Strawberry Alarm Clock
Encyclopedia
Strawberry Alarm Clock is a psychedelic rock
band
from Los Angeles
best known for their 1967 hit
"Incense and Peppermints
". The group took its name as an homage
to the Beatles' psychedelic
hit
"Strawberry Fields Forever
", reportedly, at the suggestion of their record company Uni Records
.
They are often thought of as a "one-hit wonder
", although that is an inaccurate assessment, having charted five songs, and were instrumental in the development of bubblegum pop music
in the United States.
(lead guitar, vocals), Michael Luciano (vocals), Lee Freeman (rhythm guitar
, harmonica, vocals), Gary Lovetro (bass), Steve Rabe (guitar
, vocals), and Gene Gunnels (drums
). Randy Seol (drums, vibes, percussion, vocals) and Mark Weitz
(keyboards
, vocals) joined to replace the departing Gunnels and Luciano just as the name change to SAC was occurring. It was Seol that would eventually bring in songwriters George Bunnell and Steve Bartek.
Their first and most famous single was "Incense and Peppermints
", produced by Frank Slay and initially released by Thee Sixpence on the record label All American. The band was not impressed by songwriter John Carter's singing, so Slay chose Greg Munford, a 16-year-old friend of the band who was from another group called Shapes of Sound, to sing lead. The song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100
in late 1967. Mark Weitz and Ed King were denied songwriting credits by Slay because they did not write the melody line or the lyrics, though the song was built on an instrumental
by Weitz with a bridge by King. This instrumental was originally intended as a B-side to "The Birdman of Alkatrash", which ultimately became the B-side to "Incense and Peppermints". The single stayed at #1 for one week with 16 weeks in total on the chart
. A gold disc
was awarded for one million sales by the Recording Industry Association of America
(RIAA) on 19 December 1967.
Shortly after recording "Incense and Peppermints" the band added George Bunnell (bass and rhythm guitar, vocals) before making their first LP in 1967, also titled Incense and Peppermints
, which hit #11 on the US album chart
. Bunnell would also become their main songwriter. Some early Strawberry Alarm Clock songs were penned by Bunnell with Steve Bartek
(who would much later join Oingo Boingo
, as well as orchestrate
Danny Elfman
's film score
s). Bartek played flute on the first two albums and would continue to be involved with SAC in its later incarnations.
During the band's short life it saw many lineup changes. Since Bunnell had become the main writer, it was he that the band had play more and more of the bass parts since he already knew the songs. Gary Lovetro was gradually moved over to the road manager's position leaving Bunnell as sole bassist. Lovetro was then bought out of the group after conflicts with the others before the second album, Wake Up...It's Tomorrow
, was released. The single "Tomorrow" from this album was a minor hit and their only other Top 40 appearance, reaching #23 in early 1968. "Sit with the Guru" charted at #65 and "Barefoot in Baltimore" peaked at #67, but both songs had lyrics that were written for them.
Bunnell and Seol left the band in late 1968 at the end of the sessions for the third album, The World in a Seashell, because of disagreements with the band over their manager Bill Holmes' mishandling of their business affairs. Bunnell and Seol formed a new band, Buffington Roads, with Steve Bartek. Holmes was fired by the remaining band members and he angrily retaliated by putting together a fake SAC with Bunnell & Seol and sent them out on the road. The band countered with an injunction against Holmes but the damage was done when the lawsuits caused extreme confusion for promoters who became afraid to book either group.
Drummer Marty Katin then came aboard along with new lead singer/guitarist Jim Pitman and there was a shift to a more blues rock style. Ed King moved over to bass, as he had been playing many of the bass parts in the studio anyway. In early 1969 Katin, whose drumming style never quite fit the band, left and original "Incense and Peppermints" drummer Gene Gunnels rejoined.
In July 1969, Pitman left after the Good Morning Starshine LP failed to sell and was succeeded by Paul Marshall, who would remain with the group until they disbanded in 1971. The title track, "Good Morning Starshine
", peaked at #87 in 1969 but was beaten out by Oliver's version, which scored the bigger hit.
Weitz, discouraged over the band's falling fortunes and the lawsuits leading to a sharp drop in demand for gigs, quit by December 1969 to spend more time with his family. The group continued on as a quartet; Ed King, Lee Freeman, Gene Gunnels and Paul Marshall.
