The Lovin' Spoonful - 1965 - Night Owl Cafe, New York, USA.

Recorded on February 1965 - Night Owl Cafe, New York, USA. The Lovin' Spoonful 1965: John Sebastian - Vocals & Multiple Instruments Zal Yanovsky - Guitar Steve Boone - Bass Drums - Jan Carl The Setlist ; 01 Intro 02 [Get Your Kicks On] Route 66 03 Good Time Music 04 My Gal 05 Didn't Want to Have to Do It 06 Almost Grown 07 Bring It with You When You Come / talk 08 Alley Oop 09 My Baby Left Me 10 Nashville Cats 11 Darlin' Be Home Soon 12 Bald Headed Lena 13 Daydream 14 Do You Believe in Magic 15 Only Pretty, What a Pity 16 She Is Still a Mystery The Lovin' Spoonful began making their mark at the Night Owl Cafe in Greenwich Village, New York, in 1965, with regular performances that helped establish their reputation as one of America's pioneering folk-rock bands. In February 1965, they played notable early gigs at the Night Owl, including shows where Jan Buchner (stage name Jan Carl) was their drummer, before Joe Butler joined and became a core member of the classic lineup. These energetic sets showcased John Sebastian, Zal Yanovsky, Steve Boone, and their evolving rhythmic section, drawing attention from both fans and producers.[1][2][3][4][6][8][14] The Lovin' Spoonful with John Sebastian, live at the Night Owl Cafe in New York City in Feb. 1965 (2nd Set). This is the only concert the Lovin' Spoonful played with drummer Jan Buchner (stage name Jan Carl). The band played more shows at Cafe Bizarre before returning to the Night Owl with Joe Butler on drums. They played at the Night Owl regularly from March through May 1965, at which point they got their record deal. They recorded "Do You Believe In Magic" in June, and the record came out in July. The Lovin' Spoonful were an American folk-rock band formed in Greenwich Village, New York City, in 1964. The band was among the most popular groups in the United States for a short period in the mid-1960s, and their music and image influenced many of the contemporary rock acts of their era. Beginning in July 1965 with their debut single "Do You Believe in Magic", the band had seven consecutive singles reach the Top Ten of the U.S. charts in the eighteen months that followed, including the number-two hits "Daydream" and "Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?" and the chart-topping "Summer in the City". Led by their primary songwriter John Sebastian, the Lovin' Spoonful took their earliest influences from jug band and blues music, reworking them into a popular music format. In 1965, the Lovin' Spoonful helped pioneer the development of the musical genre of folk rock. By 1966, the group was "one of the most highly regarded American bands", and they were the year's third-best-selling singles act in the U.S., after the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. As psychedelia expanded in popularity in 1967, the Lovin' Spoonful struggled to transition their approach, and saw diminished sales before disbanding in 1968. (Wikipedia) This concert was recorded and broadcast by WBAI 99.5 FM, a Pacifica Radio Network non-commercial station in New York City. This is one of the Lovin' Spoonful's earliest concerts, and the first portion is also one of the oldest broadcasts on FM Radio Archive. NOTE: Tracks 10-16 have a different sound profile, and are likely from another (later) concert, likely 1967. WBAI played a major role in the evolution and development of the counterculture of the 1960s and early 1970s. Arlo Guthrie's "Alice's Restaurant" was first broadcast on Radio Unnameable, Bob Fass' freeform radio program on WBAI, a program which itself in many ways created, explored, and defined the potential of FM radio. During the 1960s, the station hosted numerous anti-establishment causes, including anti-Vietnam war activists, feminists (and live coverage of purported bra-burning demonstrations), kids lib, early Firesign Theater comedy, and complete-album music overnight. It refused to stop playing Janis Ian's song about interracial relationships, "Society's Child". Among the station's weekly commentators in the 1960s were author Ayn Rand, British politician/playwright Sir Stephen King-Hall, and author Dennis Wholey. The 1964 Political conventions were "covered" satirically on WBAI by Severn Darden, Elaine May, Burns and Schreiber, David Amram, Julie Harris, Taylor Mead, and members of The Second City improvisational group. The station covered the 1968 seizure of the Columbia University campus live and uninterrupted. With its signal reaching nearly 70 miles beyond New York City, its reach and influence, both direct and indirect, were significant. WBAI also produced live studio performances of emerging artists in its studios.

Added 3 Jul 2026