadian) so he went along with a plan to name his supplier in exchange for a dismissal of the charge. The band hired his dealer an attorney but the dealer went to jail. The Spoonful was then damned as snitches by their musical contemporaries.
Zal left and Jerry Yester took his place in 1967 for the "Everything Playing" album. I just recently discovered that Jerry had played piano on the "Do You Believe In Magic" recording.
Zal did some recording in the 1970's and became a restaurateur in Kingston, Ontario. He died suddenly on December 12, 2002 of a heart attack at age 57.
The Lovin' Spoonful disbanded in 1968.
Sebastian circa 1969.
John Sebastian appeared at the Woodstock Festival (August 1969), and movie (1970) (in his blue and yellow tie-died shirt and pants). I have a DVD of Woodstock and I must say I don't think his appearance was the highlight of his career. He, of course, may have a different opinion. I seem to remember, though, that he has been quoted as having said that he doesn't remember much about his appearance. I agree that it is probably best forgotten. He did one of his more forgettable songs, "Younger Generation". Also, I have no idea what the heck he was talking about! (I suspect he doesn't either). What I do know is that his "speech" to the crowd was littered with "F bombs" and 60's hackneyed phrases like "Far Out!" BUT I have forgiven him for this performance as it was pretty obvious that he was STONED.
In 1969 and in the early '70's John produced some very decent solo albums. "She's A Lady" was a good song from one of his albums but it wasn't a hit.
In 1970 John participated in the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young album, "Deja Vu", by playing mouth harp on that song.
John also went into the studio with Jim Morrison and the Doors and recorded the great harmonica parts on their song, "Roadhouse Blues".
Perhaps his biggest accomplishment was the #1 hit record, "Welcome Back" in April 1976.
Sebastian appeared on "Married With Children" with other 60's rock icons such as Peter Noone and Mark Lindsey.
He was recently in a Time-Life Music infommercial for 1960's folk music, which included some of the Spoonful's hits.
In September 2004 John appeared on a PBS special on musical groups that had influenced The Beatles. He was very impressive describing intricate details of "Daydream" and "Do You Believe In Magic" and how they had affected Beatles music. It was great to see him and the program served to further increase my respect for him!
Jerry Yester, Steve Boone and Joe Butler still tour as the Lovin' Spoonful.
All four original members of The Lovin' Spoonful showed up on stage
for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
THE BEST SONGS
Joe, Steve, Zal and John
THE TOP 40 SONGS
DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC - #9 in September 1965
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BE SO NICE - #10 in December 1965
DAYDREAM - #2 in March 1966
DID YOU EVER HAVE TO MAKE UP YOUR MIND? - #2 in May 1966
SUMMER IN THE CITY - #1 in July 1966
RAIN ON THE ROOF - #10 in October 1966
NASHVILLE CATS - #8 in December 1966
DARLING BE HOME SOON - #15 in February 1967
SIX O'CLOCK - #18 in May 1967
SHE IS STILL A MYSTERY - #27 in November 1967
MY PERSONAL FAVORITES THAT DID NOT MAKE THE TOP 40
WILD ABOUT MY LOVIN' - from DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC album ('65)
SPORTIN' LIFE - from DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC album
YOUNGER GIRL - from DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC album
NITE OWL BLUES - from DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC album
THERE SHE IS - from DAYDREAM album ('66)
IT'S NOT TIME NOW - from DAYDREAM album
WARM BABY - from DAYDREAM album
DAY BLUES - from DAYDREAM album
JUG BAND MUSIC - from DAYDREAM album
BUTCHIE'S TUNE - from DAYDREAM album
LOVIN' YOU - from HUMS album ('66)
DARLIN COMPANION - from HUMS album
FULL MEASURE - from HUMS album
COCONUT GROVE - from HUMS album
YOU'RE A BIG BOY NOW - from YOU'RE A BIG BOY NOW soundtrack ('66)
NEVER GOIN' BACK - from REVELATION/REVOLUTION album ('69)*
Some of the above songs were later hits for other artists: "Younger Girl" for the Critters, "Lovin' You" for Bobby Darin and Johnny Cash recorded a version of "Darlin' Companion".
*This was an album by Joe Butler, using the Lovin' Spoonful name. I understand that Joe had some assistance from other Spoonful members in its production.
The Spoonful also appeared in two soundtrack albums in 1966 for the movies, WHAT'S UP TIGER LILY and YOU'RE A BIG BOY NOW.
SOME FINAL WORDS.
In my humble opinion (and I'm rarely humble), hardly anybody has ever exceeded John Sebastian's talent at writing great songs. The hits are well known as having been written very well. But some of the other album cuts show his talent for taking themes from his personal life and turning them into humorous songs. "Four Eyes" is a great example. Those of us who have worn glasses when we were kids can greatly identify. I also always wondered just how many true life experiences the songs "Jug Band Music" and "POW" were based upon.
John was one of the great song writers of all time. His intricate, detailed and personal lyrics endeared me to his music and stories. He also had a lovely voice that could calm the oceans! Just listen to "Daydream" or "Rain On The Roof" to realize just how great he sounded! But he also could "rock out" with songs like "Six O'Clock" and "Summer In The City". Either way, John is one of my favorite singers of all time.
Even though Sebastian sang lead on all of the Spoonful's hits, Joe Butler sang lead on some of my favorite album cuts. "Butchie's Tune", "There She Is", "Full Measure" and "Never Goin' Back" are some classic examples.
Zal Yanovsky was a great lead guitarist (and band comedian!). All you have to hear is how he leans into the main drive of "Summer In The City". He also was an interesting singer as "Bald Headed Lena" will attest. I always really liked his rendition of "Day Blues".
Steve Boone co-authored "You Didn't Have To Be So Nice", "Full Measure" and "Summer In The City." He's a great piano and bass player.
He did the great piano work on "Daydream".
Years ago I let my son, Alan, have all of my old albums. I don't have a record player as my last one died. But I reclaimed my old "Daydream" album from him on September 4, 2004 because I just couldn't stay away from it any longer. It's an important part of my early music years and it's great to have it and read the liner notes. How many hours did I play this album? I don't know, but every moment was a blast! By the way, this is a MONO LP! When's the last time you saw one of those? They came out in both MONO and STEREO back then and I guess I just picked the cheaper of the two.
I always considered Spoonful music to be good, solid, fun and safe. Safe because I could even play it for my parents and they could like it too. Some music from that era I could not play within earshot of my parents. I'll never forget my dad saying how much he liked Sebastian's guitar playing on "It's Not Time Now". I was amazed when he said it. But, after all, he appreciated "good" music too.
All in all, the wonderful music that the Spoonful created was a combination of the fine talents of all four of the members of the Lovin' Spoonful. We will never see the like of them again.
A DVD REVIEW AND MY SPOONFUL MEMORABILIA
I just had the pleasure of reviewing the new DVD, "Do You Believe In Magic". It came out early in 2007. I had a great time with it. John Sebastian hosts it and it covers the entire career of the Spoonful and includes a lot of their TV appearances from the era. What a rush to see the Spoonful in action! It also includes John's "Welcome Back" song and short interviews with Zal, and Denny Doherty of the Mamas and Papas. I learned a lot about Spoonful roots from it. A great video that runs about 65 minutes and really takes you back to the good old days!
My Spoonful memorabilia collection. The albums and photos are over 40 years old.
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