Today’s classic song of the day is “Do You Believe in Magic” by the Lovin’ Spoonful. It was the group’s first single, released in July of 1965; it peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #8 on the Cash Box Top 100.
The song’s magic is the music. As the lyrics say:
If you believe in magic, come along with me
We’ll dance until morning ’til there’s just you and me
And maybe, if the music is right
I’ll meet you tomorrow, sort of late at night
And we’ll go dancing, baby, then you’ll see
How the magic’s in the music and the music’s in me
Do you believe in magic?
Believe in the magic of a young girl’s soul
Believe in the magic of rock and roll
Believe in the magic that can set you free
Ohh, talking ’bout magic
“Do You Believe in Magic” was written by the Spoonful’s lead singer, John Sebastian. He and the band were playing an early gig at the Night Owl Cafe in Greenwich Village and observed a teenage girl amongst the slightly older beatnik crowd. As Mr. Sebastian recalled:
“[She was] dancing like we danced—and not like the last generation danced… Zal [Yanovsky] and I just elbowed each other the entire night, because to us, that young girl symbolized the fact that our audience was changing, that maybe they had finally found us.”
Indeed they had. “Do You Believe in Magic” was just the first of a string of hits for the group that included “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice” (#10 in 1965), “Daydream” (#2 in 1966), “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?” (also #2 in 1966), “Summer in the City” (#1 in 1966), “Rain on the Roof” (#10 in 1966), “Nashville Cats” (#8 in 1966), “Darling Be Home Soon” (#15 in 1967), “Six O’Clock” (#18 in 1967), and “She is Still a Mystery” (#27 in 1967).
The Lovin’ Spoonful split up in 1968 when John Sebastian left the group. Mr. Sebastian had some solo success, in particular his 1976 recording of “Welcome Back,” the theme song for the Welcome Back Kotter television show. He’s still around today, a very active 80 years old.
And here’s your daily bonus video of the day, the Lovin’ Spoonful lip synching “Do You Believe in Magic” on the March 19, 1967, episode of The Ed Sullivan Show. Dig those groovy special effects!
