John Sebastian -- The Lovin' Spoonful

[artistgypsy]

What a sweetie John Sebastian is. And what a musical life he has experienced, huh? He is one of my generation's finest. He shines.

[Dana9437]

John was and is such a talented and charming performer. I listened to him in the 60's and 70's and now I'm in my 60's and still listening! He was so adorable with those long side burns and great rapport with the audience.

Very enjoyable interview, YT! Thanks!

[ncast54]

Remembering breaking night at Washington Square park, good times

[goadyeyes]

I went to a John Sebastian concert in 1971 in Hawaii while in the Navy. What a great performer. He was mellow and really appreciated the audience.

I still love his solo stuff. Funny he should mention Richie Havens because I was a big fan of his too.

Thanks for posting this, it brought back some great memories.

[Dana9437]

John is as charming as ever!



[4thc2junkie0]

@Dana9437 My thoughts exactly. (: I hope I'm married to someone just like him when I'm that age.

[Putaspellonyou]

this guy is a horrible interviewer; the most mundane, pedestrian questions i could possible imagine.

[mcleanartists]

Yooge tunes!

[debro52]

This is a very good video. I was unable to get to Woodstock due to lack of money, but I wish I had been there. I was so much in love with John from the time I was 13. I'm glad he's still going strong. He was so much better than many of the rockers.

[drahcir105]

The song “How Have You Been…” was written by John Sebastian for my siblings and I after greeting him in his home in the summer of 1969. Our father was a friend and lived near him in Sag Harbor. I was 8, and we would go to Sebastian's home and play. One day, he showed up from touring, & we mobbed him and wanted to fix him food and just be with him to hear his stories of touring. Some time later, he sent us his new album with the inscription "One of these songs is all the way yours." Good times!

[thezidman]

@drahcir105 Wow - I've always loved this story and I imagined it as being told to pre-teen kids. Did he really give you a turtle from the L.I.E.? It's exciting to know the story behind the song.

[zampieri3]

what a incredible history

[sooznd]

Listened to my Spoonful albums so much in the 60's. go tto see them with Judy Collins at forest Hills in NY in 1967 and then got to see John twice in the last 10 years in Colorado. thanks John for the beautiful music. You are a marvelous entertainer.

[RSBSTEADICAM]

I really adore YouTube for this kind of thing!

[stanibol]

Enviable, in a cutsey way. :)

[ShockDoc]

Funny how he has no 'NY' accent, even tho he was raised in Greenwixh Village.

[walkerandwilliam]

@ShockDoc

well to me comming from glasgow he sounds totally Nuw yok man

[strat8383]

john sebastian is all about happy...thanks John

[ladykws]

Gosh, I used to be so, so in love with John Sebastian as a teen. I listened to TLS for years and years -- regularly. Still love the music.

The last time I was a teenager was 13 years ago and I still love him. He's lovely. His wife is lucky I'm not a home-wrecker, because if I waaaaas...... ;)

[jpdel31]

great man

[RodCow]

Probably not the first to point this out but John didn't write Summer In The City.

[Scottstunesful]

What a great interview with a truly talented man. John Sebastian's music has stood the test of time. John, I wish you all the best...because you gave your best to us.

Thank you.

[djsun25]

dude.. Mississippi John Hurt used to come stay over at John's house when he was a kid.. I mean.. how do you miss.. He is one of my all time favorite heroes in music.. love the man..

[zinotify]

John Sebastian...the most under-appreciated talent of his generation. A great song writer.

[hazor777]

god the audio fucking sucks for this interview --ever heard of a MIX ?

[RoyFive]

If I'm not mistaken, John didn't write Welome Back until years after he left the Spoonful. Or that's the impression I got from some articles I've read. Welcome Back, Kotter didn't premiere until 1975.

[FB1801]

I love JS. Great man!

[GoRetroGirl]

Great interview and I agree he really is a lovely guy and soooo talented.

[RoyFive]

Say what, Steve? John would never do that to a horse!

[RoyFive]

Oh gosh. Love the St. Louis Tickle. It would be great if the Ragtime Jug Stompers could be found and uploaded somehow.

[erinshaw53]

John Lennon called up Sebastion ,once upon a time,because he couldn't figure out the chord changes and picking of a particular song.I saw him open for America, back when Kotter was popular.I couldn't fathom that his talent was the opening act for them. It reminded me of when the Monkees opened up for Jimi Hendrix.....CRIMINAL!!!

[rocktenniscat]

@erinshaw53 - Monkees and Hendrix....hard to imagine....!!

