Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Strawberries mean love (The Strawberry Alarm Clock) (LP 4579)

The Strawberry Alarm Clock  Incense and Peppermints (Vinyl, Geffen Records, 1967, reissue 2018) ****  

Genre: Psychedelic rock, Acid rock

Places I remember: JB Hi Fi

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Incense and Peppermints

Gear costume: Rainy Day Mushroom Pillow , Unwind with the Clock

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1Part 2Part 3Part 4Part 5Part 6Part 7

Active compensatory factors: The Strawberry Alarm Clock and 1967 go together like, erm, incense and peppermints.

This was their debut album and it's very cool daddio. There is tons to admire about their sound - like the multi-layered vocals, and the exotic instrumentation - flutes, organ, harpsichord, vibraphone, bongos are all interspersed with regular guitar, bass and drums.

The whole album needs to be enjoyed in one sitting for maximum impact. It all makes sense without any help from other substances, as it builds towards the last two songs - the title track and the groovilicious Unwind with the Clock.

Where do they all belong? In an interesting side note - the band's lead guitarist - Ed King, would eventually turn up in Lynyrd Skynyrd.

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