Best Of

Description

This first Lovin Spoonful hits collection, released in March 1967, gathers The Spoonfuls five successful singles from July 1965 to June 1966 Do You Believe in Magic, You Didnt Have to Be So Nice, Daydream, Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?, and Summer in the City. But, as the title suggests, it is more of a best of than a greatest hits collection, as later Spoonful singles such as Rain on the Roof, Nashville Cats, and Darling Be Home Soon have not been included, and the albums other seven tracks emphasize the bands assets other than John Sebastians songwriting and lead singing abilities, culling traditional jugband songs and tunes that feature Zal Yanovsky and Joe Butler on lead vocals. As such, this compilation is an attempt to balance group concerns rather than present their most successful performances. Nevertheless, it picks the strongest material from the groups three previous albums, Do You Believe in Magic, Daydream, and Hums of the Lovin Spoonful. ~ William Ruhlmann