Lovin’ Spoonful: ‘Complete Recordings 1965-1969’ Box Set Due
by Best Classic Bands Staff
The most comprehensive collection to date of the recordings of the Lovin’ Spoonful, What a Day for a Daydream: The Complete Recordings 1965-1969, is being released April 3, 2026, by England’s Cherry Red Records.
Mastered by Grammy-nominated archivist/producer Alec Palao, the 7-CD, 170-track boxed set compiles the complete 1960s recordings by the American quartet that included John Sebastian (guitar, autoharp, harmonica, lead vocals), Zal Yanovsky (lead guitar, vocals), Steve Boone (bass) and Joe Butler (drums, vocals). It’s available to order in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here (where it arrives on March 27).
The set includes their first four studio albums—Do You Believe In Magic (1965), Daydream (1966), Hums of the Lovin’ Spoonful (1966) and Everything Playing (1967)—in both stereo and mono, plus stereo mixes of their two soundtrack albums, The Lovin’ Spoonful in Woody Allen’s ‘What’s Up Tiger Lily?’ (1966) and You’re a Big Boy Now (1967).
The box also contains the Joe Butler-helmed final album Revelation: Revolution ’69 (1969), Yanovsky’s solo album Alive and Well in Argentina (1968) and stereo and mono versions of the early Lovin’ Spoonful tracks included on Elektra’s 1966 compilation What’s Shakin’, the mono mixes appearing on CD for the first time.
Included are all of the band’s chart hits: “Do You Believe In Magic” (U.S. #9), “You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice” (U.S. #10), “Daydream’”(U.S. #2, U.K. #2), “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind” (U.S. #2), “Summer in the City” (U.S. #1, U.K. #8), “Rain on the Roof” (U.S. #10), “Nashville Cats” (U.S. # 8, U.K. #26), “Darling Be Home Soon” (U.S. #14), “Six O’Clock” (U.S. #18) and “She Is Still a Mystery” (U.S. #27).
Bonus tracks include “Alley Oop” an outtake from their debut album sessions plus demos, alternative versions and instrumentals.
Related: Our interview with John Sebastian
TRACK LISTING
DISC ONE
Do You Believe In Magic (Stereo / Mono) (1965)
1. Do You Believe In Magic (stereo)
2. Blues In The Bottle (stereo)
3. Sportin’ Life (stereo)
4. My Gal (stereo)
5. You Baby (stereo)
6. Fishin’ Blues (stereo)
7. Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind (stereo)
8. Wild About My Lovin’ (stereo)
9. Other Side Of This Life (stereo)
10. Younger Girl (stereo)
11. On The Road Again (stereo)
12. Night Owl Blues (stereo)
13. Do You Believe In Magic (mono)
14. Blues In The Bottle (mono)
15. Sportin’ Life (mono)
16. My Gal (mono)
17. You Baby (mono)
18. Fishin’ Blues (mono)
19. Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind (mono)
20. Wild About My Lovin’ (mono)
21. Other Side Of This Life (mono)
22. Younger Girl (mono)
23. On The Road Again (mono)
24. Night Owl Blues (mono)
25. Alley Oop
26. Younger Girl (demo version)
27. Blues In The Bottle (alternative take)
28. Wild About My Lovin’ (alternative take)
29. Other Side Of This Life (alternative instrumental)
30. Night Owl Blues (complete take)
DISC TWO
Daydream (Stereo /Mono) (1966)
1. Daydream (stereo)
2. There She Is (stereo)
3. It’s Not Time Now (stereo)
4. Warm Baby (stereo)
5. Day Blues (stereo)
6. Let The Boy Rock And Roll (stereo)
7. Jug Band Music (stereo)
8. Didn’t Want To Have To Do It (stereo)
9. You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice (stereo)
10. Bald Headed Lena (stereo)
11. Butchie’s Tune (stereo)
12. Big Noise From Speonk (stereo)
13. Daydream (mono)
14. There She Is (mono)
15. It’s Not Time Now (mono)
16. Warm Baby (mono)
17. Day Blues (mono)
18. Let The Boy Rock And Roll (mono)
19. Jug Band Music (mono)
20. Didn’t Want To Have To Do It (mono)
21. You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice (mono)
22. Bald Headed Lena (mono)
23. Butchie’s Tune (mono)
24. Big Noise From Speonk (mono)
25. Didn’t Want To Have To Do It (demo version)
26. Jug Band Music (alternative instrumental version)
27. Daydream (demo version)
DISC THREE
The Lovin’ Spoonful In ‘What’s Up Tiger Lily?’ Original Soundtrack (Stereo) (1966)
1. Introduction To Flick (dialogue by Woody Allen and Lenny Maxwell) (stereo)
2. Pow (Theme From What’s Up Tiger Lily?) (stereo)
3. Gray Prison Blues (stereo)
4. Pow Revisited (stereo)
5. Unconscious Minuet (stereo)
6. Fishin’ Blues (stereo)
7. Respoken (stereo)
8. A Cool Million (stereo)
9. Speaking Of Spoken (stereo)
10. Lookin’ To Spy (stereo)
11. Phil’s Love Theme (stereo)
12. End Title (stereo)
You’re A Big Boy Now Original Soundtrack (Stereo) (1967)
13. You’re A Big Boy Now (stereo)
14. Lonely (Amy’s Theme) (stereo)
15. Wash Her Away (From The Discotheque) (stereo)
16. Kite Chase (stereo)
17. Try And Be Happy (stereo)
18. Peep Show Percussion (stereo)
19. Girl, Beautiful Girl (Barbara’s Theme) (stereo)
20. Darling Be Home Soon (stereo)
21. Dixieland Big Boy (stereo)
22. Letter To Barbara (stereo)
23. Barbara’s Theme (From The Discotheque) (stereo)
24. Miss Thing’s Thang (stereo)
25. March (stereo)
26. The Finale (stereo)