By this time the band's audience had mostly disappeared. They kept performing for awhile and toured the South in 1970 and 1971 with Florida
band Lynyrd Skynyrd
opening for them. In the latter part of 1971, the group, now without a record label and in conflict over musical direction, opted to disband, with Ed King deciding to relocate to the South to fill the void after the death of Allman Brothers Band guitarist Duane Allman
. King was invited to join Lynyrd Skynyrd in November 1972.
In 1974-75 there was brief reunion of SAC with Bunnell, Seol and Steve Bartek (guitar, flute). The trio played some shows and contributed the theme song to ABC
's In Concert. They also appeared at the first California Jam
on April 6, 1974 on one of the smaller stages.
In 1982 Strawberry Alarm Clock reunited once again after guitarist Lee Freeman spotted a newspaper ad promoting an appearance by the group at a Los Angeles music club. Freeman knew nothing about this gig and went to the club to investigate. There he discovered that the advertisement had actually been a plot by the club's owners to get the real band to reunite. At this point, Freeman, Bunnell, Weitz and Gene Gunnells got back together as Strawberry Alarm Clock. They were joined in 1983 by singer Leo Gaffney and Lee's brother, Doug, to work on new material.
Later in 1983, the SAC lineup became Freeman, Bunnell, Peter Wasner (keyboards) and James Harrah (guitars) and there was a re-recording of "Incense and Peppermints" the same year with a line-up of Freeman, Bunnell, Harrah, Steve Bartek and Clay Bernard (keyboards), with Bob Caloca on lead vocals, that was produced by Dennis Dragon (brother of Daryl Dragon
), who played percussion on the track.
After that, Freeman, Bunnell, Harrah and Bernard continued on with Randy Seol rejoining. In 1984 Seol left once again and Harrah and Bernard were replaced by actor/musician Jon Walmsley
(guitars, keyboards, vocals). Bruce Hubbard, who'd earlier played with Bunnell in Buffington Roads, took over percussion duties at this point. By 1986, Walmsley was out and guitarist Howie Anderson was in. Anderson also handled keyboard parts via his synth guitar after Bernard left to relocate to New Mexico
at the end of the 1980s.
During the 1980s the band began performing on oldies concert tours, usually alongside Moby Grape
, The Seeds
, and It's a Beautiful Day
. The Freeman, Bunnell, Hubbard, Anderson grouping was their longest, lasting from 1989-2001. During this time period the band became a part-time thing as the members continued to work on some new material and make occasional concert appearances, all the while pursuing their other individual careers.
On June 16, 2001 the group appeared in San Diego's Balboa Park
with Jefferson Starship
, Moby Grape
, Iron Butterfly
, Big Brother and the Holding Company
and Country Joe McDonald
. Randy Seol and Gene Gunnells joined Freeman and Bunnell for this show.
On October 23, 2003 the above line-up were joined by Steve Bartek and Paul Marshall for an appearance at Amoeba Records in Hollywood to celebrate the DVD release of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
.
In December 2004 Mark Weitz and Ed King were slated to reunite with Seol, Freeman and Bunnell along with original "Incense" singer Greg Munford for a PBS
special on 60s rock but Bunnell said in interviews that proper contracts via PBS were never sent to them.
By 2006 Weitz, Bartek, Bunnell, Seol and Howie Anderson were back playing shows with the group. They were joined by Ed King, Lee Freeman, Paul Marshall and Gene Gunnels to perform at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, Illinois
on April 29, 2007. The event was part of the last day of Roger Ebert
's ninth annual Overlooked Film Festival
and was preceded by a screening of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
. Freeman, Weitz, Bartek, Bunnell, Seol, Gunnels and Anderson then continued on that year making further concert appearances.
In 2008 an ill Freeman was sidelined and in 2010 Bartek began to cut back his appearances with the group.
In January 2010, the Strawberry Alarm Clock started recording new material for the record label
inaugurated by Billy Corgan
. SAC keyboardist Mark Weitz
said, "We’re picking up where we left off, but with a modern sound." The band also reworked some of its 1960s songs.
