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 rate, “Love Story” was the band’s first new release since their contributions to the 1971 soundtrack of Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls.
World Jam was evidently a 5-CD set comprising 47 artists, many of them young and unsigned. More familiar names included Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Fleshtones, and Robby Krieger of the Doors. The aim of the series was to aid world hunger; the reunited Strawberry Alarm Clock lineup had been playing “Love Story” in their live set and in rehearsals and donated it to the cause. According to bassist George Bunnell, the recorded track was done in one take at Dodge City Sound studio in Burbank, with Lee Freeman double-tracking his vocals.
“Love Story” appears on CD #3 of World Jam, subtitled Footsteps. This is supposedly the blues and R&B disc, although “Love Story” is neither, it’s rock and roll.
Although, as of this writing, I can find no evidence online that they actaully existed, some information suggests that the individual World Jam CDs were:
- CD #1: Ground Zero (pop)
- CD #2: Wild Side (rock)
- CD #3: Footsteps (blues/R&B)
- CD #4: Oceans To Ozone (easy listening)
- CD #5: Singles (rock/pop/blues)
Even finding pictures of World Jam seems impossible.
Musically, “Love Story” is an accomplished, crisp rock song with gritty guitars, some melodramatic minor-chord riffing, and snaky vocals by Lee Freeman. It doesn’t really recall Strawberry Alarm Clock’s 1960s sound, sounding instead like what it is: post-1980s rawk with a studio sheen. It’s one of Strawberry Alarm Clock’s least-known songs, rarely showing up even in ‘comprehensive’ online discographies of the band.
Musician lineup
The players on “Love Story” are:
Lee Freeman — guitar, lead vocals
George Bunnell — bass, backing vocals
Howie Anderson — lead guitar, synth guitar, background vocals
Bruce Hubbard — drums, background vocals
What’s more, it was produced by Steve Bartek, a former member of the band who was featured on the band’s first album, the classic 1967 Incense And Peppermints.
(Thanks to George Bunnell for his help with information about this little-known Strawberry Alarm Clock track.)