The Lovin’ Spoonful first got together in 1965 in Greenwich Village. The original lineup comprised their main songwriter John Sebastian, along with Zal Yanovsky, Joe Butler, and Steve Boone.
Their first single was “Do You Believe in Magic,” and it went straight into the top ten, landing at number nine. The band followed their initial success with a string of hits unprecedented in the industry, putting seven of their first ten singles into the Top Ten. Their 1966 hit, “Summer in the City,” climbed to No. 1. Other familiar songs are “Nashville Cats,” “Daydream,” and “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice.”
They made appearances on major television shows of the time including “Shindig!”, “Hullabaloo,” and “The Ed Sullivan Show,” increasing their exposure and popularity. Lovin’ Spoonful was recognized by giants like Brian Wilson and Sir Paul McCartney as influences on their own music. McCartney said that his song “Good Day Sunshine” was inspired by “Daydream.”
Today the only original member touring is founder Steve Boone, but the band comprises powerhouse musicians who appreciate the music and recreate the feel-good vibes accurately. A review headline sums it up:
“Lovin’ Spoonful keeps that ‘60s magic alive . . .”
The Lovin’ Spoonful will be at the Ludlow Garage on Sunday, February 1. Shows like this benefit when organizers use poster printing to create colorful advertising for them.