This is the debut long-player from the southern California-based
Strawberry Alarm Clock
-- the title track of this album topped national singles charts in December of 1967. As the cover art might suggest, their image practically defined both the musical as well as peripheral aspects of the pseudo-
psychedelic
counterculture. However, below that mostly visual veneer,
actually have more in common with other "Summer of Love" bands such as
Love
and
Kak
than the
bubblegum
acts they have long been associated with. Prior to
, the band was initially named
Thee Sixpence
and issued a 45 --
"In the Building"
b/w
"Hey Joe"
-- in the spring of 1966. As legend has it, none of the actual bandmembers sang lead on the hit single; the singer was in fact a vocalist named
Greg Munford
, who was attending the session as a visitor. The track was originally issued by
on the regional
All-American
label. By the second pressing, however, the band's name had changed to
. Sensing the possibility of a national hit, they were scooped up by the
MCA Records
subsidiary
Uni
and given the go-ahead to commence recording this, their debut LP. Much of the band's sound is due at least in part to the writing styles of
George Bunnell
(bass/vocals) and the uncredited
Steve Bartok
(flute/vocals). The edgy fuzz-toned guitar sound of
"Birds in My Tree"
and the Los Angeles freeway-inspired
"Paxton's Back Street Carnival"
exude a
garage rock
flavor similar in style to that of
Spirit
's self-titled debut long-player. Another distinguishing factor is
's multi-layered vocals.
"Hummin' Happy"
"Rainy Day Mushroom Pillow"
are precursors to the sophisticated harmonies that would also inform
"Tomorrow"
"Pretty Song From Psych-Out,"
from their follow-up long-player,
Wake Up...It's Tomorrow
. ~ Lindsay Planer