Music Metrics Vault

The Lovin' Spoonful

Data updated on 2024-12-04 23:40:45 UTC
Right on the tails of the Beau Brummels and the Byrds, the Lovin' Spoonful were among the first American groups to challenge the domination of the British Invasion bands in the mid-'60s. Between mid-1965 and the end of 1967, the group was astonishingly successful, issuing one classic hit single after another, including "Do You Believe in Magic?," "You Didn't Have to Be So Nice," "Daydream," "Summer in the City," "Rain on the Roof," "Nashville Cats," and "Six O'Clock." Like most of the folk-rockers, the Lovin' Spoonful were more pop and rock than folk. Much more than the Byrds, and even more than the Mamas & the Papas, the Spoonful exhibited a brand of unabashedly melodic, cheery, and good-time music, though their biggest single, the chart-topping "Summer in the City," was uncharacteristically riff-driven and hard-driving.

Leader and principal songwriter John Sebastian was a young veteran of the Greenwich Village folk scene when he formed the band in 1965 with Zal Yanovsky, who'd already played primitive folk-rock of a sort with future members of the Mamas & the Papas in the Mugwumps. Sebastian already had some recording experience under his belt, playing harmonica (his father was a virtuoso classical harmonica player) on sessions by folkies like Tom Rush and Fred Neil. The Spoonful were rounded out by Steve Boone on bass and Joe Butler on drums. After some tentative interest from Phil Spector (who considered producing them), they ended up signing with Kama Sutra. Sebastian's autoharp (which would also decorate several subsequent tracks) helped propel "Do You Believe in Magic?" into the Top Ten in late 1965.

The Lovin' Spoonful were torn asunder by a drug bust in 1967. Boone and Yanovsky were arrested in California for marijuana possession, and evidently got out of trouble by turning in their source. This didn't sit well with the burgeoning counterculture, which called for a boycott of Spoonful product, although the effect on their sales may have been overestimated; most of the people who bought Spoonful records were average teenage Americans, not hippies. Yanovsky left the band in mid-1967, to be replaced by Jerry Yester, former producer of the Association.

The band had a few more minor hits but couldn't survive the loss of John Sebastian, who effectively closed the chapter by leaving in 1968, although the group continued on briefly under the helm of Butler. Sebastian went on to success as a singer/songwriter in the 1970s. Live at the Hotel Seville, the first new Lovin' Spoonful album in three decades, was released in 1999. ~ Richie Unterberger, Rovi

Total plays

985.0 million
Updated on 2024-12-04

Country

United States

Monthly listeners

2,082,196

Followers

520,328

Top Cities

  1. United Kingdom
    24,645 listeners
  2. Australia
    27,473 listeners
  3. United States
    21,584 listeners
  4. Australia
    24,141 listeners
  5. United States
    21,247 listeners

