“Starting Out The Day” is notable as an upbeat, horn-driven Strawberry Alarm Clock song released as a single in 1969. Its b-side was “Small Package”, taken from the Good Morning Starshine album. Originally a non-LP side, “Starting Out The Day” has been released on various compilations since its original release.
“Starting Out The Day” has a very similar feel to the even better “Desireé”, released by the band around the same time. The song in many ways recalls Strawberry Alarm Clock’s 1967-1968 style. Check the playful organ-and-horn riff, sounding like something you might hear at Paxton’s street carnival. There’s even a flute solo.
Elsewhere, there’s a harmonica solo, some really nice creepy-organ work, and a lot of tough, complex musical twists — not to mention some fantastic vocal work by the versatile Jim Pitman.
Strawberry Alarm Clock sound particularly inspired on “Starting Out The Day”, playing with abandon, confident and free enough to tackle some unusual, even daring, musical ideas. “Starting Out The Day” is an excellent advertisement for 1969-era SAC; hunt it down and check it out if you don’t already have it.
“Starting Out The Day” appears on…
“Starting Out The Day” b/w “Small Package” (1969)
Good Morning Starshine (1969) [Japanese bonus-track version]
The Best Of Strawberry Alarm Clock (1970)
Incense & Peppermints (1990)
one of their greatest songs that deserves to be better known and more widely available