Strawberry Alarm Clock

2-3-10 Strawberry Alarm Clock

7" BAREFOOT IN BALTIMORE / AN ANGRY YOUNG MAN UNI US 55076

1967? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

7" GIRL FROM THE CITY / THREE UNI US 55241

1971 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

7" INCENSE & PEPPERMINTS UNI US 55018

1967 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

CD INCENSE & PEPPERMINTS MCA US MCAD-22015

1990 10 TRKS 60's recordings

CD STRAWBERRIES MEAN LOVE BIG BEAT UK CDWIKD 56

1986 21 TRKS (8 x bonus tracks) (60's recordings) (’91 issue)

7" TOMORROW / BIRDS IN MY TREE UNI US 55046

1968 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

Easy to dismiss the Strawberry Alarm Clock as a one-hit-wonder, with “Incense and Peppermints”, but I do like them as a band. Trainspotters note: “Incense and Peppermints” only exists in mono, folks – doesn’t matter if it’s on a 7”, LP or CD – it’s mono or nothin’ at all! And it’s still a great single, 40+ years later…

Several years ago, I found some SAC singles that were not “Incense and Peppermints”: “Girl From The City” and “Tomorrow” (which would’ve been a great follow-up to “I&P”, but I didn’t hear it until 2007 or so). I even have an easy listening orchestra version of “Tomorrow”, believe it or not!

There are 4 x proper SAC LP’s, all of which have been re-issued on CD by Collector’s Choice. I recently found the UK collection CD “Strawberries Mean Love”, and it’s excellent. 21 tracks, mostly in stereo. Gets me where I want to go. Obscure 60’s in digital!

For years, I read that the SAC were from San Jose, but I read in the booklet for “Strawberries Mean Love” that they were originally from Santa Barbara. Tarred and feather for their genius “Incense and Peppermints”, I guess if the hippies couldn’t take them seriously…who could? And I don’t know of an easy listening orchestra version of “Incense and Peppermints”…too difficult to arrange for a big band?

So get yourself some hippie thrills and chill to the non-hit tunes of the Strawberry Alarm Clock on a CD today (oh, and have a nice clean mono listen to “Incense and Peppermints”).

p.s. Happy Joe Meek Day!