On February 14, 2010, founding member Lee Freeman died, at the age of 60, from complications arising from cancer
.
Carrying on as Strawberry Alarm Clock are Mark Weitz, Randy Seol, George Bunnell, Gene Gunnels and Howie Anderson.
, Happening '68, The Steve Allen Show
, and the first episode of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
. Drummer Randy Seol made an appearance as one of three eligible bachelors on The Dating Game
and was chosen by the girl. SAC also made two notable appearances in film
s; firstly in the 1968 Jack Nicholson
movie Psych-Out
, where they played several songs, including "Incense and Peppermints", "Rainy Day Mushroom Pillow" and "The World's on Fire". "The Pretty Song From Psych-Out" was re-recorded by a San Fernando Valley garage band, The Storybook, for the soundtrack album, but it is the SAC's version that is in the film. That song is also on SAC's 1968 "Wake Up It's Tomorrow" LP. The band's second movie appearance was in 1970's Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
, where they played "Incense and Peppermints", "I'm Comin' Home", and "Girl From The City". The latter two songs were written by Paul Marshall.
Their music also appeared on the soundtracks of Psych-Out
and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
, the latter featuring two songs not on any previous albums and new lead singer Paul Marshall. The group also appears on a rare Decca Records LP with one side of songs by The Strawberry Alarm Clock and one side of songs by The Who
.
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
from Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
best known for their 1967 hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
"Incense and Peppermints
Incense and Peppermints (song)
"Incense and Peppermints" is a song by the Los Angeles based psychedelic pop band Strawberry Alarm Clock. The song is officially credited as having been written by John S. Carter and Tim Gilbert, although it was based on an instrumental idea by band members Mark Weitz and Ed King...
". The group took its name as an homage
Homage
Homage is a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic....
to the Beatles' psychedelic
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
"Strawberry Fields Forever
Strawberry Fields Forever
"Strawberry Fields Forever" is a song by The Beatles, written by John Lennon and attributed to the Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership. It was inspired by Lennon's memories of playing in the garden of a Salvation Army house named "Strawberry Field" near his childhood home."Strawberry Fields...
", reportedly, at the suggestion of their record company Uni Records
Uni Records
Uni Records was a record label owned by MCA Inc. The brand, which long featured a distinct UNi logo, was established in 1966 by MCA executive Ned Tanen and developed by music industry veteran Russ Regan...
.
They are often thought of as a "one-hit wonder
One-hit wonder
A one-hit wonder is a person or act known mainly for only a single success. The term is most often used to describe music performers with only one hit single.-Characteristics:...
", although that is an inaccurate assessment, having charted five songs, and were instrumental in the development of bubblegum pop music
Bubblegum pop
Bubblegum pop is a genre of pop music with an upbeat sound contrived and marketed to appeal to pre-teens and teenagers, produced in an assembly-line process, driven by producers, often using unknown singers.Bubblegum's classic period ran from 1967 to 1972...
in the United States.
Career
The group, originally named "Thee Sixpence", initially consisted of Ed KingEd King
Edward C. King is an American musician. He is best known as the guitarist for psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock and Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd....
(lead guitar, vocals), Michael Luciano (vocals), Lee Freeman (rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, harmonica, vocals), Gary Lovetro (bass), Steve Rabe (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals), and Gene Gunnels (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
). Randy Seol (drums, vibes, percussion, vocals) and Mark Weitz
Mark Weitz
Mark Weitz is an American musician. A former keyboard player for the 1960s psychedelic rock group Strawberry Alarm Clock, Weitz was the principal composing member of the band.- Early life and The Strawberry Alarm Clock :...
(keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocals) joined to replace the departing Gunnels and Luciano just as the name change to SAC was occurring. It was Seol that would eventually bring in songwriters George Bunnell and Steve Bartek.
Their first and most famous single was "Incense and Peppermints
Incense and Peppermints (song)
"Incense and Peppermints" is a song by the Los Angeles based psychedelic pop band Strawberry Alarm Clock. The song is officially credited as having been written by John S. Carter and Tim Gilbert, although it was based on an instrumental idea by band members Mark Weitz and Ed King...
