Tell your story: How did you discover Strawberry Alarm Clock?
Users describe their own personal introduction to Strawberry Alarm Clock fandom. How did you discover the band?
Crystal Circus and Strawberry SAC: Strawberry Alarm Clock offshoots
In 1968, a band calling itself Strawberry SAC, featuring Greg Munford (who’d sung lead on Strawberry Alarm Clock‘s “Incense And Peppermints”) recorded twelve songs for a planned album on All-American. Two songs (“In Relation” and “Merry Go Round”) were pressed onto a rare promo DJ 7″, but the rest of the recordings were only released … Read more
Strawberry Alarm Clock 8-track and 4-track tapes
Each of Strawberry Alarm Clock’s four studio albums were released as 8-track tapes, as were the compilations Best Of Strawberry Alarm Clock (1970) and Changes (1971). Also released on 8-track were the two movie soundtracks the band contributed to, Psych-Out and Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls.
“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
“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
“I’m Comin’ Home”
“I’m Comin’ Home” is a Strawberry Alarm Clock song released only on the soundtrack of the 1971 movie Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls. It represents the final release from the final classic version of the band, who broke up soon after the movie’s release. “I’m Comin’ Home” is a pretty nice slice of catchy … Read more
Double Star Series
Where in rock and roll vinyl history do The Who and Strawberry Alarm Clock overlap? Fear not, for there is an answer. In 1969, MCA put out an album called Double Star Series Featuring The Who & The Strawberry Alarm Clock. It was a limited edition promotional album pressed by MCA for the Philco company. One … Read more
The Best Of Strawberry Alarm Clock Vol. 1
The Best Of Strawberry Alarm Clock Vol. 1 is a compilation album from around 1985 comprising a decent, if typical, cross-section of the band’s more popular (and poppy) songs. It was released on a quasi-official-looking label called Back-Trac (MSP 30005). Since replaced by better compilations, this one is distinguished by being possibly the very first … Read more
Changes
Changes is the name of a Strawberry Alarm Clock compilation released originally in 1971 on Vocalion (VL 73915). It was named for the song “Changes”, the last song on the group’s last studio LP, Good Morning Starshine. Changes bypasses all of the band’s earlier and better-known hits to focus instead on SAC’s later career and … Read more
“(Gotta Get The) First Plane Home”
“(Gotta Get The) First Plane Home” is the b-side of a single by Thee Sixpence, who later became Strawberry Alarm Clock. The song’s a-side was “Heart Full Of Rain”. It was released on the All American label in early 1967. “(Gotta Get The) First Plane Home” sounds a little regressive after the forward strides made … Read more
“Heart Full Of Rain”
“Heart Full Of Rain” is one of the final songs released by Thee Sixpence in early 1967, shortly before the band became Strawberry Alarm Clock. “Heart Full Of Rain” was released on the All American label with two different b-sides: “(Gotta Get The) First Plane Home” and the previously-released “Fortune Teller”. (Both versions, confusingly, had … Read more
“Hey Joe”
“Hey Joe” was covered as the b-side of Thee Sixpence’s third single, “In The Building”, from 1966. Thee Sixpence would soon evolve into Strawberry Alarm Clock. This record was released on the All American label, and re-released on a compilation album in 1998. Both of Thee Sixpence’s previous 45s had covers of songs from Love’s … Read more
“In The Building”
“In The Building” is the third single from Thee Sixpence, the band which evolved into Strawberry Alarm Clock. It was released on the All American label in 1966 and backed with “Hey Joe”. Basically, “In The Building” is a slow-ish blues workout — but a very dark and psychedelically fuzzy one. The song is heavily … Read more
“My Flash On You”
“My Flash On You” is the b-side of Thee Sixpence’s second 45 rpm single, the a-side of which is “Fortune Teller”. That was the second single in a row on which the band covered a song from Love’s self-titled 1966 debut album. Thee Sixpence was the original version of Strawberry Alarm Clock. Unlike 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
“Can’t Explain”
“Can’t Explain” is a cover of a song by Arthur Lee’s legendary band Love, recorded and released by Strawberry Alarm Clock’s early incarnation Thee Sixpence in 1966. It was the b-side of the band’s first single, “Long Days Care”. While not as great as Love’s version, Thee Sixpence’s “Can’t Explain” actually has a more energetic feel … 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
“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
“California Day”
“California Day” is a non-LP song, released as a single in 1970 by Strawberry Alarm Clock. The track featured the band’s last lead singer, Paul Marshall, who had replaced Jim Pitman. “California Day” is a pleasant and perky ode to driving around sunny California’s open highways (and by extension to the state itself). There is … Read more
“Starting Out The Day”
“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 … Read more