Editing Strawberry Alarm Clock (section)

===1968–1969: Lineup changes===
[[File:Sit with the Guru - Cash Box ad 1968.jpg|thumb|''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]'' advertisement, March 16, 1968]]
During Strawberry Alarm Clock's short lifespan, the band underwent numerous lineup changes. As Bunnell became the primary songwriter, he began playing more of the bass parts, as he was already familiar with the songs. Original bassist Lovetro gradually transitioned into the role of [[road manager]], but was eventually bought out of the group after conflicts with the others before the release of the second album, ''[[Wake Up...It's Tomorrow]]''.<ref name="Larkin60"/> The album’s single, "[[Tomorrow (Strawberry Alarm Clock song)|Tomorrow]]", was a minor hit and their only other Top 40 appearance, reaching No. 23 in early 1968. The second album also benefited from vocal coach Howard Davis, who was brought in to help the members elevate the harmony singing featured on ''Incense and Peppermints'' to new levels of sophistication.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://psychedelicized.com/playlist/s/strawberry-alarm-clock/ | title=Strawberry Alarm Clock &#124; Psychedelicized }}</ref>

Later 1968 singles included "[[Sit with the Guru]]" (charting at No. 65) and "Barefoot in Baltimore" (which peaked at No. 67 and was later included on their ''[[The World in a Sea Shell]]'' album). The latter song was especially popular in its namesake city of [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]], in the [[counterculture of the 1960s|counterculture]] neighborhood of [[Mount Vernon, Baltimore|Mount Vernon-Belvedere]]. The tune received considerable airplay on local Baltimore radio stations and was even occasionally used as a theme song for the city's image in later decades.

Bunnell and Seol left the band in late 1968 at the end of the sessions for ''The World in a Sea Shell'' due to disagreements over their manager Bill Holmes' mishandling of the band's business affairs. Bunnell, Seol, and Bartek then formed a new band, Buffington Rhodes. Holmes was fired by the remaining members, but he retaliated by creating an alternate version of Strawberry Alarm Clock (featuring Bunnell and Seol) and sending them on tour. The band responded with an injunction against Holmes, and the [[Los Angeles County Superior Court]] subsequently barred him from using the band's name to start a rival group.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_b0UEAAAAMBAJ|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_b0UEAAAAMBAJ/page/n9 10]|quote=strawberry alarm clock.|title=Billboard|date=28 December 1968|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|access-date=27 October 2017|via=Internet Archive}}</ref>

Drummer Marty Katon then joined, along with new lead singer/guitarist Jimmy Pitman (formerly of [[the Nightcrawlers]]), and the band shifted to a more [[blues rock]] style. King moved to bass, as he had been playing many of the bass parts in the studio. In early 1969, original "Incense and Peppermints" drummer Gunnels rejoined Strawberry Alarm Clock, replacing Katon. Pitman left in July 1969 after the ''[[Good Morning Starshine (Strawberry Alarm Clock album)|Good Morning Starshine]]'' album failed to sell. He was succeeded by Paul Marshall, who would stay with the group until they disbanded temporarily in 1971. The title track, "[[Good Morning Starshine]]", peaked at No. 87 in 1969 but was eclipsed by [[Oliver (singer)|Oliver]]'s more successful version. Weitz quit in December 1969, and the group continued as a quartet with King, Freeman, Gunnels, and Marshall.