Full Measure - The Lovin' Spoonful

[zkxb]

Thanks for posting this great song. The keyboard in the intro (other than the obvious piano) is called a harmonium. Did anyone catch the xylophone at the end of the song? Good job. You get a cookie.

[wfarrar69]

#87pop,1967.a great forgotten charted b-side

[tfallgren]

This song was very interesting and melodic when released in San Diego. I loved it but it would not jump the charts. Why I don't know. "Nashville Cats" suddenly was playing all over the airwaves and "Full Measure" was grounded. Joe Butler's voice was so melodic I didn't even recognize the Spoonful but the song was way beyond the group. The chorus in this song is a lttle bit shakey but if this song was recorded again by me or Bowie, this song would be a masterpiece!

[bellbonne]

Reminds me ofmy first love--makes me cry--but in a good way!

[wildhokum]

fantastic song!

[Jomama1915]

This is one of the most underrated songs of the 1960's. The clarity of the melody and Joe Butler's voice. I still always listen to this song. They can't take away all of these great songs!

[YaIThink]

This song has a haunting and very harmonic melody. Great song when I first heard it back in 1972 and it still resonates now. I can listen to it always. Always!

[palexandersquires]

The stereo seperation on this track is very good

[harvey1954]

I once tried to make a CDR of all the songs Joe Butler sang lead on. It didn't even come to half an hour (not counting the Joe extravaganza that was passed off the last Spoonful album). Great voice. Who is that screaming at the end, Zally or John?

[CinemaCinder]

I had this 45 when I was little--it originally belonged to one of my brothers. I was drawn more to this song more than its flip "Nashville Cats" (though I love both).It had a magical quality--positive vibrations?--and a message I only understood when I matured.Joe Butler's voice had a soothing warmth that fit the song whereas (as it was once said) Sebastian's voice would've been too good-timey,Zal's would've been too Zal,and Boone's,as Boone once said "I only sang lead once,for obvious reasons."

[InnocentWar1]

I never gonna forget you, the girl of my dream. You came in like a tornado and fade away like a breeze. The memory makes me confused.

[harvey1954]

This did get more airplay out on the west coast while Nashville Cats got more on the east coast. It is the closest thing to a Christmas song that the Spoonful ever did.

[dunbunter]

Getting something for nothing is wrong. Worth thinking of.



[verygaryshow]

This band was amazing, absolutely amazing.. i think the best ever.

[axeofgod72]

they just don't make music like this anymore... happy music, full of love and joy and innocence... bring back the oldies...

[tleparskas]

Great song that my buddy would always play on the jukebox after school. Many years later as an oldies radio DJ, I met the band before a summer show and asked if they did the song live. Joe Butler said sure. In the show they did a dedication to me when they played it. Full Measure - full circle!

[RoyFive]

Far as I'm concerned, this song qualifies as a legitimate Christmas Carol. So why don't the radio stations ever play it?

[blueticecho]

I first heard this on a over nite show at KOIL radio in Omaha, Nebraska. The next day i told my brother to go and get that new record called full measure by Roy Orbison.. HA ... It did not sound like the spoonful when i first heard it....

[vveq]

Excellent B side. My dad has the Nashville Cats single on Kama Sutra records.  He liked the A side, and me and my brother prefered this song on the flip side.

[OnTheWatch]

A Full Measure of joy, thanks for posting this. I grew up in LA and also remember this song very well; I was a big Spoonful fan from hooked from day 1; had just started 7th grade when "Magic" came out and bought their albums with my paper route money. Also thanks rpaltza for the info - never knew it was a harmonium; listening thru headphones to the stereo Full Measure you can actually hear the foot pedals.

[moorlock2003]

Still my favorite Spoonful track. A big Los Angeles hit despite being a B side! "Nashville Cats" was the bigger national hit but wasn't played at all to my recollection here in S. California.

[11xzxzxz]

It's missing John Sebastian? Songs OK and singer's got voice though.

[RoyFive]

That was drummer Joe Butler, quite a formidable vocalist in his own right. He sings lead now with the reconstituted Spoonful, which includes Steve and Jerry Yester.

[11xzxzxz]

Thanks for the info. They do sound like the Lovin Spoonful where as I've seen other bands reconstituted and they sound constipated.

