Thee Sixpence became Strawberry Alarm Clock during the conflicted production of this aromatic entree. 'Incense and Peppermints' was recorded with Mark Weitz on organ, piano, harpsichord, and vocals; Randy Seol on drums, bongos, vibraphone, and vocals; Ed King on lead guitar and vocals; Lee Freeman on rhythm guitar, bass, harmonica, drums, vocals, and woodwinds; Gary Lovetro on bass and vocals; Steve Bartek on flute; and Greg Munford on lead vocals.
The song was credited to John S. Carter and Tim Gilbert, roommates who had written 'That Acapulco Gold' for the Rainy Daze. Carter says: "The producer, knowing where the business was at, could have cared less about this little rinky dink band, but identified me as an interesting lyricist. He sent me a track that he had already completed with a band in California. He hated the song, but he loved the track. I wrote a new song on top of it and that was 'Incense and Peppermints' (by the Strawberry Alarm Clock). That was about the seventh or eighth song I had ever written."
The song was based on instrumental ideas by band members Mark Weitz and Ed King. Weitz reveals: "I came up with the idea and actual music to the then untitled song that ultimately evolved into the number one national hit, 'Incense and Peppermints.' I wrote the intro (the oriental sounding riff), the verses, and the ending (the major sevenths) while Ed King, at my request for some help on completing the song, co-wrote the bridge (the F # part) and of course the lead guitar parts. At the time when the music was recorded at Art Laboe's 'Original Sounds' studio in Hollywood, there was only a temporary title to the song, and lyrics had not yet been written. Our producer Frank Slay decided to send the fully mixed music track (recorded on 8 tracks of mono!) to John Carter; a member of the band The Rainy Daze, who Slay also produced at the time. John Carter was solely responsible for conjuring up the lyrics and the controversial melody line extracted out of the finished musical track. Frank Slay ultimately credited that melody line solely to the writing team of John Carter and Tim Gilbert. To this day, they have received 100% of the royalties. When Frank Slay was approving the writer's names and how they would appear on the actual label prior to printing, our manager Bill Holmes and our producer Frank Slay had an argument. It was regarding who should receive the credit as writers of 'Incense and Peppermints.' Holmes was not happy with the fact that Ed King, John Carter, Tim Gilbert and I would receive credit as writers (which was rightfully so). Holmes wanted his name as well as all the members of the Strawberry Alarm Clock as writers to appear on the label. Holmes would not agree to Slay's request for only having four writers maximum to appear on the label. I assume, this was the industry standard at the time, that Slay was committed to uphold. This displeased Holmes to say the least. A verbal battle ensued, and ultimately Frank Slay went ahead and made a decision to have the label printed with John Carter's and Tim Gilbert's names both listed as the writers...When it came time to record the vocal tracks, none of the members of the Alarm Clock sounded right for the lead vocal. We all tried. Greg Munford (A 16 year old guitar player also produced by Holmes from the band Shapes of Sound) was a guest in the studio that day, and gave a go at it. His voice sounded best, and we all agreed on keeping his vocal track on the final version."
'Incense and Peppermints' was initially released as the b-side to 'The Birdman of Alkatrash' by Thee Sixpence on All-American Records; but, when local DJ's began playing the flipside, it was picked up by MCA subsidiary Uni Records for national distribution. At this point the band was asked to change their name. Weitz says: "It went from Thee Sixpence right into the Strawberry Alarm Clock. I was instrumental in coming up with the name. I borrowed the Strawberry from Strawberry Fields Forever and then right down to the noisy Baby Ben electric alarm clock (in my bedroom/guest house where we used to rehearse) that we hooked up with name Strawberry to come up with the new name."
'Incense and Peppermints' spent one week at the top of the US pop chart in November of 1967 and went on to sell over a million copies. When it came time to record the 'Incense and Peppermints' album, they brought in George Bunnell on bass.
http://strawberryalarmclock.com/
Good sense, innocence, cripplin' mankind
Dead kings, many things I can't define
Occasions, persuasions clutter your mind
Incense and peppermints, the color of time.
Who cares what games we choose?
Little to win, but nothing to lose.
Incense and peppermints, meaningless nouns
Turn on, turn in, turn your eyes around.
Look at yourself, look at yourself, yeah, yeah
Look at yourself, look at yourself, yeah, yeah, yeah!
To divide this cockeyed world in two
Throw your pride to one side, it's the least you can do.
Beatniks and politics, nothing is new
A yardstick for lunatics, one point of view
Who cares what games we choose?
Little to win, but nothin' to lose.
Good sense, innocence, cripplin' mankind
Dead kings, many things I can't define.
Occasion, persuassions clutter your mind
Incense and peppermints, the color of time.
Who cares what games we choose?
Little to win, but nothin' to lose.
Incense and peppermints
Incense and peppermints
Sha la la
Sha la la
Sha la la
Sha la la
Sha la la
Sha la la
'Incense and Peppermints'
full album:
all songs by Strawberry Alarm Clock except where noted
FACE A
00:00 The World's On Fire
08:21 Birds In My Tree (George Bunnell, Steve Bartek)
10:10 Lost To Live (Mark Weitz, S.A. Clock)
13:24 Strawberries Mean Love (Bunnell, Bartek)
FACE B
16:23 Rainy Day Mushroom Pillow (Bunnell, Bartek)
19:24 Paxton's Back Street Carnival (Bunnell, Bartek)
21:26 Hummin' Happy (Bunnell, Randy Seol)
23:54 Pass Time With Sac
25:12 Incense And Peppermints (John S. Carter, Tim Gilbert)
28:00 Unwind With The Clock (Lee Freeman)
bonus
32:08 The Birdman Of Alkatrash
34:21 The sound of the silence (the real one)
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