Competition at the top was mighty fierce in those days. With the Beatles dominating the top 10, and the Beach Boys, the Stones and Motown. Yet when I bought the Spoonfuls 40 greatest hits, I found I knew 39 of them. One was an instrumental I didn't know. They were always in the Top 20 or at worst, Top 40 somewhere. Pretty good track run, I'd say!
From the 1965 debut album, " Do You Believe in Magic", this was the 2nd single released and the most successful. Written by John Sebastian about 2 sisters from summer camp in his youth, he taught himself the autoharp to try to impress them. It didn't work. Lol. Such beautiful harmonies and charming lyrics, with fabulous instrumentation this song tore up the charts. It made it to Number 2 in Canada and Number 2 on the Billboard Top 100's, kept out of Number 1 by The Rolling Stones, " Paint It Black". Great reaction Harri, yes it's way too short. Thanks Harri and Daniel. 👏👏 Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
My wife and I were fortunate enough to enjoy an evening with John Sebastian at a small venue a few years ago. it was just him and his guitar and he kept a smile on our face the whole evening. one of my favorite songs by John Sebastian is Darling be Home Soon there's a cover of that song by the Tedeschi Trucks Band that I'm sure you would enjoy.
John Sebastian's father was an internationally famous classical harmonica player. A multi-instrumentalist due to the musical background of his family, John was a great harmonica player. If you've heard The Doors' "Roadhouse Blues," the harp solo is uncredited but was played by John (label conflicts prevented him being credited). He also plays harmonica on Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's "Deja Vu." This time, because the Lovin' Spoonful was kaput, he was properly credited. Side note: Stephen Stills wanted John in the original lineup of CS&N. Playing drums! But Sebastian declined the offer. Thanks Daniel and Harri.
This group was HUGE in the late 60's. Loved them. They also had a lot of humour in their songs. Rain on the roof, Summer in the city, She's still a mystery to me, Daydream, You didn't have to be so nice, 6 o'clock, Nashville cats. Their performance of "Do you believe in magic" on Ed Sullivan was a lot of fun!
The Lovin' Spoonful personified Americana. Great dual guitar interplay at the song's beginning. John Sebastian was a master storyteller who seldom gets his due. Thank you for this fine reaction.
Daniel - I must thank you for this submission. Both John Sebastian and The Lovin Spoonful are among my favorites of what I remember of the 70s. Very well done by you and our Master of Ceremonies, Harri. 👏👏
I hear Coasters-like goofiness in that “Better go home, son, and make up your mind” part. John Sebastian surely must have been a Leiber and Stoller fan.
I love this band, as well as John B. Sebastian’s solo stuff. These guys were popular when my mom was a youngster, so I heard these songs when I was growing up. (Usually on the “Oldies station.”). Keep this stuff coming! (There’s a reason they’re in the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame).
Try playing "Day Dream" by them. Also, John Sebastian sang "Welcome Back" the theme song to the 70s TV show "Welcome Back Kotter ". And one more fun fact; Lucy's friend, Ethal, on the 50s tv show, "I Love Lucy" was his God mother.
It was a cute song. Lots of pleasant memories of that time. I was 19/20 years old and had been in the Navy for about a year when this came out. Thanks!
Another great band from the 60's. You've done quite a few of their hits. They had so many cool songs such as "Jug Band Music", "Rain On The Roof", "Do You Believe In Magic?", "Six O'Clock", "You Baby", "Darling Be Home Soon", "Didn't Want To Have To Do It", "Coconut Grove", "She Is Still A Mystery" etc. John Sebastian was their lead singer & went solo in the 70's.
John Sebastian also wrote and sang the theme to welcome back kotter. Welcome back, your dreams were your ticket out..
This is a dilemma faced by every single man!
The loving spoonful a great group was back in 1966, and year I was born 💙😊
Summer in the City was their only number 1.
Sumner doesn't officially start until the temp hits 90 and this song is playing 😁
Competition at the top was mighty fierce in those days. With the Beatles dominating the top 10, and the Beach Boys, the Stones and Motown. Yet when I bought the Spoonfuls 40 greatest hits, I found I knew 39 of them. One was an instrumental I didn't know. They were always in the Top 20 or at worst, Top 40 somewhere. Pretty good track run, I'd say!
Also Younger Girl!
Another fun tune from The Loving Spoonful is What a day for a daydream. It will put a smile on your face.
I love it! Sebastian is a genius.
There song "nashville cats" is GREAT.
From the 1965 debut album, " Do You Believe in Magic", this was the 2nd single released and the most successful. Written by John Sebastian about 2 sisters from summer camp in his youth, he taught himself the autoharp to try to impress them. It didn't work. Lol.
Such beautiful harmonies and charming lyrics, with fabulous instrumentation this song tore up the charts. It made it to Number 2 in Canada and Number 2 on the Billboard Top 100's, kept out of Number 1 by The Rolling Stones, " Paint It Black". Great reaction Harri, yes it's way too short. Thanks Harri and Daniel. 👏👏 Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
This is why I love reading the comments. Never knew this. Hello from a fellow 🇨🇦
@heatherbegs Thanks Heather. 👍✌️🎶🇨🇦
In those days any song in the top 40 was fantastic because those tunes had to be great to compete with the likes of Motown, and the British Invasion.
My wife and I were fortunate enough to enjoy an evening with John Sebastian at a small venue a few years ago. it was just him and his guitar and he kept a smile on our face the whole evening. one of my favorite songs by John Sebastian is Darling be Home Soon there's a cover of that song by the Tedeschi Trucks Band that I'm sure you would enjoy.
Yes! Love that one, too, so I’ll check out the Tedeschi Trucks Band cover. Thanks. I saw John Sebastian alone in 1972, and he was terrific!
