- Brian Alquist -- backing vocals (1970)

- Peter Barnfather -- vocals, guitar (1970-71)

- John Carter -- vocals, guitar (1970-71)

- John Ford -- bass (1970)

- Richard Hudson -- drums, percussion, sitar (1970)

- Mickey Keen -- lead guitar (1970)

- Barry Kingston -- keyboards (1970)

- Ken Lewis - vocals, guitar (1970-71)

- Gillian Shakespeare -- backing vocals (1970)

- Carter-Lewis and the Southerners

- Dawn Chorus

- The First Class

- The Flowerpot Men

- The Ivy League

Genre: pop

Rating: 4 stars ****

Title:  Come Up and See Us Sometime

Company: PELS-507

Catalog: 515

Year: 1970

Country/State: UK

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: UK pressing

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 

Price: $100.00

Yeah, had this been released in the States it would have been categorized as bubblegum ... though that shouldn't detract one iota from it's creative worth.

Quite an obscurity even in the UK, if anyone's heard of this album it's a result of it's soccer roots (yes soccer), or the fact you've heard some of John Carter's earlier work including stints with First Class, The Flowerpot Men, The Ivy League, etc.

Like those other bands, Stamford Bridge was a studio entity and the brainchild of singer/songwriter Carter and songwriting partner Ken Lewis.  As a recording act, the group's debut came with the release of the UK single 'Chelsea' b/w 'Ossie' (Penny Fathing catalog number PEN 715).  Dedicated to the British soccer team which made it to the 1970 World Cup, the single sold well with Penny Farthing subsequently electing to cash in on the 45's success with the  release an album.

"Come Up and See Us Sometime" track listing:
(side 1)

1.)

(side 2)
1.)

Genre: pop

Rating: 4 stars ****

Title:  The First Day of Your Life

Company: Penny Farthing

Catalog: PELS 515

Year: 1971

Country/State: UK

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: UK pressing

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 5132

Price: $150.00

Like their debut album, 1971's "The First Day of Your Life" was co-produced by Peter Barnfather, Carter and Ken Lewis (in various pairing the three principals wrote most of the material).  Just as on the debut, the results were nothing less than classic three minute power-pop.  Sure, tracks like 'Goodbye Today, Hello Tomorrow', 'Who Knows What I Need?' (sporting a nifty anti-commercialism sentiment) and 'Move Out of Town' may have been little more than 'product', but you had to admire the way these guys turned songwriting into a science.  Insidiously catchy melodies (be forewarned these songs will plant themselves in you head and not leave you alone), coupled with great vocals and some nifty production twists made for a killer album.  To be honest this was one of those albums where every one of the 10 tracks would have made a dandy single (okay, I'll admit 'Letter from America' was a clunker).  Personal favorites included the vaguely world music-esque 'Mother of Nature', the killer folk-rocker 'Let's Go Back To San Francisco' and 'Chaquita Maria' (which would have beat ABBA at their own game).  Elsewhere 'Ride Sally Rise' b/w 'Chaquita Maria' was pulled as a single (Penny Farthing catalog number PEN-767).  Simply wonderful stuff ...

"The First Day of Your Life" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Rise Sally Rise   (John Carter - Brian Alquist) - 

2.) Mother of Nature   (John Carter - Brian Alquist) - 

3.) Goodbye Today, Hello Tomorrow   (John Carter - Ken Lewis) - 

4.) Let's Go Back To San Francisco   (John Carter - Ken Lewis) - 

5.) Who Knows What I Need?   (John Carter - Peter Barnfather) - 

(side 2)
1.) Move Out of Town   (John Carter - Gillian Shakespeare) - 

2.) The First Day of Your Life   (John Carter - Peter Barnfather - Gillian Shakespeare) - 

3.) Letter from America  (Ken Lewis - Brian Alquist) - 

4.) Chaquita Maria   (John Carter - Peter Barnfather) - 

5.) Tumbleweed Town   (John Carter - Brian Alquist) - 

6.) Arizona Lost and Gone   (John Carter - Gillian Shakespeare) - 

7.) Four Letter Word   (John Carter - Ken Lewis) - 

One final non-LP single and the group was history:

- 1971's 'World of Fantasy' b/w 'Vicar's Daughter' (Penny Farthing catalog number PEN-749) 

Spanish issue picture sleeve

For hardcore collectors the group actually enjoyed a pair of US releases.

- 1970's 'Roly Poly' b/w 'Little Boy Blues' (Monument catalog number MN-45-1217)'

- Ride Sally Ride' b/w 'Ossie' (Epic catalog number 5-10812).