Up For Bid:
2 Lovin’ Spoonful LP’s
The best of the Lovin’ Spoonful
Kama Sutra KLP-8056
With 4 Pictures of the guys
MONO
1967
I bought this LP new in Spring-Summer 1967
THE LOVIN’ SPOONFUL
EVERYTHING PLAYING
Kama Sutra KLPS 8061
Stereo
1967
I bought this LP new in September 1974
Cover - best of - Gatefold. I had taped the shrink back on after opening this up. (Early record buying in my life). Shrink and tape gone now. Tape residue present inside gatefold. Also two strips of residue are inside the LP insert portion of the cover. Some tape residue is still on the outside perimeter of the cover. No writing, no splitting to cover. The white sticker about the photos included is on the cover, original. Being absolute white, the cover does show some toning around the perimeter.
Cover - EVERYTHING - Shrink mostly on. Torn away from open end on back, bottom right corner of shrink gone on front. Has a cutout hole bottom left. The shrink is not pierced, so this must be a reshrink. Price tag on shrink. Bottom left corner of cover has a crease. No writing, no cardboard splitting. Very little other shelving/handling evidence.
Vinyl - best of - Some rubs/smudges. Some small linear marks. Nothing that affects play.
Vinyl - EVERYTHING - Some rubs, streaks, smudges and a some light marks. Nothing that overrides the play. My labels have the song titles and composers on separate lines.
Sleeves - Both - Special Spoonful paper.
Inserts - best of - 4 pictures. One of each band member. Still like new, but blank backs have some toning. 9 1/2 X 7 1/2 in.
Deadwax: best of -
Side 1: (The MGM Block S) KLP 8056 Side 1 MG620-2 1 1
Side 2: (The MGM Block S) KLP 8056 Side 2 MG621 1 2
Pressing Rings - 31 or 32mm
Vinyl weight - 4 3/8 oz, 123-124g
MGM Record Manufacturing Division pressing
Deadwax: EVERYTHING -
Side 1: KLPS 8061 Side 1 MGS 984-3 Bell Sound
Side 2: KLPS 8061 Side 2 MGS 985-3 Bell Sound
The “Bell Sound” are in script
Pressing Rings 70mm
Vinyl weight - 5 1/4 oz, 149g
Probably pressed by the H V Waddell Co
The best of the Lovin’ Spoonful
Multiple hits you’re familiar with on this genuine Best Of offering. The others may well soon be part of your memory’s repertoire.
John Sebastian is the American Ray Davies (Kinks). A songwriter, composer who makes you pay attention, and makes you want to say Thank You.
Many years after having digested Spoonful songs, I realized what he was singing about in “Jug Band Music.” When I finally heard the Memphis Jug Band and Gus Cannon’s Jug Band playing their 1920’s and 1930’s songs, I knew what Sebastian meant when he wrote “… Jug Band music, it seems to make him feel just fine.” In fact it was only a few years ago I heard Gus Cannon’s “Prison Wall Blues” which has the music to “Younger Girl.” Faster, with, of course, different lyrics, but that’s the tune Sebastian borrowed.
The MGM Record Manufacturing Division has the block S as one of their logos. That site has 5 versions appearing on the Discogs entries for this album. My labels conform to the Promo labels set-up (without the Promo wording), and one other entry. The wording at the label bottoms, and the composer(s) listed under the song differ from some other Discogs entries.
Considering when I bought it, I believe it is a 1st pressing.
EVERYTHING PLAYING
The first Lovin’ Spoonful album after Zal Yanovsky left. Zal does provide guitar on “Six O’Clock” which had been released as a 45 in 1967. Probably the same recording here.
John Sebastian still writing very high quality songs, the band moving on from their earlier incarnation. Jerry Yester fills in delightfully.
Despite the Discogs insistence for 1968 as the release year, I think bsnpubs, wikipedia and 45worlds, (the last 2 showing December 1967) have it more realistic with 1967.
Here’s a bit of research that supports the December 1967 date:
Billboard - peaked at #118 in February 17, 1968 issue. 5 weeks on chart
February 10, 1968 #133
February 3, 1968 #151
January 27, 1968 #172
So somewhere before the January 27, 1968 issue it must have first appeared on the HOT 200 chart. With a December release, it well could have taken 3 weeks or so to hit the HOT 200.
Pretty minor point, but hey, record collectors might as well be serious.
Record collectors may also appreciate having a copy that was reshrunk. Although I bought a LOT of cutouts from 1966 to the early 1980’s, I don’t find I have very many with this feature. It’s all part of the history of this hobby/investment. Somewhere in the vast commentary on the Steve Hoffman sites there is mention of why some LP’s were reshrunk. Torn original shrink, too many price tags, writing, are among the possibilities.
Even though I bought this sealed up 7 years after its first release, I think it likely could be a first pressing. Discogs doesn’t show any releases between 1968 and 1974. My Deadwax/Runouts are pretty much a match for the Discogs entries. Even the vinyl weight of 5 1/4oz places it more in 1967 than the early 1970’s.
US shipping only
Shipped in LP mailer