Strawberry Alarm Clock – Incense & Peppermints (1967)

“Incense and Peppermints” – Single by Strawberry Alarm Clock from the album Incense and Peppermints
B-side: “The Birdman of Alkatrash”
Released: May 19, 1967
Label: UNI Records
Songwriters: John S. Carter, Tim Gilbert (uncredited: Mark Weitz, Ed King)
Producer: Frank Slay

“Incense and Peppermints” initially appeared on the B-side of Thee Sixpence’s fifth single, “The Birdman of Alkatrash,” released on All-American in April 1967. However, local radio stations began playing “Incense and Peppermints” instead of the A-side, and the song began to gain in popularity in and around Los Angeles. Sensing the possibility of a national hit, Uni Records picked up the record for national distribution, and the single was re-released in May with the sides reversed. By the time of this second pressing, the band had changed its name to “The Strawberry Alarm Clock” to avoid confusion with another local band.

The writing credits on the song are listed as John Carter and Tim Gilbert, who were not part of the band, and the lead vocalist on this track was also not a member of the group.

It was Greg Munford, a 16-year-old singer with a group called The Shapes, who sang lead. He was brought in to sing harmonies on this song, but ended up doing the lead vocals. He was not even a regular band member, but ended up singing a tune that would rocket to #1 in the United States and sell over a million copies. Despite this success, Munford never actually joined the group.p.

“Incense and Peppermints” spent 16 weeks on the Billboard chart, reaching the #1 spot for the week ending November 25, 1967. The single earned a gold disc from the RIAA on December 7 for sales of one million copies.

The group’s guitarist, who co-wrote this song, was Ed King. In 1970, an unknown band called Lynyrd Skynyrd opened some shows for The Strawberry Alarm Clock, and King got to know them. In 1973, King joined Skynyrd on guitar.

Original members:

Mark Weitz – (Leader, Organ, Piano, Harpsichord, Effects [Special], Vocals)
Randy Seol – (Drums, Bongos, Vibraphone, Effects [Special], Vocals)
George Bunnell – (Bass Guitar, Effects [Special], Vocals)
Gary Lovetro – (Bass Guitar, Vocals)
Lee Freeman – (Harmonica, Rhythm Guitar, Vocals)
Ed King – (Lead Guitar, Effects [Special], Vocals)