", produced by Frank Slay and initially released by Thee Sixpence on the record label All American. The band was not impressed by songwriter John Carter's singing, so Slay chose Greg Munford, a 16-year-old friend of the band who was from another group called Shapes of Sound, to sing lead. The song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in late 1967. Mark Weitz and Ed King were denied songwriting credits by Slay because they did not write the melody line or the lyrics, though the song was built on an instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
by Weitz with a bridge by King. This instrumental was originally intended as a B-side to "The Birdman of Alkatrash", which ultimately became the B-side to "Incense and Peppermints". The single stayed at #1 for one week with 16 weeks in total on the chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
. A gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
was awarded for one million sales by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
(RIAA) on 19 December 1967.
Shortly after recording "Incense and Peppermints" the band added George Bunnell (bass and rhythm guitar, vocals) before making their first LP in 1967, also titled Incense and Peppermints
Incense and Peppermints
Incense and Peppermints is the first album by psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock. Released in late 1967, the album reached #11 on the Billboard 200 album charts and includes the band's #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit "Incense and Peppermints"...
, which hit #11 on the US album chart
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. Bunnell would also become their main songwriter. Some early Strawberry Alarm Clock songs were penned by Bunnell with Steve Bartek
Steve Bartek
Steve Bartek, born in Garfield Heights, Ohio on January 30, 1952, is an American guitarist, film composer, conductor and orchestrator.-Early career:...
(who would much later join Oingo Boingo
Oingo Boingo
Oingo Boingo was an American new wave band. They are best known for their influence on other musicians, their soundtrack contributions and their high energy Halloween concerts. The band was founded in 1972 as The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, a performance art group...
, as well as orchestrate
Orchestration
Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra or of adapting for orchestra music composed for another medium...
Danny Elfman
Danny Elfman
Daniel Robert "Danny" Elfman is an American composer, best known for scoring music for television and film. Up until 1995, he was the lead singer and songwriter in the rock band Oingo Boingo, a group he formed in 1976...
's film score
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
s). Bartek played flute on the first two albums and would continue to be involved with SAC in its later incarnations.
During the band's short life it saw many lineup changes. Since Bunnell had become the main writer, it was he that the band had play more and more of the bass parts since he already knew the songs. Gary Lovetro was gradually moved over to the road manager's position leaving Bunnell as sole bassist. Lovetro was then bought out of the group after conflicts with the others before the second album, Wake Up...It's Tomorrow
Wake Up...It's Tomorrow
Wake Up...It's Tomorrow is the second album by Strawberry Alarm Clock. It is the last album to feature the classic Incense and Peppermints lineup....
, was released. The single "Tomorrow" from this album was a minor hit and their only other Top 40 appearance, reaching #23 in early 1968. "Sit with the Guru" charted at #65 and "Barefoot in Baltimore" peaked at #67, but both songs had lyrics that were written for them.
Bunnell and Seol left the band in late 1968 at the end of the sessions for the third album, The World in a Seashell, because of disagreements with the band over their manager Bill Holmes' mishandling of their business affairs. Bunnell and Seol formed a new band, Buffington Roads, with Steve Bartek. Holmes was fired by the remaining band members and he angrily retaliated by putting together a fake SAC with Bunnell & Seol and sent them out on the road. The band countered with an injunction against Holmes but the damage was done when the lawsuits caused extreme confusion for promoters who became afraid to book either group.
Drummer Marty Katin then came aboard along with new lead singer/guitarist Jim Pitman and there was a shift to a more blues rock style. Ed King moved over to bass, as he had been playing many of the bass parts in the studio anyway. In early 1969 Katin, whose drumming style never quite fit the band, left and original "Incense and Peppermints" drummer Gene Gunnels rejoined.
In July 1969, Pitman left after the Good Morning Starshine LP failed to sell and was succeeded by Paul Marshall, who would remain with the group until they disbanded in 1971. The title track, "Good Morning Starshine
Good Morning Starshine
"Good Morning Starshine" is a pop song from the musical Hair. It was a #3 hit in the United States in June of 1969 for the singer Oliver.-History:...
", peaked at #87 in 1969 but was beaten out by Oliver's version, which scored the bigger hit.
