Summer in the City, Lovin’ Spoonful

In my preteen and early teen years I spent a lot of time in my room listening to records. Some of Mom’s old 33’s, then 45’s handed down to me from my brothers. That’s how I came to know the Lovin’ Spoonful’s song “Do You Believe in Magic?” But the version I first listened to was actually a later cover by Sean Cassidy. It would be years later before I would hear the original, which somehow felt more mature than the happy, smiley Sean Cassidy version.

Image by JLB1988 from Pixabay

I’m pretty sure the “Summer in the City” single on my record player was the original, though, and talk about gritty and mature. I don’t know how you get grit and depth into a song that seems to be just a simple teen tune about going out in town on a hot summer night, but there’s something about it, whether its the key changes, the tempo . . . I am sure Brian could give me an excellent musical analysis for how this song has impressed listeners and critics alike.

It was their only number one single, but released in 1966, it was their fifth song to make it into the top ten. The band’s songwriter John Sebastian reworked a song written by his 14-year-old brother, Mark and created some major-minor key contrast between the verses and chorus. I can’t find any information on whether Mark was pleased with the results of his big brother’s changes, but I suspect he didn’t mind being part of the creation of a number one hit.

I’m heading to the city with Brian this weekend and it will be hot. He’ll be playing in a gaming tournament while Eliot, our pup, and I dip our toes in at the beach on Long Island. Wish us luck!

Groovy Birthday to Kathleen!

I don’t know about you, but this Wednesday feels like a Friday with a lot of stuff to catch up on before the weekend. I suppose it’s just the bluster and business of getting ready for the library’s summer reading program. Lots of schedules to look at, dates to verify, and best of all, children to sign up!

So may be you need to slow down a bit and just, I don’t know, have a chat with a lamp post or something. I may try that later. This town probably already thinks their librarian is a bit of a nut.

Today, June 5th, is Kathleen’s birthday. Kathleen is a regular supporter and a constant encouragement to me here on Jeff’s Song of the Day. You can visit her blog and enjoy her garden observations over at Course of Our Seasons where you’ll find her poems and lovely photos.

For her birthday tune, Kathleen has requested Simon and Garfunkel’s “59th Street Bridge Song,” often referred to by it’s famous refrain, “Feelin’ Groovy.” It’s from their legendary 1966 album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme. Those of you with an editor’s sharp eye will notice that they don’t use the Oxford Comma in their collection’s title. Such young rebels they were!

You don’t have to be on Manhattan’s Queensboro Bridge to sing this song. You don’t even need cobblestones. Just try to slow down a bit and don’t go to fast today. I was looking for a live version of the song and found this recording from 1967 on the Smother’s Brothers’ show where the brothers surprise by joining in as backup singers. You can listen to a more crisp, studio version by clicking here. Happy birthday, Kathleen!

I’d Like to Get to Know You, by Spanky and Our Gang

It’s a lazy Monday for me since it’s one of those Monday holidays, so let’s keep the tone mellow. Mellow Monday—that could become a thing. Let’s power up the time machine and head back to 1968, when I was a year old. I remember growing up hearing this song and it always struck me as both lovely and haunting. I never saw a video of it before until this weekend, so this was the version I knew from the radio and maybe someone’s old 45?

But I like to share live performances when I can, and I thought, surely there was one out there. I found this cute video that was probably on some TV show or other, but I had never heard opening spoken segment until now. Um, and now I don’t know what to think. It’s like someone messed with my childhood. I don’t mean this to be a review, just a reaction. I always knew this song as a romantic, wistful love song, and while music videos often take creative license, I was not expecting this to get . . . corny? Yeah, kinda, but still, it’s cute. The recording reminds me of how much fun producers were having with stereo sound back in the day.

I don’t know anything really about the group Spanky and Our Gang, but maybe I’ll have to dig deeper. You see, I had the song in mind because a recent conversation brought to mind a meeting from many years ago. I was happy to be reminded. I just wasn’t expecting this bit about the slipper . . .