John Sebastian at WOODSTOCK 1994! | Albums That Should Exist!

Woodstock '94, Winston Farm, Saugerties, NY, 8-12-1994 to 8-14-1994 - Day 3, Part 1: John Sebastian

Paul Says The first act of Day Three of the Woodstock ‘94 Festival was John Sebastian. He was one of the stars of the 1969 Woodstock Festival. My guess is that he was invited to this festival to help provide a link to the original festival. In terms of his musical career, he didn’t have much success after having a number one song in 1976 with “Welcome Back,” the theme from the “Welcome Back Kotter” TV show. He often went many years between albums, which came out on minor record labels. He had many hits in the 1960s as the leader of the band the Lovin’ Spoonful. However, he chose to only play one well-known song by that band, “Daydream.”

This album is 15 minutes long.

01 Harmonica Solo [Instrumental] (John Sebastian)
02 Mornin' Blues (John Sebastian)
03 Mobile Line [Gonna Carry Me Away from the Bull Frog Blues] (John Sebastian)
04 I Want My Roots (John Sebastian)
05 Daydream (John Sebastian)
06 talk (John Sebastian)

Being an ole hippy there’s this from ATSE!

You know what to do . . . . .a fine fine harp player and composer of the ubiquitous Summer hit Summer in The City and of course DayDream this is nice to see . . . . . . collectable? well maybe not but for Lovin’ Spoonful fans like me

Indispensable!

Happy 80th birthday this past week 🎂 to John Sebastian March 17, 1944 [80]

 

Happy 80th birthday this past week 🎂 to John Benson "B" Sebastian born March 17, 1944 in Greenwich Village, New York City, New York, United States.

He is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonicist, and autoharpist. He is best known as a founder of the Lovin' Spoonful, as well as for his impromptu appearance at the Woodstock festival.

After Santana’s magnificent Saturday afternoon set, there was a bit of a lull before the next act could begin, so lighting coordinator and de facto emcee Chip Monck asked his friend John Sebastian, who was attending Woodstock purely as a spectator, to see if he would go on stage and play a few songs. Sebastian tried to refuse, but Chip insisted, so he borrowed a guitar from Tim Hardin (a Harmony like mine and why I started a small collection of same!) and he walked into the breach to create another memorable Woodstock moment.

John Sebastian Woodstock Setlist:

How Have You Been

Rainbows All Over Your Blues

I Had a Dream

Darlin’ Be Home Soon

Younger Generation

John Sebastian performed at the Woodstock Festival on Saturday afternoon, August 16, 1969 from 3:30–4:00 PM. 

John was one of only three performers to take the stage at Woodstock with no other supporting musicians. The other two were Melanie, and Country Joe McDonald.

John B and Friend in the studio!

They hung out for the longest time and around the time of scooting around on Bob’s motorbike (there are many shots of them looning around together at this time) but I always wondered why they didn’t seem to end up closer?

 

THE JIM KWESKIN JUG BAND - JUG BAND MUSIC 1965 | ZEROSOUNDS

Jim Kweskin Jug Band - Jug Band Music 1965 - Zerosounds

Zero says : 

At the peak of the American folk revival, Jim Kweskin & the Jug Band reintroduced an essential component into folk music: fun. While thousands attended the March on Washington in 1963 and others traveled to the South to participate in voting drives, Kweskin and his partners in crime played kazoos and washboards in Boston coffeehouses. For every time Joan Baez sang "We Shall Overcome," the Jug Band sang "Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me." While conservative commentators of the time may have seen such irreverence as the beginning of the folk revival's end, others clapped their hands and stomped their feet as the band sang "My Gal" and "Rag Mama" with happy abandon.

This artifact of the '60s folk revival (and the band's second album for Vanguard) is no less entertaining for its historical significance. In fact, it's aged better than most folk and rock albums of the era. Kazoos are funny that way. So are songs by the band's inspirational elders: Memphis Jug Band, Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers, and Blind Boy Fuller. The song by the band's contemporary, Spider John Koerner of the folk-blues trio Koerner, Ray & Glover, is pretty humorous, too. Whatever hipster coffeehouse audiences thought of Geoff Muldaur singing Chuck Berry, here's betting they eventually wrote it off as just another joke. 


