Search - Lovin Spoonful :: Do You Believe in Magic

Do You Believe In Good Time Music ?

jayhikkss | 10/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Formed in the Greenwich Village in 1965 by John Sebastian, Zalman Yanovsky, Steve Boone and Joe Butler, the Spoonful were one of the first, and best, American band to appear in the wake of the British invasion. Their music was an original blend of pop, rock and roots elements. It remains vital listening to this day.



"Do You Believe in Magic", their first album, showed signs of these various influences. There was the pop/rock side with the unforgettable title track (US Top 10) and "Did You Ever Have to Make up Your Mind" (US Top 2). Another Sebastian original, "Younger Girl", became a top 50 hit when covered by the Critters. They also showed great taste in reviving "You Baby", a Ronettes LP-only track that was sung by Joe Butler. This tune would later become a Top 20 hit for the Turtles.



A folk/blues song by Fred Neil titled "The Other Side of This Life" was duly electrified and, again, sung by Joe Butler.



Although it has generally been overlooked, the majority of the original album was primarily based on electrified interpretations of old-timey blues material.



To begin with, the chorus of the aforementioned "Younger Girl" was lifted from "Prison Wall Blues" released by the Memphis based Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers in 1930.



Two other tracks originate from the same time and place: "Wild about My Lovin'", which was first issued by Jim Jackson and "On the Road Again", which was first issued by the Memphis Jug Band (both 1928).



"Blues in the Bottle" (sung by Zal Yanovsky) came from a seemingly stranger background. It was one of a handful of tracks recorded by proto-western swing Prince Albert Hunt's Texas Ramblers in 1928, although the Spoonful cover is actually based on the 1964 version of this tune by the Holy Modal Rounders. Interestingly, Peter Stampfel, a musician from the Rounders, co-wrote the original liner notes for the first Spoonful LP.



"Sporting Life" is a "city blues" first waxed by Brownie McGhee in 1946.



"My Gal" is a very old vaudeville tune but it was probably directly inspired by the 1941 interpretation from the Delta Boys (including Sleepy John Estes and Son Bonds). Of interest is the fact that Jim Kweskin & the Jug Band released their own version of this tune on their first Vanguard LP (1963).



"Fishing Blues" was first released by "archaic" Texan singer/guitarist Henry Thomas who recorded it in 1928; it is a square dance song, also of probable vaudeville origin.



Lastly, there is an excellent original electric blues titled "Night Owl Blues" which concludes the original LP and is a real showcase for John Sebastian's harp and Zal Yanovsky's guitar.



It should be noted that these rocking' versions of old blues tunes are a zillion miles away from numerous scholarly renditions of say, "Parchman Farm" and "Dust My Blues" (if you see what I mean).

The words of most of these blues are full of fun and good humour and suit the "good time music" of the Spoonful to a tee. They are not note for note copies but are genuine electrified renditions of delighful slices of Americana.



It could be argued, in my opinion, that the Spoonful were, on their first LP, among the most interesting "white" blues performers of the time.



Instrumentally, the band was very strong. Sebastian was a gifted multi-instrumentalist, Yanovsky had realized his own fusion of folk/country/blues/rock guitar and the rhythm section was rock solid. In addition, Erik Jacobsen produced the LP expertly, letting the musicians ample room to be creative.



I shall refrain to comment upon the "bonus tracks" because, although welcome, they add little to the content of the original LP.



The sound of this CD is terrific, which is not surprising as Sundazed's Bob Irwin did the remastering. It must be said that the original tracks (which I still own on both American and British vinyl) were pretty good to begin with, especially for the time.



To conclude, I will add that I have regarded this pioneering masterpiece as one of my quintessential albums ever since I bought the original UK mono LP issued on Pye Records when it came out forty years ago. What a sweet long trip it has been!



Definitely an album that no one with a remote interest in sixties music should be without.

"

Love the Spoonful.

E. Joy | Texas, USA | 02/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the first of The Lovin' Spoonful's three great records. "Do You Believe in Magic", "Daydream", and "Hums" are as good as any three records by any of their peers. This recording brought the Spoonful and their Good Time Music to the ears of us all. Do yourself a favor and get this recording and just try to listen without smiling or dancing or both. John, Zal, Steve, and Joe played with such joy and zest that it just poured out of their records."

Good Times

Todd D. Alt | Ohio | 09/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I recently bought this one on vinyl and CD. I believe that this was one of the first records I ever owned. I don't really even know where my original record went as it just disappeared over the years. Listening to this music again really took me back. Back to a time when music was just fun to listen to and made you feel good. These guys were the first musical group that I looked up to and they meant more to me at the time than the Beatles for me. I had their pictures on my wall in my bedroom just like every kid does when they are young. Listening to the Spoonful makes you realize just how the trend of popular music slowly went from a lighthearted fun time to a slow slide into the darkness represented by such bands as the Doors. Of course I loved the Doors and you can't really compare such artists but it it relevant to note the changes in our music and our society and the relationship between the two. The music of the Spoonful is just a great way to uplift your mood and for us oldies you have to get past the nostagia. Sound quality is only so good when you get these discs on CD, so don't be dismayed by over expectations. I would recommend that anyone who was a kid back in the day re live the sixties with these guys as you can almost close your eyes and be back to those days. For young people this music can be a way to lighten up, but beware these guys didn't have tattoos or piercings."