John Sebastian is plagued by vocal problems

[GoogaMooga]

John Sebastian's voice is shot. Anybody here see him live in recent years? I've never seen him or Lovin' Spoonful live. Here is a revealing excerpt from "Dirty Linen" #84 (October/November '99):

from http://www.dirtynelson.com/linen/84/sebastian.html

John Sebastian
Lovin' Jugful
by Craig Harris

John Sebastian was one of the most successful songwriters of the late1960s and early1970s. The leader, lead vocalist, guitar, harmonica, and autoharp player for New York-based folk-rock band The Lovin' Spoonful, Sebastian enjoyed such top-10 hits between 1966 and 1968 as "Do You Believe In Magic," "You Didn't Have To Be So Nice," "Daydream," "Summer In The City," "Rain On The Roof," and "Nashville Cats."

Launching his solo career with a memorable appearance at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, he continued where he left off, singing such self-penned tunes as "She's A Lady" and "I Had A Dream" on his debut solo album. Sebastian's greatest commercial success, however, came with his 1976 single, "Welcome Back" (the theme song, for the television show "Welcome Back, Kotter"), which became a number one hit and sold millions of copies.

Although Sebastian has maintained a low profile since the late-1970s, he's released three memorable albums over the past decade. Tar Beach, his first album in nearly 20 years, was released in 1993 and served as a tribute to the smooth soul sounds that were an early influence.

Sebastian's latest efforts — I Want My Roots (1996) and Chasin' Gus' Ghost (1999) — reflect his love of the jug bands of the 1920s. Although plagued by vocal problems, he compensated for his difficulties by allowing other vocalists to share the spotlight. On Chasin' Gus' Ghost, lead vocals are shared with Geoff Muldaur, Paul Rishell, and producer Jimmy Vivino.

"It's a great thing to have such terrific other voices," Sebastian said by telephone from his home in Woodstock, New York. "My modern day voice is functional, but it's not the exceptional voice that I had in my 20s. I've had to adjust to not having the same range that I had when I was younger."

While the lead singer and instrumental lineup for each tune differs, Sebastian claims that it's a continuation of the trend set by the early jug bands. "This was how the jug band of earlier eras did it," he explained. "Each tune would have a different soloist, a guy who was accompanying on one tune would be the soloist on the next. I didn't plan it this way. The album gained its own energy, and we started to really do things like jug bands do."

While Sebastian's first inclination was to simply call the group "The J-Band," he agreed to the wishes of the record label [Hollywood] to include his name in the credits. "They were really resistant," he recalled. "They explained that they had a hard enough time without compounding it by not mentioning that I was involved."

[Muskrat]

A friend saw him a couple of weeks ago. I believe "shot" was (w/reference to Sebastian's voice) the very word he used. So sad; such a great performer.

[GoogaMooga]

A friend saw him a couple of weeks ago. I believe "shot" was (w/reference to Sebastian's voice) the very word he used. So sad; such a great performer.

If he comes over here to play, I will still go to see him, for the sake of history.

[di Maio]

I heard John Sebastian trying to sing a few years back and was floored at how rough he sounded. It's not unlike what happened to Dylan's voice in the late 80s, except that it's a greater fall.

His live delivery is captured perfectly on the Cheapo-Cheapo Productions live album. The vocals are good and the entire thing is entertaining. I especially like when the whole concert breaks down and he starts basically taking requests to play 50s songs.

[bobzilla77]

Singers are often the first to lose their former glory, followed by drummers. Like athletes, they're using very specific parts of the body at great intensity and these generally tend to break down faster than that parts needed to play other instruments.

I see a lot of old musicians and you almost always have to make allowances for singers in their 50s/ 60s performing material they originally made in their twenties. Some are better than others but almost none are as good as they used to be, whereas many guitar players of the same age still have the same facility.

[whodathunkit]

Didn't sound too hot on this......



..... and that was three years ago. Would hate to hear him having a go at the likes of "Younger Girl" or "You Didn't Have To Be So Nice". Aqualung lives!

[Charlie O.]

His voice has been shot for a couple of decades now.

I actually like the way he uses the croak he now has, but yes, it ain't that Spoonful croon no more (as was most painfully apparent when the Spoonful were inducted into the Hall Of Fame).

[Guy E]

Singers are often the first to lose their former glory...

The human voice can be a fragile thing. At age 56 I find myself having difficulty talking these days. If there's a slight twinge in my throat or any kind of virus going around... I may not have any other symptoms of illness, but I can't really talk. I usually don't notice this until I pick up an important phone call in the morning and discover that the words will not form in my throat. And I have a voice that is meant to be HEARD. Seriously!

[Carlisle Wheeling]

I heard John Sebastian trying to sing a few years back and was floored at how rough he sounded. It's not unlike what happened to Dylan's voice in the late 80s, except that it's a greater fall.

His live delivery is captured perfectly on the Cheapo-Cheapo Productions live album. The vocals are good and the entire thing is entertaining. I especially like when the whole concert breaks down and he starts basically taking requests to play 50s songs.

Possibly my all-time favourite live album! Overflowing with soul, life, heart... it still makes me smile at the very thought of it.


I saw John live seven or so years ago and I was shocked at the decline in his voice. Probably the biggest fall I've heard. Still, it's great that he's still around and playing.

[Thesiger]

I heard John Sebastian trying to sing a few years back and was floored at how rough he sounded. It's not unlike what happened to Dylan's voice in the late 80s, except that it's a greater fall.

His live delivery is captured perfectly on the Cheapo-Cheapo Productions live album. The vocals are good and the entire thing is entertaining. I especially like when the whole concert breaks down and he starts basically taking requests to play 50s songs.

Possibly my all-time favourite live album! Overflowing with soul, life, heart... it still makes me smile at the very thought of it.

Cheapo Cheapo is an album I've loved for close to 40 years. Every track is an absolute gem and his wonderful warmth and stage presence just puirs out of every groove.

This clip isn't bad either.

[GoogaMooga]

I should get the Cheapo Cheapo then, seeing as the Spoonful never put out a live album.

[Dizzley tha Fat Boy]

I saw Sebastian play a free concert in downtown LA some time in the late 80's or early 90's. It was a pretty big deal for me as I have a massive case of hero worship for the guy. I cut out of work on a day I could not afford to do so and risked getting fired for the show. Getting parked and to the right spot was a nightmare. I sat in traffic for more than an hour and just barely made it.

Yes - his voice was already gone. But he still had those songs. The best moment was when he let the harmonica do the singing on Lonely (Amy's Theme).

I'd risk my job to do it again. I love that guy!

[GoogaMooga]

I saw Sebastian play a free concert in downtown LA some time in the late 80's or early 90's. It was a pretty big deal for me as I have a massive case of hero worship for the guy. I cut out of work on a day I could not afford to do so and risked getting fired for the show. Getting parked and to the right spot was a nightmare. I sat in traffic for more than an hour and just barely made it.

Yes - his voice was already gone. But he still had those songs. The best moment was when he let the harmonica do the singing on Lonely (Amy's Theme).

I'd risk my job to do it again. I love that guy!

You did the right thing, Davey.

[The Homosexual Lobby]

The best moment was when he let the harmonica do the singing on Lonely (Amy's Theme).

Testify.

[Charlie O.]

Yeah, man. I've not yet passed up an opportunity to see him.

[mantochanga]

I saw him at London Astoria in 1994 or so. His voice was ill-suited to sing his own classic songs, but his set was built around the songs he loved on the radio as he grew up. He told wonderful stories and sang the old time country and blues tunes really well. And I agree that the harmonica solo at the end was a highlight - just a little bit of echo and he sounded like three men.