Strawberry Alarm Clock released the non-LP single “Desireé” in 1969. It was backed with “Changes” from the Good Morning Starshine album. “Desireé” is a great song, and one of SAC’s real lost classics. The performance features the vocals of 1969-era Clock singer Jim Pitman, as well as a great horn section.
“Desireé” is catchy in the best sense – not annoyingly so, just a lot of fun. It begins with a gentle psychedelic intro, but the band slides in as Pitman growls out the lyrics. Those lyrics, actually, are barely worth mentioning, but at least the band just nails the music.
Occasionally, “Desireé” dips back into the psychedelic feel of the intro, lyrically and musically invoking the Beatles’ “Fool On The Hill”. But mostly, this song is a thrilling, horn-driven piece of rock funk that by all rights should have been a big hit for the band.
What the band strove so hard for on its final album seemed to fall into their lap with “Desireé”. The interplay between the horns and the guitar is perfect. In fact, everything just glides effortlessly into place. “Desireé” belongs in any Strawberry Alarm Clock collection.
“Desireé” appears on…
“Desireé” b/w “Changes” (1969)
Good Morning Starshine (1969) [Japanese bonus-track version]
The Best Of Strawberry Alarm Clock (1970)
Strawberries Mean Love (1992)
One of the most unusual and best.