Weitz, discouraged over the band's falling fortunes and the lawsuits leading to a sharp drop in demand for gigs, quit by December 1969 to spend more time with his family. The group continued on as a quartet; Ed King, Lee Freeman, Gene Gunnels and Paul Marshall.
By this time the band's audience had mostly disappeared. They kept performing for awhile and toured the South in 1970 and 1971 with Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
band Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
opening for them. In the latter part of 1971, the group, now without a record label and in conflict over musical direction, opted to disband, with Ed King deciding to relocate to the South to fill the void after the death of Allman Brothers Band guitarist Duane Allman
Duane Allman
Howard Duane Allman was an American guitarist, session musician and the primary co-founder of the southern rock group The Allman Brothers Band...
. King was invited to join Lynyrd Skynyrd in November 1972.
In 1974-75 there was brief reunion of SAC with Bunnell, Seol and Steve Bartek (guitar, flute). The trio played some shows and contributed the theme song to ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's In Concert. They also appeared at the first California Jam
California Jam
California Jam, also known as Cal Jam, was a rock music festival concert held at the Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California on April 6, 1974. It was produced by ABC Entertainment, Sandy Feldman, Don Branker and Leonard Stogel...
on April 6, 1974 on one of the smaller stages.
In 1982 Strawberry Alarm Clock reunited once again after guitarist Lee Freeman spotted a newspaper ad promoting an appearance by the group at a Los Angeles music club. Freeman knew nothing about this gig and went to the club to investigate. There he discovered that the advertisement had actually been a plot by the club's owners to get the real band to reunite. At this point, Freeman, Bunnell, Weitz and Gene Gunnells got back together as Strawberry Alarm Clock. They were joined in 1983 by singer Leo Gaffney and Lee's brother, Doug, to work on new material.
Later in 1983, the SAC lineup became Freeman, Bunnell, Peter Wasner (keyboards) and James Harrah (guitars) and there was a re-recording of "Incense and Peppermints" the same year with a line-up of Freeman, Bunnell, Harrah, Steve Bartek and Clay Bernard (keyboards), with Bob Caloca on lead vocals, that was produced by Dennis Dragon (brother of Daryl Dragon
Daryl Dragon
Daryl Frank Dragon is a keyboardist, known as Captain in the successful 1970s pop musical duo Captain & Tennille, with his wife, Toni Tennille....
), who played percussion on the track.
After that, Freeman, Bunnell, Harrah and Bernard continued on with Randy Seol rejoining. In 1984 Seol left once again and Harrah and Bernard were replaced by actor/musician Jon Walmsley
Jon Walmsley
Jon Walmsley in Blackburn, Lancashire, England) is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, actor and producer.Walmsley is a veteran of the stage and studio, having worked with many notable artists including Richard Marx, Brian Setzer, David Pack, David Koz, The Doobie Brothers, Michael McDonald,...
(guitars, keyboards, vocals). Bruce Hubbard, who'd earlier played with Bunnell in Buffington Roads, took over percussion duties at this point. By 1986, Walmsley was out and guitarist Howie Anderson was in. Anderson also handled keyboard parts via his synth guitar after Bernard left to relocate to New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
at the end of the 1980s.
During the 1980s the band began performing on oldies concert tours, usually alongside Moby Grape
Moby Grape
Moby Grape is an American rock group from the 1960s, known for having all five members contribute to singing and songwriting and that collectively merged elements of folk music, blues, country, and jazz together with rock and psychedelic music...
, The Seeds
The Seeds
The Seeds were an American rock band. The group, whose repertoire spread between garage rock and acid rock, are considered one of the pioneers of punk rock.-History:...
, and It's a Beautiful Day
It's a Beautiful Day
It's a Beautiful Day is a band formed in San Francisco, California in 1967, the brainchild of violinist David LaFlamme.LaFlamme, a former soloist with the Utah Symphony Orchestra, had previously been in the band Orkustra, and unusually, played a five-string violin...
. The Freeman, Bunnell, Hubbard, Anderson grouping was their longest, lasting from 1989-2001. During this time period the band became a part-time thing as the members continued to work on some new material and make occasional concert appearances, all the while pursuing their other individual careers.
