![]() ![]() There were two recording sessions with some of these personnel, one with Dave Hassinger at the Recording Factory and one with Bill Lazarus at Sunset Sound. However, according to Bunnell, many Strawberry Alarm Clock songs came from the band he had formed previously with Seol, Bartek, Randy Zacuto, Fred Schwartz, and Criss Jay, which performed under the names Waterfyrd Traene (pre-Strawberry Alarm Clock), Public Bubble (during Strawberry Alarm Clock), and Buffington Rhodes (post-Strawberry Alarm Clock). The inception of Strawberry Alarm Clock aside from Thee Sixpence is not well documented, largely because none of the latter band's recordings (subsequently lost) were released. Seol eventually brought in songwriters Bunnell and Steve Bartek, who participated in the writing and recording of Strawberry Alarm Clock's first album. Randy Seol (drums, vibes, percussion, vocals) and Mark Weitz ( keyboards, vocals) joined to replace the departing Gunnels, Rabe, and Luciano just as the name change to Strawberry Alarm Clock was occurring. Categorized as acid rock, psychedelic pop and sunshine pop, they charted five songs, including two Top 40 hits.Ĭareer 1966–1967: Formation and early success Ī history of the band written by George Bunnell stated that "The Strawberry Alarm Clock came about by parts of two bands, Thee Sixpence and Waterfyrd Traene, morphing into one." The group originally named Thee Sixpence initially consisted of Ed King (lead guitar, vocals), Michael Luciano ( vocals), Lee Freeman ( rhythm guitar, harmonica, vocals), Gary Lovetro (bass), Steve Rabe ( guitar, vocals), and Gene Gunnels ( drums). They are best known for their 1967 hit single " Incense and Peppermints". Having been released, advisedly or not, as a single, “Barefoot In Baltimore” is commonly anthologized on Strawberry Alarm Clock compilations.Strawberry Alarm Clock is a psychedelic rock band formed in 1967 with origins in Glendale, California, a city about ten miles north of downtown Los Angeles. ![]() “Barefoot In Baltimore” is very short, as are all the album’s songs. They have a nice sound at that point in the song, though they are truly ‘meaningless’. Nice of the lyricist to incorporate the listener into the scene! The band has complained about the silliness of the lyrics, particularly that line, since the single’s release, but I like them. The chorus, repeated throughout, is slower, more dramatic, and very short, barely a chorus at all but a recurring centerpiece of the song: Short, merry verses give quick little descriptions of odd, unconnected scenes (Fun cooks a meal on the stove while Barefoot strolls around town giggling at the sidewalk). (It didn’t do particularly well.)īut “Barefoot In Baltimore”, underneath its lightweight veneer, does boast an interesting and unique structure. The Clock trots out its trusty xylophone and turns the song into one that was chosen by someone to be a single. It was released as a single as well, with the b-side “An Angry Young Man”.Īs one of the songs on the LP whose music (if not words) was actually written by the band, “Barefoot In Baltimore” is one of the better and more heartfelt performances on The World In A Sea Shell, while retaining the gentle and playful air of the album in general.ĭescribing a character named Barefoot and his friends, the song’s lyrics depict him walking around Baltimore and along the shores of Chesapeake Bay enjoying the street-party vibe of the area. “Barefoot In Baltimore” is the first song on side two of Strawberry Alarm Clock’s 1968 album The World In A Sea Shell. ![]()
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