Daydream

The Lovin' Spoonful's second album, Daydream, hit stores in March 1966, right as the band was becoming a household name. Following their debut Do You Believe in Magic, this record found them refining their signature blend of folk, rock, pop, and jug band music. John Sebastian wrote most of the songs and produced the sessions, giving the album a cohesive, homespun feel. The eleven tracks bounce between sunny pop numbers like the title track and more laid-back, rootsy tunes like "Jug Band Music" and "Day Blues." It's a record that feels like a lazy afternoon in the park, a quality that set it apart from the heavier psychedelic sounds taking over the charts.

Two singles came off the album, both becoming radio staples. "Daydream" climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1966, kept from the top spot by the Beatles' "Paperback Writer." The follow-up, "You Didn't Have to Be So Nice," reached No. 10 a couple of months later. The album itself peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard 200, the band's highest charting studio album, and earned a Gold certification from the RIAA. In the UK, "Daydream" also hit No. 2, cementing the band's international appeal.

Critics have long praised the album's craftsmanship. AllMusic rates it 4.5 out of 5 stars, highlighting its "irresistible charm." The title track has been ranked No. 358 on Rolling Stone's 2004 list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The band received two Grammy nominations in 1967, for Best Contemporary (R&R) Group Performance and Best Folk Recording, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Over the years, Daydream has been reissued multiple times, including a 2002 expanded edition with bonus tracks, and it remains a touchstone of mid-60s folk rock. [edit]