Tracklist:

Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me 
Jug Band Music 
I'm A Woman 
Morning Blues 
Vamp Of New Orleans (Sadie Green) 
Don't You Leave Me Here 
Somebody Stole My Gal 
K.C. Moan 
Good Time Charlie 
Jug Band Waltz 
Whoa Mule Get Up In The Alley 
Memphis 
Ukelele Lady 
Rag Mama

Now I always liked a Jug band! I blame the Lovin' Spoonful who’s Jugband Music had a profound effect but I had heard of the Jim Kweskin Jug Band early (60s?) and wondered about their ‘exotic’ origins . . . . . this is a nice introduction that sadly did not travel to these shores at the time as far as I recall!

Pass me a slug from that wonderful jug! 

The New Adult Bookstore Motel, Records & Liquor - What's Shakin'?!

Check out the Store guys and whilst I don't push official releases, titles that are long out of print are fair game eh? December's library list is chocka blocka!

I have wanted this album for years and it is still listed but long ago was over forty quid so . . . . . have at it I say. I have gone on and on about The Lovin' Spoonful and this rare gem contains the earliest recorded debut by the band after The Mugwumps and before Do You Believe in Magic!

Also it introduced us to Paul Butterfield Tom Rush and included Al Kooper and early Clapton (Powerhouse) but none the worse for that!

Track Listings

1	Good Time Music - The Lovin' Spoonful - The Lovin' Spoonful
2	Almost Grown - The Lovin' Spoonful - The Lovin' Spoonful
3	Spoonful - The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
4	Off The Wall - The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
5	Can't Keep From Crying Sometimes - Al Kooper - Al Kooper
6	I Want To Know - Eric Clapton & The Powerhouse - Eric Clapton
7	Crossroads - Eric Clapton & The Powerhouse - Eric Clapton
8	Lovin' Cup - The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
9	Good Morning Little Schoolgirl - The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
10	Steppin' Out - Eric Clapton & The Powerhouse - Eric Clapton
11	I'm In Love Again - Tom Rush - Tom Rush
12	Don't Bank On It Baby - The Lovin' Spoonful - The Lovin' Spoonful
13	Searchin' - The Lovin' Spoonful - The Lovin' Spoonful
14	One More Mile - The Paul Butterfield Blues B

ERIC CLAPTON AND THE POWERHOUSE - CROSS ROADS

ALBUM Various ‎– What's Shakin' (1966)

The Powerhouse were a somewhat mysterious early rock supergroup -- or, at least were mysterious when the only three tracks they released first appeared. This was on Elektra's What's Shakin' sampler in 1966, which included three tracks credited to Eric Clapton & the Powerhouse. Among those were covers of Robert Johnson's "Crossroads"; "Steppin' Out," an instrumental that Clapton also did as part of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers; and "I Want to Know." The Powerhouse actually consisted of Stevie Winwood on vocals, Jack Bruce on bass, Paul Jones on harmonica, Ben Palmer on piano, and Pete York on drums. At the time, Winwood and York were part of the Spencer Davis Group, and Bruce and Jones were in Manfred Mann. Palmer, by far the most obscure member, had been in a band with Clapton during a brief time in 1965 when the guitarist had left the Bluesbreakers; later, he'd be a roadie for Cream. Of course, Clapton and Bruce would soon team up to form two-thirds of Cream, and Clapton and Winwood would play together at the end of the 1960s in Blind Faith. In addition, Cream did two of the songs from The Powerhouse session, "Crossroads" and "Steppin' Out," in concert. The Powerhouse versions of these songs were inferior to Cream's (and, in "Steppin' Out"'s case, also inferior to the version Clapton had done with Mayall), containing less energy, and differing from the more famous renditions by including piano in the arrangement. "I Want to Know" was just an average blues-rock tune, credited to "MacLeod," which was possibly a pseudonym for the group or for Paul Jones, as Jones was married to British author Sheila MacLeod. As interesting footnotes, Winwood was credited under the pseudonym of either Steve Anglo or Stevie D'Angelo on the original LP, probably to avoid contractual problems. However, Clapton admitted later that year in the British rock press that "Steve Anglo" was in fact Stevie Winwood, though it didn't stop Winwood from using the "Steve Anglo" pseudonym again for a recording with John Mayall, "Long Night," soon afterward. Also, for all its obscurity, "I Want to Know" was covered by Ten Years After on their first album in late 1967. The session itself was done in March 1966, at the instigation of Joe Boyd, who had just gone to London to open a U.K. office for the Elektra label. Paul Jones suggested getting together an all-star band and helped Boyd put together a proposed lineup. That lineup was the same as the one that played on the What's Shakin' tracks, except that the intended drummer was Ginger Baker; as Baker was away on tour, Pete York was used instead. Clapton, Winwood, Baker, and Bruce were still pretty unknown in the U.S. when the LP was issued in 1966, and even many big fans of Cream, Traffic, and the various musicians involved remain unaware of this early collaboration. In a March 1968 interview, incidentally, Eric Clapton said that an unreleased fourth track, a slow blues, was also recorded with The Powerhouse, although it has yet to officially surface.

