Recorded - early 1967
Originally Released - March 1967
Re-released - May 19, 1967
#1 for week of November 25, 1967.
Quick, name for me the first stereotypical psychedelic song from the era of flower power that comes to your mind. Well, even if you weren't already thinking about it, chances are you may have said, "Incense And Peppermints". Today, this song is frequently used in film and movies whenever a flashback to the 1960's happens, or when a character uses a hallucinogenic. The song was also later given the coveted position as one of the 118 tracks on the superb Nuggets garage/psych rock box set.
So, who were the Strawberry Alarm Clock? Well, they were based in Los Angeles and formed in 1966 under the name Thee Sixpence. When they found out another band played under that name, they became the Strawberry Alarm Clock. One of the members was none other than future Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Ed King. Yes that's right, one of the members of a very non-hippie group helped write a very hippie song. Actually, if you check the writing credits, it says John S. Carter and Tim Gilbert. Both Ed King and other band member Mark Weitz remain uncredited, even though they were the composers of the music.
One of the credited writers, John S. Carter who was a producer for A&M records, wrote the very trippy lyrics. Since the band not only disliked the lyrics but also apparently the song, the lead vocals were done by a sixteen year old friend of theirs, Greg Mumford, who just happened to be in the studio that day. So go figure, the band's best known hit isn't even sung by a band member! Aside from the Alarm Clock's apathy towards "Incense And Peppermints", is it any good? Well, I think it is.
First let's face the facts, the lyrics are definitely a product of the times. Even the title alone is so stereotypically '60's. Because the band had no say in these lyrics and they were written by a man who had most certainly not experienced the hippie scene first hand, they are very inauthentic. Yet despite this, the actual part of the song the band did write, the music, is really good. With a proto-hard rock guitar solo and a very trippy organ part, it shows just how "With it" the band were. Keep in mind this song was recorded earlier '67, before this style of music became bandwagon-esque.
"Incense And Peppermints" had little initial success when it was first released. It wasn't until its re-release on the UNI label that it began a slow climb up the charts. Even after peaking for a week, the single rapidly descended. The Strawberry Alarm Clock had a few more lower top 40 singles and put out several albums, but no more big hits. Regardless, most people know them for just this one hit, so thus, the Strawberry Alarm Clock will forever be a one hit wonder, but oh what a hit it is.
Final Verdict - "Incense And Peppermints" may not seem like it on the surface, but it's quite an entertaining song, instrumentally. I'm a bit disappointed that the lyrics weren't written by the band, yet perhaps I'm so into the music that this matter is inconsequential. I'd certainly give it a thumbs up. I's very dated, but for a 1967 psychedelic pop/rock song, it's one of the finest.
Coming Up Next - "Daydream Believer" by The Monkees.
Until Next Time, Tune out, tune in, to Dr. Rock -
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