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New York native John Sebastian fused pop and folk when he joined with Zal Yanovsky, Steve Boone and Joe Butler as The Lovin’ Spoonful.  Over an eighteen-month period beginning in the summer of 1965, the band notched seven consecutive top ten hits on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 including two which reached No. 2 (“Daydream” and “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind” and one which hit the top spot (“Summer in the City”).  Though the original group’s time together was short-lived, the music has lived on, and a lineup with founding member Boone still tours today.  On March 27, Cherry Red’s Strawberry imprint will celebrate the Spoonful legacy with What a Day for a Daydream: The Complete Recordings 1965-1969.  This 7CD box set brings together all of the band’s albums originally released between 1965 and 1969 including two soundtracks, Zal Yanovsky’s lone solo record, and tracks from the Elektra compilation What’s Shakin’.  The core albums are presented in mono and stereo, and the set also appends the bonus tracks which originally appeared on the 2002-2003 BMG Heritage/Buddha reissues.

The Lovin’ Spoonful quickly established a knack for “good time music” with its very first album, November 1965’s Do You Believe in Magic.   The Kama Sutra album yielded the hit title track (U.S. No. 9) and “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind” (No. 2), both penned by Sebastian.  Daydream followed just a few months later in March 1966, featuring another smash hit title track (No. 2) as well as “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice” (No. 9), the latter co-written by Sebastian and Boone.  While Magic had featured only five original songs alongside an array of traditional tunes and covers, Daydream consisted of all originals written or co-written by Sebastian except for one.

The band followed Daydream with the soundtrack to What’s Up, Tiger Lily?, an unusual spy spoof from writer-director Woody Allen.  For Tiger Lily, Allen re-cut a Japanese spy film, overdubbing new dialogue and in the process turning the original film into the story of a search for the world’s best egg salad recipe!  Sebastian and the band were tapped to provide the score to the kooky romp.  The band returned in full force in November 1966 for Hums of The Lovin’ Spoonful.  This time out, the Spoonful diversified its style, offering up a stew of pop, folk, blues, country and jug band music.  The driving pop-rock of “Summer in the City” earned the group their only No. 1 hit; “Rain on the Roof” and “Nashville Cats” also made the Billboard Top 10.  The songs proved attractive to other artists, with Bobby Darin, Johnny and June Carter Cash, and Flatt and Scruggs all having successes with tracks from Hums.

Unfortunately, Hums ended up being the final proper album from the original quartet.  Next up for the band was another soundtrack.  The score to writer-director Francis Ford Coppola’s second film, You’re a Big Boy Now, was penned entirely by Sebastian.  It yielded the attractive, much-covered ballad “Darling Be Home Soon” and an attractive title song.  Then in fall 1967 came Everything Playing.  By the time of its recording, Zal Yanovsky had left the band to be replaced by Jerry Yester.  By the following year’s Revelation: Revolution ’69, Sebastian had departed, too, with the group reduced to a trio and Joe Butler assuming the lead role.

The upcoming box rounds out the Spoonful story with their earliest studio recordings which first appeared on the 1966 Elektra compilation What’s Shakin’ alongside tracks by Al Kooper, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and Eric Clapton.  The set concludes with Zal Yanovsky’s quirky 1968 solo set Alive and Well in Argentina (recorded after he retreated to his native Canada in the wake of a pot bust) with both sides of his Jack Nitzsche-produced, Alan Gordon and Garry Bonner-written single for Buddha added.

What a Day for a Daydream: The Complete Recordings 1965-1969 has been mastered by Alec Palao.  It’s due from Cherry Red/Strawberry on March 27.  You’ll find pre-order links below.  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The Lovin’ Spoonful, What a Day for a Daydream: The Complete Recordings 1965-1969 (Cherry Red/Strawberry CR7JAMBX57, 2026) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada/ Cherry Red)

CD 1

Do You Believe In Magic (Stereo / Mono)

The Stereo Album (Kama Sutra KLPS 8050, 1965)

1. Do You Believe In Magic (stereo)
2. Blues In The Bottle (stereo)
3. Sportin’ Life (stereo)
4. My Gal (stereo)
5. You Baby (stereo)
6. Fishin’ Blues (stereo)
7. Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind (stereo)
8. Wild About My Lovin’ (stereo)
9. Other Side Of This Life (stereo)
10. Younger Girl (stereo)
11. On The Road Again (stereo)
12. Night Owl Blues (stereo)

