Lovely band the Spoonful. My only regret for them was they never spent time in the studio, they just knocked everything out on the cheap. Until Zally was gone. John was on fire, so many great songs! I love this guy. And I’ve tried to love his albums too. A few times. They’re just too... nice. Kinda boring. quite un-noteworthy. Even a side long suite on The Four Of Us is dull. But I probably read every interview with him i ever come across. He was magic, he lived it, nothing that special lasts long. No keepers in the solo catalogue. I’m sure his fans will differ. I mean i liked Tar Beach some. And i even explored the stuff he did for cartoons.
I don’t know how much momentum was lost with the legalities involved with MGM and his first solo lp, but I think his career lacked fulfillment. Especially considering the heights the Spoonful reached. If I’m going to pull out a solo lp, it’s Tarzana Kid. Maybe it’s Erik Jacobsen’s production, maybe the sidemen they brought in, but it has a more comfortable feel than John B., or The Four Of Us. Stories We Could Tell and Face Of Appalachia (with a nice version of Dixie Chicken, a tease of a Lowell George tie up) are beautiful, and nice versions of Sitting Here In Limbo, and a couple early Spoonful covers.
I do really like the 2 J Band albums, a lot. Not a lot of original material, and not sure if it would be considered solo. But real nice stuff, Geoff Mulduar, and all.
Yep, about as good as it gets. He had dalliances with Little Feat and NRBQ, i just wish they had made some albums together proper.
I have a serious soft spot for the Spoonful, especially in mono, but completely ignorant of Sebastian’s solo work beyond Woodstock and Welcome Back Kotter.
I really enjoy Cheapo Cheapo Productions Real Live John Sebastian and I like his version of Dixie Chicken and the track with Ry Cooder, so part of Tarzana Kid... but ya I struggle with his solo work. Its very... bland I guess.
Once had the delight of seeing a triple bill of Croz (headliner), McGuinn, and Sebastian that included a brief Croz/McGuinn set. Beacon Theatre early 80s. Believe it was a benefit for an NYC public radio station
He has got his whalin' cap on. Love the nautical themed painting in the background too. This guy is a such a dork... but a lovable dork.
I love the guitar sound, it still has that ominous *spook* that I associate so much with Rog. The hat? Yar, I believe it be wot master Om be sayin, b’y; tis a proper whalin’ cap, doncha know.
Does Roger just turn on double track and crank the echo to 11 on every recording now? Is it his way of getting Crosby harmonies without actually having to associate with him?
It'd be you, YardByrd and a bunch of young trendy hipsters lining up for the vinyl release. Free whalin' toque with the first 100,000 copies.
Sebastian is one of those great songwriters who really needed a great band (not a collection of musicians, but a band) to bring his songs to life. And like Pete Townshend and Paul Westerberg, his work suffered notably when he didn’t have that.
where in Canada are you? I haven't heard "toque" since I was a child... both sides of my family are Quebecois and in New England my friends would howl with laughter when my mom said, "Don't forget your toque!" as I walked out the door to go sledding... Anyhoo, yeah, I wouldn't mind an LP of McGuinn sea shanties, but, man, they'd have to be curated and sequenced JUST right... they do get repetitive if one's not careful! Also, he'd have to go to a real studio to record 'em straight to tape, which I bet he'd be unwilling to do even if there was no Corona...