[captainsoul1953]

He did the vocals on Butchies tune..You Baby and Old Folks and backing vocals on just about every thing

Jim

[movingon4ever]

Joe did the lead vocal on "Never going Back", the last release before the band folded in '68. Wish someone would add

that to YouTube. Thank you.

[moorlock2003]

The last releases by The Lovin' Spoonful were sung by Joe Butler because the band had broken up and he was trying to ease into a solo career which never really materialized. "Me About You", "Till I Run With You", "Amazing Air", and "Revelation Revolution" were the last Spoonful singles. If you like "Full Measure" also try "Only Pretty What A Pity". There's a video here.

[furakkueroru]

My 45 got stuck were he sings sticking around!

[captainsoul1953]

Mine jumped at exactly this point..still does...Spoooooooooooooky...wel­l perhaps not

Jim

[furakkueroru]

Well I dont have mine anymore but maybe because thats where the needle was sticking around? And it had a wonderful feeling?

[lordvespatron]

Absolutely ace song. I didnt know the drummer sang this. It sounds so great! I love how the harmonium comes on at the start and then after the middle 8! it's so good songwriting.

Lovin is all about giving. And so is life. Let's learn from songs like this and make this world a better place!

[rpaltza]

"Full Measure" is quintessential Lovin Spoonful. I agree with the use of the harmonium, with the resonating vibraphone accents in the chorus. Back then, I thot the group was part of the British Invasion - their sound in certain songs have something of a Merseybeat flavor to them. But later hits proved this group was Americana through and through. Too bad Joe Butler didn't make it in a solo career, he had a melodic, clear voice (probably still does), excellent alternative to Sebastian's.

[Radicals888]

Joe butler, a great drummer and he could sing! Thanx Lorjim

[keyjack100]

Living in LA at the time I don't EVER recall hearing "Cats", only this. LA was not "Nashville Cats" territory at the time. This one's an all-time fave!!

[blairh1966]

Yeah this was a hit in LA I lived there then too

[eddiemaysm]

If it wasn't for Joe butler there would have been no Lovin' Spoonful. As Chuck Berry sang "It's got a back beat you can't lose it" Joe made it rock and roll music. Great drums and great vocals. It was Magic that he hooked up with Sebastian, Zal and Steve.

[ras977]

There is an interview o You Tube with Joe . He stated that he was chosen as a member for his vocas as much as for his drumming.

He has a great voice & added much to the Spoonful's harmonies.

[tad95683usa]

If I'm not mistaken this song was on the flip side of the 45rpm "Nashville Cats". I actually liked this song better than than main song.

[bdinoc]

Right, NOT John Sebastian, anyone can hear it right way... but a wonderful song and performance by the band. The Spoonful could really alter time in making those 2-3/4 minute songs slow down and reach out to around seven minutes... Big smiles all around.

[TL250Rider]

Late 1966 or Early 1967 It did get some air play. I remember hearing it on KRLA in Los Angeles. It is one of the best songs from the Lovin Spoonful.

Great song THank you You Tube for this wonderful listing.

[ASite4u2c]

The lead singer does sound very different from John Sebastian's voice to me.

This is a wonderful song that I only discovered by playing the flip side. Don't ever recall hearing this tune getting any airplay in the mid 60's. Most unfortunate, don't you think?

[boxtop2]

A wonderful Spoonful song I listen to over and over again.

[RonkonkomaOndinnonk]

Great keyboards!

[IDLERACER]

Here in Los Angeles, this song actually got more airplay than the A-side "Nashville Cats," although nationally, it only made it to #87.

[GereDJ]

Outstanding, underrated, underplayed song that women absolutely loved because it acknowledged their value and necessity. I always loved this tune. It always struck a warm chord in me when I heard it and made me want to kiss my girlfriend even more. I loved John's searing vocal treatment in the last 20 seconds of the song. Great! Thanks!

[kteck]

Love this song! Thanks for sharing. Joe sings lead on this song these days- like that version, too! I had the good fortune of seeing the Spoonful twice while on a cruise in March. They are FANTASTIC!

[bobbilse]

Joe sang lead on it in those days also! This is one of the few lead vocals that Joe Butler sang on their records. A casual search of the 'net will find many references to this fact.

[pteck5]

So this IS Joe! Thanks for setting me straight.