The Lovin' Spoonful Albums (6)
'Live at the Hotel Seville'
Release Date 11/2/1999
Tracks 15
Label Varese
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What The Critics Say
A live recording of the 90s version of the Spoonful, minus original members John Sebastian and Zal Yanovsky. In the true 90s comeback tradition, this features live, acoustic versions of the group's biggest hits with Steve Boone, Joe Butler and Jerry Yester (who replaced Yanovsky) still aboard. In between the hits--all of them benefiting from this laid back, acoustic approach--are some nice blues and old rock'n'roll numbers to spice things up. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide
'Revelation Revolution '69'
Release Date 1/1/1969
Tracks 13
Label Kama Sutra
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What The Critics Say
The band is billed here as "the Lovin' Spoonful Featuring Joe Butler." Just when everybody had written them off after Sebastian's departure, this flawed gem came out of left field. Butler's smooth voice had graced a few tracks on all of the past LPs, in addition to having a few of his own tunes included. He comes into his own here, but unfortunately, his three originals are the weakest songs on the LP, especially the ultra-hip sound collage "War Games." However, the great pop team of Bonner and Gordon came up with three strong tunes, including the hit "Me About You" (previously done by The Turtles) and the fine "(Till I) Run with You" (the title of the LP as written on the label), with John Stewart supplying the best track, the gorgeous "Never Going Back." ~ Gary Mollica, All Music Guide
'Everything Playing'
Release Date 1/1/1967
Tracks 11
Label Kama Sutra
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What The Critics Say
The Lovin' Spoonful's fourth album, Everything Playing, was made under trying circumstances. Musically, the Sgt. Pepper/Summer of Love era had made the Spoonful's good-time, jugband approach obsolete, and chief songwriter John Sebastian had to try to keep up. Personally, the group had suffered the disaster of a drug bust that resulted in the departure of lead guitarist Zal Yanovsky, who was replaced in August 1967 by Jerry Yester. Despite these problems, Sebastian was able to turn out a good album paced by its three Top 40 hits, "Six O'Clock," "She Is Still a Mystery," and the deceptively comic "Money," in which he castigated financial aspects of the music industry. Also excellent were "Boredom" and "Younger Generation," which Sebastian later would sing at Woodstock. When Sebastian wasn't at the mic, the singing could be mediocre, and the group was often all over the map in its attempt at musical sophistication, but the record was saved by Sebastian's writing and singing. Then he too jumped ship. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
'You're a Big Boy Now'
Release Date 1/1/1967
Tracks 14
Label Kama Sutra
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What The Critics Say
Director Francis Ford Coppola hired Lovin' Spoonful leader John Sebastian to compose music for his romantic comedy, You're a Big Boy Now, and Sebastian brought his band in to perform many of the songs, including the ballad "Darling Be Home Soon," which became The Spoonful's next hit. Most of the rest of the score consisted of instrumentals, many augmented by an uncredited orchestra, but Sebastian's title song was also impressive. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
'Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful'
Release Date 1/1/1966
Tracks 15
Label Buddah
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What The Critics Say
Having released two previous albums and a soundtrack, along with a stream of singles, over the previous 12 and a half months, the Lovin' Spoonful assembled their third regular studio LP, Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful, for release around Thanksgiving 1966. It contained the group's chart-topping single from the previous June, "Summer in the City," along with September's Top Ten hit "Rain on the Roof" (curiously titled "You and Me and Rain on the Roof" on the LP). Released simultaneously with the album and included on it were the two songs from the next single, "Nashville Cats," which became the band's seventh consecutive Top Ten entry, and "Full Measure," a B-side featuring drummer Joe Butler on lead vocals that scraped into the singles chart. Those were the money songs, although Bobby Darin discovered the leadoff track, "Lovin' You," and quickly covered it for a Top 40 hit, and the moody "Coconut Grove," a tribute to Fred Neil, would become a permanent part of Spoonful leader John Sebastian's repertoire in his solo career. An emphasis on the parts of the album is a way of describing it as more a loose collection of disparate tracks than a unified effort, despite Sebastian's hand in all the compositions and his lead vocals on most of them. This was by necessity, but also by design, since Sebastian and co. went into the studio trying to sound completely different each time. They often succeeded: Except for the vocal similarity, the rock band playing "Summer in the City" and the caustic, autobiographical "4 Eyes" doesn't sound much like the country unit picking its way through "Lovin' You" and "Nashville Cats." Sebastian may have been an obvious New Yorker (those "yellow Sun records" were from Memphis, not Nashville), but that didn't keep him from expressing his musical passions effectively. The 2003 Sundazed LP reissue added four demos, instrumental tracks, and alternate versions of songs from the album. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
'Do You Believe in Magic'
Release Date 1/1/1965
Tracks 12
Label Kama Sutra
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What The Critics Say
By the time of its release, the Lovin' Spoonful's debut album was already a significant record because of the inclusion of its title track, John Sebastian's timeless anthem to love and music, which had been one of the major hits of the summer of 1965. The album elaborated upon Sebastian's gentle, winning songwriting style with the humorous "Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind," which was released as a single in the spring of 1966 and became another Spoonful hit, and the wistful "Younger Girl," which became a chart hit for the Critters. The album also revealed the group's jug band roots in its arrangements of traditional songs like "Fishin' Blues" and "Wild About My Lovin'" and revealed that lead guitarist Zal Yanovsky and drummer Joe Butler, while not quite in Sebastian's league, were good singers as well. The Spoonful would be remembered as a vehicle for Sebastian's songwriting, but Do You Believe in Magic was a well-rounded collection that demonstrated their effectiveness as a group. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