The Mono Album (Kama Sutra KLP 8050, 1965)

13. Do You Believe In Magic (mono)
14. Blues In The Bottle (mono)
15. Sportin’ Life (mono)
16. My Gal (mono)
17. You Baby (mono)
18. Fishin’ Blues (mono)
19. Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind (mono)
20. Wild About My Lovin’ (mono)
21. Other Side Of This Life (mono)
22. Younger Girl (mono)
23. On The Road Again (mono)
24. Night Owl Blues (mono)

Bonus Tracks

25. Alley Oop
26. Younger Girl (demo version)
27. Blues In The Bottle (alternative take)
28. Wild About My Lovin’ (alternative take)
29. Other Side Of This Life (alternative instrumental)
30. Night Owl Blues (complete take)

Tracks 25-29 from Do You Believe in Magic, Buddha CD 74465 99730 2, 2002

Track 30 from Daydream, Buddha CD 74465 99731 2, 2002

CD 2

Daydream (Stereo /Mono)

The Stereo Album (Kama Sutra KLPS 8051, 1966)

1. Daydream (stereo)
2. There She Is (stereo)
3. It’s Not Time Now (stereo)
4. Warm Baby (stereo)
5. Day Blues (stereo)
6. Let The Boy Rock And Roll (stereo)
7. Jug Band Music (stereo)
8. Didn’t Want To Have To Do It (stereo)
9. You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice (stereo)
10. Bald Headed Lena (stereo)
11. Butchie’s Tune (stereo)
12. Big Noise From Speonk (stereo)

The Mono Album (Kama Sutra KLP 8051, 1966)

13. Daydream (mono)
14. There She Is (mono)
15. It’s Not Time Now (mono)
16. Warm Baby (mono)
17. Day Blues (mono)
18. Let The Boy Rock And Roll (mono)
19. Jug Band Music (mono)
20. Didn’t Want To Have To Do It (mono)
21. You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice (mono)
22. Bald Headed Lena (mono)
23. Butchie’s Tune (mono)
24. Big Noise From Speonk (mono)

Bonus Tracks

25. Didn’t Want To Have To Do It (demo version)
26. Jug Band Music (alternative instrumental version)
27. Daydream (demo version)

Tracks 25-27 from Daydream, Buddha CD 74465 99731 2, 2002

CD 3

The Lovin’ Spoonful In ‘What’s Up Tiger Lily?’ Original Soundtrack (Kama Sutra KLPS 8053, 1967)

1. Introduction To Flick (dialogue by Woody Allen and Lenny Maxwell) (stereo)
2. Pow (Theme From What’s Up Tiger Lily?) (stereo)
3. Gray Prison Blues (stereo)
4. Pow Revisited (stereo)
5. Unconscious Minuet (stereo)
6. Fishin’ Blues (stereo)
7. Respoken (stereo)
8. A Cool Million (stereo)
9. Speaking Of Spoken (stereo)
10. Lookin’ To Spy (stereo)
11. Phil’s Love Theme (stereo)
12. End Title (stereo)

You’re A Big Boy Now: Original Soundtrack (Stereo) (Kama Sutra KLPS 8058, 1967)

13. You’re A Big Boy Now (stereo)
14. Lonely (Amy’s Theme) (stereo)
15. Wash Her Away (From The Discotheque) (stereo)
16. Kite Chase (stereo)
17. Try And Be Happy (stereo)
18. Peep Show Percussion (stereo)
19. Girl, Beautiful Girl (Barbara’s Theme) (stereo)
20. Darling Be Home Soon (stereo)
21. Dixieland Big Boy (stereo)
22. Letter To Barbara (stereo)
23. Barbara’s Theme (From The Discotheque) (stereo)
24. Miss Thing’s Thang (stereo)
25. March (stereo)
26. The Finale (stereo)

Bonus Track

27. Fishin’ Blues (alternative instrumental version)

Track 27 from Daydream, Buddha CD 74465 99731 2, 2002

CD 4

Hums Of The Lovin’ Spoonful (Stereo / Mono)

The Stereo Album (Kama Sutra KLPS 8054, 1966)