[rocktenniscat]

Happy Birthday John Sebastian! Thanks for all the great music! Enjoying your Jug Band stuff these days....(saw you at Hugh's Room in Toronto)

[ellonysman]

So hes still back east...so nice to see someone from woodstock still alive and well, with the exception of cancer scares. I thought he was one of the nicest Hippies of then....

[yaknbo]

I am looking for a copy or youtube video of "How Have You Been" (My darling children). Can anyone help?

[ellonysman]

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - How Have You Been

[StayingWithTheJosh]

"I hope they weren't laced with anything remotely related to the '60s." Fucking. Lol.

[ellonysman]

Whatever happenned to Zak, guitar player...did he take his italian lookin nose somewhere?

[tmf945]

Yeah...Zal died a few years ago...feel better now?

[rocktenniscat]

Zal retired and ran a restaurant in Kingston, Ontario for many years. Called "Chez Piggy".  He was a great host and told lots of great stories. Sadly, he died a few years ago. And what's your comment about his Italian nose all about???????

[PixieDust19962]

@rocktenniscat I think he was pretty funny, he reminds me of me and my best friend everytime we hang out- crazy :D

[screendude69]

Thank you for posting this video...just one thing, though...the sound and picture is out of sync.

Peace.

[ejectorerector]

did he say he did a lot of sex live??

[MorganHillChristine]

Still classy, cute, smart and wonderful.

[xsamitt]

JS Total Class Act.

[odonna17]

What a lovely talented man ! He has really cheered me up -Donna

[tmo7734]

John Sebastian is a wonderful musician and uniquely gifted songwriter -- a knack for writing sensitive and whimsical lyrics. Also does wonders on a harmonica. Saw John perform a solo act in the late '60s early '70s in San Francisco. He has stayed true to his music. Good for him.

[Byrds1967]

Insightful.

[niggabartlebee]

sucks, when u get old sometimes u loose ur voice depending on how well u take care of urself.

[ellonysman]

Careful Niggabartlebee...I said we loose it as we gets older and I got hammered into me that he had throat cancer....I had seen some old rockers with out the oportunity to hit those high notes like before...but, at least they could sing, I only sand in the car....lol...audience of one.

[rasnoah1]

Just saw Spoonful without him at BB Kings tonight. What a freakin' joke! So bad! Wish I knew he wasn't going to be there.

[psychonautpsychosis]

I was going to see that show

[TheDragonCult]

The Spoonful were bad several years ago when they were inducted into the Hall of Fame

[Zendishwasher1]

love you john.awesome music, awesome musician and you have made my life richer.welcome back,not that you ever really left.

[ellonysman]

zen dishwasher...lol,,,...now that is one of the best names Ive seen yet...good on ya

[awaseniu]

Beautiful

[ahclem]

The instrument is an autoharp. The "hey dad" song is Younger Generation

[PeterCRissKISSgod]

In the beginning, John is playing Daydream on the banjo right?

[johnradner]

No, didn't you listen? He said it's the St. Louis Tickle. He learned it from Dave van Ronk in Wash. Sq.

[metalvz]

i love him :)

[greeniem]

He's such a great guy

[irish440v8]

john sabastian is the best,hey dad do you know that tune

[Nokorola]

Very nice.

[yaiknowscrewme]

This guys last 2 brain cells are fist fighting

[greeniem]

Don't be jealous of his pretty hair

[blackmore4]

The "brain cells" comment is plain obnoxious but it is the first time I've seen Sebastian look 'old'. I know he IS old but his Peter Pan syndrome that was so springily evident for decades seems to have finally run its course.

[Desdumona]

This was a really enjoyable piece. Thanks for posting it. What a weird time that all was... such a wide array of music. When I listen to it now, when I hear a Lovin' Spoonful song up against, say, a CSNY piece, it amazes me to no end. These guys were all so young and made such powerful music! Again, thanks - John Sebastian has long been a favorite of mine. It was great watching this.

[HumanBozoBoy]

nice clip..happy to see john living peacefully, serenely with wife in calm surroundings...he deserves it for all the joy he brought to us..not to mention the riff to summer in the city which was used by the beatles, led zep..and on and on...

[mad4music7]

on what specific songs, may i ask? i am curious and would like to compare

[HumanBozoBoy]

"while my guitar gently weeps"..."stairway to heaven"...to name a couple...descending minor progression...

[mad4music7]

ah ok, thanks for the reply

[blackmore4]

Ho Ho! Flattered as I sure he might be, John Sebastian certainly wouldn't lay claim to that structure. Johann Sebastian Bach maybe!!

[waterdoggz]

Fond memories of the spoonful in the sixties! Thanks John your music warms my soul!

[znelm]

wow that was great

[NoMoMulligans]

Really enjoyed that. TYVM!!