The History of the STRAWBERRY ALARM CLOCK |

[@johnorgan3]

First time I heard the beginning of 'Incense & Peppermints 'in the summer of love I heard the line, 'Dead kings, many things I can't define', and my artistic lovin' life was never the same. Then at the end I heard, 'A Yard stick for lunatics, one point of view'. As a young lad, I found my yin and my yang in the same poem. Lord sweet home Alabama!

[@ijeff2005]

When "Incense and Peppermint" hit it big I was a young boy who was buying singles and just starting to progress into buying albums, but with a very limited budget. So, I did buy the single and it was one of my favorite songs from that era. What I remember about this band was they literally received no airplay in the upper Midwest city where I grew up so I never really heard anything from them again after their big hit. After watching this history I think its time for me to catch up with the rest of their output.

[@jamesfetherston1190]

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is a fantastically bizarre movie.

[@shyman99]

I've never met or spoken with Greg Munford, but I love the man like a brother. Amazing how the vocalist to a lifelong favorite song can create such a strong connection with the listener.

[@Greybase9]

that line : "Occasion, Persuasion, Busted your Mind" and Chorus : "Young Girl... Yeah!" 😍

[@PekoeBrew-gr4cr]

@@Greybase9 I think it was "Occasions, persuasions, clutter your mind"...

[@michaelbuday5630]

It's just your strength when you can give a band with 1 real hit 38:55 in coverage. This is why I love your mini-docs. Though I woulda liked to have heard a little "Good Morning Starshine" so I could compare it with Oliver's recording. R.I.P. Ed King. A guitarist who never got the notoriety he deserved.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, Michael!

[@davidschaadt3460]

I love that one too

[@karmices]

They had 2 big hits. Incense and Peppermints which went to #1 nationally and Tomorrow (which was top 10 in many markets) which went to #23 nationally.

[@pgh1all1]

I agree!! Ed King really was the heart and soul of the alarm clock and later with Skynrd he had some iconic contributions to the band. Too bad Ronnie Van Sant was such a dick of a leader that he didn't appreciate what he had. So after 1 too many insults and put downs Ed said screw this and left. This is not to say i didn't like Skynrd, I thought they were one of the best 70s southern rock bands period. Free bird, ahem! Nothing more needs said!

[@MarkHoffman-yk9rx]

Matt is one guy on the internet that really does a fantastic job. And he has the original LPs from the 60s to display during his presentation. A+

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, Mark!

[@Grisostomo06]

Absolutely. Lots of detailed information make this channel a must for anyone interested in the music of the '60s. I remember the song "Barefoot in Baltimore" and I liked it a lot mainly because I was an Oriole fan as a kid and Baltimore is their town.

[@jeffcarlson3269]

@@popgoesthe60s52 Hey Matt my name is Jeff... I sure did appreciate your Strawberry Alarm Clock revue... years ago the cover band I was in used to play "Incense and peppermints" do you think you could do a detailed review of the group called "BANG"...?...from like the late 60's.. to about 1972 or 1973... their second album.. I think had their commercial hit "QUESTIONS"......

[@popgoesthe60s52]

@@jeffcarlson3269 Nice to meet you, Jeff. I have a very long list of 60s bands to do before I venture into the obscure bands of the 70s. I hope you understand, but some artists I probably won't get to, particularly the ones who only released material in the 70s.

[@jeffcarlson3269]

@@popgoesthe60s52 ok thanks.....

[@MikeE_Fab4]

I definitely learned a lot from this video! I was listening to the (AM) radio and buying 45s when "Incense And Peppermints" was a huge hit, so, I knew and loved that song .... and I also knew that Ed King went on to join Lynyrd Skynyrd .... but all of the other content was new to me. Thank you, Matt !!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thanks for the comments, Mike!

[@christopherdavison652]

My older brother Tommy, 8 years older than me, would turn me on to a good dose of 60's Rock and Roll. Nice to get the backstories, thanks again, Matt.

[@karmices]

Jimmy Pitman was a member of The Nightcrawlers prior to joing Strawberry Alarm Clock. Also, the last version of the band (King, Marshall, Freeman and Gunnels) was also the longest running version of the band.

[@romanjohncarlos2368]

A very underrated band! Groovy Los Angeles vibes! Much love and respect!❤❤

[@johnlouisgood]

Now we're talking. Keep up the fantastic work.

[@neilfriedman]

I bought their first album when it was released, and it's been one of my favourite albums ever since. Thanks for all the info

[@appledoreman]

Me, too. Not only does it remind me of those heady days more than any other album, but it's still in my all-time top 50.

