The Flower Pot Men
TELDEC 6.26179 AP
1985
This is a German compilation of various tracks attributed to the Flower Pot Men, which was a studio group concocted to record tracks by John Carter who had a significant career behind the scenes in the 1960s British pop music industry as a performer, producer and writer. Side one features the four original Flower Pot Men singles on Deram Records running in chronological order. Carter and his frequent partner Ken Lewis wrote "Let's Go To San Francisco" which was released in 1967. It was the band's only hit single and the song that attracted me to the group in the first place. I collect songs about my former hometown and this is a particularly good one although like so many songs about the summer of love it is loaded with hippie nonsense. Flowers do not grow high there (unless they mean a different kind of high) nor is there an abundance of sunshine. The lyrics may be silly, but the music is wonderful. It is more sunshine pop than psychedelic with soaring vocals and effervescent harmonies bolstered by an elaborate poppy arrangement. It sounds like Brian Wilson producing the Tokens. The song continues on the B-side of the single with a slightly moodier arrangement. Carter and Lewis along with Russell Alquist wrote the 1967 single "A Walk in the Sky" which is an obvious attempt to exploit the success of "Let's Go To San Francisco." It features a similar sunshine pop arrangement with mildly psychedelic lyrics. The song is not as engaging as its predecessor but it is fun and it has a surprisingly somber break in the middle that I find interesting but which probably sabotaged whatever chance it might have had to be a hit. Carter wrote the B-side "Am I Losing You" which is a more conventional love song that has an evocative arrangement that makes it sound like a lost outtake from "Pet Sounds." Carter, Lewis and Alquist wrote the band's 1968 single "You Can Never Be Wrong" which flopped but I think it is lovely. It has a chamber pop sound and another elaborate pop symphony style arrangement which sounds like the Zombies jamming with the Left Banke. It is one of my favorite tracks on the album. The B-side was "Man Without a Woman" by Carter and Alquist which is a much more sedate track. It is a bit sappy but it sounds pretty. Deram dumped Carter for the band's final single in 1969. "In a Moment of Madness" was written by Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway and it sounds little like the band's previous work. It is straight ahead commercial pop that borders on bubble gum. It is pleasant enough if you like that sort of thing. The B-side, "Young Birds Fly," was written by Bill Swofford who as Oliver had a hit with his cover of "Good Morning Starshine." It was originally a single by the Cryan' Shames and this version is similar to theirs although less inspired. It sounds like the Association on a bad day. Side two is a hodge-podge of Carter tracks. "Journey's End" was written by Carter and his wife Gill Shakespeare (which is Carter's real last name) and first appeared as the B-side on a 1974 reissue of "Let's Go To San Francisco." The song was credited to the Flower Pot Men but I have no idea if they were really performing it. It doesn't sound much like the original band, it has more of a rocked up sound. It reminds me of the Moody Blues. "Mythological Sunday" was the B-side of a 1968 Deram single that the Flower Pot Men recorded under the name Friends because Deram had soured on the commercial appeal of the Flower Pot Men. It was written by Carter and Alquist. I think it is the most psychedelic track that they ever did although it also has a chamber pop flavor to it. It is one of my favorite cuts on the album. "Blow Away" was an unreleased Carter/Lewis track that is credited to the Flower Pot Men although it sounds unlike any of their officially released recordings. It sounds more like the Byrds on "The Notorious Byrd Brothers." It is a great slice of zonked out folk-rock that is easily the hardest rocking and most compelling track on the album. I can understand why Deram passed on it, but it is better than any of the official recordings except "Mythological Sunday." "Piccolo Man" was the A-side of the Friends single. It was written by Carter, Lewis and Alquist and it is pure bubble gum. It is easily my least favorite track. Carter and Lewis wrote "Let's Go Back to San Francisco" which was a sequel to their hit and sounds very similar to it, basically the song sounds so much like the original that it seems pointless. It was released as a single in 1981 under the name Beautiful People. Its B-side was "Silicon City" which was written by Carter and Shakespeare. It sounds nothing like the Flower Pot Men and a lot like the early 1970s Beach Boys. I'm very happy with this comp aside from the lack of discographical info. John Carter had an interesting career and deserves to be better known. The first three Flower Pot Men singles are delightful and the odds and sods on side two are appealing and eclectic. I can't claim that any of this is essential, but it makes me happy whenever I put it on and I'm very glad to have it. This particular record isn't easy to find, but Carter's work has been collected on a bunch of modern CD comps which are worth seeking out if you have a taste for sunshine pop. Recommended to Zombies fans who dig Brian Wilson.