What's Shakin' - Discogs

Paul Butterfield with the Little Walter classic Off The Wall . . . . . 

The Lovin Spoonful - Do You Believe in Outtakes?? - Floppy Boot Stomp (Jobe)

The Lovin Spoonful Outtakes - Floppy Boot Stomp

Oh wow! Well this is a blast from the past and one for yours truly as I loved the Lovin'  Spoonful from the first appearances here in the UK and bought 'Hums' as soon as it came out here and cost 25/6d (ask your grandad!) and then everything I could lay my hands on.

I stayed with John Sebastian right up to Woodstock and the solo albums but the band hit me like a blast of summer sunshine and Nashville Cats, Darling Companion, Voodoo in My Basement, Rain on the Roof remain heartfelt songs in my own personal top playlist from the sixties so these outtakes which I had never seen before are especially true and resonant to me and I thank Jobe over at Floppy Boot Stomp and his unerring knack of hitting me with an all time favourite.

Thanks man!

But is it art . . . . . . . . ?

 PICTURES OF THE DAY!

Found wandering around the interwebbie mcthingiemabob! Some photos I save for a while and admire so much so if I don't credit them correctly just let me know . . . . . . . . . 

Lorde and David Byrne photograph Shaniqwa Jarvis 

Jim Morrison the last year

Joseph Szabo - 1978 

The Lovin' Spoonful play dress up

Paul McCartney 1967 (Photo by Henry Grossman)

Eric Emmerson and Nico at Max’s in 1972, photo by Anton Perich

Stephen Stills running to catch a football  (Bill Ray. 1971)

George at home.

Siouxsie Sioux 

George in Hawaii by Olivia Harrison

Catherine 'Ceci' Sebastian - Pooneil Corners

 No. 137 in an occasional series of music stars Old Ladies!(Don't blame me, blame the Hells Angels what ya gonna do?)

Catherine 'CeCi' Sebastian

Catherine Cozzi-Barnett by Jerry deWilde, 1969

Catherine was born on August 26th, 1950 and raised in the San Fernando Valley of southern California. Her nickname is ‘Ceci,’ and sometime in her childhood she started going by her mother’s maiden name, ‘Barnett’ instead of her birth surname of ‘Cozzi.’ She began her career early on as a catalog and commercial model in her teens, but then quickly switched to behind the camera for photography, as well as painting, by the time she was an adult. 

In 1968, Catherine met singer-songwriter John Sebastian of the pop-rock band the Lovin’ Spoonful whom she would begin a relationship with a year later.  

The couple married in 1972 and settled in Woodstock, NY to raise their two children: Benson (born 1972) and Charlie (born 1986). As of 2021, John and Catherine are still together living in Woodstock. John’s song ‘You and Me Go Way Back’ on his 1992 album ‘Tar Beach’ is an ode to their love and successful marriage. 

Many of the covers for John’s solo records are designed by Catherine as well. During her modelling days, Catherine also dated Michael Clarke, the youngest member of the folk-rock band the Byrds, in early 1965.

