MINT 1970 SCARCE ORIG BEST LP STRAWBERRY ALARM CLOCK ACID POP PSYCH GLORY

$

46

                USA - UNI RECORDS - 73074

MINT ... final collection copy

Original 1970 FIRST printing of what is considered the BEST most solid Strawberry Alarm Clock album, every track a winner ... well put together 46 years ago ...and has a unique tracking sequence that is a blast in regard to enjoyable listening....

By the time of this album’s release in 1970, the Strawberry Alarm Clock were now a four-piece band consisting of Paul Marshall, Ed King, Gene Gunnels and Lee Freeman. Mark Weitz left in in December 1969, just prior to the album’s release. This was the last LP to feature any new songs as well. “Starting Out the Day” and “Desiree” were singles-only until this album was released. This is also the last LP the band would release on UNI Records. The LP is a fantastic group overview that blends the earlier stuff with some of the later stuff extremely well, and includes the hits and good b-side 45's as well.


The group took its name as an homage to the Beatles‘ psychedelic hit “Strawberry Fields Forever“, reportedly, at the suggestion of their record company Uni Records. Very quickly, The Alarm Clock were highly influential in the development of psychedelic rock music in the United States.

The Alarm Clock were originally named Thee Sixpence, initially consisted of Ed King (lead guitar, vocals), Mark Weitz (keyboards, vocals), Lee Freeman (rhythm guitar, harmonica, vocals), Gary Lovetro (bass), and Gene Gunnels (drums). Randy Seol (drums, vibes, percussion, vocals) joined to replace the departing Gunnels just as the name change to SAC was occurring. It was Seol that would eventually bring in songwriters George Bunnell and Steve Bartek. On their first and most famous single, “Incense and Peppermints“(produced by Frank Slay and initially put out as a Thee Sixpence release on the “All American” label), none of the band were all that impressed by songwriter John Carter’s lyrics, so Slay chose Greg Munford, a 16-year-old friend of the band who was from another group called Shapes of Sound, to sing lead. The song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100in late 1967. Mark Weitz and Ed King were denied songwriting credits by Slay because they did not write the melody line or the lyrics, though the song was built on an instrumental by Weitz with a bridge by King. This instrumental was originally intended as a B-side to “The Birdman of Alkatrash”, which ultimately became the B-side to “Incense and Peppermints.” The single stayed at #1 for one week with 16 weeks in total on the chart. A gold disc was awarded for one million sales by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on 19 December 1967.

Shortly after recording “Incense and Peppermints” the band added George Bunnell (bass and rhythm guitar, vocals) before making their first LP in 1967, also titled Incense and Peppermints, which hit #11 on the US album chart. Bunnell would also become their main songwriter. Some early Strawberry Alarm Clock songs were penned by Bunnell with Steve Bartek (who would much later join Oingo Boingo, as well as orchestrate Danny Elfman‘s film scores). Bartek played flute on the first two albums and would continue to be involved with SAC in its later incarnations.

During the band’s short life it saw many lineup changes. Since Bunnell had become the main writer, it was he that the band had play more and more of the bass parts since he already knew the songs. Gary Lovetro was gradually moved over to the road manager’s position leaving Bunnell as sole bassist. Lovetro was then bought out of the group after conflicts with the others before the second album, Wake Up…It’s Tomorrow, was released. The single “Tomorrow” from this album was a minor hit and their only other Top 40 appearance, reaching #23 in early 1968. The heavenly psychedelic “Sit with the Guru” charted at #65 and “Barefoot in Baltimore” peaked at #67, but both songs had lyrics with acid-bent overtones.

Bunnell and Seol left the band in late 1968 at the end of the sessions for the third album, The World in a Seashell, because of disagreements with the band over their manager Bill Holmes’ mishandling of their business affairs. Bunnell and Seol formed a new band, Buffington Roads, with Steve Bartek. Holmes was fired by the remaining band members and he angrily retaliated by putting together a fake SAC with Bunnell & Seol and sent them out on the road. The band countered with an injunction against Holmes but the damage was done when the lawsuits caused extreme confusion for promoters who became afraid to book either groups.

Drummer Marty Katin then came aboard along with new lead singer/guitarist Jim Pitman and there was a shift to a more blues rock style. Ed King moved over to bass, as he had been playing many of the bass parts in the studio anyway. In early 1969 Katin, whose drumming style never quite fit the band, left and original “Incense and Peppermints” drummer Gene Gunnels rejoined.

In July 1969, Pitman left after the Good Morning Starshine LP failed to sell and was succeeded by Paul Marshall, who would remain with the group until they disbanded in 1971. The title track, “Good Morning Starshine”, peaked at to #87 in 1969, but was beaten by Oliver‘s version.

Weitz, discouraged over the band’s falling fortunes and the lawsuits leading to a sharp drop in demand for gigs, quit by December 1969 to spend more time with his family. The group continued on as a quartet; Ed King, Lee Freeman, Gene Gunnels and Paul Marshall.

By this time the band’s audience had mostly disappeared due in part to public interest in rural rock & singer-songwriter muzak. They kept performing for awhile and toured the South in 1970 and 1971 with Florida band Lynyrd Skynyrd opening for them. In the latter part of 1971, the group, now without a record label and in conflict over musical direction, opted to disband, with Ed King deciding to relocate to the South to fill the void after the death of Allman Brothers Band guitarist Duane Allman. King was invited to join Lynyrd Skynyrd in November 1972.


                                             Side 1
                                    Incense And Peppermints
                                           Tomorrow
                                      Sit With the Guru
                                       Angry Young Man
                                    Barefoot In Baltimore
                                Pretty Song From “Psych-Out”

                                           Side 2
                                     Birds In My Tree
                                          Sea Shell
                                      Miss Attraction
                                 Good Morning Starshine
                                          Desiree
                                  Starting Out the Day

CONDITION: The cover: rated: M- in factory plastic wrapper ...the outer wrapper is a little scuffy from being around 26 years but take the plastic wrap off if desired and there is a rare-to-find Mint cover ... very wear prone, most copies have wear, this one does not. There are no delete marks, no split seams, no bends, and no writing  ... VERY collection worthy SAC rarity...

The vinyl: Rated: M- TOP COPY extra-clean and glossy with very enjoyable CLEAN audio  ... both UNI labels are clean

      A cool addition to anyone's music library!

SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people...

EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record