Related artists

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Do You Believe in Magic?
Do You Believe in Magic?
183,300,241 2:06 1965-01-01
Do You Believe in Magic (Bleeker Street Version)
Do You Believe in Magic (Bleeker Street Version)
183,300,241 2:05 2019-04-05
Do You Believe In Magic
Do You Believe In Magic
183,300,241 2:06 2023-10-27
Summer in the City - Remastered
Summer in the City - Remastered
132,592,359 2:40 1965-01-01
Summer In The City
Summer In The City
132,592,359 2:44 2014-01-01
Daydream
Daydream
63,968,076 2:19 1965-01-01
(Till I) Run With You
(Till I) Run With You
11,206,473 1:54 1969-01-01
Darling Be Home Soon
Darling Be Home Soon
9,115,701 3:34 1965-01-01
You Didn't Have To Be So Nice
You Didn't Have To Be So Nice
6,785,672 2:26 1965-01-01
You Didn't Have to Be so Nice
You Didn't Have to Be so Nice
6,785,672 2:30 1982-01-01
You Didnt Have To Be So Nice
You Didnt Have To Be So Nice
6,785,672 2:27 2023-10-27
Butchie's Tune
Butchie's Tune
5,530,138 2:35 1966-01-01
Butchies Tune
Butchies Tune
5,530,138 2:40 2023-10-27
Did You Ever Have to Make up Your Mind?
Did You Ever Have to Make up Your Mind?
5,356,766 1:59 1965-01-01
Coconut Grove - 2003 Remaster
Coconut Grove - 2003 Remaster
5,133,944 2:41 1965-01-01
Nashville Cats - 2003 Remaster
Nashville Cats - 2003 Remaster
3,608,403 2:34 1965-01-01
Didn't Want To Have To Do It
Didn't Want To Have To Do It
3,355,137 2:36 1966-01-01
Rain On The Roof - 2003 Remaster
Rain On The Roof - 2003 Remaster
2,381,206 2:11 1965-01-01
You And Me And Rain On The Roof
You And Me And Rain On The Roof
2,381,206 2:14 2000-03-24
RAIN ON THE ROOF
RAIN ON THE ROOF
2,381,206 2:14 2021-06-25
Rain on the Roof
Rain on the Roof
2,381,206 2:15 2023-10-27
Warm Baby
Warm Baby
2,374,513 2:00 1965-01-01
Lovin' You - 2003 Remaster
Lovin' You - 2003 Remaster
1,535,704 2:27 1966-01-01
(Sittin' Here) Lovin' You
(Sittin' Here) Lovin' You
1,535,704 2:30 2000-03-24
Darlin' Companion - 2003 Remaster
Darlin' Companion - 2003 Remaster
1,421,224 2:20 1966-01-01
Younger Girl
Younger Girl
1,412,026 2:17 1965-01-01
Younger Generation - 2003 Remaster
Younger Generation - 2003 Remaster
1,069,611 2:40 1967-01-01
Jug Band Music
Jug Band Music
1,053,866 2:50 1966-01-01
It's Not Time Now
It's Not Time Now
953,286 2:46 1966-01-01
Night Owl Blues
Night Owl Blues
757,094 3:01 1965-01-01
Six O'Clock - 2003 Remaster
Six O'Clock - 2003 Remaster
523,234 2:41 1965-01-01
Six O'clock
Six O'clock
523,234 2:44 2018-08-21
Sportin' Life
Sportin' Life
508,666 4:04 1965-01-01
She Is Still A Mystery - 2003 Remaster
She Is Still A Mystery - 2003 Remaster
498,448 2:59 1965-01-01
She's Still A Mystery
She's Still A Mystery
498,448 3:02 2000-03-24
Wild About My Lovin'
Wild About My Lovin'
460,232 2:34 1965-01-01
Never Going Back
Never Going Back
457,871 2:52 1969-01-01
The Prophet
The Prophet
447,996 2:48 1969-01-01
Fishin' Blues
Fishin' Blues
435,019 1:59 1965-01-01
Fishin Blues
Fishin Blues
435,019 2:02 2023-10-27
There She Is
There She Is
423,809 1:55 1966-01-01
Blues In The Bottle
Blues In The Bottle
409,116 2:11 1965-01-01
Blues in the Bottle
Blues in the Bottle
409,116 2:11 2023-10-27
Voodoo In My Basement - 2003 Remaster
Voodoo In My Basement - 2003 Remaster
376,006 2:27 1966-01-01
Lonely - Instrumental
Lonely - Instrumental
343,564 3:21 1967-01-01
My Gal
My Gal
309,740 2:35 1965-01-01
You Baby
You Baby
295,995 2:54 1965-01-01
Full Measure - 2003 Remaster
Full Measure - 2003 Remaster
286,676 2:40 1966-01-01
Bald Headed Lena
Bald Headed Lena
284,410 2:22 1966-01-01
On The Road Again
On The Road Again
280,834 1:50 1965-01-01
Amazing Air
Amazing Air
257,466 2:53 1969-01-01
Day Blues
Day Blues
255,941 3:12 1966-01-01
Money - 2003 Remaster
Money - 2003 Remaster
251,153 1:53 1967-01-01
Only Yesterday
Only Yesterday
245,984 2:46 1969-01-01
Let The Boy Rock 'N' Roll
Let The Boy Rock 'N' Roll
217,131 2:31 1965-01-01
Revelation: Revolution '69
Revelation: Revolution '69
