The Pretty Things | ||
| Allmusic Biography : The Pretty Things were the also-rans of the British Invasion, a band that never got its due. Despite this lack of recognition, they were never quite ignored, cultivating a passionate cult that stuck with them through the decades -- a cult that was drawn to either their vicious early records, where they sometimes seemed like a meaner version of the Rolling Stones, or to their 1968 psychedelic masterwork S.F. Sorrow. Some of their fans advocate for the entirety of their catalog, noting how the group adeptly shifted with the times. Despite these shifts in style, they rarely racked up hits on either side of the Atlantic. In the United States, they didnt chart until 1975, a full decade after they released their rough-and-tumble debut. Back then, the Pretty Things seemed like rivals to the Rolling Stones and that was no great leap: guitarist Dick Taylor played bass in the first incarnation of the Stones, not long before he teamed up with Phil May to form the Pretty Things in 1963. Taking their name from a Bo Diddley song, the Pretty Things were intentionally ugly: their sound was brutish, their hair longer than any of their contemporaries, their look unkempt. This nastiness was evident on their first pair of singles, "Rosalyn" and "Dont Bring Me Down," two 45s that charted in 1964, their success helping to get their eponymous debut into the U.K. Top Ten a year later, but that turned out to be the extent of their commercial success. The Pretty Things may not have shown up on the charts but their cult proved to be influential: its been said Pete Townshend was influenced by S.F. Sorrow to write Tommy for the Who and David Bowie covered both "Rosalyn" and "Dont Bring Me Down" for his 1973 album Pin Ups. Critics liked them too but that acclimation didnt sell records. Nevertheless, the Pretty Things were survivors, soldiering on through the 70s, turning into a harder, heavier outfit that was rewarded with marginal U.S. success -- 1974s Silk Torpedo and 1976s Savage Eye made the lower reaches of Billboard -- cutting a credible new wave album at the dawn of the 80s. The Pretty Things would split not long afterward but their cult remained so strong that they became a semi-active concern at the beginning of the new millennium, as they would occasional reunite for tours and recordings. Such perseverance wouldve seemed unlikely back in 1963 when Dick Taylor and Phil May first formed the band. Taylor had been playing with Mick Jagger in a London outfit called Little Boy Blue & the Blue Boys since he was a schoolboy and he later met Keith Richards at Sidcup Art School. In 1962, Taylor, Jagger, and Richards all started playing, once again calling themselves Little Boy Blue & the Blue Boys, with Brian Jones and Ian Stewart aboard, and this group turned into the Rolling Stones, but Taylor tired of bass and left to concentrate on art. Soon, he was convinced by fellow Sidcup Art School student Phil May to form the Pretty Things. The duo brought in bassist John Stax, guitarist Brian Pendleton, and drummer Pete Kitley; the latter would soon be replaced by Viv Prince. Bryan Morrison, who also was attending art school with Taylor and May, managed the band and helped get it signed to Fontana. "Rosalyn," the groups first single, peaked at 41 in 1964 but "Dont Bring Me Down" went to ten and "Honey I Need" topped out at 13 in 1965. These three singles helped the groups self-titled debut reach number six on the U.K. album charts, but with success came some turbulence. Drummer Prince left toward the end of 1965 and was succeeded by Skip Alan, while the groups 1966 album Get the Picture? showed the rough, ragged rock & roll group adopting a slight pop art stance. More lineup changes soon followed -- Pendleton and Stax left by early 1967, with John Povey and Wally Waller taking their place -- and Fontana pushed the group in a softer, string-laden direction for that years Emotions. This wasnt a hit and the Pretty Things soon lost drummer Alan and decamped for EMIs Columbia, where they recorded what is roundly regarded as their masterpiece, S.F. Sorrow. Appearing at the end of 1968, S.F. Sorrow is by many measures the first rock opera, earning a big cult but not selling much. Dick Taylor left in the wake of S.F. Sorrow -- guitarist Victor Unitt, previously of the Edgar Broughton Band, took his place -- and Alan returned to the band. This new lineup first stretched its legs supporting French playboy Philippe DeBarge as he dipped his toes into rock & roll -- these recordings were long shelved; they appeared in 2010 -- and this wasnt the only way the Pretty Things made money; they moonlighted anonymously for the music library company DeWolfe, recording film music that wound up reissued under the name Electric Banana. Despite all this activity, the next big release from the Pretty Things was Parachute in 1970, which received acclaim but no sales. The lack of success led to a temporary disbandment, but they