On June 16, 2001 the group appeared in San Diego's Balboa Park
Balboa Park
Balboa Park is the name of several municipal parks or neighborhoods, including the following:* Balboa Park, San Diego, California, United States* Balboa Park, San Francisco, California, United States...
with Jefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship is an American rock band formed in the early 1970s. The group is a spin-off from the iconic 1960s psychedelic/folk group Jefferson Airplane. The band has undergone several major changes in personnel and genres through the years while retaining the same Jefferson Starship name...
, Moby Grape
Moby Grape
Moby Grape is an American rock group from the 1960s, known for having all five members contribute to singing and songwriting and that collectively merged elements of folk music, blues, country, and jazz together with rock and psychedelic music...
, Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly is a US psychedelic rock band best known for the 1968 hit "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida".Their heyday was the late 1960s, but the band has been reincarnated with various members. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is the 31st best-selling album in the world, selling more than 25 million copies.-History:The...
, Big Brother and the Holding Company
Big Brother and the Holding Company
Big Brother and the Holding Company is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1965 as part of the same psychedelic music scene that produced the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Jefferson Airplane. They are best known as the band that featured Janis Joplin as their...
and Country Joe McDonald
Country Joe McDonald
Country Joe McDonald is an American musician who was the lead singer of the 1960s psychedelic rock group Country Joe and the Fish.-Personal life:...
. Randy Seol and Gene Gunnells joined Freeman and Bunnell for this show.
On October 23, 2003 the above line-up were joined by Steve Bartek and Paul Marshall for an appearance at Amoeba Records in Hollywood to celebrate the DVD release of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is a 1970 American schlock melodrama film starring Dolly Read, Cynthia Myers, Marcia McBroom, John LaZar, Michael Blodgett and David Gurian...
.
In December 2004 Mark Weitz and Ed King were slated to reunite with Seol, Freeman and Bunnell along with original "Incense" singer Greg Munford for a PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
special on 60s rock but Bunnell said in interviews that proper contracts via PBS were never sent to them.
By 2006 Weitz, Bartek, Bunnell, Seol and Howie Anderson were back playing shows with the group. They were joined by Ed King, Lee Freeman, Paul Marshall and Gene Gunnels to perform at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, Illinois
Champaign, Illinois
Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located south of Chicago, west of Indianapolis, Indiana, and 178 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Though surrounded by farm communities, Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of...
on April 29, 2007. The event was part of the last day of Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
's ninth annual Overlooked Film Festival
Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival
Ebertfest: Roger Ebert's Film Festival, originally known as Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival but commonly referred to as simply Ebertfest, is an annual film festival held every April in Champaign, Illinois, United States, organized by the College of Media at the University of Illinois...
and was preceded by a screening of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is a 1970 American schlock melodrama film starring Dolly Read, Cynthia Myers, Marcia McBroom, John LaZar, Michael Blodgett and David Gurian...
. Freeman, Weitz, Bartek, Bunnell, Seol, Gunnels and Anderson then continued on that year making further concert appearances.
In 2008 an ill Freeman was sidelined and in 2010 Bartek began to cut back his appearances with the group.
In January 2010, the Strawberry Alarm Clock started recording new material for the record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
inaugurated by Billy Corgan
Billy Corgan
William Patrick "Billy" Corgan, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional poet best known as the frontman and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins. Formed by Corgan and guitarist James Iha in Chicago, Illinois in 1987, the band quickly gained steam with the...
. SAC keyboardist Mark Weitz
Mark Weitz
Mark Weitz is an American musician. A former keyboard player for the 1960s psychedelic rock group Strawberry Alarm Clock, Weitz was the principal composing member of the band.- Early life and The Strawberry Alarm Clock :...
said, "We’re picking up where we left off, but with a modern sound." The band also reworked some of its 1960s songs.
On February 14, 2010, founding member Lee Freeman died, at the age of 60, from complications arising from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
.
Carrying on as Strawberry Alarm Clock are Mark Weitz, Randy Seol, George Bunnell, Gene Gunnels and Howie Anderson.
Band members
- Mark WeitzMark WeitzMark Weitz is an American musician. A former keyboard player for the 1960s psychedelic rock group Strawberry Alarm Clock, Weitz was the principal composing member of the band.- Early life and The Strawberry Alarm Clock :...