[@monterlude1939]

Been so excited to see this!!! The Strawberry Alarm Clock are one of my favorite bands ever! Wake up, its tomorrow is psych pop perfection.

[@sugadelicsavagesoul8623]

Contrary to what it was described as here I DO think it's masterpiece material. 🙌🏽👍🏽🍓⏰🍄✨

[@terrylewis7803]

Thanks for another fun show. Your historic coverage of the Strawberry Alarm Clock was very informative and entertaining. Great stuff!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, Terry!

[@John_Fugazzi]

What a great surprise. I never really knew that they lasted so long as a band. incense really dominated late 1967 and everyone took them seriously, and the album cover was really hip for two months but looked silly and dated not long after. Speak with the Guru really did them in. I do remember their Good Morning Starshine, but the theremin opening was an old sound and their singing of the nonsense word parts ("Gliddy Glip Gloopy") sounded like Bubblegum. Oliver Swofford's strong vocal and the typically elaborate arrangement by Bob Crewe made a much stronger single. One thing really true is how often bands got ripped off by managers, producers and owners of small labels. This was especially true with the garage bands, many of whose members were still in high school. "I'll take care of the publishing" was the usual offer and these kids never knew what that meant.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thanks for commenting, John. I agree with the lyrics of Starshine, rather childish and not appropriate for them at the time.

[@sugadelicsavagesoul8623]

The ironic thing is the cover fashion is deemed as "dated" (which I disagree) but in comparison any 80's covers or dress is 100x more dated than the 60s thing, because the 60's style and fashion have a HUGE following (especially on social media) which is still popular and relevant. The second irony is older baby boomers think it's dated while younger generations do not think so.

[@PAINFOOL13]

The fashion they wore were Neru shirts/ jackets. I wore a couple ( made by my Mom ) in my band circa 68. Great info on this underrated band 👍🏻👏

[@jody8526937]

Wow.. best pop historian I have seen on YT. The Paul Revere and Love videos were fantastic. 3 minutes into this SAC video and I’m already taking notes. Please think about doing an Electric Prunes and Iron Butterfly. Big Brother and Seeds would be essential as well.. 13 Floor…

[@popgoesthe60s52]

All of those are on my long list, so stay tuned!

[@bradparker9664]

Ed King was one of the most underrated guitarists I can think of.

[@philwright2480]

Lynyrd Skynyrd

[@eternallife9786]

What an odd transition​@@philwright2480

[@maverick6722]

Absolutely, he never had the 'pretty boy' good looks to be a guitar god I suppose, but guitarists know!

[@syater]

I had no idea this one hit wonder had so many releases. Great job, Matt!

[@jammininthepast]

Thanks Matt. Although very young I do remember these guys on free form radio "hippie station" tuned around Drake University and the Des Moines, Iowa hip crowd. (Someone out there probably remembers the call sign). I was under the covers listening on my mono earplug transistor. Good memories. Thanks again brother, you're appreciated.

[@Huskrrrr]

Thank you! I loved growing up with this kind of music. I'm still trying to figure out the meaning of most psychedelic lyrics, although they seemed quite profound at the time.

[@jackkintsel7605]

Very Comprehensive, love the music history in this video. Big Steve Bartek fan. Thanks for the work put into this segment!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, Jack!

[@stephenbrowne3399]

Wow! A huge favourite and a great job compiling & presenting this. The first LP I love still and it has no mediocre tracks. The first three LPs are best and it is a band that really gets better the more you listen...even World in a Seashell. There is a lot to these three. I have the 4 LP albums and also the Japan released CDs I got in mid 1990s of the 4 LPs and the reproduction is so good it is equal to the vinyl if anyone is looking.

[@Mach19760]

I remember listening to them on WLS radio out of Chicago in the 60s and 70s, what a time to grow up

[@PeterMayer]

I did, too.Where did you live?We lived right outside of Lake Bluff.

[@Mach19760]

@@PeterMayer Gurnee IL!! Do you remember the Night Gallery in waukegan? So close lol

[@Mach19760]

@@PeterMayer Hey are you around?

[@thegreatelfinko]

WLS. 60s baby!!! Bowen high

[@Mach19760]

@@thegreatelfinko My girlfriend lived in lake Villa IL and I skied all over Fox lake.

[@57Banjoman]

I had no idea that they wrote so much good music-they were really good-much overlooked-thanks Matt!