Source: Pooneil Corners

 

John Sebastian with Fred Neil - by Catherine Sebastian

The Lovin' Spoonful - Darlin' Companion

Catherine

The Lovin' Spoonful

Bet you wondered where all that tie-dye that John wore came from!?

The Lovin' Spoonful - Henry Thomas! +

 HENRY THOMAS!

The Lovin' Spoonful

Hums of The Lovin' Spoonful

A favourite track and it suited my mood as its sunny and warm for once this year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

and then, like you do, I found this on YouTube. . . . . . . . Dave Bomberg and Johnny accompanying Donovan on 'Travelling Light'

so while we're about it . . . . . . . . 

The Lovin' Spoonful - Do You Believe in Magic? Moulin Rouge Nightclub 1965

THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL

The Lovin' Spoonful perform "Do You Believe In Magic" and "You Didn't Have to Be So Nice" from the film, The Big T.N.T. Show, (1965) Directed by Larry Peerce. The song "Do You Believe In Magic" was composed by John Sebastian, and the song "You Didn't Have to Be So Nice" was composed by Steve Boone and John Sebastian. Filmed before a live audience at the then Moulin Rouge nightclub, Hollywood, California, U.S.A.

I have mentioned The Lovin' Spoonful many times before and their innocent good time music I claimed for my own as a youngster (14) after my dear older brother Steve was listening to The Beatles and Bob Dylan (well admittedly both of them wore off on me of course) and needed something/somebody who was my own and I loved the zany, wacky, exotic, exuberance of The Lovin' Spoonful especially 'Hums' (still a favourite album) and this first song especially at the time. As a youngster this was what I wanted to happen with my life . . . . . . . . Then I saw the Doors at the Roundhouse in London and something happened! But that's another story!!! 

Check the video here I love the fluffed intro and them starting again . . . . . .good old Zal! (Although now no longer with us and he had his career severely curtailed by being forced into snitching on his pals or face serious jail time for dope and no one likes a grass. The honour amongst thieves schtick means you are as good as dead but Zal was certainly pressured) . . . . . for anther time perhaps . . . here the signs of Spring and the sheer joie de vivre of their sound is a harbinger of better times to come

Good Day Sunshine we can but hope for a Summer in The City! 

 Not that she'd see it here but because of our exchange on her Facebook page teasing her about Nashville, this is for

EMILY BARKER

THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL

'Nashville Cats'

Meant to post this again the other day [Saturday] but forgot somehow . . .I have said before how important The Lovin' Spoonful were to me . . . . .after our own Beatles, I went looking for my own sound and my brother Steve had found his Bobby Dylan so I found these guys and Good Time Music!
But . . . . . . what is the connection between this and the next post?
I loved this song but curiously didn't care so much for 'Summer in The City' . . . . . go figure 'Nashville Cats' or 'Voodoo in My Basement' are infinitely better tracks . . . . . 

On this day in music history: February 9, 1966 - “Daydream” by The Lovin’ Spoonful is released. Written by John Sebastian, it is the third single release for the pop/folk-rock band from New York City. Right on the heels of their first two singles “Do You Believe In Magic” (#9 Pop), “You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice” (#10 Pop) and their debut album, The Lovin’ Spoonful quickly follow up those hits with the first taste of their sophomore effort. Guitarist and primary lead vocalist John Sebastian draws inspiration from an unlikely place when writing the bands third single. Sebastian gets the initial idea for “Daydream” from The Supremes’ number one hit “Baby Love”, trying to figure a way to re-write that song. Born and raised in New York’s Greenwich Village, ground zero of the city’s vibrant folk music scene and blues music revival, John also draws on those influences, combining them with his innate sensibility for writing great pop melodies and hooks. After finishing the song, The Lovin’ Spoonful record “Daydream” at Bell Sound Studios in New York in late 1965. The title track of the Spoonful’s second album, it takes off immediately, becoming their biggest hit to date. Entering the Hot 100 at #76 on February 26, 1966, “Daydream” peaks at #2 on April 9, 1966. The song proves to have long lasting popularity and influence long after its run on the charts. “Daydream” provides Paul McCartney with the inspiration for writing “Good Day Sunshine”, featured on The Beatles’ masterwork “Revolver”. The Lovin’ Spoonful’s hit is widely covered by numerous artists over the years, including versions by Bobby Darin, David Cassidy, Ricky Nelson, Art Garfunkel, The Guess Who, Dino, Desi, & Billy, The Sweet, Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Maria Muldaur and Chet Atkins. The Spoonful’s original recording has been featured in movies, television shows and commercials, including a popular advertisement for Jeep Cherokee.