210,731 2:23 1969-01-01
The Other Side Of This Life
The Other Side Of This Life
198,151 2:28 1965-01-01
You're A Big Boy Now
You're A Big Boy Now
197,671 2:32 1967-01-01
Bes' Friends - 2003 Remaster
Bes' Friends - 2003 Remaster
190,320 1:53 1966-01-01
Rain On The Roof - Previously Unreleased Instrumental
Rain On The Roof - Previously Unreleased Instrumental
189,809 2:15 1966-01-01
4 Eyes - 2003 Remaster
4 Eyes - 2003 Remaster
189,731 2:51 1966-01-01
Big Noise From Speonk
Big Noise From Speonk
164,429 2:17 1966-01-01
Pow
Pow
156,141 2:26 1967-01-01
POW
POW
156,141 2:25 2023-10-27
Henry Thomas - 2003 Remaster
Henry Thomas - 2003 Remaster
153,087 1:43 1966-01-01
Boredom - 2003 Remaster
Boredom - 2003 Remaster
150,220 2:23 1967-01-01
Darlin' Companion - Previously Unreleased Alternate Vocal/Alternate Mix
Darlin' Companion - Previously Unreleased Alternate Vocal/Alternate Mix
128,091 2:26 1966-01-01
Alley Oop - Previously Unreleased - Mono Version
Alley Oop - Previously Unreleased - Mono Version
122,722 2:15 1965-01-01
Didn't Want To Have To Do It - Demo Version/Previously Unreleased
Didn't Want To Have To Do It - Demo Version/Previously Unreleased
118,628 2:47 1966-01-01
Daydream - Demo Version/Previously Unreleased
Daydream - Demo Version/Previously Unreleased
116,162 3:18 1966-01-01
Jug Band Music - Alternate Instrumental Version/Previously Unreleased
Jug Band Music - Alternate Instrumental Version/Previously Unreleased
115,425 2:52 1966-01-01
Younger Girl - Alternate Take/Previously Unreleased Demo Version
Younger Girl - Alternate Take/Previously Unreleased Demo Version
114,730 2:38 1965-01-01
Me About You
Me About You
100,230 3:48 1969-01-01
Forever - 2003 Remaster
Forever - 2003 Remaster
92,606 4:22 1967-01-01
Fishin' Blues - Alternate Take/Previously Unreleased
Fishin' Blues - Alternate Take/Previously Unreleased
90,969 2:30 1966-01-01
Night Owl Blues - Alternate Take/Previously Unreleased
Night Owl Blues - Alternate Take/Previously Unreleased
90,304 4:40 1966-01-01
Jug Of Wine
Jug Of Wine
87,903 2:46 1969-01-01
4 Eyes - Previously Unreleased Alternate Vocal/Extended Version
4 Eyes - Previously Unreleased Alternate Vocal/Extended Version
86,616 3:38 1966-01-01
Girl, Beautiful Girl (Barbara's Theme)
Girl, Beautiful Girl (Barbara's Theme)
78,800 2:25 1967-01-01
Voodoo In My Basement - Previously Unreleased Instrumental
Voodoo In My Basement - Previously Unreleased Instrumental
77,926 2:38 1966-01-01
War Games
War Games
77,759 6:59 1969-01-01
Full Measure - Previously Unreleased Instrumental
Full Measure - Previously Unreleased Instrumental
77,508 2:41 1966-01-01
Wild About My Lovin' - Alternate Take/Previously Unreleased
Wild About My Lovin' - Alternate Take/Previously Unreleased
75,836 2:36 1965-01-01
A Cool Million
A Cool Million
75,401 2:02 1967-01-01
Blues In The Bottle - Alternate Take/Previously Unreleased
Blues In The Bottle - Alternate Take/Previously Unreleased
74,753 3:01 1965-01-01
Words
Words
74,185 2:19 1969-01-01
Old Folks - 2003 Remaster
Old Folks - 2003 Remaster
73,929 3:04 1967-01-01
The Other Side Of This Life - Alternate Take/Previously Unreleased Instrumental Version
The Other Side Of This Life - Alternate Take/Previously Unreleased Instrumental Version
72,551 2:31 1965-01-01
Respoken
Respoken
66,864 1:48 1967-01-01
Pow Revisited
Pow Revisited
63,996 2:26 1967-01-01
Priscilla Millionaira - 2003 Remaster
Priscilla Millionaira - 2003 Remaster
60,071 3:11 1967-01-01
Lookin' To Spy
Lookin' To Spy
59,293 2:29 1967-01-01
Try And Be Happy - Instrumental
Try And Be Happy - Instrumental
56,053 1:05 1967-01-01
Speakin' Of Spoken
Speakin' Of Spoken
55,872 2:42 1967-01-01
The Finale
The Finale
55,758 2:30 1967-01-01
Unconscious Minuet
Unconscious Minuet
54,622 2:05 1967-01-01
Only Pretty, What A Pity - 2003 Remaster
Only Pretty, What A Pity - 2003 Remaster
53,650 3:00 1967-01-01
Revelation: Revolution '69 - Single Version (Alternate Mix)