[@user-qm7nw7vd5s]

The album sound and cover artwork has an Arthur Lee LOVE feel. Definitely of an era.

[@jammininthepast]

Arthur Lee was under valued, aside the Love Albums his solo work ( is it eliminator or vindicator - my albums are boxed) good stuff. Hamburger Breath Stinkfinger, I wonder what Lee and Zappa could have come up with. Thanks appreciated.

[@bobburroughs6241]

Thanks Matt, like many I only knew the hit. A quick listen shows Tomorrow and Rainy Day Mushroom as goodies!

[@canadianstudmuffin]

I really enjoy these videos, Matt! I think the Strawberry Alarm Clock were a very good band. As you mention, their outdated 60's look and name didn't help them, but I think they have gotten more respect throughout the years, especially with Ed King being one of the members. Hope to see an episode on The Buckinghams one of these days! 🙂

[@popgoesthe60s52]

I've just been listening to the Buckinghams to sort of prepare myself to do their history. I will move it up on the list! Thanks Larry!

[@LarryGravesCanadianStudmuffin]

@@popgoesthe60s52 Awesome! 🙂

[@coyotecreekband236]

I always enjoy your in deep dive on 60's music, Matt. Thanks so much!

[@jimyoung688]

Another excellent piece of music journalism. Good job!

[@DwellerHollowMusic]

Made him road manager? That's called "Ian Stewart-ing" him, not "Pete Best-ing" LOL Great stuff, as always

[@JoelPerri7777]

I remember watching beyond the valley of the dolls, back when I was in high school in the early 90s, and thinking the band that played at that party was cool, and of course has heard their one hit plenty of times, but after realizing their guitar player was part of one of the biggest southern rock bands, I delved deeper into their music. Ed king was Skynyrd’s secret weapon in my book. His tasty licks are all over those first few albums. So I came across some live recording of strawberry alarm clock from ‘68, and it was awesome. Not the stuff you hear on the radio from them, it was real heavy psych. Def opened my eyes to their sound. Thanks for making these vids Matt, this music is starting to disappear from the consciousness of our lives, and I’m depending on you to keep it alive! Thanks man

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Hey Joel, I enjoy doing these video so thank you for watching and commenting.

[@jerryweber1768]

How can we get their old live stuff? Thanks.

[@JoelPerri7777]

@@jerryweber1768 there’s some stuff on KZbin, you gotta search for it

[@LannieLord]

I hope YOU have seen Beyond the Valley of the Dolls ! @@popgoesthe60s52

[@JoelPerri7777]

@@jerryweber1768search it out on KZbin, it’s on here. Live in 1968 I know of at least

[@stephenroman9015]

I can recall listening to this 1st album with a couple of friends of mine, it was an absolute down pour of a rainy day. We decided to do some LSD and it was the most magical trip I had ever been on. It seemed like we'd been hanging out tripping together for like a week. We had a great time, and every song seemed to be perfect for the moment....

[@rexmonarch2]

They played along with Love at the 'Blue Law' in Torrance CA. My friends and I took lsd tripped our mnds out to the music of both of those bands.

[@williambill5172]

Thanks so much, Matt...you really took me back with this one, although I always loved the music of the 13th Floor Elevator more...I am sure they are too obscure to rate a video but you should check some of their tunes out. Thanks as always for the great content. If I wasn't on such a fixed budget as an aging man in worse health every day it seems, I would support you more than I do. You deserve it!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

The Elevators are on my list so you will see a vid on them in the future!

[@jonsheehan4715]

I really enjoyed this one. I started playing guitar in 1966. By the time I got on my feet a little Hendrix and Clapton were happening. Initially I was dismissive of Incense and Peppermints but I’ve turned around. I think that song defines the psychedelic/pop genera. What a great arrangement too. In doing some reading on Lynyrd Skynyrd it came out that Ronnie Van Zant thought Ed King was the best guitarist in the band. That’s saying something when King wasn’t the Free Bird guy(Allen Collins)...Anyway thank you!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

My pleasure, Jon.

[@axiomist4488]

The reason you've "turned around" is because you're now an old man, like the rest of us and you're suffering from that old age disease called nostalgia.

[@jonsheehan4715]

Not true at all.....I’ve just realized that this is my happening and it freaks me out!

[@jonsheehan4715]

A true naysayer..how original...

[@pgh1all1]

But Van Sant was such a controlling prick, his insults and put downs of Ed, drove him to leave the band. Ronnie made a grievous error about Ed and worse, about telling his band mates to get on a plane that they were scared was not safe. The rest they say is history.