Oh you know I did . . . . . . . . !

On this day in music history: August 13, 1966 - “Summer In The City” by The Lovin’ Spoonful hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 3 weeks. Written by John Sebastian, Mark Sebastian and Steve Boone, it is the biggest single for the New York based band. The song originates as a poem written by John Sebastian’s brother Mark, while he’s a student at the Blair Academy in Blairstown, NJ. Sebastian and bassist Steve Boone put the words to music. The band hire an sound effects expert who adds the trademark “sounds of the city” effects to the records break from acetates he has in his sound library. The single is engineered by Roy Halee (Simon & Garfunkel) who also plays a vital role in the overall sound of the finished record, particularly its explosive drum sound. Released on July 4, 1966, it is an instant hit. Entering the Hot 100 at #56 on July 16, 1966, it rockets to the top of the chart four weeks later. “City” is one of the centerpieces of The Lovin’ Spoonful’s third studio album “Hums Of The Lovin’ Spoonful” released in November of 1966. The album which also includes the follow up singles “Rain On The Roof” (#10 Pop) and “Nashville Cats” (#8 Pop) is widely regarded by fans of the band as one of their best. Over the years, “Summer In The City” is covered by numerous artists including B.B. King, Joe Cocker, Joe Jackson, and Quincy Jones. Jones’ version is sampled as the basis of The Pharcyde’s classic single “Passin’ Me By” in 1992. The Pharcyde’s recording in turn is sampled R&B singer Joe (Thomas) and Mystikal’s #1 Pop & R&B hit “Stutter” in 2001. “Summer In The City” is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

as a young YOUNG teenager this affected me so much. The sheer exotic Americana of this band and their goofing around here is hilarious or was at the time . . . . the pretending to play this complex composition and pull it off live in the TV studio here is such fun check Zal and John mugging desperately. . . . . later 'Rain On The Roof' blew me away too. 'Nashville Cats' and all the hits from 'Hums' really got me . . . . still love John B today  

I think I have mentioned the Lovin' Spoonful before and whilst I bought the album that had this track on it but it was 'Hums' I really enjoyed the best. I did of course believe in personal magic though . . . . 

On this day in music history: July 20, 1965 - “Do You Believe In Magic”, the debut single by The Lovin’ Spoonful is released. Written by John Sebastian, it is the first hit single for the New York City based rock/pop band. Taking their name from a lyric in blues musician Mississippi John Hurt’s “Coffee Blues”, The Lovin’ Spoonful are formed in 1964. Sebastian’s initial inspiration for the song comes from Martha & The Vandella’s “(Love Is Like A) Heatwave”, using the same three chords as the intro, but speeding up the tempo. “Magic” is recorded in a small demo studio in New York with producer Erik Jacobsen (Norman Greenbaum, Chris Isaak). The master will be picked up by Kama Sutra Records (distributed by MGM), and becomes the bands’ first hit. The record becomes a 60’s anthem and is covered numerous times over the years, with the original recording used in films and television programs. “Do You Believe In Magic” peaks at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 on October 16, 1965.

As I have mentioned severally and just now, I was a massive fan of The Lovin' Spoonful at an early age. I suspect a backlash against my brother's choosing of the Beatles who finally won me over with the films and eventually Rubber Soul made me sit up and take notice but these American boys engaged the youngster and curiously this single, their biggest. was never a song that I thought was their best. I preferred, 'Nashville Cats', 'Voodooo In My Basement', 'Lovin' You' etc etc were in my opinion much much better. "Lovin' You' stands as my favourite love song of all time and is a forgotten (sic) masterpiece IMHO. 'Summer In The City too but Daydream was okay and hey it would do . . . . . . . 

