Customer Reviews

Everything Playing

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I've been a Spoonful fan for over 25 years and I have to admit this is my favorite album of theirs. This may seem sacrilege to some since it's the only effort from their original catalog without Zal (actually, he supposedly worked behind the scenes) but it seems to be the culmination of how the band evolved over its brief two years of recording. The evolution I'm speaking of, specifically, concerns the more relaxed side of the band, carrying forth the tradition of such titles as "Younger Girl" to "Rain on the Roof" to "Darling Be Home Soon." If you're already familiar with "She is Still a Mystery" (one of their best songs) you'll be in for more of the same with this collection. "Everything Playing" represents a slightly more symphonic side of the band and, supposedly, as the booklet states, they play everything. There's diversion from the predominance of psychedelia, as well, such as John's straightforward folk song, "Younger Generation" (a song you hear him play solo in the Woodstock film). Also, the album features several harder-edged songs, one of which was a top 20 single, "Six O'Clock" (which I believe Zal plays on)--a sort of follow-up to their hit from a year before: "Summer in the City." In my opinion this album contains no filler. Actually, my two favorites are the songs least often talked about: "Try a Little Bit" and "Close Your Eyes"--a pair that concluded the original LP with a psychedelic pop crescendo. The bonus tracks are also refreshing to hear but don't differ too much from the originals. This album wasn't close to being one of their biggest sellers upon its initial release, but the reason behind the low sales (it only reached #118 on the Billboard charts) probably had been due more to repercussions from a publicized drug bust and Zal's departure than to the music itself. Naturally it would've been better with more of Zal, but new member Jerry Yester, who arranged most of the songs (and co-composed "Close Your Eyes"), was a welcome addition. So do yourself a favor and do what Spoonful fans neglected to do in 1967: Buy this album and have it become a part of your life as it's long been part of mine.

NOTE: Now if only they release on CD Zal's solo "Alive and Well in Argentina" (if only for me to hear it for the first time), the Lovin' Spoonful swan song "Revelation: Revolution 69", and John Sebastian's solo releases, a complete Spoonful catalog will be availble on the market for the first time in history! Write your marketers! Such a feat in regard to such a unique band is definitely what the world now needs.

The generally-accepted view is to give Everything Playing short shrift in the Spoonful catalog due to the absence of founding creative force Zal Yanovsky and the baroque nature of the recording which some seem to believe sweetened the Spoonful's "good-timiness" into something more saccharine. I don't think this is fair or accurate.

Indeed, I think that the presence of strings, horns and other orchestral dressings are a true strength of this album, adding a lot of texture and variety to the band's two- to three-minute pop songs. It's obviously the group's reaction to such then-relatively new masterpieces as Pet Sounds and Sgt. Pepper, which presented a much denser, diverse sound to the rock audience. No doubt the effects of psychedelics also play a part.

Despite the loss of Zal, and an emphasis on experimentation, the band's identity still comes through. Sebastian remains a force. "She is Still a Mystery" (one of his all-time best), "Six O'clock" and "Try a Little Bit" match up to anything he's written. "Boredom" and "Younger Generation" are intimate songs in simple settings, providing effective contrast to the thicker production on surrounding songs.

With more of an opportunity to contribute as composers than on previous releases, the rest of the band makes a good accounting of themselves. Steve Boone's "Forever" is an pastoral instrumental reminiscent of a soundtrack, showing new member Jerry Yester's considerable strengths as an arranger, and while we're speaking of Yester, while his vocal is certainly rough on the self-penned, "Priscilla Millionara," somehow it adds to the tone of this catchy, if somewhat off-center song about mismatched lovers compelled by a natural force to make a go at romance. "I don't know what it is, but it sure is something strong," indeed.

Joe Butler turns in a couple of notable compositions, the somewhat maudlin, but moving "Old Folks" and "Only Pretty, What a Pity", the closest thing the album has to a rocker. He has a clear, somewhat sweet voice that is pleasant to listen to.