[@annietiques1803]

Incense and Peppermints was the first record I bought as a teenager with my babysitting money. 39¢

[@popgoesthe60s52]

A great deal!

[@luiscardenas930]

In today's money 39 cents equals to $3.64. So If she is talking single instead of album then that was too expensive for a single

[@jeffcarlson3269]

@@luiscardenas930 I am not so sure..39 cents was a bad price..... I was 12 in 1967...and I remember paying anywhere from 49 cents to 69 cents per single... I started buying records around then with my paper route money.. that is how I remember.. and the average album.. cost any where from 3.99 to 4.99 depending where you went.... there were of course bargain deals and specials going on.. . most of my 45's.... I got before my paper route.. were given to me by the guys that changed out 45's in juke boxes and they.. free.. thrift stores often sold sleeveless singles for 10 cents.. but a lot of times those were scratched up... I think when I was 8.... I remember going to Woolworths with my mom.. and I got 5 singles out of their bargain bin/ With sleeves/ for a dollar.. it was a good deal if both sides of the 45's had great songs on them... I really appreciated "Paper back Writer/ Rain.... by the Beatles as well as "Hello Goodbye/ I am the Walrus".... good to get two great songs for the price of one..

[@beverlyledbetter4906]

I've got the Seashells album on my playlist. I really like their music!🙏

[@stepanbandera5206]

You got ripped off!

[@kimoroman4992]

Hey Matt nice choice In 1971, in a college dorm on Maui, after Viet Nam, my future wife turned me on to their first album. I was impressed that they were so much more than the one hit, Incense and Peppermint. We spent the night flipping the album over while we got to know each other. Magical album, magical time Thank you

[@popgoesthe60s52]

My pleasure - thanks for watching.

[@jw4321]

You are doing a wonderful job filling in all these missing prices of my music history. I was 15-18 during their hit years. I do like their sound.

[@clearview4076]

One of the Alarm Clock was interviewed in the 80's saying the played in jeans and t shirts until their manager convinced them to wear psychedelic pajamas. Greg Mumfords group put out their only album which i love. The Alarm clocks album from ten years ago is really good.

[@gerrylavelle8433]

They played at the Blue Law in Torrance CA way back in the day. Quicksilver Meesenger Service was on the bill, too. Tripping on lsd, it was a good show.

[@clairebunnell6006]

We really enjoyed your thorough and well done explanation of the band over the years. You captured so much of the history of the band. Great job Matt.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, Claire - much appreciated.

[@clairebunnell6006]

@@popgoesthe60s52 interested in a chat with the lads about their upcoming new album? It is in the works.

[@jameskinkead2456]

Excellent video!!!! Keep up the good work and get this music out in today's world! I was there and hearing it in 1966 was mind blowing because human ears had never heard these sounds before and couldn't really relate to them as guitars, bass etc. but more as mysterious sounds, aural textures. and most importantly, Magic............

[@DRIVEIN101]

A most awesome documentary on a most awesome group. There should have been a CD release of "The Complete Uni Singles" which would consist of 22 tracks

[@JennieJuniper]

Oh my gosh, what did I even do before I found your channel?? So jazzed about every single video, so interesting and well done!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

That is very nice of you to say. Welcome Jennie!

[@teddydog6229]

Great choice ! Like you said they got lumped in with a lot of twerpy bands like the Lemon Pipers or Sopwith Camel but those albums did indeed show a lot of talent. One problem is bands with names like that had a brief flash of fame and then got dismissed and the names were a big part of the problem. I recently heard a great album by a band named Ultimate Spinach who I’m sure you’ve heard but with a name like that everyone is going to expect bubblegum-psych - just like the Strawberry Alarm Clock. This is a very deserving group for one of your uploads. Amazing that one of them wound up in Lynyrd Skynyrd or so a psych fanatic friend of mine tells me. Those outfits really didn’t help either, did they ? Great look in 67 but by 68 a much grungier look was taking over. Love the episode as always. Great work ! 👍

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, Teddy!

[@jonvought700]

I remember reading something, somewhere, about "short-lived but illustrious Ultimate Spinach" which one of the members of Steely Dan had played in or founded.

[@LannieLord]

Good call "Twerpy bands". LOL. I think they call it "Popcorn rock" now.

