Lance Carson
Incense and Peppermints is a song by the American psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock. It was released in May 1967 and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week in November of that year. 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. The lead vocals were performed by Greg Munford, a friend of the band, and the song has been featured in several films and television series.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song Name | Incense and Peppermints |
| Band | Strawberry Alarm Clock |
| Genre | Psychedelic Rock |
| Year of Release | 1967 |
| Songwriters | John S. Carter, Tim Gilbert, Mark Weitz, Ed King |
| Lead Vocals | Greg Munford |
| Backing Vocals | Band members of Strawberry Alarm Clock |
| Record Label | Uni Records |
| Chart Performance | #1 on Billboard Hot 100 for one week in November 1967 |
| Number of Weeks on Billboard Chart | 16 weeks |
| Date of Second Pressing | May 1967 |
| Film Appearances | Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls |
| TV Appearances | Clone High, Daisy Jones and the Six |
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What You'll Learn
The song's lyrical meaning
"Incense and Peppermints" is a 1967 song by the American psychedelic rock 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. The song was initially released as a B-side single, but due to its growing popularity, it was re-released as an A-side.
The lyrics of "Incense and Peppermints" are considered nonsensical, reflective of the era when even bands like The Beatles were writing songs meant to befuddle listeners. However, upon closer inspection, the song reveals a deeper message about the futility of finding true leaders in a self-serving world. The phrase "incense and peppermints, meaningless nouns" is thought to emphasise the pointlessness of arguing.
The song also contains references to drug use and the counterculture movement of the 1960s. The line "Turn on, tune in, turn your eyes around" echoes Timothy Leary's catchphrase, "Turn on, tune in, drop out", encouraging young people to open their minds with psychedelics, experience the effects, and reject mainstream society. The song's call to "look at yourself" can be interpreted as a reflection of the drug ideology, urging listeners to see the world around them and create their future.
Additionally, the song's lyrics touch on the political climate of the time, with references to "beatniks and politics" and a "yardstick for lunatics". The line "dead kings, many things I can't define" is believed to allude to JFK and the "Age of Camelot" his administration brought to the country. Overall, "Incense and Peppermints" captures the countercultural and political spirit of the 1960s, encouraging listeners to question authority, reflect on their own lives, and embrace the psychedelic experience.
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The original artist
"Incense and Peppermints" is a 1967 song by the American psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock. The song is officially credited as having been written by John S. Carter and Tim Gilbert, who were not members of the band. The song was based on an instrumental idea by band members Mark Weitz and Ed King.
Weitz, the band's keyboardist, had come up with most of the music for an unnamed song, including the intro, the verses, and the ending. He then brought in guitarist Ed King to help him co-write the bridge and the guitar parts. The producer of the song, Frank Slay, then gave the mixed music to John S. Carter of The Rainy Daze, another band Slay produced. Carter ended up writing all of the lyrics and figuring out the music line through the song with his songwriting partner, Tim Gilbert.
Despite the contributions of Weitz and King, Slay denied them songwriting credits, and they instead went to Carter and Gilbert. King would go on to greater fame as a member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd.
The lead vocals for "Incense and Peppermints" were performed by Greg Munford, a friend of the band who was present at the recording session. The band members were not considered a right fit for the lead vocal track, and so Munford, who was 16 years old at the time, sang the lead, although he never actually joined the group. The regular vocalists in the band provided background and harmony vocals.
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The song's performance in popular culture
"Incense and Peppermints" has been featured in popular culture several times since its release. The song appeared in the 1997 film "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery", starring Mike Myers in the titular role. The song also made its way into the television series "Daisy Jones and the Six".
The song's appearance in "Austin Powers" is particularly notable, as the film is a comedy set in the 1960s, and the song's psychedelic rock style fits perfectly with the film's tone and setting. The film is known for its extensive use of popular music from the 1960s, with other featured artists including The Who, The Mamas and the Papas, and The Jimi Hendrix Experience. "Incense and Peppermints" plays during a scene where Austin Powers is getting ready for a night out, setting the tone for the character's groovy, free-spirited personality.
The inclusion of "Incense and Peppermints" in "Daisy Jones and the Six" is also noteworthy. The series, based on the 2019 novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, follows the fictional rock band Daisy Jones & The Six in the 1970s. The song's appearance in the series, which centres around the music industry and the lives of musicians, is a nod to the era's musical influences and the impact of psychedelic rock on the decade's sound.
"Incense and Peppermints" has also had a cultural impact beyond its specific appearances in film and television. Its success helped propel the band Strawberry Alarm Clock into the spotlight, and the song's unique sound and lyrics captured the spirit of the 1960s counterculture movement. The song's references to incense and peppermints, often used to mask the smell of marijuana, and its lyrics about tuning in and dropping out, reflect the youth culture and social changes of the time.
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The song's creation and writing credits
"Incense and Peppermints" is a 1967 song by the American psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock. The song is officially credited as having been written by John S. Carter and Tim Gilbert. However, it was based on an instrumental idea by band members Mark Weitz and Ed King.
The song's producer, Frank Slay, gave the mixed music to Carter, who was a member of another band, The Rainy Daze, that Slay produced. Carter wrote the lyrics and created the music line through the song with his writing partner, Gilbert. Despite this, King and Weitz were denied songwriting credits by Slay.
Weitz, the keyboardist, had come up with most of the music, including the intro, the verses, and the ending. He brought in guitarist Ed King to co-write the bridge and guitar parts.
The song was initially released as the B-side of a Thee Sixpence single called "Birdman of Alkatrash". Radio stations in the Los Angeles area began playing "Incense and Peppermints" instead of the A-side, and the song became a hit.
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The song's chart performance
"Incense and Peppermints" is a song by the American psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock. It was released as a single in May 1967 by Uni Records. 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.
"Incense and Peppermints" spent 16 weeks on the Billboard chart, reaching the #1 spot for the week ending November 25, 1967. It reached the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week in November 1967. On September 24, 1967, it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #88, and on November 19, 1967, it peaked at #1 for one week and spent 16 weeks on the Top 100.
Although the single was released in the United Kingdom, it failed to break into the UK Singles Chart.
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Frequently asked questions
The song "Incense and Peppermints" is by the American psychedelic rock 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.
The lead vocals on the track were sung by Greg Munford, a friend of the band who was present at the recording session.
"Incense and Peppermints" was released as a single in May 1967 by Uni Records.
The song contains references to the hippie movement, apathy towards conforming to society, and drug use.