Revelation: Revolution '69 - Single Version (Alternate Mix)
51,632 2:28 1969-01-01
Only Pretty, What A Pity - Alternate Version
Only Pretty, What A Pity - Alternate Version
50,949 2:56 1967-01-01
Gray Prison Blues
Gray Prison Blues
50,358 2:05 1967-01-01
Only Pretty What A Pity - Live On The Ed Sullivan Show, October 15, 1967
Only Pretty What A Pity - Live On The Ed Sullivan Show, October 15, 1967
49,853 2:45 2021-09-02
Dixieland Big Boy - Instrumental
Dixieland Big Boy - Instrumental
47,976 1:15 1967-01-01
Letter To Barbara - Instrumental
Letter To Barbara - Instrumental
47,383 0:60 1967-01-01
Me About You - Single Version
Me About You - Single Version
47,153 2:49 1969-01-01
Try A Little Bit - 2003 Remaster
Try A Little Bit - 2003 Remaster
46,747 3:03 1967-01-01
Phil's Love Theme
Phil's Love Theme
46,705 2:23 1967-01-01
Revelation: Revolution '69 - Single Version (Alternate Vocal)
Revelation: Revolution '69 - Single Version (Alternate Vocal)
46,692 2:17 1969-01-01
Close Your Eyes - 2003 Remaster
Close Your Eyes - 2003 Remaster
46,107 2:43 1967-01-01
Try A Little Bit - Alternate Version
Try A Little Bit - Alternate Version
45,331 3:02 1967-01-01
Introduction To Flick
Introduction To Flick
41,078 2:15 1967-01-01
She Is Still A Mystery - Alternate Version
She Is Still A Mystery - Alternate Version
40,217 3:09 1967-01-01
Kite Chase - Instrumental
Kite Chase - Instrumental
40,186 1:23 1967-01-01
Wash Her Away (From The Discotheque)
Wash Her Away (From The Discotheque)
36,125 2:32 1967-01-01
Good Time Music
Good Time Music
34,691 3:08 1966-01-01
Barbara's Theme (From The Discotheque)
Barbara's Theme (From The Discotheque)
31,219 1:28 1967-01-01
She Is Still A Mystery - Live On The Ed Sullivan Show, October 15, 1967
She Is Still A Mystery - Live On The Ed Sullivan Show, October 15, 1967
30,962 2:28 2021-11-26
Peep Show Percussion - Instrumental
Peep Show Percussion - Instrumental
30,631 1:20 1967-01-01
Miss Thing's Thang - Instrumental
Miss Thing's Thang - Instrumental
30,132 1:38 1967-01-01
Miss Things Thang
Miss Things Thang
30,132 1:40 2018-08-21
Sportin Life
Sportin Life
28,010 1:55 2023-10-27
Warm Baby
Warm Baby
27,292 1:55 1982-01-01
End Title
End Title
26,508 4:06 1967-01-01
Rain on the Roof
Rain on the Roof
21,497 2:11 1982-01-01
Almost Grown
Almost Grown
20,420 1:53 1966-01-01
Younger Girl
Younger Girl
19,228 2:20 1982-01-01
March - Instrumental
March - Instrumental
16,734 2:29 1967-01-01
Darling Be Home Soon - Performed live on The Ed Sullivan Show 1/22/67
Darling Be Home Soon - Performed live on The Ed Sullivan Show 1/22/67
15,971 3:35 1967-01-01
('Til I) Run with You
('Til I) Run with You
12,609 1:56 1982-01-01
Searchin'
Searchin'
12,561 3:15 1966-01-01
Six O'clock
Six O'clock
10,259 2:45 1982-01-01
Don't Bank on It Baby
Don't Bank on It Baby
9,411 1:55 1966-01-01
Jug Band Music
Jug Band Music
8,405 2:51 1982-01-01
Didnt Want To Have To Do It
Didnt Want To Have To Do It
7,063 2:38 2023-10-27
Do You Believe In Magic - Performed live on The Ed Sullivan Show 3/19/67
Do You Believe In Magic - Performed live on The Ed Sullivan Show 3/19/67
6,861 1:59 1965-01-01
Did you ever have to make up your mind
Did you ever have to make up your mind
6,438 1:58 2023-10-27
Night Owl Blues
Night Owl Blues
5,756 3:00 1982-01-01
Wild About My Lovin' - Studio
Wild About My Lovin' - Studio
5,565 2:38 1980-01-01
Full measure
Full measure
5,158 2:39 2023-10-27
On the Road Again
On the Road Again
4,145 1:52 2023-10-27
Jug Band Music
Jug Band Music
3,842 2:54 2023-10-27
Night Owl Blues
Night Owl Blues
3,567 2:55 2023-10-27
Kite Chase
Kite Chase
3,146 1:24 2018-08-21
Daydream - Performed live on The Ed Sullivan Show 3/19/67
Daydream - Performed live on The Ed Sullivan Show 3/19/67
2,947 2:28 1966-02-19
Letter To Barbara
Letter To Barbara
2,314 1:02 2018-08-21
Summer in the City
Summer in the City
1,370 2:42 1969-01-01
Summer in the City - Live
Summer in the City - Live
< 1000 3:23 2022-02-18