[@BigStar303]

@@jonvought700 Jeff "Skunk" Baxter was a member of Ultimate Spinach for their third album only, so he did not found the band. BTW, there are some good tracks (as well as some dire ones) on Ultimate Spinach's first two albums, but that third album is uniformly AWFUL! It was so bad that I actually sold it back in the day, something I rarely did. In retrospect, probably a mistake; if I had held on to it, it would have fetched a bit more once Skunk got well-known.

[@gourddrawing]

YES!!! Saving this for later today. Thanks, Matt!

[@fntb4gotten]

Used to think they were a run of the mill band, until I realized that Ed King was in the band (Lynyrd Skynyrd). Wonderful band! Got their first album for about a year. Finally Listened to the album and kept it on my record changer for about two months straight. Highly underrated! Hope the band members appreciate the video package you put together! Thanks for another great one Matt!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, this was a satisfying band to cover!

[@alanartme1]

One thing you can say about The Strawberry Alarm Clock. their songs and arrangements (especially The Pretty Song) really captures that moment in time and sounds from that period. Very nostalgic and in a way very wistful and sad to the times and sounds that has gone by and is gone forever.😩

[@patrickkerns2022]

strawberry alarm clock and iron butterfly were great bands .i wish these guys sitting on these live bootleg shows would put some of it out.would be nice

[@LNERFlyingScotsman]

I love the Strawberry Alarm Clock. It's such a cool name for the band. I do think of them as a psychedelic band rather than bubblegum pop with their first two albums being evident of the image they created for themselves and unable to shake that image once the music tides began to change. I'll have to come to the defense of "Sit With The Guru" as I think of that as my favorite song by them. While it may not have charted very high on Billboard and Cashbox, it actually did reach the Top 40 on Record World's Top 100 chart at #36 with only 4 weeks of chart action during it's run. I do think that Record World rated psychedelic songs a bit higher than the other two charts, but I'm not complaining when it comes to that.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thanks for that chart info from Record World - much appreciated.

[@LovelyAbyssinianCat-ye6bd]

They definitely were not bubble gum

[@LovelyAbyssinianCat-ye6bd]

Bird man song sounds like the seeds pushing to hard

[@bobberndt9744]

Randomly ended up here. I noticed The Corporation in your record rack. Hadn't thought of them in years. Thanks, subscribed. 🙂

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Welcome, Bob! Glad to have you aboard.

[@christopherhudson3551]

Speaking as a child of the 60’s, you do a very good job with these retrospectives.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, Christopher

[@keriford54]

Thanks Matt, very enjoyable. I only knew of the first 3 and the reunion album. Good to learn more about them. Great instrumentation on those first albums, they're a delight to listen to.

[@corememoriess]

Really enjoy their music and I'm very happy that I could find their vinyl ❤

[@clevebaker8399]

Another awesome job!! Thank you Matt!! 🎉🎉🥳🥳🥳

[@transformationgeneration]

As a kid in the 1960's the band had my favorite name and I really liked the hit. We lived in inner-city Cincinnati Ohio over-top a candy store (w/milk, pop and bread) - the owner lived in the building on the first floor. On the weekends her daughter and son-in-law brought the grandchildren to visit. The two boys were my age and older. I had seen SAClock on TV and I thought the older brother who played a bass in a little warehouse behind the bldg. (Mike Brauer) looked just like (I knew as the chubby one) Ed King. I was about 11 and spent year telling kids at school that a member of the band was my landlords grand-son (LOL, bad boy) - Just a silly, but MAJOR rock-n-roll kid's imagination! Another great show.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

I appreciate the comments - thank you for watching!

[@4Naturalgreen]

I dig this LP. I haven’t listened to it in a while, but every now and then, it hits the spot. The vibraphone sound makes it stand out as truly groovy music. Tim Buckley is the only other artist I can think of from that time who used vibes on more than one song on their record (Happy Sad). It’s interesting to hear the back stories about the band, its members, and their songs.

[@BigStar303]

Good call. "Happy/Sad" is one of my all-time favorite albums. I agree that the vibraphone adds so much to it, and SAC's use of it is very cool as well.

[@4Naturalgreen]

@@BigStar303 I love Tim Buckley’s music. Some deep, powerful stuff there. Goodbye & Hello is such a masterpiece. Especially for someone his age. Have you ever heard the Blue Afternoon LP? Another favorite of mine. Lots of great vibes on that record. Much more than Happy Sad.

[@BigStar303]

@@4Naturalgreen "Blue Afternoon" is right up there with "Happy/Sad" in my estimation. Most of its songs are a natural continuation of what Tim was doing on the previous album. Truly magical, beautiful stuff. It's a shame Tim kind of went off the rails on the albums that followed it.

