Band COULDN’T Nail Down TOUGH Vocal…Finally LET Random Kid at Studio TRY…It Hit #1—Professor of Rock

In 1967, the illustrious Summer of Love, A psychedelic sunshine pop standard, hit number one on the US charts, Incense and Peppermints by Strawberry Alarm Clock but the song was cloaked in controversy, first of all, it was supposed to be a B-SIDE, then it was found that the song was allegedly based off of an instrumental idea from two of the band members who given credit. One Ed King, who would go on to help compose Sweet Home Alabama in Lynyrd Skynyrd… Then when the band was recording it, they hated the lyrics so no one in the band wanted to sing them, amazingly they were sung by a friend of the band, a 16-year-old kid who happened to be at the recording as a guest! Up next we get the story from An interview with the cofounder of this mystery band, Mark Weitz on Professor of Rock.

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Hey Music Junkies, Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and songs of all time. Hit the Subscribe button below to be a part of a community dedicated to the timeless music of the rock era, and look us up on Patreon to be a part of curating the rock era.

It’s time for another edition of Bottled Lightning. Most call ‘em one-hit wonders we call them Bottled Lightning… where a band’s one big Song ruled the charts but wasn’t able to sustain long-term domination… Here’s the deal. There are certain songs that when played, are more effective than a time machine. They evoke the decade better than any other emotion or feeling outside of being there.

Unfortunately, I never got to experience the 1960s I was born in the decade after. But growing up, I got a first-hand experience of growing up in that wondrous decade from my Dad who told me about all of his experiences coming of age in that time. I’ve also heard hundreds of stories from the many artists from that time who released life-changing music.

I remember my Dad telling me about several songs from the 60s that were so potent, so drenched in the sounds of that era that it instantly took him back. To him, Incense and Peppermint was one of those songs. A slice of Psychedelic Sunshine pop and one of the first #1 hits of that genre by a band with an equally groovy name Strawberry Alarm Clock.

The song went to #1 in the Summer of Love and has lived on since then in pop culture. There’s an interesting story behind it. It was allegedly based off of an instrumental idea by band members keyboardist Mark Weitz and guitarist Ed King. God bless the last Ed King who passed away from cancer a few years ago. Ed would go on to be a charter member of Lynyrd Skynyrd and create one of the greatest guitar riffs of all time.

Mark Weitz and Ed King created the instrumental Idea only they didn’t get any credit for it. It was officially credited to producer/A&R man John S. Carter and Tim Gilbert of the band the Rainy Daze. At the very least Weitz has stated that he and Ed should’ve received a co-writing credit. Sadly It’s an oft-told story from the early days of Rock and Roll... musicians not being fairly credited or compensated. Then their friend a 16-year-old kid named Greg Munford who was attending the rescind session as a visitor to watch was given the chance to sing the song when the band members weren’t big fans of the lyrics which John S. Carter wrote using a rhyming dictionary.

[ProfessorofRock]

Poll: What is your pick for the best piano or keyboard riff of the rock era?

[cherimitchell]

I’m 74 in a few days. Sometimes I just stand at the frig and wonder what I’m looking for. BUT! I remember and can sing every word to every song of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. I lived in an awesome time of the best music EVER!

[ConnieLeinicke]

Tonight I arrived at my daughter’s home to celebrate Thanksgiving. Little did I know she would sit me down and surprise me with a “concert” of all my 60s and 70s favorite music played from the original albums on a turntable from the 70s! I asked her why and she said “this was your gift to me during my childhood and I want to share it with you again.” ❤

[Rocadamis]

I was a junior in HS when Strawberry Alarm Clock played at our San Fernando high school gymnasium. We were all blown away. The following year Jim Morrison and the Doors played there, and later The Turtles played for us. I feel blessed to have lived through that.

[notmyrealname]

Having been a teenager in the 1960s, I agree with Professor Rock that the 60's-70's was the greatest time for a rock music lover.