I bought this on the original vinyl when it was first released. I was in grammar school and wore it out quickly. I recently re-purchased the remastered CD and find it hard to tire of. Some have intimated that the songs are slight, but the Spoonful was never a particularly heavy band and that's not what I expect from them. I don't consider any cut to be weak. This is one of those albums that work for me as a unified whole.

Maybe this isn't the hippest record, and "Hums" certainly stands as the band's creative pinnacle, but I would rank this as second best in their cannon. If you're looking for something positive and well crafted, you won't go wrong here. They don't make pop like this anymore, and that's a shame.

1968 was a milestone year for rock music, and the Lovin' Spoonful's EVERYTHING PLAYING, although mostly overlooked today, was one of the many reasons why.

I once got the chance to ask Jerry Yester (who replaced Zal Yanovsky) what his favorite Spoonful album was. He modestly answered "THE BEST OF," a record he had very little to do with. My response was that I preferred EVERYTHING PLAYING, and even liked its odd crayon-drawing cover art. As we discussed individual tracks, I lamented that the original record had such a murky sound. Yester explained that things were in such total chaos, what with Sebastian who was handling production leaving midway through the final mixdown, that the album was released in a rough-cut form.

In spite of such handicaps, EVERYTHING PLAYING turns out to be quite diverse, experimental and for the persistent listener, the most rewarding of any Lovin' Spoonful record. Don't expect to find their played-to-death Top 10 stuff here. DO expect wistfulness ("Boredom"), introspection ("Try A Little Bit," "Old Folks"), cynicism ("Money"), subtle inebriated humor ("Forever"), concern ("Younger Generation"), exurberance ("Six O'Clock" "She Is Still A Mystery") and more.

If you like the Lovin' Spoonful, you owe it to yourself to get this one. It's a real gem.


"Everything Playing" is available on CD.

Also recommended:
Another lesser-known but excellent Spoonful set is the soundtrack to Woody Allen's WHAT'S UP, TIGER LILY? (1967). It features a classic John Sebastian patter song ("Pow"), a great version of "Fishin' Blues" and lots of Spoonful instrumentals. (LP) (CD)


CONTENTS of "Everything Playing"--

SIDE ONE
[3:00] She Is Still A Mystery To Me
[3:20] Priscilla Millionaira
[3:23] Boredom
[2:36] Six O'Clock
[4:34] Forever

SIDE TWO
[2:40] Younger Generation
[2:01] Money
[3:04] Old Folks
[3:04] Only Pretty, What A Pity
[3:04] Try A Little Bit
[2:44] Close Your Eyes

TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 33:30

1968 was a milestone year for rock music, and the Lovin' Spoonful's EVERYTHING PLAYING, although mostly overlooked today, was one of the many reasons why.

I once got the chance to ask Jerry Yester (who replaced Zal Yanovsky) what his favorite Spoonful album was. He modestly answered "THE BEST OF," a record he had very little to do with. My response was that I preferred EVERYTHING PLAYING, and even liked its odd crayon-drawing cover art. As we discussed individual tracks, I lamented that the original record had such a murky sound. Yester explained that things were in such total chaos, what with Sebastian who was handling production leaving midway through the final mixdown, that the album was released in a rough-cut form.

In spite of such handicaps, EVERYTHING PLAYING turns out to be quite diverse, experimental and for the persistent listener, the most rewarding of any Lovin' Spoonful record. Don't expect to find their played-to-death Top 10 stuff here. DO expect wistfulness ("Boredom"), introspection ("Try A Little Bit," "Old Folks"), cynicism ("Money"), subtle inebriated humor ("Forever"), concern ("Younger Generation"), exurberance ("Six O'Clock" "She Is Still A Mystery") and more.

If you like the Lovin' Spoonful, you owe it to yourself to get this one. It's a real gem.


