John Carter and Ken Lewis were a very prolific songwriting and performing team in the 60s. Starting with Carter-Lewis and The Southerners in 62 (with Jimmy Page on guitar) and on to The Ivy League, where they backed The Who on "I Can't Explain", and they had a string of chart successes with songs like "Willow Tree", "Funny How Love Can Be" and "Tossing and Turning" . There were a lot of personnel changes with The Ivy League, and Carter-Lewis moved on to other projects. But in 1967, with kaftans, joss sticks and flower power in the air, they came together to write "Let's Go To San Francisco". "San Francisco" by Scott McKenzie was a chart success at the time, and Carter-Lewis decided to do their own variation of this theme of flower wearing love children in San Francisco, and this was the result. Upon release, it hurried up the charts to peak at 4 and you couldn't avoid it if you listened to Radio Luxembourg, like I did, that Summer. Named after a children's show on BBC, the Flowerpot Men were marionettes aimed at kids, but with some adult themes to keep the grown-ups watching. This video is taken from the Nov 25th, 1967 episode of Beat Club. This is the 'road' version of the FPM. John Carter, who wrote and sang it, didn't want to tour. Ironically on this same episode of Beat Club, Scott McKenzie also performed his hit. A lot of San Francisco for one show! The Bee Gees were also on, singing about "Massachusetts". Ironically I was on Haight Street today in San Francisco, so DM 142 is meant to be I think!
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