On this day in music history: February 21, 1966 - “Daydream” by The Lovin’ Spoonful is released. Written by John Sebastian, it is the third single release for the pop/folk-rock band from New York City. Right on the heels of their first two singles “Do You Believe In Magic” (#9 Pop), “You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice” (#10 Pop) and their debut album, The Lovin’ Spoonful quickly follow up those hits with the first taste of their sophomore effort. Guitarist and primary lead vocalist John Sebastian draws inspiration from an unlikely place when writing the bands third single. Sebastian gets the initial idea for “Daydream” from The Supremes’ number one hit “Baby Love”, trying to figure a way to re-write that song. Born and raised in New York’s Greenwich Village, ground zero of the city’s vibrant folk music scene and blues music revival, John also draws on those influences, combining them with his innate sensibility for writing great pop melodies and hooks. After finishing the song, The Lovin’ Spoonful record “Daydream” at Bell Sound Studios in New York in late 1965. The title track of the Spoonful’s second album, it takes off immediately, becoming their biggest hit to date. Entering the Hot 100 at #76 on February 26, 1966, “Daydream” peaks at #2 on April 9, 1966. The song proves to have long lasting popularity and influence long after its run on the charts. “Daydream” provides Paul McCartney with the inspiration for writing “Good Day Sunshine”, featured on The Beatles’ masterwork “Revolver”. The Lovin’ Spoonful’s hit is widely covered by numerous artists over the years, including versions by Bobby Darin, David Cassidy, Ricky Nelson, Art Garfunkel, The Guess Who, Dino, Desi, & Billy, The Sweet, Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Maria Muldaur and Chet Atkins. The Spoonful’s original recording has been featured in movies, television shows and commercials, including a popular advertisement for Jeep Cherokee.

thanks to the most excellent Jeff Harris' blog 'Behind The Grooves 

HUMS OF THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL

More from the sounds bought when they came out  occasional series and this is no exception
I have said elsewhere whilst my brother was listening to the Shadows I was finding my own sounds and found the Lovin' Spoonful mesmerising, mostly centred around d John B Sebastian. Curiously this single though a minor hit in the UK was the reason I bought this when it came out over here as I had been listing to the earlier albums but 'Hums of The Loving' Sppnfel' is still in my top twenty albums I imagine and it stands the test of time for the most part. It is worth noting that Zal Yanovsky was an early influence on one Eric Clapton

On this day in music history: August 13, 1966 - “Summer In The City” by The Lovin’ Spoonful hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 3 weeks. Written by John Sebastian, Mark Sebastian and Steve Boone, it is the biggest single for the New York based band. The song originates as a poem written by John Sebastian’s brother Mark, while he’s a student at the Blair Academy in Blairstown, NJ. Sebastian and bassist Steve Boone put the words to music. The band hire an sound effects expert who adds the trademark “sounds of the city” effects to the records break from acetates he has in his sound library. The single is engineered by Roy Halee (Simon & Garfunkel) who also plays a vital role in the overall sound of the finished record, particularly its explosive drum sound. Released on July 4, 1966, it is an instant hit. Entering the Hot 100 at #56 on July 16, 1966, it rockets to the top of the chart four weeks later. “City” is one of the centerpieces of The Lovin’ Spoonful’s third studio album “Hums Of The Lovin’ Spoonful” released in November of 1966. The album which also includes the follow up singles “Rain On The Roof” (#10 Pop) and “Nashville Cats” (#8 Pop) is widely regarded by fans of the band as one of their best. Over the years, “Summer In The City” is covered by numerous artists including B.B. King, Joe Cocker, Joe Jackson, and Quincy Jones. Jones’ version is sampled as the basis of The Pharcyde’s classic single “Passin’ Me By” in 1992. The Pharcyde’s recording in turn is sampled R&B singer Joe (Thomas) and Mystikal’s #1 Pop & R&B hit “Stutter” in 2001. “Summer In The City” is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

 thanks to Jeff Harris' wonderful blog 'Behind The Grooves  On this day in Music History