[@4Naturalgreen]

@@BigStar303 Yeah, I know what you mean. It started with Lorca and ended with Star Sailor. So odd because Lorca was before Blue Afternoon. The guy was all over the place. Look At The Fool is also odd, but in a more funky way, not avant-garde jazz/rock. Greetings From L.A. is not a great studio LP, but does have some good material. I do like Sefronia a lot. That’s actually a great LP. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s worth checking out. For me, his first few records were his best. The ones he did with Larry Beckett. People at the time wanted and expected him to stay in the Goodbye & Hello / Happy Sad style. No matter what, Tim was right. He and his music had to evolve. He couldn’t allow his music to be pigeon holed into being hippie cheese of the day. There was a huge difference between the vibes of ‘65 through ‘69 vs ‘70 through ‘75. The “flower children” were a bit different than the post Woodstock pseudo hippies. The optimism had been dampened quite a bit by then.

[@Chamozart]

This channel kicks ass

[@professorhamamoto]

Delightful. Well-researched and written. Roger Ebert wrote for Russ Meyers? Wild!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you Darrell! What a pair - Meyers and Ebert .

[@earheadsix4119]

Walla Walla, WA? Home of the ACME corp. poor Wile E Coyote. lol. Great history here. I thought I knew my stuff but I learned a lot. Thanks for sharing.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

My pleasure - thanks for watching!

[@scottjones3038]

Great episode as usual Matt. It's fun to hear the history of these sort of minor groups of the 60s. I've always hated the term "one hit wonder" because 99.9% of bands will never have a charting single. To have recorded even one hit song is a HUGE accomplishment.

[@scottsteele7109]

Matt doing a labor of love, so well done, great graphics and band history work. Professional stuff for YT. Love to see more.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, Scott! More to come.

[@lensquires6580]

Thank you for a fantastic insight into Strawberry Alarm Clock, the movie, and song clips and the way they evolved in the story. I have some songs I also like from a group that it is said got their band name idea from SAC, "The Chocolate Watch Band." 😃 I was 14 in 1967 and what a year for music. Of course Incense and Peppermints, also Donovan was out, Lovin Spoonful, Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and the whole Haight Ashbury music scene was being born with many early psychedelic sounds of fused folk, pop and rock. And so the evolution of music went on, but truly those times will never be repeated.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thanks for the comments!

[@BigStar303]

Chocolate Watchband formed in 1965, so they pre-dated Strawberry Alarm Clock by at least a couple of years. They were a GREAT band. So if anyone copped anyone name-wise, it was the other way around.

[@lensquires6580]

Thanks for the correction (I must have read that misinformation somewhere). Wikipedia shows in their biography of them that the name was: "a name that was originally meant to be taken as a joke." Differently a GREAT band, I had a girlfriend in the 90's that had their albums and I made a compilation cassette of 90 minutes of their songs. Sometimes I play that cassette for background work music for days straight. I even liked the songs when the vocalist came in after David Aguilar left. And I think I have a "Reunion" CD of them that Rhino put out. We have a group from the Rochester, NY area that have a history called "The Chesterfield Kings," if you get a chance, look them up. I've been listening straight lately to a 1965-66 group called the "Squires" (No relation) Not the Neil Young early band, this one from the US. Another group I luckily transferred their music from my Vinyl to cassette. Maybe CD someday... But taking less than 10 seconds to flip it over's fine with me. Take Care... Love those early "Stone-ish" sounding bands. I had band in high school, Fox in 1971, still a bunch of my videos here. Here's a bit of the Kings, I think you'll like em... kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5vQcqxugtNphrc

[@BigStar303]

@@lensquires6580 Appreciate your comments. I agree that CWB were great. Paradoxically, I even like most of the tracks on their three original albums that weren't done by the band at all. If you can find it, check out the movie "Riot on Sunset Strip." It shows them (plus The Standells) performing in a club. Of course, they're lip-synching, but the recordings they're playing to are different from the ones that appear on the soundtrack album. Aguilar is truly a force of nature in those performances! I'm very familiar with The Chesterfield Kings. They did a great job of bringing that 60s garage rock ethos forward into a new era. And I've loved The Squires' "Go Ahead" for decades now.

[@dab505279]

One thing I know is that your videos take a tremendous amount of work to make. The quality really shows. Even though it takes a lot of work on your part I'm sure it's a labor of love because your passion for the music shows. I did see the SAC in concert in the late 60's (I think). The Who were on the bill also. It was something else. Much respect to you from Larry. Keep up the great work.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you so much, Larry. This channel is a labor of love and it’s a challenge to bring the best content Wi h each video. More to come!

