Customer Reviews

Do You Believe in Magic

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4 star:		(2)
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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.

In the fall of '65, The Spoonful burst onto the national scene with their Top Ten single, "Do You Believe in Magic." It was the first of a string of ten hits over the next two years. The other hit from their debut was a second John Sebastian-penned song, "Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?" The other group originals (all written by Sebastian) were "Younger Girl," "On the Road Again" and the instrumental "Night Owl Blues," named for the Night Owl Cafe where the early Spoonful honed their music. [The Daydream reissue contains the complete 4:40 version as one of the bonus tracks.] The rest of the material consists of either traditional songs (like "Blues in the Bottle" and "Fishin' Blues") or writers Fred Neil ("Other Side of Life) and Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil ("You Baby"). The lack of more original material was as much a result of the need to cut an album quickly after "Do You Believe In Magic" went Top Ten as it was a desire of the band to play the music they had been playing live.

The bonus tracks (all previously unreleased) include only one new song--a cover of the Hollywood Argyles' "Alley Oop" with lead guitarist Zal Yanovsky singing lead. "Younger Girl" is offered in a demo version. There are alternate--but similar--versions of "Blues in the Bottle" (with different lyrics) and "Wild About My Lovin'." And finally, an instrumental version of "Other Side of This Life." It would have been nice if they could also have included "Good Time Music"--a track they cut for Elektra before signing with Kama Sutra--but it's nice to see the Spoonful albums back in print. Now if they would also rerelease Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful and Everything Playing...HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

PS: Do you think amazon.com will let me put in a plug for Rhino Records Handmade limited box set reissue of all five of John Sebastian's solo LPs?

It is rather amazing how many folk-rock groups from the Sixties put out great debut albums and then never got to that same height ever again. The Byrds put out six stellar albums before they imploded, but they were always in a whole different league when it came to folk-rock, but for every rare exception to the rule like Buffalo Springfield (whose second album was their best), the standard history was more like the Beau Brummels and the Lovin' Spoonful where the first album, in this case "Do You Believe in Magic," was as good as it was going to get. I know there are inherent reasons for this, the main one being that the first album usually represents the best songs culled from two or three albums worth of materials that a group has in their repertoire when they sign a recording contract.

"Do You Believe in Magic" gets to be the album's title simply because the title track had already been a major hit of the summer of 1965. John Sebastian establishes the group's happy sound with the album's other bit hit, "Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind" and "Younger Girl." Sebastian was obviously the group's major talent, mainly because he was the one writing the songs, while the rest of the album were peppy versions of traditional songs such as "Blues in the Bottle" and "Wild About My Lovin'', which tend to remind me of an old fashioned jug band (again, totally in keeping the Lovin' Spoonful's happy happy sound).

I probably would give this 1965 album (originally released on the Kama Sutra label in a nice touch of irony) five stars but one of the great things about all these CD reissues is that they go back and raid the vaults to see what else they can find. On "Do You Believe in Magic" this means the demo version of "Younger Girl," alternate vocals for "Blues in the Bottle" and "Wild About My Lovin'," an instrumental version of "Other Side of This Life," and a fun little cover of the novelty hit "Alley Oop."

The Lovin' Spoonful burst on the scene like America's answer to The Beatles; John Sebastian's tuneful, melodic hits brightened AM radio and reminded one what was so vital about American music to begin with. While not quite as strong as their second album, Magic features 5 strong originals by Sebastian and this remastered edition also features outtakes and alternate versions of more familiar material. The title track still retains its original magic more than 30 years on. As a child I remember being capitvated by this melodic classic. It's no exaggeration to say that it perfectly captures the navity of youth. It also captures the very mystery of infatuation.

Lovingly remastered with extension liner notes, Magic is restored to its former glory. While previous reissues sounded very good, this is the first time the album has been remastered from the original master tapes. Believed to be lost for the better part of a decade, it's nice to rediscover this fine album finally the way it was meant to be heard.

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.

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.

With his simulated-steel-guitar bending, sliding, hammering-on, and volume swells, Zal is what makes the Spoonful for me,(but it's also pretty cool that the major rhythm instrument used by John Sebastion on tunes such as the title track is the autoharp!).

If you like fun, enjoyable folk rock from the 60s, no better place to go than the Lovin Spoonful. But, although this seems to be the best selling of their original albums, it's not their best. Rather it's their first and, due to popular demand at the time of their first single, was hurriedly recorded in a few days. Supposedly, it's a studio session of their stage show from this time and, thus, includes quite a few cover songs (7 of the 12 songs). Actually, it reminds me of one of band-leader John Sebastian's more recent J-Band CDs. Of the Spoonful orginals, I personally prefer the follow-up 2nd album, which includes only original compositions: "Daydream." After all, John Sebastian was considered one of the top songwriters of this era. Their 3rd album, "Hums," actually suffers from too many hits! (including "Summer In the City")--most of which are included on any complete greatest hit CD. I also like, and prefer to this, the less-popular 4th album "Everything Playing," which has a slightly altered sound due to the onslaught of full-blown psychedlia and some line-up changes, but still worthwhile and enjoyable. All 4 of the albums are currently available on CD (as well as a two-fer with both of their soundtrack lps on one disk), all with bonus tracks. Enjoy them while you can before they go out of print!

Belive me,since 1965 I saw these greatest folk singers played in Hawaii.I was in the eight grade at that time,knowing there talent was great.Anybody from that era,pure magic melodies that will bring you to that time of good old rock.Believe in magic,this is good old music from the 60s.Aloha from Hawaii,Mahalo.

This first album from The Lovin' Spoonful is a masterpiece. The original songs are fun and a few of the big hits are among them. The rest of the songs are traditional blues and folk songs set to the bubble gum California stylings of The Lovin' Spoonful.