The Lovin' Spoonful discography | |
---|---|
Studio albums | 5 |
EPs | 8 |
Live albums | 1 |
Compilation albums | 20 |
Singles | 19 |
Soundtrack albums | 2 |
The Lovin' Spoonful is an American folk-rock band which was originally active between 1964 and 1968. [1] During their original tenure, they released five studio albums, two soundtrack albums, four compilation albums, and fourteen singles in the United States. Between October 1965 and January 1967, their first-seven singles reached the Top Ten in the United States on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 chart, [2] [3] and the magazine's 1966 end-of-year issue ranked the group as that year's third-best-performing singles artist, after the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. [4] [5] [nb 1] Though the Spoonful achieved success during the transition to the album era, they and their label remained focused on the singles market; [7] the group's 1966 album Daydream was their only studio album to break the Top Ten of the Billboard Top LPs chart, [8] and its performance was bested only by a 1967 compilation album, The Best of the Lovin' Spoonful , [8] which RIAA certified for gold that year. [9] The Spoonful saw diminished success in 1967, [10] when only two of their singles entered the top twenty in the U.S. [3] [11] Following further chart disappointments, [12] the group disbanded in 1968. [13] [nb 2]
The Lovin' Spoonful's albums and singles were originally issued by Kama Sutra Records in the United States and by Pye International Records in the United Kingdom. [18] [19] The band was not directly signed to Kama Sutra but was instead signed to Koppelman-Rubin, an entertainment company, [20] which negotiated a deal with the label in June 1965. [14] As part of the arrangement, MGM Records distributed the records, which Kama Sutra released on its label for Koppelman-Rubin. [20] [nb 3] MGM's contract with Kama Sutra expired in 1967, and Kama Sutra's leadership founded Buddah Records (later renamed Buddha), transferring their five-year deal with the Spoonful in the process. [22] [23] The band's new contract ran until 1975 and had their compensation at seven figures. [24] [nb 4] In 2023, John Sebastian, the Spoonful's primary songwriter, sold the publishing and artist royalties rights for all of his compositions to AMR Songs, an American catalog marketing company. [28]
The Lovin' Spoonful's music has been regularly collected on compilation albums. [29] In the years after the band's breakup, many of their original multi-track master-tapes were lost and presumed destroyed. [30] [31] [nb 5] The group's earliest CD reissues were instead made from the best available stereo masters, [31] leaving the material sounding substandard when compared to reissues of other 1960s music. [33] In 2000, after the first-generation master-tapes were rediscovered, Buddha issued Greatest Hits , which was the first digital remaster of the band's material. [29] [34] BMG Heritage Records, a reissue division of Sony BMG, [35] issued digital remasters of the band's first four studio albums on CD in 2002 and 2003, [36] along with previously unreleased bonus material. [37]
Year | Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
U.S. release | U.K. release | US [3] | CAN [38] [upper-alpha 1] | FIN [40] | NOR [41] | UK [42] | ||
1965 | Do You Believe in Magic |
|
| 32 | — | — | — | — |
1966 | Daydream |
|
| 10 | — | 9 | — | 8 |
Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful |
|
| 14 | 8 | — | 9 | — | |
1967 | Everything Playing |
|
| 118 | — | — | — | — |
1968 | Revelation: Revolution '69 [upper-alpha 2] |
|
| — | — | — | — | — |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
Notes
Year | Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
U.S. release | U.K. release | US [3] | |||
1966 | What's Up, Tiger Lily? |
| — | 126 | |
1967 | You're a Big Boy Now |
|
| 160 | |
"—" denotes releases that were not released in that territory. |
Year | Title | Album details |
---|---|---|
1999 | Live at the Hotel Seville |
|
Decade | Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [3] | CAN [57] | ||||
1960s | What's Shakin' [upper-alpha 1] | — | — | ||
The Best of the Lovin' Spoonful |
| 3 | 3 | ||
The Best of the Lovin' Spoonful Volume Two |
| 156 | — | ||
24 Karat Hits: A Double Dozen of All Time Best Sellers by the Lovin' Spoonful |
| — | — | ||
1970s | The Very Best of the Lovin' Spoonful |
| — | — | |
John Sebastian Song Book Vol.1 |
| — | — | ||
Once Upon a Time |
| — | — | ||
The Best ... Lovin' Spoonful |
| 183 | — | ||
The File Series | — | — | |||
1980s | Greatest Hits | — | — | ||
Distant Echoes |
| — | — | ||
The EP Collection |