[DONRHOLLOWAY]

Oh man, do I remember that song. I was absolutely crazy about it. I turned 8 years old in January 1960, so the 60s was really my decade. I am 72 now and I can still remember the lyrics to countless songs from the 60s because they had such a deep impact on me. Sometimes I joke that 90% of my brain is made up of song lyrics. But my love for music didn't stop with the 60s, because there was still great music in the 70s and 80s. I went to college in the late 70s and 80s after a stint in the Navy and still love The Jefferson Airplane, ELO, Boston, Journey, The Classics IV, The Steve Miller Band, James Taylor, Elton John, The Beatles (of course), and on and on. Good music never grows old. And it also helps keep us young at heart.

[gccheatham]

In July 1969 for my 18th birthday I received tickets to see Steppenwolf in Louisville, KY. The opening band was Strawberry Alarm Clock. I can close my eyes and still hear them play Incense and Peppermints. Great music.

[danielesbordone]

Not only was music from back then better, the stories behind the songs were even more amazing. Thanks for sharing.

[jonabbott]

In 1967, I was a High School Senior in Las Cruces, New Mexico and in a local band called The Psychedelic Sweet Potatoes (don't laugh, that was pretty cool back then). Las Cruces also happens to be the campus location for New Mexico State University. Our band was engaged by a campus committee to be the opening band for a concert on campus (auditorium style, not stadium). It turned out that we were opening for a band called The Strawberry Alarm Clock. We had never heard of them before. As Mark mentions in this interview, there was no "Nation-wide" distribution of music. The cultural centers for new music were on the East and West Coasts of the US. The music of the time slowly trickled across the country and took many months before hitting out of the way places. When I heard them do the song Incense and Peppermints, I instantly became a fan. However, it was still at least 3 or 4 months before I was able to find their 45 in the local record store. Thank you Professor, for this trip down memory lane.

[tedecker]

Our good Professor may be the luckiest man in the world, having one-on-one time with all these musical greats.

[augustdaye]

There should be an Emmy for great YouTube channels. Professor of Rock should be the first to claim the statue. I lived through the '60s and '70s etc music scenes and still learn something from every episode. Love those intro promos.

[billshane]

Being a teenager in the 60's was the best. I truly believe I was born in the right year, 1951. I turned 13 in 1964 just when The Beatles came along. You could tell there was something in the air that was about to happen particularly to people under 30 and music became the glue that brought it all together and though it started with The Beatles, the music industry became our catalyst. It was truly a revolution built on peace and love; it was great to watch and great to participate in. We could actually tell the world what we wanted. My Sister, who was 3 years older than me told me about how she had to keep her mouth shut when she was 13-16 because no adult wanted to hear it. Adults still didn't want to hear us, but our voices became so big and so loud that they couldn't stop us. If you weren't a teen in the 60's, man, you missed an unbelievable era. The 70's were cool, but the 60's were supreme.

[ibleebinU]

Always loved this tune. The song that most defined the 60's, at least to me, was White Rabbit. Grace's vocals still gives me chills.

[darleneschneck]

I remember creating a dance routine with a friend in 6th grade gym class with this song in 1967. You are 100% right that this song embodies the ‘60s to the point that you can almost taste it!!

[BrianGoguen-kk]

What's amazing is how mature Mumford's voice was for 16 yrs old.

[tgorycki]

What a great, well spoken guy! I remember this song being on my parents K-Tel compilation record, "24 Heavy Hits" alongside "Journey to the Center of My Mind", "Mony Mony", and "She'd Rather Be With Me". Thanks for another great interview!🙏

[danielmarmer]

"Crystal Blue Persuasion" by Tommy James & The Shondells is another defining song of the 60s.

[DC]

Ed King & Strawberry Alarm Clock rule!!! What a guitar player he was, a legend! Roll on Ed 🍻!!

[serendipityshopnyc]

Mind-boggling that "Incense and Peppermints" was not instantly recognized as an A-side and potential hit in 1967. I know it was an instant classic to me when it first hit my ear. What a great slice of summer-of-love era psychedelia.

[marahdolores]

I don't know if you covered this or not, and perhaps it was only a huge hit in our region (? the Detroit metro area), but In-A-Gada-Da-Vida was definitely a psychadelic rock hit that was part of the soundtrack of my very early years.
Another eponymous hit from my preschool years was Blood Sweat and Tears' "Spinning Wheel".