AMERICANA'S GUITAR GODFATHER

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ZAL YANOVSKY OF THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL

- ALAN DI PERNA

THE TWANGY GRANDEUR of Zal Yanovksy’s big guitar riff on the Lovin’ Spoonful’s “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice” made it a Top 10 hit in the winter of 1965’66. The track also caught the ear of Brian Wilson, inspiring him to write the Beach Boys’ classic “God Only Knows.” Another Spoonful hit, “Daydream,” influenced Paul McCartney as he was putting together the Beatles’ “Good Day Sunshine” from their groundbreaking 1966 album, Revolver.

In the mid Sixties, the Lovin’ Spoonful were one the most innovative and well-regarded bands around. Yanovsky’s whimsical, wild, wistful and weird guitar work was no small part of the quartet’s popularity. It was the sunshine in the band’s self-described “Good Time Music.” Sweet, weepy country licks, amped-up blues, fuzzed-out psychedelia.... Yanovsky’s broad stylistic range proved the perfect counterpoint to frontman John Sebastian’s wry, folksy songcraft, multi-instrumental palette and fine-tuned gift for pop melodicism.