| — | — | ||
The Collection |
| — | — | ||
1990s | Anthology | — | — | ||
Summer in the City |
| — | — | ||
The Very Best of the Lovin' Spoonful |
| — | — | ||
Collector's Edition |
| — | — | ||
2000s | Greatest Hits | — | — | ||
Platinum & Gold Collection | — | — | |||
Singles A's and B's |
| — | — | ||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
Notes
Year | Album | Year-end rankings | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
US [74] | ||||
1966 | Daydream | 85 | ||
1967 | The Best of the Lovin' Spoonful | 23 | ||
Year | Title [upper-alpha 1] | EP details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|---|
UK [76] | |||
1966 | Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind |
| 3 |
Jug Band Music |
| 7 | |
Summer in the City |
| — | |
1967 | Day Blues |
| — |
Nashville Cats |
| — | |
Lovin' You |
| — | |
Something in the Night |
| — | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
Notes
Year | Single details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) | Album | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [3] | AUS [82] [upper-alpha 1] | CAN [83] | FIN [40] | GER [84] | NL [85] | NOR [86] | SWE [87] | UK [42] | |||||
1965 | "Do You Believe in Magic" b/w "On the Road Again"
| 9 | — | 3 | x | x | x | x | x | — | non-album single [upper-alpha 2] | ||
"You Didn't Have to Be So Nice" b/w "My Gal" (from Do You Believe In Magic) | 10 | — | 2 | x | x | x | x | x | — | non-album single [upper-alpha 3] | |||
1966 | "Daydream" b/w "Night Owl Blues" (from Do You Believe in Magic) | 2 | — | 1 | 20 | 30 | 11 | — | 1 | 2 | Daydream | ||
"Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?" b/w "Didn't Want to Have to Do It" (from Daydream)
| 2 | — | 6 | 26 | — | 20 | 2 | 3 | x | Do You Believe in Magic | |||
"Jug Band Music" b/w "Didn't Want to Have to Do It"
| x | x | 2 | x | x | x | x | x | x | Daydream | |||
"Baldheaded Lena" b/w "On the Road Again" (from Do You Believe in Magic)
| x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 1 | x | ||||
"Summer in the City" b/w "Butchie's Tune" (from Daydream)
| 1 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 8 | non-album single [upper-alpha 8] | |||
"Rain on the Roof" b/w "Pow (Theme from 'What's Up, Tiger Lily?')"
| 10 | 31 | 12 | 28 | — | 13 | — | 11 | — | Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful | |||
"Nashville Cats" b/w "Full Measure" |
| 26 |
| 38 | — | 11 | 7 | 12 | 26 | ||||
"Good Time Music" b/w "Almost Grown"
| x | x | x | x | x | — | x | x | x | What's Shakin' | |||
1967 | "Don't Bank on It, Baby" b/w "Searchin'"
| x | x | x | x | x | — | x | x | x | |||
"Darling Be Home Soon" b/w "Darlin' Companion" (from Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful) | 15 | — | 8 | — | — | 16 | — | — | 44 | You're a Big Boy Now | |||
"Six O'Clock" b/w "The Finale" (from You're a Big Boy Now) | 18 | — | 12 | — | — | x | — | — | — | non-album single [upper-alpha 11] | |||
"She Is Still a Mystery" b/w "Only Pretty, What a Pity" | 27 | — | 3 | — | x | x | x | x | — | Everything Playing | |||
"Money" b/w "Close Your Eyes" | 48 | — | 28 | x | — | x | x | x | — | ||||
1968 | "Never Goin' Back" b/w "Forever" (from Everything Playing) | 73 | — | 49 | x | — | x | x | x | — | non-album single [upper-alpha 12] | ||
"(Till I) Run with You" b/w "Revelation: Revolution '69"
| 128 [upper-alpha 13] | — | — | x | x | x | x | x | x | Revelation: Revolution '69 | |||
1969 | "Me About You" b/w "Amazing Air"
| 91 | x | 70 | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||
1970 | "Younger Generation" [upper-alpha 15] b/w "Boredom" | — | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | John Sebastian Song Book Vol.1 | ||
2011 | "Alley Oop" [upper-alpha 16] b/w "Night Owl Blues" (unedited version)
| — | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | Do You Believe in Magic (2002 CD remaster) | ||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart. "x" denotes single not released in that territory. |
Notes
Year | Single | Year-end rankings | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
US [131] | BEL (FL) [132] | NL [133] | ||
1965 | "Do You Believe in Magic" | 89 | — | — |
1966 | "Daydream" | 38 | — | 90 |
"Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?" | 48 | — | — | |
"Summer in the City" | 35 | 87 | 19 | |
"—" denotes releases that did not rank. |
Zalman Yanovsky was a Canadian folk-rock musician and restaurateur. Born in Toronto, he was the son of political cartoonist Avrom Yanovsky and teacher Nechama Yanovsky, who died in 1958. He played lead guitar and sang for the Lovin' Spoonful, a rock band which he founded with John Sebastian in 1964.
