Incense and Peppermints (song)
Encyclopedia
"Incense and Peppermints" is a song by the Los Angeles based psychedelic pop
band Strawberry Alarm Clock
. The song is officially credited as having been written by John S. Carter and Tim Gilbert, although it was based on an instrumental
idea by band members Mark Weitz
and Ed King
. It was released as the A-side
of a single
in May 1967 by Uni Records
and reached the #1 position on the Billboard Hot 100
, where it stayed for one week before beginning its fall down the charts. Although the single was released in the United Kingdom it failed to break into the UK Singles Chart
.
", "In the Building" b/w "Hey Joe
", and "Heart Full of Rain" b/w "Next Plane Home") on All-American Records under the name Thee Sixpence. During recording sessions for "Incense and Peppermints", the band expressed a dislike for the song's lyrics (written by John S. Carter), so the lead vocals were sung by a friend of the band, Greg Munford, who was attending the recording session
as a visitor. The regular vocalists in the band were relegated to providing background
and harmony vocals
on the record. Controversially, band members Mark Weitz and Ed King were both denied songwriting credits by the band's producer, Frank Slay, despite the fact that the song was, at least partially, built on an instrumental idea of Weitz and King's. King would go on to greater fame as a member of the 1970s Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd
.
"Incense and Peppermints" initially appeared on the B-side
of Thee Sixpence's fourth single, "The Birdman of Alkatrash", released on All-American Records 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 (a subsidiary of MCA
) picked up the record for national distribution and the single was re-released in May 1967: this time with "Incense and Peppermints" on the A-side and "The Birdman of Alkatrash" as the B-side. By the time of this second pressing, the band had changed their name to "Strawberry Alarm Clock" due to the existence of a local group with a name somewhat similar to Thee Sixpence.
"Incense and Peppermints" spent a total of 16 weeks on the Billboard chart
, finally reaching the #1 spot on November 25, 1967. The single eventually earned a gold disc
from the RIAA
on December 19, 1967 for sales of one million copies.
Psychedelic pop
Psychedelic pop is a psychedelic musical style inspired by the sounds of psychedelic folk and psychedelic rock, but applied to a pop music setting...
band Strawberry Alarm Clock
Strawberry Alarm Clock
Strawberry Alarm Clock is a psychedelic rock band from Los Angeles best known for their 1967 hit "Incense and Peppermints". 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.They are...
. The song is officially credited as having been written by John S. Carter and Tim Gilbert, although it was based on an instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
idea by band members Mark Weitz
Mark Weitz
Mark Weitz is an American musician. A former keyboard player for the 1960s psychedelic rock group Strawberry Alarm Clock, Weitz was the principal composing member of the band.- Early life and The Strawberry Alarm Clock :...
and Ed King
Ed King
Edward C. King is an American musician. He is best known as the guitarist for psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock and Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd....
. It was released as the A-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
of a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in May 1967 by Uni Records
Uni Records
Uni Records was a record label owned by MCA Inc. The brand, which long featured a distinct UNi logo, was established in 1966 by MCA executive Ned Tanen and developed by music industry veteran Russ Regan...
and reached the #1 position on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, where it stayed for one week before beginning its fall down the charts. Although the single was released in the United Kingdom it failed to break into the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
History
Prior to the release of "Incense and Peppermints", the Strawberry Alarm Clock had already issued three singles ("My Flash on You" b/w "Fortune TellerFortune Teller (song)
"Fortune Teller" is a song written by Allen Toussaint under the pseudonym Naomi Neville and first recorded by Benny Spellman...
", "In the Building" b/w "Hey Joe
Hey Joe
"Hey Joe" is an American popular song from the 1960s that has become a rock standard and as such, has been performed in a multitude of musical styles by hundreds of different artists since it was first written. "Hey Joe" tells the story of a man who is on the run and planning to head to Mexico...
", and "Heart Full of Rain" b/w "Next Plane Home") on All-American Records under the name Thee Sixpence. During recording sessions for "Incense and Peppermints", the band expressed a dislike for the song's lyrics (written by John S. Carter), so the lead vocals were sung by a friend of the band, Greg Munford, who was attending the recording session
Studio recording
The term studio recording means any recording made in a studio, as opposed to a live recording, which is usually made in a concert venue or a theatre, with an audience attending the performance.-Studio cast recordings:...
as a visitor. The regular vocalists in the band were relegated to providing background
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
and harmony vocals
Vocal harmony
Vocal harmony is a style of vocal music in which a consonant note or notes are sung at the same time as a main melody in a predominantly homophonic texture. Vocal harmonies are used in many subgenres of European art music, including Classical choral music and opera and in the popular styles from...
on the record. Controversially, band members Mark Weitz and Ed King were both denied songwriting credits by the band's producer, Frank Slay, despite the fact that the song was, at least partially, built on an instrumental idea of Weitz and King's. King would go on to greater fame as a member of the 1970s Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
.
"Incense and Peppermints" initially appeared on the B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
of Thee Sixpence's fourth single, "The Birdman of Alkatrash", released on All-American Records 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 (a subsidiary of MCA
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
) picked up the record for national distribution and the single was re-released in May 1967: this time with "Incense and Peppermints" on the A-side and "The Birdman of Alkatrash" as the B-side. By the time of this second pressing, the band had changed their name to "Strawberry Alarm Clock" due to the existence of a local group with a name somewhat similar to Thee Sixpence.
"Incense and Peppermints" spent a total of 16 weeks on the Billboard chart
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, finally reaching the #1 spot on November 25, 1967. The single eventually earned a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
from the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
on December 19, 1967 for sales of one million copies.