[@marlaporter]

Thanks for the awesome video, Matt! My Dad was Jimmy Pitman (SAC's Lead Vocalist & Guitarist in 1969).

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Nice to meet you Marla! I appreciate your dad’s work.

[@LPCustom3]

Glad to see this! George Bunnell is a friend of mine! I grew up in Glendale and I use to see them all the time. Most of them use to go to Hoover High. I saw them at Hoover opening for The Box Tops. They blew the Box Tops away. I asked Ed (King) how that was and he said strange cause he’d just quit school 2 weeks before…I worked with Steve Rabe for years and we were roommates for awhile!

[@ricjan58]

Great job on this one, Matt. I must admit I never really gave these guys much of a listen but thanks to you I'll have to pursue them further.

[@michaelshiflett4835]

Matt, your show is such a godsend! Thank you for doing what you do. You and Abigail Devoe are the best at this. 👍🏻

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, Michael.

[@BillGaliette]

“This is my happening and it freaks me out!” Boy, that would make a great tee shirt for your on line store.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

I like that idea!

[@jonsheehan4715]

I’d buy one....

[@BillGaliette]

You’ve got two sold already Matt

[@adz87]

One of my absolute favourite acts of the 60s, period! They really caught the psychedelic dream in their music; something that could only be written at that point in time. Nice one Matt!

[@secretflowersinfinite9475]

You nailed this one Matt! Thoroughly enjoyed.

[@danielbrotherton7274]

Great video! I love the Strawberry Alarm Clock, so very glad to see you've done one on them. 🍓🍓

[@newmexicoaquatics282]

I started listening to SAC about five years ago, kind of on a whim, because I always liked the big hit and wanted to explore more late 60's bands. I listened to each album, in order, on KZbin, and was immediately blown away by them and I started telling my friends and bandmembers about these guys because they obviously deserve more recognition. The first 3 albums are my favorites, and then BOOM, the reunion album from 2012 is so fantastic. To top it off, 3 months ago someone gave me a box of around 40 vinyl records and the 1st SAC album was part of the lot, and I was thrilled to hold an original SAC vinyl record in my hands (for free!!!) . Then I immediatly hung the album on the wall in our practice space precisely because of the cover (and the music). And thank you for your channel Matt -Little Bobby, Music Lover

[@popgoesthe60s52]

I appreciate the comments, Bobby!

[@settingson1966]

Excellent post, informative and entertaining. Incense and Peppermints caught my attention as a 60s music enthusiast (c. 1980s) and I was happily surprised at the quality of their catalog. I've travelled to LA twice to see them (2018 and this past January) and they're superb live. Thank you for this concise, well-informed history! 🍓⏰

[@drewsturgeon9511]

Love this. Great choice Matt!

[@spaceengineer1452]

"Can't Explain"/ Thee Sixpence...I can hear where Townsend got "Kids Are Alright" !!!

[@craigborchard7424]

Dave Diamond was one of my writing professors at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa (mid-1980s). He also played a big part in getting The Doors on the radio.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Wow, I didn't know that about him. Thanks Craig!

[@craigborchard7424]

@@popgoesthe60s52 You could probably do an entire episode about Dave ... check out his Wikipedia entry sometime ... it mentions his involvement with Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Doors and Love. Perhaps the most important thing his entry doesn't mention is that he won a date with Yvonne Craig on The Dating Game in the mid-60s. They never did go on that date, though. He wasn't one to boast about his accomplishments, which makes me think he maybe did more for music in the 60s and 70s than we realize.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

@@craigborchard7424 The Yvonne Craig date is quite impressive!

[@clpeters23]

"Tomorrow" is my favorite song of theirs. Still listen to it frequently.

[@mike_valenza]

Tomorrow is definitely a great song.

[@williambaxter4628]

Saw them, early 68 with B. Springfield and The Beach Boys. They opened with Tomorrow.

[@jerryweber1768]

Thanks Matt. I too discovered them as a teenager in the 80's. I did not know about their late singles and reunion LP. I will get them.

[@henryb160]

First time watching this channel and must say how much I enjoyed not only the subject matter but also the presentation.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, Henry!

[@frugalseverin2282]

Back in Nov. 2022 I made a CDR collection which is mostly the "Strawberries Mean Love" compilation but I was able to add 6 more tracks to it. Such a great music period. Thanks for this overview of the band, they deserve it.

