Smell of Incense

The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band

About Smell of Incense

"Smell of Incense" is a song by the American psychedelic rock band the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, written by Ron Morgan and Bob Markley, and was released as a single on Reprise Records in 1968 (see 1968 in music). An extended version of the song appeared on the group's third album, Vol. 2 (Breaking Through), which was distributed prior to the single. It is considered one of the pinnacles of the band's music catalogue, with it marked by Shaun and Danny Harris's breathy vocal harmonies, and the instrumental interplay between Morgan's distorted guitar-playing coinciding with Shaun Harris's heavy bass sound. Despite the heady atmosphere, the group insists the recording, along with their other self-penned material, was not composed under the influence of LSD. "Smell of Incense", like all of the band's releases, was commercially unsuccessful and failed to chart. The song was later reissued on Hallucinations: Psychedelic Pop Nuggets from the WEA Vaults in 2004. In 1968, the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band was performing at a teen dance club in Dallas called LouAnns with the composition in their set list. A local psychedelic group, Southwest F. O. B. was opening for the band, and was so impressed by the song that they were motivated to record it themselves. Their version was conducted in a similar musical style to its predecessor, but was considerably shorter in comparison to the original album version, with a run-time of two minutes and 40 seconds. The rendition was released in September 1968, reaching number 56 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was also included on Southwest F. O. B.'s only album, Smell of Incense. However, the cover art sparked some controversary for its depiction of four nude women, resulting in many record stores refusing to stock the album. 


Year:
1967
16 
#1

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She stood as still as the shadows of stone
She stood on the edge of my mind
I tried to push her away
I shut and locked the door
Her eyes grew large and asking
And the smell of incense filled her room

She stood in the ever present fullness
Of expectation
What happened to her childhood dreams?
The sidewalk smothers us
Tomorrow
And the smell of incense filled her room

She stood as still as the shadows of stone
She stood on the edge of my mind
I tried to push her away
I shut and locked the door
Her eyes grew large and asking
And the smell of incense filled her room

And the smell of incense filled her room
And the smell of incense filled her room
And the smell of incense filled her room
And the smell of incense filled her room
And the smell of incense filled her room
And the smell of incense filled her room
And the smell of incense filled her room
And the smell of incense filled her room
And the smell of incense filled her room
And the smell of incense

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The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band

The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band was an American psychedelic rock band of the late 1960s, based in Los Angeles, California. more »

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Written by: Robert Markley, Ronald Bruce Morgan

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Band Information
The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band was a psychedelic rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965. Their eccentric style made them different from the typical LA band of the time.
Song Facts
"Smell of Incense" is their most famous song, released in 1969. It is from their fourth album, 'Where's My Daddy?'
Song Message
The song is known for its dreamy, slow-paced psychedelic sound and lyrics that seem to speak about a spiritual or transcendent experience, as suggested by the smell of incense.
Popularity
Although the band didn’t achieve commercial success during its time, "Smell of Incense" has gained cult status over the years. It is often cited as an example of authentic West Coast psych music of the era.
Unique Sound
The band's music is known for interesting experiments in sound and composition. "Smell of Incense" features a combination of rocking guitars, mystic lyrics, and atmospheric effects, reflecting the psychedelic music trend of the 1960s.
Originality
Contrary to some opinions, the band did not cover popular songs of the time but created original music which was unusual for garage bands of their era.
Influence
Despite the lack of commercial success, the band did have a certain influence on future bands, with "Smell of Incense" serving as an example for future psychedelic rock compositions.
Relevance Today
Their song "Smell of Incense" is still relevant today, as it is a mainstay on many compilation albums covering late 60’s psychedelic rock.
Re-Release
In 2001, all of the band's albums were re-released, with the inclusion of "Smell of Incense," allowing a whole new generation to discover their unique sound.
Representation of an Era
The song "Smell of Incense" by The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band provides a snapshot into the sound and style of the psychedelic music era in the late 1960s.
Sampled Music
The song has been sampled by other artists over the years, showing its enduring influence in the music world.
Critical Appreciation
Critics often praise the song for its haunting melodies, evocative lyrics, and production qualities that were ahead of their time.

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