This first
Lovin' Spoonful hits collection, released in March 1967, gathers
The Spoonful's five successful singles from July 1965 to June 1966 -- "Do You Believe in Magic," "You Didn't 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 album's other seven tracks emphasize the band's assets other than
John Sebastian's 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 group's three previous albums,
Do You Believe in Magic, Daydream, and
Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful. ~ William Ruhlmann