"Everything Playing" is available on CD.

Also recommended:
Another lesser-known but excellent Spoonful set is the soundtrack to Woody Allen's WHAT'S UP, TIGER LILY? (1967). It features a classic John Sebastian patter song ("Pow"), a great version of "Fishin' Blues" and lots of Spoonful instrumentals. (LP) (CD)


CONTENTS of "Everything Playing"--

SIDE ONE
[3:00] She Is Still A Mystery To Me
[3:20] Priscilla Millionaira
[3:23] Boredom
[2:36] Six O'Clock
[4:34] Forever

SIDE TWO
[2:40] Younger Generation
[2:01] Money
[3:04] Old Folks
[3:04] Only Pretty, What A Pity
[3:04] Try A Little Bit
[2:44] Close Your Eyes

TOTAL TIME: 33:30

Everything Playing is one of my favorite Spoonful albums. It may well be as strong track for track as Hums. As rock music got to be taken a bit more seriously, John Sebastian had to progress as a writer as well. "She's Still a Mystery," Boredom," "Six O'Clock" "Younger Generation" "Money" and a jewel of a song, "Only Pretty, What a Pity" are feeling, intelligent, tuneful and as memorable as most of his past efforts. The songs are more sophisticated, but still comfortable as your favorite chair. Joe Butler would become the voice of the Spoonful when John left. Bulter's voice is very different than Sebastian's. More trained, I guess. Everything Playing is good old friend you can trust.

In the 60's, Lovin' Spoonful had only two albums released in Brazil, where I live, both by a very small label which represented Kama Sutra: A 'Greatest Hits' album (which I think it was locally compiled) and Everything Playing. 'Summer in the City' received some airplay in the 60's, but I really take notice of the Spoonful work later, in 73 or 74, by listening to the mentioned albums, and I deeply fell in love with 'Everything Playing'. Great songs, like She Is Still a Mistery, Six O'Clock, Forever and Old Folks, great arrangements. The Spoonful has many great songs in its history, but 'Everything' is a different effort, with new directions in it. A must have, not only for the completists, but for all those who really appreciate that unique and creative era - the late sixties.

1968 was a milestone year for rock music, and the Lovin' Spoonful's EVERYTHING PLAYING, although mostly overlooked today, was one of the many reasons why.

I once got the chance to ask Jerry Yester (who replaced Zal Yanovsky) what his favorite Spoonful album was. He modestly answered "THE BEST OF," a record he had very little to do with. My response was that I preferred EVERYTHING PLAYING, and even liked its odd crayon-drawing cover art. As we discussed individual tracks, I lamented that the original record had such a murky sound. Yester explained that things were in such total chaos, what with Sebastian who was handling production leaving midway through the final mixdown, that the album was released in a rough-cut form.

In spite of such handicaps, EVERYTHING PLAYING turned out to be quite diverse, experimental and for the persistent listener, the most rewarding of any Lovin' Spoonful record. Don't expect to find their played-to-death Top 10 stuff here. DO expect wistfulness ("Boredom"), introspection ("Try A Little Bit," "Old Folks"), cynicism ("Money"), subtle inebriated humor ("Forever"), concern ("Younger Generation"), exurberance ("Six O'Clock" "She Is Still A Mystery") and more.

If you like the Lovin' Spoonful, you owe it to yourself to get this one. Its a real gem.


Also recommended:
Another lesser-known but excellent Spoonful set is the soundtrack to Woody Allen's WHAT'S UP, TIGER LILY? (1967). It features a classic John Sebastian patter song ("Pow"), a great version of "Fishin' Blues" and lots of Spoonful instrumentals.

The original LP of EVERYTHING PLAYING ends with "Close Your Eyes." The last five tracks offered here are from earlier and post-Sebastian albums.

1968 was a milestone year for rock music, and the Lovin' Spoonful's EVERYTHING PLAYING, although mostly overlooked today, was one of the many reasons why.