My sister dated Sal and John sang "Your a Big Boy Now" at my 13th birthday
Lead singer John Sebastian sung Welcome back.
John Sebastian's father was an internationally famous classical harmonica player. A multi-instrumentalist due to the musical background of his family, John was a great harmonica player. If you've heard The Doors' "Roadhouse Blues," the harp solo is uncredited but was played by John (label conflicts prevented him being credited). He also plays harmonica on Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's "Deja Vu." This time, because the Lovin' Spoonful was kaput, he was properly credited. Side note: Stephen Stills wanted John in the original lineup of CS&N. Playing drums! But Sebastian declined the offer. Thanks Daniel and Harri.
Thanks John for your kind and infotmative comments. 👍🙃🇨🇦🇺🇸🇬🇧🤴
This group was HUGE in the late 60's. Loved them. They also had a lot of humour in their songs. Rain on the roof, Summer in the city, She's still a mystery to me, Daydream, You didn't have to be so nice, 6 o'clock, Nashville cats. Their performance of "Do you believe in magic" on Ed Sullivan was a lot of fun!
I belive, I first heard this song chorus in a 70s Canadian TV commercial for Labatts' beer between Labatt's Blue and Labatt's Blue Light
Lovin Spoonful was summertime music! Such good stuff.
This song had a lot more meaning when it came out and I was in high school.
The Lovin' Spoonful personified Americana. Great dual guitar interplay at the song's beginning. John Sebastian was a master storyteller who seldom gets his due. Thank you for this fine reaction.
Brilliant band,so underrated,they made some really great stuff
You should try ‘You didn’t have to be so nice’
Wonderful lyrics and a choral arrangement like floating candy.
Two beauties in a hot tub. Just add your Lovin' Spoonful to decide for you?😂
Jon Sebastian did a cover of this with The Mona Lisa Twins recently, it's very funny
Another great Daniel song. Hope you are feeling better now. Thanks Daniel and Harri.
Thanks Cyn , You always brighten my day. 🇨🇦👍🙃🇺🇸🤴🇬🇧
Thanks for this Daniel! The Lovin Spoonful always sounded comforting to me and still do. Great review from Harri too 🌺✌️
Heard them fall of ‘66 not long after their big hit Summer in the City. Quite chill, good folk rock.
Daniel - I must thank you for this submission. Both John Sebastian and The Lovin Spoonful are among my favorites of what I remember of the 70s. Very well done by you and our Master of Ceremonies, Harri. 👏👏
Great request, Daniel Volk! Love this song!
There’s also a great “cover” by John Sebastian with the Mona Lisa Twins from 2018.
Thanks doplinger for the kind comments.👍🙃🇨🇦🇺🇸🇬🇧🤴
you should really listen to record front and back it one of my favorites Do You Believe in Magic tfs
Love it. Thanks!
I agree. This song is brilliant. A masterpiece. One of their best . Zal is the lead guitarist. Underrated.
I hear Coasters-like goofiness in that “Better go home, son, and make up your mind” part. John Sebastian surely must have been a Leiber and Stoller fan.
I love this band, as well as John B. Sebastian’s solo stuff. These guys were popular when my mom was a youngster, so I heard these songs when I was growing up. (Usually on the “Oldies station.”). Keep this stuff coming! (There’s a reason they’re in the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame).
The lead sing sang the into to Welcome Back Karter.
So many great songs by the Spoonful!
Would love to hear your reaction to the David Crosby/Phil Collins collab song "HERO". The world lost a legend When David passed.
John Sebastian was a master at poignant and whimsical songs.
"Daydream " is one of my favorite Lovin Spoonful songs. "Nashville Cats" is a fun one.😊
I remember when this group was popular.
Always liked this song. I get a kick out of the end of it where he likes both sisters and dad isn't having it. lol.
🥰🥰🥰
@danielvolk absolute gem. I didn't know it was the spoonful
This is my favorite of theirs
Heard this song a number of times over the years in various TV commercials
"Nashville Cats" is a must from Lovin Spoonfull. John Sebastion is a great writer.
John did the autoharp solo in the late great Randy Van Warmer's beautiful song "Just when I needed you most."
Good Song Harri ☺
I have always liked this song. Radio play and also used for TV commercials. Nice choice Daniel!! 👍
Thanks pal for the nice comments. Great reaction Harri. 🙃👍🇨🇦🇺🇸🇬🇧🤴
Try playing "Day Dream" by them. Also, John Sebastian sang "Welcome Back" the theme song to the 70s TV show "Welcome Back Kotter ". And one more fun fact; Lucy's friend, Ethal, on the 50s tv show, "I Love Lucy" was his God mother.
It was a cute song. Lots of pleasant memories of that time. I was 19/20 years old and had been in the Navy for about a year when this came out. Thanks!
I guess we're about the same age. I was in the Air Force stationed in Alaska and hearing this threw me right back into that barracks room.
😍😍
I have their Greatest Hits album on constantly ❤
A Sam Cooke version would really have been interesting! Nice call, Harri.
Damn fine band, tho. Saw them live in the Tulane gym in ‘66 or ‘67.
Another great band from the 60's. You've done quite a few of their hits. They had so many cool songs such as "Jug Band Music", "Rain On The Roof", "Do You Believe In Magic?", "Six O'Clock", "You Baby", "Darling Be Home Soon", "Didn't Want To Have To Do It", "Coconut Grove", "She Is Still A Mystery" etc. John Sebastian was their lead singer & went solo in the 70's.
Think we’re due another Slade reaction….Noddy’s fav Far Far Away or the slower Everyday maybe
I understand John Sebastian grew up to become Marilyn Manson
Here's John covering himself - czcams.com/video/GH3bgLY0TnQ/video.html