John Sebastian and Arlen Roth - Explore The Spoonful Songbook

John Sebastian revisits the Lovin' Spoonful in duets with guitarist Arlen Roth!

"The Lovin' Spoonful's 'good time music' has transcended their relatively short run, and songs like 'Do You Believe in Magic?,' 'You Didn't Have to Be So Nice,' and 'Daydream' can still inspire a smile that, in the words of Sebastian himself, ‘won't wipe off your face no matter how hard you try.'" — Rolling Stone

"Mr. Sebastian's talents are so formidable that he makes it all work wonderfully well. Those talents begin with the songs themselves, many of which are so popular that large portions of the crowd sang along unprompted. As a singer, Mr. Sebastian has a delightfully easy baritone and he phrases with tricky yet not self-conscious individuality." — The New York Times

John Sebastian and Arlen Roth explore the Spoonful Songbook features interpretive versions of The Lovin' Spoonful's most important songs. Lovin' Spoonful founder and frontman John Sebastian joins forces with legendary guitarist "Mr. Telecaster" Arlen Roth to explore the Spoonful songbook.

The Lovin' Spoonful did like nobody before or since, putting their first seven singles into the Top Ten. This was unprecedented and utterly unthinkable at the height of Beatlemania.

The two artists recorded instrumental duets of Spoonful tracks like "Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?", "Daydream", " You Didn't Have To Be So Nice", "Rain On The Roof", "Nashville Cats" and more, using just two guitars, bass and drums.

Sebastian and Roth recorded at producer Chris Andersen's Nevessa Studio in Woodstock, NY with contributing musicians: the MonaLisa Twins, Maria Muldaur, Geoff Muldaur, Lexie Roth, Ira Coleman and Eric Parker.

One of the Spoonful's biggest fans, Arlen Roth, the guitar maestro known for his studio and touring work with such artists as Simon & Garfunkel and John Prine, popped the question to Sebastian: Why not make an album together? In the tradition of Roth's acclaimed reimagining of the songs of Simon & Garfunkel (Subway Walls & Tenement Halls) and the Rolling Stones (Paint It Black: Acoustic Stones), John Sebastian and Arlen Roth Explore the Spoonful Songbook was born.

Sebastian had never considered doing re-recordings of his Spoonful classics until Roth approached him: "I'd left the material alone for 50 years." But Roth's deep artistry and exceptional knowledge and love of the guitar style of Spoonful guitarist Zal Yanovsky changed Sebastian's mind.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members The Lovin' Spoonful had their roots in the Greenwich Village folk music scene of the early '60s, and are best known for the hit songs "Do You Believe In Magic", "You Didn't Have To Be So Nice", "Daydream", "Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?" and "Summer In The City". Frontman John Sebastian is a notable songwriter whose songs have been covered by many artists, including Elvis Costello, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, The Evely Brothers and Tom Petty.

Roth praises Sebastian stating, "Oh man, what is there that this man can't write? He's a songwriting giant! One of the best of all-time. The pleasure of working with the man you're actually paying tribute to is beyond words."

 

Side A

1. Lovin' You

2. Darlin' Companion

3. Daydream

4. Jug Band Music

5. Four Eyes

6. Rain on the Roof

Side B

1. Didn't Want to Have to Do It

2. Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?

3. Nashville Cats

4. You Didn't Have to Be So Nice

5. Stories We Could Tell

6. Darling Be Home Soon

Be the first to write a review for this item OR just rate it