The Lovin' Spoonful is an American folk-rock band formed in Greenwich Village, New York City, in 1964. The band were among the most popular groups in the United States for a short period in the mid-1960s and their music and image influenced many of the contemporary rock acts of their era. Beginning in July 1965 with their debut single "Do You Believe in Magic", the band had seven consecutive singles reach the Top Ten of the U.S. charts in the eighteen months that followed, including the number-two hits "Daydream" and "Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?" and the chart-topping "Summer in the City".
"Do You Believe in Magic" is a song by the American folk-rock band the Lovin' Spoonful. Written by John Sebastian, it was issued as the band's debut single in July 1965. The single peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. It later served as the title track of the band's debut album, issued that November. In 1978, Shaun Cassidy reached the Top 40 with his cover version.
Daydream is the second album by the Lovin' Spoonful, released in March 1966. It features two hits, "Daydream", which reached No. 2 in the U.S. Billboard Top 40 charts, and "You Didn't Have to Be So Nice".
Do You Believe in Magic is the debut album by the folk rock group the Lovin' Spoonful. It was released in the United States in November 1965, on the Kama Sutra label. Release in the United Kingdom followed in March 1966. The album features the hits "Do You Believe in Magic" and "Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?".
"Summer in the City" is a song by the American folk-rock band the Lovin' Spoonful. Written by John Sebastian, Mark Sebastian and Steve Boone, the song was released as a non-album single in July 1966 and was included on the album Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful later that year. The single was the Lovin' Spoonful's fifth to break the top ten in the United States, and the only one by the group to reach number one. A departure from the band's lighter sound, the recording features a harder rock style. The lyrics differ from most songs about the summer by lamenting the heat, contrasting the unpleasant warmth and noise of the daytime with the relief offered by the cool night, which allows for the nightlife to begin.
"But You're Mine" is a 1965 pop song written by Sonny Bono and recorded by the duet Sonny & Cher. The lyrics tell about a hippie couple who do not fit into the society, but who are still happy because they have each other. The song reached the top 20 in the US and the United Kingdom.
Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful is the third studio album by the American folk rock band the Lovin' Spoonful. It was released in November 1966 by Kama Sutra Records. It peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart.
You're a Big Boy Now is a soundtrack album by the Lovin' Spoonful, released in 1967, containing music from the Francis Ford Coppola film of the same name. Composed entirely by Spoonful member John Sebastian, it contains several songs performed by the band, as well as instrumental music from the film score.
What's Shakin' is a compilation album released by Elektra Records in May 1966. It features the earliest studio recordings by the Lovin' Spoonful and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, as well as the only released recordings by the ad hoc studio group Eric Clapton and the Powerhouse, until they were reissued years later.
The Best of the Lovin' Spoonful is a 1967 compilation album by the Lovin' Spoonful featuring hits and other tracks from their first three albums. It charted the highest of the group's career, hitting number three on the Billboard Top LPs chart.
"You Didn't Have to Be So Nice" is a song by the American folk-rock band the Lovin' Spoonful. Written by John Sebastian and Steve Boone, it was issued on a non-album single in November 1965. The song was the Lovin' Spoonful's second-consecutive single to enter the top ten in the United States, peaking at number ten. It was later included on the band's second album, Daydream, released in March 1966.
"Daydream" is a song by the American folk-rock band the Lovin' Spoonful. Written by John Sebastian, it was issued as a single in February 1966 and was the title track of the band's second album, Daydream, released the following month. The song was the Lovin' Spoonful's third consecutive single to enter the top ten in the United States, and it was their best performing to that point, reaching number two. The single's European release coincided with a British and Swedish promotional tour, leading the song to be the band's first major hit outside North America. It topped sales charts in Canada and Sweden, and it was ultimately the band's most successful record in the United Kingdom, where it reached number two.
"Darling Be Home Soon" is a song written by John Sebastian of the Lovin' Spoonful for the soundtrack of the 1966 Francis Ford Coppola film You're a Big Boy Now. It appeared on the Lovin' Spoonful's 1967 soundtrack album You're a Big Boy Now. Sebastian performed his composition at Woodstock; it was the fourth song out of the five he performed at the 1969 music festival in White Lake, New York.
"Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?" is a song written by John Sebastian and first released by his band the Lovin' Spoonful on their 1965 debut album Do You Believe in Magic. It was the second single released from the album and the most successful, reaching number 2 on the American Billboard charts for the week of June 11, 1966. It also reached number 2 in Canada. In New Zealand, the song charted at number 5.
Revelation: Revolution '69 is the fifth studio album by the Lovin' Spoonful, released in late 1968. Though credited to "The Lovin' Spoonful featuring Joe Butler", the album features only Butler, the band's drummer, playing with session musicians.
The Lovin' Spoonful Greatest Hits is a compilation album by the folk-rock band the Lovin' Spoonful. Released in 2000 on Buddha Records, the compilation marked the first digital remaster of the band's material taken from the original multi-track master tapes, which had been rediscovered after having been lost for decades. The album contains every Top 40 hit single enjoyed by the band in the United States including its only chart-topper, "Summer in the City." The original recordings were produced by Erik Jacobsen, and originally released on Kama Sutra Records.
"Nashville Cats" is a song by the American folk-rock band the Lovin' Spoonful. Written by John Sebastian, the song appeared on the band's 1966 album Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful, and it was also issued on a single released the same day as the album. The single peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking the seventh and final time the band reached the American Top Ten.
"Rain on the Roof" is a song by the American folk-rock band the Lovin' Spoonful. Written by John Sebastian, the song was released as a single in October 1966 and was included on the album Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful the following month. The song reached number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it the Lovin' Spoonful's sixth-consecutive single to reach the top ten in the United States.
In May 1966, Zal Yanovsky and Steve Boone of the American folk-rock band the Lovin' Spoonful were arrested in San Francisco, California, for possessing one ounce of marijuana. The Spoonful were at the height of their success, and Yanovsky, a Canadian, worried that a conviction would lead to his deportation and a breakup of the band. To avoid this eventuality, he and Boone cooperated with law enforcement, revealing their drug source to an undercover agent at a party a week after their initial arrest.
Digitally remastered from the best available stereo master tapes. Unfortunately, all efforts to locate the multitrack session tapes over the years have been unsuccessful.
A sleeve note reveals that the original multi-track tapes for the albums are lost, which explains why the sound, while good, does not exhibit the dramatic improvement that has become common on CD reissues of '60s music.
... digitally remastered for the first time from the long lost first generation master tapes.
The Lovin' Spoonful ... will be at the Autorama ... on Saturday [October 23] to sign autographs. Their first L.P. album, 'Do You Believe in Magic' will be on sale for the first time at the Autorama.
The Lovin' Spoonful's second LP titled 'Daydream' is to be released, as scheduled, tomorrow (Friday) ... [on] the Pye International label. ... The Spoonful's first LP, 'Do You Believe In Magic', was released in March.
The following records are due for release on January 27, 1967: ... THE LOVIN' SPOONUFL: 'Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful' (Kama Sutra KLP401) ...
... [The Lovin' Spoonful's] forthcoming album ... [is] out on April 5 and is called 'Everything Playing.'
... about a year ago [the group] released a new album, 'Hotel Seville.'
Recording first published May 1966.
This monthly product list includes LP's which were issued during the past several weeks and are considered as part of the manufacturers' January release. ... THE LOVIN' SPOONUFL, The Very Best of. Kama Sutra, KSBS 2013.
The record, due out on Feb. 22 ...
Lovin' Spoonful's smash American hit single 'Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind' will NOT be issued as their next single in this country. Instead it will be the title track of their new British EP which is released here by Pye on June 3.
The Lovin' Spoonful, whose 'Do You Believe in Magic' looks set for the number one spot [in America]. It is released in Britain this week.
Do You Believe in Magic (Pye Int.) ... Out tomorrow [Friday, October 1, 1965].
After breaking the Lovin' Spoonful's 'Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind' in Canada prior to its release in the U.S. ... Quality Records has another Canadian exclusive from Kama Sutra with the Lovin' Spoonful's 'Jug Band Music,' ...
Their new single, 'Summer in the City', is released on July 8 ...
Lovin' Spoonful rush release a new single next Friday, December 2. Titled 'Nashville Cats' it was written by John Sebastian and is backed with 'Full Measure'.
The Lovin' Spoonful's 'Full Measure' is a large size hit in Los Angeles, but most of the rest of the world, including England, is playing the other side, 'Nashville Cats,' which hasn't even been heard much here.
Never Going Back (Kama Sutra) ... Out tomorrow [Friday, August 23, 1968].