– keyboard, vocals (1967–1969) (1982–1983) (2006–present) - Randy Seol – drums, vocals (1967–1968) (1974–1975) (1983–1984) (2001–present)
- George Bunnell – bass guitar, vocals (1967–1968) (1974–1975) (1982–present)
- Gene Gunnells – percussion, vocals (1967) (1969–1971) (1982–1983) (2001) (2007–present)
- Howie Anderson – lead guitar, vocals (1986–2001) (2006–present)
Former members
- Gary Lovetro (1967)
- Marty Katin (1968–1969)
- Jim Pitman (1968–1969)
- Doug Gaffney (1983)
- Leo Gaffney (1983)
- Peter Wasner (1983)
- Bob Caloca (1983)
- Clay Bernard (1983–1984)
- James Harrah (1983–1984)
- Jon WalmsleyJon WalmsleyJon Walmsley in Blackburn, Lancashire, England) is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, actor and producer.Walmsley is a veteran of the stage and studio, having worked with many notable artists including Richard Marx, Brian Setzer, David Pack, David Koz, The Doobie Brothers, Michael McDonald,...
(1984–1986) - Bruce HubbardBruce HubbardBruce Hubbard was an African-American operatic baritone. He attended Indiana University. He was a music major and helped coach actors that appeared in musicals.-Biography:...
(1984–2001) - Paul MarshallPaul MarshallPaul Marshall may refer to:*Paul Marshall , British financier and philanthropist*Paul Marshall , English footballer*Paul Marshall , Irish rugby union footballer...
(1969–1971) (2007) - Ed KingEd KingEdward C. King is an American musician. He is best known as the guitarist for psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock and Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd....
(1967–1971) (2007) - Lee Freeman (1967–1971) (1982–2008)
- Steve BartekSteve BartekSteve Bartek, born in Garfield Heights, Ohio on January 30, 1952, is an American guitarist, film composer, conductor and orchestrator.-Early career:...
(1974–1975) (1983) (2006–2010)
Television and films
Among the Strawberry Alarm Clock's television appearances were American BandstandAmerican Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
, Happening '68, The Steve Allen Show
The Steve Allen Show
The Steve Allen Show is an American variety show hosted by Steve Allen from June 1956 to June 1960 on NBC, from September 1961 to December 1961 on ABC, and in first-run syndication from 1962 to 1964....
, and the first episode of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In is an American sketch comedy television program which ran for 140 episodes from January 22, 1968, to May 14, 1973. It was hosted by comedians Dan Rowan and Dick Martin and was broadcast over NBC...
. Drummer Randy Seol made an appearance as one of three eligible bachelors on The Dating Game
The Dating Game
The Dating Game is an ABC television show that first aired on December 20, 1965 and was the first of many shows created and packaged by Chuck Barris from the 1960s through the 1980s...
and was chosen by the girl. SAC also made two notable appearances in film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s; firstly in the 1968 Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson
John Joseph "Jack" Nicholson is an American actor, film director, producer and writer. He is renowned for his often dark portrayals of neurotic characters. Nicholson has been nominated for an Academy Award twelve times, and has won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice: for One Flew Over the...
movie Psych-Out
Psych-Out
Psych-Out is a feature film about hippies, psychedelic music, and recreational drugs, produced and released by American International Pictures. Originally scripted as The Love Children, the title when tested caused people to think it was about bastards, so Samuel Z...
, where they played several songs, including "Incense and Peppermints", "Rainy Day Mushroom Pillow" and "The World's on Fire". "The Pretty Song From Psych-Out" was re-recorded by a San Fernando Valley garage band, The Storybook, for the soundtrack album, but it is the SAC's version that is in the film. That song is also on SAC's 1968 "Wake Up It's Tomorrow" LP. The band's second movie appearance was in 1970's Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is a 1970 American schlock melodrama film starring Dolly Read, Cynthia Myers, Marcia McBroom, John LaZar, Michael Blodgett and David Gurian...
, where they played "Incense and Peppermints", "I'm Comin' Home", and "Girl From The City". The latter two songs were written by Paul Marshall.
