The flower power period produced quite a few memorable one-off successes, among them The Rose Garden's "Next Plane to London," which climbed to the number 17 spot toward the close of 1967. Southern California recordings from that time often reflected the impact of Los Angeles folk-rock acts like the Mamas & the Papas and the Byrds, yet this particular track leaned more toward sunshine pop. Echoing the Mamas & the Papas' approach, the ensemble incorporated mixed-gender vocal arrangements, highlighted by the deeper tones of their only woman member, Diana de Rose, who handled the lead vocals on the hit.
Their only album, issued under the band's name, came together under the production guidance of Charlie Greene, Brian Stone, and Pat Pipolo. Greene and Stone had also played roles in shaping the beginnings of Buffalo Springfield, Sonny & Cher, and Bob Lind, whether through management or production duties. Beyond the single, the record's tracks displayed a stronger Byrds connection, evident in numerous 12-string guitar parts that mirrored Roger McGuinn's distinctive playing. Adding to those parallels were a pair of Gene Clark compositions, "Till Today" and "Long Time," which remained unrecorded by Clark himself, the Byrds, or any other artists.
Tracing back to the mid-'60s, the musicians first operated as the Blokes, drawing heavily from the Byrds before enlisting de Rose and adopting their eventual moniker. While often thought to have disappeared following their chart success, the album actually crept onto the listings at position 176, after which came an unsuccessful standalone single titled "Here's Today"/"If My World Falls Through." The original configuration disbanded by the end of 1968, having produced nothing further, although a short-lived reunion occurred the following year with some personnel changes.