1. Lovin’ You (stereo)
2. Bes’ Friends (stereo)
3. Voodoo In My Basement (stereo)
4. Darlin’ Companion (stereo)
5. Henry Thomas (stereo)
6. Full Measure (stereo)
7. Rain On The Roof (stereo)
8. Coconut Grove (stereo)
9. Nashville Cats (stereo)
10. 4 Eyes (stereo)
11. Summer In The City (stereo)

The Mono Album (Kama Sutra KLP 8054, 1966)

12. Lovin’ You (mono)
13. Bes’ Friends (mono)
14. Voodoo In My Basement (mono)
15. Darlin’ Companion (mono)
16. Henry Thomas (mono)
17. Full Measure (mono)
18. Rain On The Roof (mono)
19. Coconut Grove (mono)
20. Nashville Cats (mono)
21. 4 Eyes (mono)
22. Summer In The City (mono)

Bonus Tracks

23. Darlin’ Companion (John Sebastian solo demo version)
24. Rain On The Roof (instrumental)
25. 4 Eyes (alternative extended version)
26. Full Measure (instrumental)
27. Voodoo In My Basement (instrumental)
28. Darlin’ Companion (alternative vocal version)

Tracks 23-28 from Hums of The Lovin’ Spoonful, Buddha CD 74465 99732 2, 2003

CD 5

Everything Playing (Stereo / Mono)

The Stereo Album (Kama Sutra KLPS 8061, 1967)

1. She Is Still A Mystery (stereo)
2. Priscilla Millionaira (stereo)
3. Boredom (stereo)
4. Six O’Clock (stereo)
5. Forever (stereo)
6. Younger Generation (stereo)
7. Money (stereo)
8. Old Folks (stereo)
9. Only Pretty, What A Pity (stereo)
10. Try A Little Bit (stereo)
11. Close Your Eyes (stereo)

The Mono Album (Kama Sutra KLP 8061, 1967)

12. She Is Still A Mystery (mono)
13. Priscilla Millionaira (mono)
14. Boredom (mono)
15. Six O’Clock (mono)
16. Forever (mono)
17. Younger Generation (mono)
18. Money (mono)
19. Old Folks (mono)
20. Only Pretty, What A Pity (mono)
21. Try A Little Bit (mono)
22. Close Your Eyes (mono)

Bonus Tracks

23. She Is Still A Mystery (alternative version)
24. Only Pretty, What A Pity (alternative version)
25. Try A Little Bit (alternative version)

Tracks 23-25 from Everything Playing, Buddha CD 74465 99733 2, 2003

CD 6

The Lovin’ Spoonful (Featuring Joe Butler) – Revelation: Revolution ’69 (Stereo) (Kama Sutra KLPS 8073, 1969)

1. Amazing Air
2. Never Going Back
3. The Prophet4. Only Yesterday
4. War Games
5. (Till I) Run With You
6. Jug Of Wine
7. Revelation: Revolution ’69
8. Me About You
9. Words

Bonus Tracks (from Original Album Classics, Legacy 8869101362, 2011)

10. Revelation: Revolution ’69 (mono single version) (mono version of Kama Sutra single KA 251, 1969)
11. Revelation: Revolution ’69 (stereo single version, alternative vocal) (Kama Sutra single KA 251, 1969)
12. Me About You (mono single version) (Kama Sutra single KA 255, 1969)

What’s Shakin’? (Stereo / Mono) (Elektra EKS-74002/EKL-4002, 1966)

13. Good Time Music (stereo)
14. Almost Grown (stereo)
15. Don’t Bank On It Baby (stereo)
16. Searchin’ (stereo)
17. Good Time Music (mono)
18. Almost Grown (mono)
19. Don’t Bank On It Baby (mono)
20. Searchin’ (mono)

CD 7

Zalman Yanovsky – Alive And Well In Argentina (Buddah BDS 5019, 1968)

1. Raven In A Cage
2. You Talk Too Much
3. Last Date
4. Little Bitty Pretty One
5. Alive And Well In Argentina
6. Brown To Blue
7. Pricilla Millionaira
8. I Almost Lost My Mind
9. Hip Toad
10. Schtinckhausen
11. As Long As You’re Here
12. Ereh Er’uoy Sa Gnol Sa

Tracks 11-12 from Buddah single BDA 12, 1967