The three songwriters began to develop an
intricate cover story. The Strangeloves were three brothers—Niles, Miles, and
Giles Strange—from Armstrong, Australia, on the edge of the outback. They were
born to one mother, but have three different fathers, which accounts for the
almost total lack of family resemblance. They were wealthy sheep farmers who
made a fortune on a crossbreed called the Gottehrer sheep, registered with the
Feldman-Goldstein Company. The band members adopted a severely exotic look with
zebra-skin vests and matching African hair drums—not very Australian—carrying
spears and brandishing boomerangs. They met with Berns. He loved the track, but
suggested writing a new set of lyrics and he thought they should stick with the
outrageous. Inspired by the X-rated novel and literary scandal du jour, Candy
by Terry Southern and Mason Hoffenberg, that Berns had been reading, the four
of them cooked up “I Want Candy.” Berns also brought veteran session guitarist Everett
Barksdale to drop some licks on the explosive existing track. Barksdale, who
played for years in the Art Tatum Trio, used a jazzy arch-top electric and his
playing has a crumbling, fleeting feel that skitters superbly across the bold,
bashing beat of the drum-heavy track.