John B. Sebastian (album)
Encyclopedia
Writing for Allmusic, critic William Ruhlman wrote Sebastian stretched further in the style of his music after leaving The Lovin' Spoonful, also writing "The songs continued Sebastian's trend toward a more personal writing style, many of them containing images of travel that corresponded to his peripatetic lifestyle... the album was an eclectic but low-key introduction to the solo career of a former group member whose band was known for more elaborate productions, and all the more effective for that." Music critic Robert Christgau
wrote "Sebastian is as on for this solo debut as he ever was for the Lovin' Spoonful, and when he's on, the hummability quotient of his songs is dizzying--a good half of these imprint themselves upon impact. But just like Spoonful albums used to, this drags in the second half, and I feel vaguely let down."
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
wrote "Sebastian is as on for this solo debut as he ever was for the Lovin' Spoonful, and when he's on, the hummability quotient of his songs is dizzying--a good half of these imprint themselves upon impact. But just like Spoonful albums used to, this drags in the second half, and I feel vaguely let down."
Side 1
- "Red-Eye Express" – 2:57
- "She's a Lady" – 1:45
- "What She Thinks About" – 3:04
- "Magical Connection" – 2:49
- "You're a Big Boy Now" – 2:49
- "Rainbows All Over Your Blues" – 2:27
Side 2
- "How Have You Been" – 4:12
- "Baby, Don't Ya Get Crazy" – 3:00
- "The Room Nobody Lives In" – 3:13
- "Fa-Fana-Fa" – 2:48
- "I Had a Dream" – 2:46
Personnel
- John Sebastian – vocals, guitar, harmonica, percussion
- Stephen StillsStephen StillsStephen Arthur Stills is an American guitarist and singer/songwriter best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash . He has performed on a professional level in several other bands as well as maintaining a solo career at the same time...
– guitar, harmony vocals - David CrosbyDavid CrosbyDavid Van Cortlandt Crosby is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of three bands: The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash , and CPR...
– guitar, harmony vocals - Graham NashGraham NashGraham William Nash, OBE is an English singer-songwriter known for his light tenor vocals and for his songwriting contributions with the British pop group The Hollies, and with the folk-rock band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Nash is a photography collector and a published photographer...
– harmony vocals - Dallas TaylorDallas Taylor (drummer)Dallas Woodrow Taylor Jr. was born in Denver, Colorado, 7 April 1948. He is a session drummer who has played on several rock records of the 1960s and 1970s...
– drums - Buddy EmmonsBuddy EmmonsBuddy Emmons , is an American guitarist.Emmons has been called "The World's Foremost Steel Guitarist" and his talent is greatly admired by fellow steel guitarists...
– pedal steel guitar, Moog synthesizer - Paul HarrisPaul Harris (musician)Paul Harris is a keyboards player and session musician.Harris appears on several albums of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s by leading artists such as Stephen Stills, B. B. King, Judy Collins, Al Kooper, ABBA, Eric Andersen, Rick Derringer, Nick Drake, John Sebastian, Joe Walsh, Seals & Crofts and Dan...
– organ, keyboards - Ray Neopolitan – bass
- Danny WeisDanny WeisGuitarist Danny Weis is best known as a founding member of both Iron Butterfly and Rhinoceros, as well as co-writer of Rhinoceros's only charting single, "Apricot Brandy"...
– guitar - Reinol Andino – conga
- Harvey BrooksHarvey BrooksHarvey Brooks is an American bassist. He has played in many styles of music...
– bass - Burt Collins – horn
- Jose Cuervo – horn
- The IkettesThe IkettesThe Ikettes were a trio of female backing vocalists for the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, a prominent American rhythm and blues group from the 1960s.-Career:...
– background vocals - Bruce LanghorneBruce LanghorneBruce Langhorne is an American folk musician. He was active in the Greenwich Village folk scene in the 1960s, primarily as a session guitarist for folk albums and performances...
– tambourine - Gayle Levant – harp
- Buzzy LinhartBuzzy LinhartBuzzy Linhart is an American rock performer and musician.Born William Linhart in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he began honing his craft playing percussion for symphony at the age of seven, switching to vibraphone at ten...
– vibraphone - Mr. Beutens and Mrs. Stanley and Friends – flute, lute, viola
Production notes
- Produced by Paul RothchildPaul A. RothchildPaul A. Rothchild was a prominent American record producer of the late 1960s and 1970s.-Early years:Born in Brooklyn, New York, Rothchild grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey and graduated from Teaneck High School in 1953....
- John Haeny – engineer
- Bruce BotnickBruce BotnickBruce Botnick is an American audio engineer and record producer, best known for his work with The Doors, and with Love. He engineered Love's first two albums, and co-produced their third album, Forever Changes, with the band's singer-songwriter, Arthur Lee.In November 1970, he took over production...
– engineer - Douglas Botnick – engineer
- Edison Youngblood – engineer
- Fritz RichmondFritz RichmondJohn B. "Fritz" Richmond was an American musician and recording engineer. Fritz Richmond was considered the foremost washtub bassist in the world, and was also the most successful professional jug player....
– engineer - Bob LudwigBob LudwigBob Ludwig is an American mastering engineer.He is a well known and respected figure within the music industry. His name is credited on the covers of albums released across the world, and he has won numerous awards....
– mastering - Henry DiltzHenry DiltzHenry Stanford Diltz is a folk musician and photographer, who has been active since the 1960s....
– photography - Catherine Sebastian – artwork
- Doug Bartenfeld - Audio arrangement consultant
- Ed Thrasher – art direction
- Jim MarshallJim Marshall (photographer)James Joseph Marshall was a photographer, often of rock stars...
– photography - Richie UnterbergerRichie UnterbergerRichie Unterberger is a US author and journalist whose focus is popular music and travel writing.-Life and writing:Having worked as a DJ at WXPN in Philadelphia, he started reviewing records for Op magazine in 1983...
– reissue liner notes