I once got the chance to ask Jerry Yester (who replaced Zal Yanovsky) what his favorite Spoonful album was. He modestly answered "THE BEST OF," a record he had very little to do with. My response was that I preferred EVERYTHING PLAYING, and even liked its odd crayon-drawing cover art. As we discussed individual tracks, I lamented that the original record had such a murky sound. Yester explained that things were in such total chaos, what with Sebastian who was handling production leaving midway through the final mixdown, that the album was released in a rough-cut form.

In spite of such handicaps, EVERYTHING PLAYING turns out to be quite diverse, experimental and for the persistent listener, the most rewarding of any Lovin' Spoonful record. Don't expect to find their played-to-death Top 10 stuff here. DO expect wistfulness ("Boredom"), introspection ("Try A Little Bit," "Old Folks"), cynicism ("Money"), subtle inebriated humor ("Forever"), concern ("Younger Generation"), exurberance ("Six O'Clock" "She Is Still A Mystery") and more.

If you like the Lovin' Spoonful, you owe it to yourself to get this one. It's a real gem.


"Everything Playing" is available in limited supply on vintage vinyl.

Also recommended:
Another lesser-known but excellent Spoonful set is the soundtrack to Woody Allen's WHAT'S UP, TIGER LILY? (1967). It features a classic John Sebastian patter song ("Pow"), a great version of "Fishin' Blues" and lots of Spoonful instrumentals. (LP) (CD)

1968 was a milestone year for rock music, and the Lovin' Spoonful's EVERYTHING PLAYING, although mostly overlooked today, was one of the many reasons why.

I once got the chance to ask Jerry Yester (who replaced Zal Yanovsky) what his favorite Spoonful album was. He modestly answered "THE BEST OF," a record he had very little to do with. My response was that I preferred EVERYTHING PLAYING, and even liked its odd crayon-drawing cover art. As we discussed individual tracks, I lamented that the original record had such a murky sound. Yester explained that things were in such total chaos, what with Sebastian who was handling production leaving midway through the final mixdown, that the album was released in a rough-cut form.

In spite of such handicaps, EVERYTHING PLAYING turns out to be quite diverse, experimental and for the persistent listener, the most rewarding of any Lovin' Spoonful record. Don't expect to find their played-to-death Top 10 stuff here. DO expect wistfulness ("Boredom"), introspection ("Try A Little Bit," "Old Folks"), cynicism ("Money"), subtle inebriated humor ("Forever"), concern ("Younger Generation"), exurberance ("Six O'Clock" "She Is Still A Mystery") and more.

If you like the Lovin' Spoonful, you owe it to yourself to get this one. It's a real gem.


"Everything Playing" is available on CD.

Also recommended:
Another lesser-known but excellent Spoonful set is the soundtrack to Woody Allen's WHAT'S UP, TIGER LILY? (1967). It features a classic John Sebastian patter song ("Pow"), a great version of "Fishin' Blues" and lots of Spoonful instrumentals. (LP) (CD)


CONTENTS of "Everything Playing"--

SIDE ONE
[3:00] She Is Still A Mystery To Me
[3:20] Priscilla Millionaira
[3:23] Boredom
[2:36] Six O'Clock
[4:34] Forever

SIDE TWO
[2:40] Younger Generation
[2:01] Money
[3:04] Old Folks
[3:04] Only Pretty, What A Pity
[3:04] Try A Little Bit
[2:44] Close Your Eyes

TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 33:30

This final Spoonful album is a bit uneven, but contains arguably two of Sebastians finest compositions, "She Is Still A Mystery" and "Six O'Clock". In addition the album contains "the original group version of "Younger Generation" and an overlooked gem "Only Pretty, What A Pity".

While I enjoyed Sebastian's solo career, I alays wondered why he did not continue in the direction shown on this album by "She Is Still A Mystery".