New releases

Summer in the City
Summer in the City
2023-10-27
[Vintage Jukebox]
She Is Still A Mystery (Live On The Ed Sullivan Show, October 15, 1967)
She Is Still A Mystery (Live On The Ed Sullivan Show, October 15, 1967)
2021-11-26
[SOFA - AV Catalog DD]
Only Pretty What A Pity (Live On The Ed Sullivan Show, October 15, 1967)
Only Pretty What A Pity (Live On The Ed Sullivan Show, October 15, 1967)
2021-09-02
[SOFA - AV Catalog DD]
Everything Playing (Bonus Tracks)
Everything Playing (Bonus Tracks)
2018-08-21
[Revolver Records]
You're A Big Boy Now
You're A Big Boy Now
2018-08-21
[Revolver Records]
Playlist: The Very Best Of The Lovin' Spoonful
Playlist: The Very Best Of The Lovin' Spoonful
2008-08-19
[Buddah/Legacy]
Very Best Of The Lovin' Spoonful
Very Best Of The Lovin' Spoonful
2004-08-09
[RCA Records Label]
Platinum & Gold Collection
Platinum & Gold Collection
2003-06-09
[Buddha Records]
The Greatest Hits
The Greatest Hits
2000-03-24
[Buddah]
The Greatest Hits
The Greatest Hits
2000-03-24
[Buddah]
What's Up Tiger Lily/You're A Big Boy Now
What's Up Tiger Lily/You're A Big Boy Now
1999-09-15
[RCA Camden]
Jug Band Music
Jug Band Music
1982-01-01
[SPS]
Nashville Cats
Nashville Cats
1982-01-01
[SPS]
Revelation: Revolution '69
Revelation: Revolution '69
1969-01-01
[Legacy Recordings]
Everything Playing
Everything Playing
1967-01-01
[Buddah]
Darling Be Home Soon (Performed live on The Ed Sullivan Show/1967)
Darling Be Home Soon (Performed live on The Ed Sullivan Show/1967)
1967-01-01
[SOFA - AV Catalog DD]
You're A Big Boy Now
You're A Big Boy Now
1967-01-01
[Legacy Recordings]
What's Up Tiger Lily?
What's Up Tiger Lily?
1967-01-01
[Legacy Recordings]
Daydream (Performed live on The Ed Sullivan Show/1967)
Daydream (Performed live on The Ed Sullivan Show/1967)
1966-02-19
[SOFA - AV Catalog DD]
Daydream
Daydream
1966-01-01
[Buddah]
Daydream
Daydream
1966-01-01
[Buddah]
Hums Of The Lovin' Spoonful
Hums Of The Lovin' Spoonful
1966-01-01
[Buddah]
Do you Believe In Magic
Do you Believe In Magic
1965-01-01
[Buddah]
Summer In The City - The Collection
Summer In The City - The Collection
1965-01-01
[Buddah/Legacy]
Do You Believe In Magic (Performed live on The Ed Sullivan Show/1967)
Do You Believe In Magic (Performed live on The Ed Sullivan Show/1967)
1965-01-01
[SOFA - AV Catalog DD]