Bad times had emerged for the legendary Psychedelic Rock group that was Strawberry Alarm Clock. Their follow-up album to the well-received Incense and Peppermints debut album release in 1967, Wake Up…It’s Tomorrow earlier in 1968 did not sell well. As a result, the group’s record company decided to get involved with their musical side of things and invited some outsiders, including Carole King, into the creative process, mainly with songwriting. The result? This album did not chart very well and was the last to feature the original band members in their state as a band. Therefore, this album is the last Strawberry Alarm Clock album worth observing, chronologically speaking. Let’s take a listen and hopefully the music is still up to scratch today.

Sea Shell begins with some recordings of a beachside, with some piano entering into the left channel, before singing quickly enters the scene. This is quite a nice listen and perhaps is proof that the band deserve more respect than what they have had. There is a very Frank Sinatra-styled string section on this song, alongside choppy drumming and acoustic guitars to match the great singing. Nonetheless, a really good tune. There are snippets of beautiful instrumentation throughout, such as a trumpet and other instrumentation throughout. The music plays on very nicely and just sounds pretty and enjoyable brilliant. A good song, even if this is not something often covered in the music history books. Great to listen to from start to finish.

Blues For A Young Girl Gone is a weird-sounding tune that sounds like Burt Bacharach arranging a Psychedelic Rock tune. Despite that, this tune is very good, just rather different. A good story musically, although definitely not a pure Blues Music piece. An adventurous, lively and youthful-sounding tune that is really sweet to listen to. The electric guitar and organs sound really great as well. Lyrically, this is LSD-inspired romanticism that works incredibly well on a musical level. The music is better than it gets credit for here. Strawberry Alarm Clock could definitely create magical music, even at this point in their career. It fades out at the end.

An Angry Young Man begins with some weird-sounding Sitar-like parts alongside traditional Pop/Rock instrumentation in this song. This is a weird piece of music lyrically that isn’t your typical Psychedelic Music piece. There are strings in this song, alongside the rather negative sentiment musically which is rather bizarre, if you think about it. This is a sad story about growing up in poverty and being an angry young man as a result. Very odd. Still, a good song that is enjoyable. Very bizarre listening, however.

A Million Smiles Away is a strange tune with xylophone and odd guitar parts. This quickly launches into an upbeat-sounding piece of music that sounds quite decent, but very musically dated. Despite that, the Strawberry Alarm Clock delivers another good song for us to listen to. A joyous, lovely and magical tune with some lyrics about being in love. There is an upbeat and good guitar solo, followed by some very catchy melodies for this music. All in all, a really great listen. Definitely worth your ears.

Home Sweet Home sounds like another semi-Burt Bacharach sounding piece of music. This launches into a pretty, tuneful and awesome song that is very whimsical. To be fair, this is neither The Beatles nor Pink Floyd, but these guys could certainly play and sing excellently. A great tune to listen to, the music throughout is very much like the 1967 Magical Mystery Tour album by The Beatles. Still, the strings and horns make this a very different listening experience. The music and lyrics are really very captivating, and this song really sounds like a joyous trip through a simpler time in the world. Nonetheless, another good song to listen to.

Lady Of The Lake begins with unusual percussion, horns and harpsichord with singing and other instrumentation present. Very out there and wacky musically. This is yet another psychedelic-inspired romance-based piece of music that sounds incredibly joyous and excellent throughout. Strawberry Alarm Clock made some great music that is inspired, and very likely good for taking Psychedelic drugs to. This picturesque and pretty listening experience about being in love with said lady is a far-out and interesting listening experience about being in love with a mermaid-like lady. Brilliant and wonderfully played and sung by the group. One of the better tracks on this album.

Barefoot In Baltimore refers to a Hippie sort of thing, walking around without any shoes on. It has some interesting organ, bongos and other percussion. This quickly launches into a cool tune about travelling in a notable city in the USA. The xylophone being played throughout is different as well. A very decent song, and the most popular piece from this album. Nonetheless, this music sounds extremely cool to listen to. The rolling bongos throughout sound very delicious, and this song is less than two and a half minutes long. A gem.

Wooden Woman is a great-sounding piece of music, which tells the tale of a particular woman in one’s life. A very strange piece lyrically, it is matched by pleasant harmonies, harpsichord and excellent drumming. This short two-minute-long song is another winner, with a woman tone styled guitar solo. Another excellent piece about a lady with troubled emotions throughout. Nonetheless, this does sound really cool, although it is about suicide lyrically. Very dark lyrically, but still a winner regardless.

Heated Love has some unusual sounds, particularly with the guitars and keyboards on this tune. Soon enough, this song launches into action with a nice song about more romanticism and has some really trippy sounds to match. Nonetheless, the Strawberry Alarm Clock was one of the best bands for simple Psychedelic Music in the late 1960s. The second half of this song has some brilliant editing, and this ends in just under two minutes of time. Sweet.

Love Me Again begins with some good guitar riffs and has some of the best drumming on a short Pop/Rock piece that you will hear from this era. Obviously, this music is about romantic ideals, once again. Still, it sounds sweet, energetic and joyous throughout. The Strawberry Alarm Clock made some very magical musical moments on their albums, and this is one of them. The guitars, harpsichord, drums and harmony-based singing all sound amazing and terrific throughout. The brief guitar solos again sound like the sort of Woman Tone thing that Eric Clapton pioneered. Nonetheless, a cool and joyous listening experience that is really awesome and enjoyable to listen to. A really great and interesting listen from start to finish, every moment of listening is worth it. A lovely song about undying love, this ends with some wah-wah guitar work. Very good.

Eulogy sounds weird from the start. There is some neck pickup Woman Tone guitar playing, and this quickly launches into a good ballad of sorts that sounds very colourful. This is a very short song at less than two minutes in length. Still, it sounds gorgeous and irresistable, this is about more relationship-based issues throughout. A good listening experience about a lady who is in love with another guy. It segues into the next track.

Shallow Impressions begins with some dark yet trippy keyboard sounds, before launching into a keyboard-driven piece with some piano parts, alongside some really good drumming. Wah-wah guitars and bongo drums quickly enter, and this tune sounds very odd. It’s an instrumental that ends the album very nicely, which is different but welcome on this tune. A very good tune to listen to, this is very Psychedelic, imaginative and animated in a musical sense. Around the midsection is a brief halt, before the music returns back into action. Nonetheless, a good way to finish off a better than expected album. This may seem like musical noodling, but it is really nicely structured and delivered. The piano drives this piece along nicely, especially towards the end of it all. This concludes with some weird piano sounds and the album ends there.

This album is a good album that, although isn’t the greatest Psychedelic Rock album of all time, still shines bright to this very day. Strawberry Alarm Clock essentially called it quits afterwards, but they delivered three albums in their original lineup that are certainly worth hearing. Should you listen to this album? Give it a shot, but just remember, this is Hippie Music and some may not like the druggy overtones of it all.

Very, very good.

8/10