FEW American pop acts have gathered as much affection as the talented Lovin’ Spoonful.

Their back catalogue of hits is constantly repackaged and their unique blend of jug-band, folk, blues and rock’n’roll was termed as ‘electric good time music’.

This is an album that should be in everybody’s collection.

It is fronted by John Sebastian who wrote most of the songs, played guitar including the autoharp that gave the band such a distinctive sound.

He was also a lyrical genius and master craftsman of short, romantic love songs, most of which are unforgettable.

Their roots were mostly in Bohemian folk music.

They began their musical career under the name of The Mugwumps with two other members Cass Elliot and Denny Doherty, who later became one half of the Mamas and Papas (California Dreamin.)

The producers of the TV series that later became The Monkees, initially planned to build the programme around the Lovin’ Spoonful.

However, they had to drop the idea because of conflicts over song publishing rights and decided to bring in four unknown young men as replacements.

The band’s name was taken from a song called ‘Coffee Blues’ which was written by blues singer Mississsippi John Hurt.

It also included the lyric “I love my baby by the lovin’ spoonful”.

Their biggest hits in the UK were international million selling singles, ‘Daydream’ the ultimate feelgood song and ‘Summer in the City’ which incorporated old acetate recordings of traffic jams, car horns and pneumatic drills.

A production considered ‘ahead of its time’ for 1966, it topped the charts in the UK and USA.

‘Daydream’ had a place in John Lennon’s personal jukebox as he was a great admirer of the band.

The Spoonful are as comparable to The Beatles, The Stones.

Other admirers included were Dylan, The Byrds, record producer Phil Spector and many more who regarded them as major influences.

Moreover, other songs, ‘Younger Girl’, ‘Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind’, ‘Rain On The Roof’, ‘Darling Be Home Soon’ are all songs of that may give you a longing for the younger days.

What happened to the people who passed through our lives, where did they all go and how did we manage to get here today?

Now that the New Year is well and truly on its way, I can reliably inform you that sales of vinyl records in 2019 increased by 4.1 per cent, so the trend looks set to continue.

lValue of The Very Best of The Lovin' Spoonful is currently valued at £40 to £50.