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May 6, 2021
Songs for Insomniacs 38: Tiny Tim, “Strawberry Tea”
If you only know Tiny Tim’s retro hit “Tiptoe through the Tulips,” especially on campy TV appearances, you might think of him as a novelty act, but his first album reveals a varied and complex artist. Several of the songs are quite serious (and effective), from psychedelia — like “Strawberry Tea” (a flower-power song from a now-forgotten singer/songwriter) — to a vintage anti-war song to a crooner standard.
On “Strawberry Tea,” Tim’s wobbly falsetto (which alternates with a deeper baritone) sounds like a Theremin — appropriately so, given the trippy lyrics and ethereal instrumentation.
