“Love Story”

In 1995, Strawberry Alarm Clock apparently contributed a new song called “Love Story” to a various-artists compilation called World Jam. “Love Story” was written by longtime SAC member Lee Freeman, the man responsible for so much of Strawberry Alarm Clock’s classic 1960s sound. But this song, and the World Jam CD project, remain very mysterious. At any … Read more

“Mr. Farmer”

Strawberry Alarm Clock recorded a version of The Seeds’ 1960s classic “Mr. Farmer” in 2012. The original plan was for the reconvened SAC to record the song for a Sky Saxon tribute CD, but plans fell through and that tribute does not seem to have ever made it to release. Strawberry Alarm Clock began work on … Read more

“Eulogy”

“Eulogy” is the shortest song on Strawberry Alarm Clock’s 1968 album The World In A Sea Shell, and it’s one of the album’s more daring sonic sculptures. It has a mid-tempo pace, an opaque sheen to the vocal chorale, and some striking tonal dissonance in its sneaky chord changes. A fat, distorted electric guitar line … Read more

“Lady Of The Lake”

With “Lady Of The Lake”, Strawberry Alarm Clock closes out side 1 of its 1968 LP The World In A Sea Shell with its second Carole King-penned song (with Toni Stern). It’s another ditty featuring a tasty melody but with an overall inconsequential vibe. The most interesting thing about the track is the repetitive trumpet, … Read more

“Sea Shell”

“Sea Shell” is the leadoff track on Strawberry Alarm Clock’s 1968 album The World In A Sea Shell. A dense, lush and slow-moving song, “Sea Shell” has a gorgeous melody but some ill-conceived ocean sounds and sappy orchestral overdubs. The result is a song that may be too somnambulistic for certain fans of the band’s … Read more

“Fortune Teller”

Thee Sixpence covered the popular song “Fortune Teller” on their second release, a 45 rpm single on All American backed with “My Flash On You”. Thee Sixpence later evolved into Strawberry Alarm Clock. Many bands in the 1960s covered “Fortune Teller”, including the Rolling Stones and the Who (“and Wayne Fontana – ‘e did it”). … Read more

“Long Days Care”

“Long Days Care” is a song by Thee Sixpence, later Strawberry Alarm Clock. It’s the a-side of the first single ever released by the band, on the All American label. A cover of Love’s “Can’t Explain” was the b-side. The “Long Days Care” single was released in 1966, and can be thought of as the world’s … Read more

“Shallow Impressions”

“Shallow Impressions” is the last track on Strawberry Alarm Clock’s 1968 album The World In A Sea Shell. It’s an experimental instrumental, the only song without vocals on the album. And it was the first such song by the Clock since “Pass Time With The SAC” from the 1967 LP Incense And Peppermints. It was … Read more

“Girl From The City”

“Girl From The City” was one of Strawberry Alarm Clock’s final singles, a non-LP song with vocalist Paul Marshall. The track was recorded for the soundtrack of the movie Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls. The b-side was the evergreen “Three”. “Girl From The City” doesn’t strive to be great or profound, just to be a … Read more

“Lose To Live”

“Lose To Live” is the third track on Strawberry Alarm Clock’s 1967 album Incense And Peppermints. Weird and angular, “Lose To Live” is defined by a piercing, harpsichord-like keyboard part, deranged vocals, and constantly changing musical sections. The track follows the shorter and gentler “Birds In My Tree”, and recalls the album’s opener “The World’s … Read more

“Sit With The Guru”

“Sit With The Guru” is the first song on Side 2 of Strawberry Alarm Clock’s 1968 album Wake Up… It’s Tomorrow. It was also released as a single. “Sit With The Guru” is jaunty and poppy, with an aggressive guitar vying for supremacy with the lovely, melodic vocal work. The relative placidness of “Sit With The … Read more

“Love Me Again”

“Love Me Again” is from Strawberry Alarm Clock’s 1968 album The World In A Sea Shell. It’s only 3:30 but still the album’s longest song – and, significantly, one written by the band rather than outside composers. With a blistering lead guitar throughout, and with vocals considerably wilder than the album’s other songs, “Love Me … Read more

“Sitting On A Star”

“Sitting On A Star” is a track from Strawberry Alarm Clock’s 1968 album Wake Up… It’s Tomorrow. Another of the album’s musically adventurous tracks, the song features a harsh, militaristic beat throughout its verses along with spidery, Doors-like choruses and the occasional faux-funky jazz interlude. The singing is high and plaintive with a subdued harmony … Read more

“The Birdman Of Alkatrash”

The b-side of Strawberry Alarm Clock’s #1 hit song “Incense And Peppermints” was “The Birdman Of Alkatrash”. It’s a simple garage pop song that has received a lot of attention over the years due to its pairing with the famous a-side. “The Birdman Of Alkatrash” was originally released as the a-side to “Incense And Peppermints”, on the … Read more

“Good Morning Starshine”

Strawberry Alarm Clock recorded “Good Morning Starshine” for their fourth and final LP, also called Good Morning Starshine. It wasn’t their choice, though, and sounds like nothing else on the album. The jarring anomaly, recording a version of “Good Morning Starshine” from the musical Hair was not the idea of the band members. They had by … Read more

“Small Package”

The third song on Strawberry Alarm Clock’s 1969 LP Good Morning Starshine is the entertaining “Small Package”. The performance has some of the gutsy blues-rock feel of the album’s first two songs (“Me And The Township” and “Off Ramp Road Tramp”) but “Small Package” is really more of an extension of the band’s adventurous songwriting … Read more

“Birds In My Tree”

“Birds In My Tree” is the second track on Strawberry Alarm Clock’s 1967 album Incense And Peppermints. It was later chosen as the b-side of a single. A short and conventional pop song, “Birds In My Tree” features vaguely psychedelic touches in its adventurous melody, lyrical references to drugs and a new ideal existence, and a … Read more