27. Fishin’ Blues (alternative instrumental version)
DISC FOUR
Hums Of The Lovin’ Spoonful (Stereo / Mono) (1966)
1. Lovin’ You (stereo)
2. Bes’ Friends (stereo)
3. Voodoo In My Basement (stereo)
4. Darlin’ Companion (stereo)
5. Henry Thomas (stereo)
6. Full Measure (stereo)
7. Rain On The Roof (stereo)
8. Coconut Grove (stereo)
9. Nashville Cats (stereo)
10. 4 Eyes (stereo)
11. Summer In The City (stereo)
12. Lovin’ You (mono)
13. Bes’ Friends (mono)
14. Voodoo In My Basement (mono)
15. Darlin’ Companion (mono)
16. Henry Thomas (mono)
17. Full Measure (mono)
18. Rain On The Roof (mono)
19. Coconut Grove (mono)
20. Nashville Cats (mono)
21. 4 Eyes (mono)
22. Summer In The City (mono)
23. Darlin’ Companion (John Sebastian solo demo version)
24. Rain On The Roof (instrumental)
25. 4 Eyes (alternative extended version)
26. Full Measure (instrumental)
27. Voodoo In My Basement (instrumental)
28. Darlin’ Companion (alternative vocal version)
DISC FIVE
Everything Playing (Stereo / Mono) (1967)
1. She Is Still A Mystery (stereo)
2. Priscilla Millionaira (stereo)
3. Boredom (stereo)
4. Six O’Clock (stereo)
5. Forever (stereo)
6. Younger Generation (stereo)
7. Money (stereo)
8. Old Folks (stereo)
9. Only Pretty, What A Pity (stereo)
10. Try A Little Bit (stereo)
11. Close Your Eyes (stereo)
12. She Is Still A Mystery (mono)
13. Priscilla Millionaira (mono)
14. Boredom (mono)
15. Six O’Clock (mono)
16. Forever (mono)
17. Younger Generation (mono)
18. Money (mono)
19. Old Folks (mono)
20. Only Pretty, What A Pity (mono)
21. Try A Little Bit (mono)
22. Close Your Eyes (mono)
23. She Is Still A Mystery (alternative version)
24. Only Pretty, What A Pity (alternative version)
25. Try A Little Bit (alternative version)
Watch Joe Butler sing “Only Pretty, What a Pity” live with the band
DISC SIX
The Lovin’ Spoonful (Featuring Joe Butler) – Revelation: Revolution ’69 (Stereo) (1969)
1. Amazing Air
2. Never Going Back
3. The Prophet4. Only Yesterday
5. War Games
6. (Till I) Run With You
7. Jug Of Wine
8. Revelation: Revolution ’69
9. Me About You
10. Words
11. Revelation: Revolution ’69 (mono single version)
12. Revelation: Revolution ’69 (single version, alternative vocal)
13. Me About You (mono single version)
From Various Artists – What’s Shakin’? (Stereo / Mono) (1966)
14. Good Time Music (stereo)
15. Almost Grown (stereo)
16. Don’t Bank On It Baby (stereo)
17. Searchin’ (stereo)
18. Good Time Music (mono)
19. Almost Grown (mono)
20. Don’t Bank On It Baby (mono)
21. Searchin’ (mono)
DISC SEVEN
Zalman Yanovsky – Alive And Well In Argentina (Stereo) (1968)
1. Raven In A Cage
2. You Talk Too Much
3. Last Date
4. Little Bitty Pretty One
5. Alive And Well In Argentina
6. Brown To Blue
7. Pricilla Millionaira
8. I Almost Lost My Mind
9. Hip Toad
10. Lt. Schtinckhausen
11. As Long As You’re Here
12. Ereh Er’uoy Sa Gnol Sa
5 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationThis looks like a very nice set. There were 2 original album releases from the band on CD with bonus tracks. (They did the same thing with Badfinger) At one time, I had all their albums on vinyl. I was fascinated with Revelation/Revolution ’69 (who was that couple on the cover?) The Spoonful lost their luster after “Zolly” was deported. Though there are also some good tracks on the final LS album. .
I have some history with John Sebastian .. he came by my booth at NAMM one year and it was like I’d known him forever .. he has that Bohemian vibe that came just before “Hippy” .. called “Beatnik” .. a true artist with the soul of a nobleman. I gave him some samples of my goods as a GREAT BIG THANK YOU for all the great memories not only for that meeting, but all the music he created in a very short period of time. … So .. a few years ago I get a phone call and the first thing I hear is “this is John Sebastian” .. and I knew immediately that it was him .. there is only one and nobody sounds like him .. it seems that his kid lost his “Ducks Deluxe” (that’s one of my “Power String Winders” that had Ducks Deluxe printed on it) that I gave him at NAMM and was hoping to get another one … so I sent him two a blue one for him and a purple one for his kid. I also gave him a bottle of Dr. Ducks Ax Wax and String Lube and here’s what he wrote me about it: “…after using your stuff on a jug band full of instruments, all I can say is Thank You Dr.Duck !…” And thank you JBS .. and Long Live the memory of The Lovin’ Spoonful .. Ever Onward … Friends for life.
I’m really looking forward to this box set. The Lovin’ Spoonful will always be one of my favorite American rock bands. Very clever fellows and great musicians. Lovin’ me some Spoonful.
I love the Spoonful as much as anyone, and it would be neat to have a collection of all their studio albums, but I really don’t need all these alternate takes and solo projects. I wonder if they’ll release a less ambitious box of just the studio albums…
The extra material is what makes the set special, in my opinion. The studio albums have been available forever, but a lot of this other material has been very hard to find.