Studio albums
- Incense and PeppermintsIncense and PeppermintsIncense and Peppermints is the first album by psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock. Released in late 1967, the album reached #11 on the Billboard 200 album charts and includes the band's #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit "Incense and Peppermints"...
(1967) #11 U.S.Billboard 200The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... - Wake Up...It's TomorrowWake Up...It's TomorrowWake Up...It's Tomorrow is the second album by Strawberry Alarm Clock. It is the last album to feature the classic Incense and Peppermints lineup....
(1968) - The World In A Sea ShellThe World in a Sea ShellThe World In A Sea Shell is the name of Strawberry Alarm Clock's third LP, released in November 1968 on the UNI label . The album was not a chart success, and was the final LP to include the classic Strawberry Alarm Clock lineup....
(1968) - Good Morning Starshine (1969)
- Me and the Township (Jim Pitman)
- Off Ramp Road Tramp (Gene Gunnels/Lee Freeman/Ed King/Jim Pitman/Mark Weitz)
- Small Package (Gene Gunnels/Lee Freeman/ed King/Mark Weitz)
- Hog Child (Gene Gunnels,/Lee Freeman/Ed King/Jim Pitman/Mark Weitz)
- Miss Attraction (LP version) (Gene Gunnels/Lee Freeman/Ed King/Jim Pitman/Mark Weitz)
- Good Morning, Starshine (Galt MacDermot/James Rado/Jerome Ragni)
- Miss Attraction (single version) (Gene Gunnels/Lee Freeman/Ed King/Jim Pitman/Mark Weitz)
- Write Your Name in Gold (Jim Pitman)
- (You Put Me On) Standby (Gene Gunnels/Lee Freeman/Ed King/Jim Pitman/Mark Weitz)
- Dear Joy (Jim Pitman)
- Changes (Gene Gunnels/Lee Freeman/Ed King/Jim Pitman/Mark Weitz)
Compilation albums
- The Best of the Strawberry Alarm Clock (1970) (including two new tracks)
- Changes (1971)
- Incense and Peppermints (1990)
- Strawberries Mean Love (1992)
- The Strawberry Alarm Clock Anthology (1993)
Their music also appeared on the soundtracks of Psych-Out
Psych-Out
Psych-Out is a feature film about hippies, psychedelic music, and recreational drugs, produced and released by American International Pictures. Originally scripted as The Love Children, the title when tested caused people to think it was about bastards, so Samuel Z...
and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is a 1970 American schlock melodrama film starring Dolly Read, Cynthia Myers, Marcia McBroom, John LaZar, Michael Blodgett and David Gurian...
, the latter featuring two songs not on any previous albums and new lead singer Paul Marshall. The group also appears on a rare Decca Records LP with one side of songs by The Strawberry Alarm Clock and one side of songs by The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
.
Singles
- "Incense and PeppermintsIncense and Peppermints (song)"Incense and Peppermints" is a song by the Los Angeles based psychedelic pop band Strawberry Alarm Clock. The song is officially credited as having been written by John S. Carter and Tim Gilbert, although it was based on an instrumental idea by band members Mark Weitz and Ed King...
" b/w "The Birdman of Alkatrash" (1967) #1 U.S.Billboard 200The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... - "Tomorrow" b/w "Birds in My Tree" (1968) #23 U.S.
- "Sit with the Guru" b/w "Pretty Song from Psych-Out" (1968) #65 U.S.
- "Barefoot in Baltimore" b/w "An Angry Young Man" (1968) #67 U.S.
- "Sea Shell" b/w "Paxton's Back Street Carnival" (1968)
- "Stand By" b/w "Miss Attraction" (1969)
- "Good Morning Starshine" b/w "Me and the Township" (1969) #87 U.S.
- "Desiree" b/w "Changes" (1969)
- "Small Package" b/w "Starting Out the Day" (1969)
- "I Climbed the Mountain" b/w "Three" (1969)
- "California Day" b/w "Three" (1970)
- "Girl from the City" b/w "Three" (1970)
External links
- Official Site
- www.classicbands.com - Interview with George Bunnell
- Band details at livemusicmagazine.com
- Full discography - Illustrated Thee Sixpence/Strawberry Alarm Clock discography
- Unwind With SAC - Extensive reviews of all Strawberry Alarm Clock songs and albums