The single peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking the seventh and final time the band reached the American Top Ten.

[7] Each of the band members enjoyed elements of country music,[8] particularly Yanovsky, whose lead guitar playing often drew from influences like the rockabilly guitarist Carl Perkins.

[10] The pedal steel guitar had been leftover from a previous session, and Sebastian quickly learned to play it in the 45 minutes before the band began recording.

[11] As a hedge, the label opted to include a song more suggestive of psychedelia,[15] "Full Measure", as the single's B-side.

[8][nb 2] Kama Sutra issued "Nashville Cats" as a single in the U.S. in late November 1966, simultaneously with the release of the album on which it appeared, Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful.

[22][nb 3] The single exceeded expectations and became a Top Ten hit;[8] on December 17, 1966, it entered Billboard magazine's Hot 100 chart, and it peaked six weeks later at number eight.