Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful
Encyclopedia
Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful is the third album (excluding one soundtrack album) by the folk/rock band The Lovin' Spoonful
, released in 1966. It peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard
Pop Albums chart.
The album managed to spawn four charting singles for the band, including the No. 1 hit "Summer in the City
". "Rain on the Roof", "Nashville Cats", and "Full Measure" also appeared on the Pop charts, all but the last making it to the Top 10. Bobby Darin
had a Top 40 hit with a cover version of "Lovin' You". Johnny Cash
and June Carter Cash
later covered "Darlin' Companion" in 1969 on Johnny Cash at San Quentin
. Principal songwriter John Sebastian
said of "Nashville Cats" — which made No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 — "We thought our version would cross over to the country market. It never did. So we're always kind, gee, well I guess that tells us what we are and what we aren't." Flatt & Scruggs
took "Nashville Cats" to No. 54 on the country charts as a single.
Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful was re-released in 2003 on the Sundazed
label with bonus tracks consisting of four demos, instrumental tracks, and alternate versions/mixes of songs from the album, along with extensive liner notes. It was also released on CD along with Do You Believe in Magic? in 1995.
The Lovin' Spoonful
The Lovin' Spoonful is an American pop rock band of the 1960s, named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. When asked about his band, leader John Sebastian said it sounded like a combination of "Mississippi John Hurt and Chuck Berry," prompting his friend, Fritz Richmond, to suggest the name...
, released in 1966. It peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
Pop Albums chart.
History
Hums was a deliberate attempt by the band to record in a variety of styles. They composed and played in the pop, country, jug-band, blues and folk styles. It would ultimately end up to be the last full project by the original lineup. It was recorded in New York with the exception of "Lovin' You' which was recorded in Los Angeles.The album managed to spawn four charting singles for the band, including the No. 1 hit "Summer in the City
Summer in the City
"Summer in the City" is the title of a song recorded by The Lovin' Spoonful, written by Mark Sebastian and Steve Boone. It came from their album Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful and it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1966...
". "Rain on the Roof", "Nashville Cats", and "Full Measure" also appeared on the Pop charts, all but the last making it to the Top 10. Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin , born Walden Robert Cassotto, was an American singer, actor and musician.Darin performed in a range of music genres, including pop, rock, jazz, folk and country...
had a Top 40 hit with a cover version of "Lovin' You". Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
and June Carter Cash
June Carter Cash
Valerie June Carter Cash was an American singer, dancer, songwriter, actress, comedienne and author who was a member of the Carter Family and the second wife of singer Johnny Cash...
later covered "Darlin' Companion" in 1969 on Johnny Cash at San Quentin
At San Quentin
At San Quentin is a recording of a live concert given by Johnny Cash to the inmates of San Quentin State Prison. As well as being released on record the concert was filmed by Granada Television....
. Principal songwriter John Sebastian
John Sebastian
John Benson Sebastian Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and autoharpist. He is best known as a founder of The Lovin' Spoonful, a band inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000...
said of "Nashville Cats" — which made No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 — "We thought our version would cross over to the country market. It never did. So we're always kind, gee, well I guess that tells us what we are and what we aren't." Flatt & Scruggs
Foggy Mountain Boys
The Foggy Mountain Boys were an influential bluegrass band founded by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs in 1948, shortly after leaving Bill Monroe’s band. They recorded and performed together up until 1969.-Biography:...
took "Nashville Cats" to No. 54 on the country charts as a single.
Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful was re-released in 2003 on the Sundazed
Sundazed Records
Sundazed Records is a record label based in Coxsackie, in the Catskills of New York. It specializes in obscure and rare recordings from the 1950s to the 1970s.Label founders Bob Irwin and his wife Mary started the label in 1989...
label with bonus tracks consisting of four demos, instrumental tracks, and alternate versions/mixes of songs from the album, along with extensive liner notes. It was also released on CD along with Do You Believe in Magic? in 1995.
Reception
In his Allmusic review, music critic William Ruhlman wrote of the album "An emphasis on the parts of the album is a way of describing it as more a loose collection of disparate tracks than a unified effort, despite Sebastian's hand in all the compositions and his lead vocals on most of them. This was by necessity, but also by design, since Sebastian and co. went into the studio trying to sound completely different each time. They often succeeded..."Track listing
All songs by John Sebastian unless otherwise noted.- "Lovin' You" – 2:29
- "Bes' Friends" – 1:54
- "Voodoo In My Basement" – 2:29
- "Darlin' Companion" – 2:22
- "Henry Thomas" – 1:43
- "Full Measure" (Steve Boone, John Sebastian) – 2:42
- "Rain On The Roof" – 2:13
- "Coconut Grove" (Sebastian, Zal Yanovsky) – 2:43
- "Nashville Cats" – 2:35
- "4 Eyes" – 2:53
- "Summer in the CitySummer in the City"Summer in the City" is the title of a song recorded by The Lovin' Spoonful, written by Mark Sebastian and Steve Boone. It came from their album Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful and it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1966...
" (Steve Boone, Mark Sebastian) – 2:45- 2003 reissue bonus tracks:
- "Darlin' Companion" (John Sebastian Solo Demo) – 2:23
- "Rain On The Roof" (Instrumental Version) – 2:17
- "4 Eyes" (Alternate Vocal/Extended Version) – 3:41
- "Full Measure" (Instrumental Version) – 2:43
- "Voodoo In My Basement" (Instrumental) – 2:40
- "Darlin' Companion" (Alternate Vocal/Alternate Mix) – 2:25
Personnel
- John SebastianJohn SebastianJohn Benson Sebastian Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and autoharpist. He is best known as a founder of The Lovin' Spoonful, a band inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000...
– lead and background vocals, guitar, 12-string guitar, autoharp, piano, organ, ocarina, pedal steel guitar, Irish harp - Steve BooneSteve BooneSteve Boone is the bass guitarist for the rock band, The Lovin' Spoonful.After the Lovin' Spoonful stopped touring in 1968, Boone went to work producing an album for Mercury Records by the Oxpetals. Soon after finishing the album Boone bought a 56 ft sailboat 'Cygnus' and moved onto it in the...
– electric and double bass, piano, organ, percussion - Joe Butler – drums, percussion, background vocals, lead vocal on "Full Measure"
- Zal YanovskyZal YanovskyZalman "Zal" Yanovsky was a Canadian rock musician. Born in Toronto, he was the son of political cartoonist Avrom Yanovsky. He played lead guitar and sang for the Lovin' Spoonful, a rock band which he founded with John Sebastian in 1964...
– electric and acoustic guitar, banjo, background vocals, slide whistle, lead vocal on "Voodoo in My Basement" - Henry DiltzHenry DiltzHenry Stanford Diltz is a folk musician and photographer, who has been active since the 1960s....
– clarinet - Artie SchroeckArtie SchroeckArthur "Artie" Bruce Schroeck is an American musician, best known for arranging and composing popular songs and jingles. He has won multiple Clio Awards, such as when he composed the music for the 1981 ABC-TV promo "Now is the time, ABC is the place". He also composed the 1982 promo "Come on...
– electric piano on "Summer in the City" - Larry Hankin – "Jews" harp
Production notes
- Produced by Erik Jacobsen
- Engineered by Roy HaleeRoy HaleeRoy Halee is an American record producer and engineer, best known for working with Simon and Garfunkel.Halee grew up on Long Island, New York. His father, also named Roy Halee, provided the singing voice for Mighty Mouse in late 1940s Terrytoons cartoons, as well as the voices of Heckle and Jeckle...
- Photography by Henry Diltz