Anisha Riggs
Incense and Peppermints is a song by the American psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock, which was released in 1967. The song is officially credited as having been written by John S. Carter and Tim Gilbert, although band members Mark Weitz and Ed King also contributed to the song. The song was initially released as the B-side of Thee Sixpence's fifth single, The Birdman of Alkatrash, but it gained popularity and was re-released as an A-side, reaching the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
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What You'll Learn
John S. Carter and Tim Gilbert's songwriting credits
John S. Carter (sometimes known as John Carter) was an American music producer, writer, arranger, instrumentalist, and A&R man. He was born in East St. Louis, Illinois, in 1945 and passed away in 2011. Carter's music career began in 1967 when he co-wrote "That Acapulco Gold", which reached #70 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He co-wrote the song with Tim Gilbert of the Rainy Daze. Carter and Gilbert also co-wrote the lyrics to "Incense and Peppermints".
In addition to his work with Gilbert, Carter collaborated with several other artists throughout his career. He worked with Bob Seger, fostering his hit album "Night Moves", and the Steve Miller Band during their commercial breakthroughs. Carter also signed Sammy Hagar, Bob Welch, and The Motels to Capitol Records and co-wrote and produced some of their early work. Notably, he is credited with relaunching the career of Tina Turner in the 1980s.
Carter served on the Council of the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters and the council as a writer-member of the Performing Right Society in the mid-1980s. He also ran his own publishing and record production company with his wife, Gill Shakespeare, who wrote lyrics for some of his songs. In 2012, Carter collaborated with Brazilian songwriter, musician, and producer Salomao Hamzem, forming a band called Hamzter.
Tim Gilbert, the songwriting partner of John S. Carter, is credited as a co-writer of "Incense and Peppermints". However, it is unclear if there are additional songwriting credits associated with this name. There is limited information available specifically regarding Tim Gilbert's songwriting credits.
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Mark Weitz and Ed King's uncredited contributions
"Incense and Peppermints" is a 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, band members Mark Weitz and Ed King were both denied songwriting credits by producer Frank Slay, despite contributing significantly to the song.
Weitz and King wrote the whirling instrumental that started the whole process. The pair composed the intro (the oriental-sounding riff), the verses, and the ending (the major sevenths). Additionally, King co-wrote the bridge (the F# part) at Weitz's request for help in completing the song. Despite their contributions, the songwriting credits went to Carter and his partner, Gilbert, even though the latter did not participate in the song's writing.
The song's lyrics and melody line were written by Carter, a member of the band The Rainy Daze, who was also produced by Slay at the time. Slay ultimately credited the melody line solely to the writing team of Carter and Gilbert, who have received 100% of the royalties. This decision was contested by the band's manager, Bill Holmes, who argued that Weitz, King, Carter, and Gilbert should all receive credit as writers.
Despite the uncredited contributions of Weitz and King, "Incense and Peppermints" became a massive success, reaching the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week in November 1967. The song has endured as a psychedelic rock classic and has been featured in various media, including the film "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery" and the television series "Daisy Jones and the Six."
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Greg Munford's lead vocals
"Incense and Peppermints" by the Strawberry Alarm Clock band is a 1967 song that spent 16 weeks on the Billboard chart, reaching the #1 spot for the week ending on November 25, 1967. The song was written by John S. Carter, using a rhyming dictionary, and his partner Tim Gilbert, although it was based on an instrumental idea by band members Mark Weitz and Ed King.
During the recording sessions, the band members were dissatisfied with how they sounded on the lead vocal track. Greg Munford, a 16-year-old singer with a group called The Shapes, happened to be visiting them in the studio. They asked him to sing it, and that's the version they released. Munford was not a regular member of the band and never joined the group, but his lead vocals on "Incense and Peppermints" helped the song become a national hit.
Munford's involvement in the song came about serendipitously. He was a friend of the band and was present at the recording session. The band members took a liking to his voice and felt it suited the song better than their own. Munford's youthful and fresh vocals captured the essence of the song, which dealt with themes of innocence, good sense, and the exploration of different perspectives.
The regular vocalists in the band provided background and harmony vocals, allowing Munford's lead vocals to take center stage. His performance on the track is a testament to his talent and versatility as a singer, as he was initially brought in to sing harmonies but ultimately assumed the role of the lead vocalist.
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The song's psychedelic style
"Incense and Peppermints" is a psychedelic rock song by the American band Strawberry Alarm Clock. Released in 1967, the song is a product of the psychedelic era, with its trippy lyrics and upbeat melody. The song's instrumental and musical foundation was created by band members Mark Weitz and Ed King, while the lyrics were written by John S. Carter, with some sources claiming that his writing partner Tim Gilbert also contributed.
"Incense and Peppermints" has a feel-good, lighthearted vibe that captures the spirit of the psychedelic era. With its combination of upbeat music and cryptic lyrics, the song embodies the experimental and countercultural nature of the 1960s. The song's success, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week in November 1967, solidified its place as a timeless psychedelic rock classic.
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The song's meaning and interpretation
"Incense and Peppermints" is a song by the American psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock. It was released as a single in May 1967 and reached the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week in November of that year. The song spent 16 weeks on the Billboard chart and was featured in the film "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery" and the television series "Daisy Jones and the Six".
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. During the recording sessions, the band members were not considered a good fit for the lead vocal track, which Carter had written using a rhyming dictionary. The lead vocals were instead sung by Greg Munford, a friend of the band who was present at the recording session.
The song's lyrics have been interpreted in various ways. Some listeners have suggested that the song references the use of drugs, with incense and peppermints being used to mask the smell of marijuana and smoke on the breath, respectively. The phrase "tune on, tune in, drop out", used in the second verse, is also believed to promote the use of LSD.
Others have interpreted the song as having a deeper message about the futility of finding true leaders in a self-serving world. Additionally, the fact that incense and peppermints are "meaningless nouns" may suggest that the words are not intended to have a specific meaning but rather evoke a particular atmosphere or feeling.
The song's psychedelic sound and mysterious melody, complemented by the organ, contributed to its popularity and timeless appeal, making it a beloved classic of the 1960s.
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Frequently asked questions
The song is officially credited as having been written by John S. Carter and Tim Gilbert. However, band members Mark Weitz and Ed King contributed to the song and it was based on their original instrumental idea.
The song was performed by the American psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock.
Yes, the song spent 16 weeks on the Billboard chart, reaching the #1 spot for the week ending 25th November 1967. It has been described as a one-hit wonder.
The lead vocals were performed by Greg Munford, a friend of the band who was present at the recording session. Band members were not considered a right fit for the lead vocal track.