[@johnpick8336]

Incense and Peppermints has an incredible vibe and tone. Awesome tune simply timeless ! Thanks

[@ministerofdarkness]

Excellent review. Such an underrated band.Definitely gotta check out some of their later albums.

[@martinsplichal1581]

Thanks Matt. I always thought they were better than their reputation. Doing this history proves it. Cheers.

[@robertzastrow4648]

The Strawberry Alarm Clock had always been a band that I thought was basically a one hit wonder band, with "Incense & Peppermints". Over the past few years, thanks to you, Matt, and others on KZbin, have been learning more about the group's background. Enjoyed all the songs by them that you played parts of. One thing about them that I like was/is they have multiple singers in the group. On the fade out to their song "Small Package" they have a little nod to the Beach Boys/by singing "Wish they all could be East Coast girls", while playing "California Girls" beginning organ part. Glad they are still performing together!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Yes, I snuck that ending to Small Package on the fade out of the video 🙂

[@profile2047]

I’ve seen Strawberry Alarm Clock twice at the Whiskey a Go Go. It’s an amazing show with most of the original guys which is crazy. Also there are always cool young people there that know all the songs. Best atmosphere I’ve experienced at that place.

[@pdd60absorbed12]

Thanks man this was great.

[@stephenelliott9937]

Like I said before you are the best at telling the history of all these great groups...

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, Stephen!

[@kt9166]

Nicely done. A band overlooked by most, but solid and worth the investigation. By the way, my mug came yesterday! Very cool!

[@colingillis5989]

I had no idea they were that young when they recorded Incense and Peppermints! Growing up my Dad had the "Tomorrow" 45. I love that song! It should have been a number 1 hit. The production and arrangement was way ahead of its time. Loved that Uni label spinning around as a kid. And "Strawberries Mean Love" is amazing as well! Your review was Black Butter! Thanks!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

My pleasure, Colin!

[@randomwrestlingarchive3937]

Another history video and you hit right out of the park. Learned so much and was a great watch.

[@BegToDiffer99]

I can't wait to watch this tonight! Thanks matt!

[@TheBitterSweetgr]

Oh yes, Matt! Yes yes YES!!! I adore this band! I must have played "Incense And Peppermints" over a hundred times...THANKS.

[@PrimitiveIcon]

good to find you Matt. what a time to grow up.. lucky us 😻💚💨🎶🎸🎹🎤🎥🚬😁rockin' out to AM radio listening to Strawberry in mom's Rambler.. oh those were the days haha.. peace love thanx Matt

[@rdwwdr3520]

1. Very educational. I had no clue the group had so many good, almost progressive songs (as you demonstrated in the deep cuts). 2. Thanks for noting the Ed King items, I was waiting for that the whole episode. 3. Not a main point of your episode at all but I have to address your notion that long songs are "self indulgent". It's a big tent. There is room for many different forms. Lyric-centric, relatively short song forms are good for those who focus mainly on the lyrics and social context. But with or without time signature changes, long songs that take you on a sound journey - often meant to accompany psychedelic drugs trips - and that are much more abstract and not tied to concrete lyrics - more like a symphony; those are not necessarily self indulgent. I read that comment ffrom critics a lot who want to relate everything back to Dylan lyrics and social context, commentary or trends in pop culture or Greenwich Village. Inna Gadda Da Vida isn't for everybody, nor is a 20 minute version of Hand Jive by Grateful Dead but self-indulgent is a bit condescending. For me it's all just sounds whether The Monkees or Don Ellis. 4. Why not do an episode on Steppenwolf?

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thanks for the comments! Steppenwolf is certainly on my very long list!

[@mattgregory971]

Great story about the Strawberry alarm clock! I picked up there first album last year on RSD great album. Going to pick up the other ones soon! Have a good one Matt

[@matthewstreet1961]

Fabulous episode Matt! I knew very little of them other than one song. You opened my eyes! Plus Ed King from Skynyrd!!?? Who knew? I didn’t!! Cheers 🍻

[@michaelleroi9077]

Great vid! Thx! Going to listen to the whole album now…after your vid!

[@robertpincus6528]

Hey Matt, it's been a while. I love the Strawberry Alarm Clock. i saw them a year before the pandemic. Amazing. I'm also have whisky on the rocks.

[@LordOfTheThreeWorlds]

Superb work. I have been a huge fan of the Sixpence since the 1980s and never knew they became the S/AC. Also had no idea about the link with Skynrd. Very good documentary.