Some artists treat their past catalog like museum pieces—John Sebastian prefers a jam session. On John Sebastian & Arlen Roth Explore the Spoonful Songbook, the folk-rock legend teams up with guitarist Arlen Roth for a fresh take on The Lovin’ Spoonful’s classics, delivering a mix of instrumental reinventions and unexpected vocal collaborations. “We originally thought it’d be all instrumental,” Sebastian says. “But after a while, we started thinking, ‘Gee, wouldn’t it be fun if we had the MonaLisa Twins sing this one? Wouldn’t it be great if we had Maria Muldaur on this one?’”
What started as a stripped-down guitar project evolved into a communal affair, roping in a cast of guests that includes Roth’s daughter, singer Lexie Roth, who takes lead on Didn’t Want to Have to Do It. “That one’s always been personal for me,” Sebastian says of the song, which was inspired by one of his first major heartbreaks. “It was a moment in my life when I realized that love isn’t always going to be easy, and sometimes it’s painful to move on.” Roth brings a new dimension to the track, giving it a wistful quality that stands apart from the original while keeping its emotional core intact.
Even with the looser approach, some songs resisted reinterpretation—most notably Summer in the City. “We gave it the college try,” Sebastian admits. “But it just didn’t hold up to the original. Sometimes you just have to let a song be what it was.” Other selections, like Daydream and Do You Believe in Magic, were kept as instrumentals, allowing Arlen Roth’s expressive guitar work to take the spotlight. “Arlen’s playing captures so much of the song’s essence that you don’t even miss the lyrics,” Sebastian says.
For a guy who helped define 60s folk-pop, Sebastian’s career has been anything but predictable. Beyond his years with The Lovin’ Spoonful, he’s written everything from solo classics to children’s television themes—including, to the surprise of many, The Care Bears theme song. “I was very conscious of not writing down to kids,” he says. “Even if it was for a cartoon, I wanted to tell a story that mattered.” He reflects on that period with a mix of humor and fondness, noting that the songs were often just as musically intricate as his work with the Spoonful.
As for what’s next, Sebastian isn’t ruling out another project with Roth. “We just have fun playing together,” he says. “And if you’re having fun, why stop?”
Watch the interview above and then check out the videos below.