regrouped for a new contract with Warner that was inaugurated with Freeway Madness in 1972. Next, they teamed up with manager Peter Grant -- the giant behind Led Zeppelin -- and were signed to Swan Song, which released Silk Torpedo in 1974 and Savage Eye in 1976. These harder, heavier records were a bigger success in America than any previous Pretty Things LP, but it wasnt enough to keep the group together: they split up in 1976. A full-fledged reunion teaming Phil May and Dick Taylor came in 1980 when the group recorded Cross Talk, an admirable attempt to ride the new wave that did not sell. They split again, but May and Taylor started to perform regularly under a variety of different monikers, including teaming with Yardbirds drummer Jim McCarty in the 90s. As the new millennium approached, they embarked on special projects such as a revival of S.F. Sorrow, and then they recorded a brand-new full-length album called Rage...Before Beauty in 1999. Reissues and biographies followed in the 2000s as did one more album, 2007s Balboa Island, and the band also toured regularly. They decided to celebrate their 50th anniversary in style, touring Europe and the U.K. in 2013 and releasing the career-encompassing box Bouquets from a Cloudy Sky in 2015. The box set found the Pretty Things looking back during a potentially dark time, as Phil May suffered a serious health scare in 2014 when he was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which impacts the lungs and makes it very difficult to breathe. But after giving up smoking and adopting a healthier lifestyle, May was well enough to begin work on a new Pretty Things album with Taylor, guitarist Frank Holland, bassist George Woosey, and drummer Jack Greenwood, and late 2015 saw the bloodied but unbowed Pretties not only winning enthusiastic reviews for The Sweet Pretty Things (Are in Bed Now, of Course...), but touring Europe and the U.K. in support. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 37 Title: The Pretty Things Released: 1965-03 Tracks: 12 Duration: 34:45 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Road Runner (03:12) 2 Judgement Day (02:47) 3 13, Chester Street (02:22) 4 Big City (02:02) 5 Unknown Blues (03:48) 6 Mama Keep Your Big Mouth Shut (03:04) 7 Honey, I Need (01:59) 8 Oh Baby Doll (03:01) 9 Shes Fine, Shes Mine (04:24) 10 Dont Lie to Me (03:53) 11 The Moon Is Rising (02:33) 12 Pretty Thing (01:39) |
 | Album: 2 of 37 Title: Get the Picture? Released: 1965-12 Tracks: 18 Duration: 46:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 You Dont Believe Me (02:23) 2 Buzz the Jerk (01:55) 3 Get the Picture? (01:55) 4 Cant Stand the Pain (02:41) 5 Rainin in My Heart (02:30) 6 Well Play House (02:33) 7 Youll Never Do It Baby (02:27) 8 I Had a Dream (02:59) 9 I Want Your Love (02:17) 10 London Town (02:26) 11 Cry to Me (02:51) 12 Gonna Find Me a Substitute (02:58) 13 Get a Buzz (04:01) 14 Sittin All Alone (02:47) 15 Midnight to Six Man (02:19) 16 Me Needing You (01:58) 17 Come See Me (02:39) 18 L.S.D. (02:25) |
| Get the Picture? : Allmusic album Review : The Pretty Things second album, Get the Picture? (released December 1965), has not only been remastered from original session tapes so the group sounds like their amps are practically right in your lap, but its also been expanded to 18 songs with the addition of tracks cut for singles and EP releases from the same sessions. Thats enough to recommend it even to casual fans -- this is now a record thats just a few notches short of Rolling Stones level in the charisma department, and pretty tough any way you want to look at it. On "Rainin in My Heart," they sound exactly like the Stones from the same era, missing only the little harmonica flourish that might have been added on the break. The liner notes go into the history of the group during this period in delightful detail, and the histories of various songs, most particularly "L.S.D.," which, amazingly, was cut as a demo and never redone for release, but just put out the way it was. In their good moments here, the Pretty Things approach Rolling Stones territory, and even in their off moments, theyre flying at the same level as the Kinks album tracks. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 37 Title: Emotions Released: 1967-05 Tracks: 20 Duration: 56:38 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Death of a Socialite (02:44) 2 Children (03:05) 3 The Sun (03:06) 4 There Will Never Be Another Day (02:22) 5 House of Ten (02:54) 6 Out in the Night (02:43) 7 One Long Glance (02:55) 8 Growing in My Mind (02:21) 9 Photographer (02:07) 10 Bright Lights of the City (03:02) 11 Tripping (03:26) 12 My Time (03:09) 13 A House in the Country (03:00) 14 Progress (single version) (02:42) 15 Photographer (alternate mix) (02:15) 16 There Will Be Another Day (alternate mix) (02:25) 17 My Time (alternate mix) (03:10) 18 The Sun (alternate mix) (03:09) 19 Progress (alternate mix) (02:56) 20 Children (alternate take) (03:00) |
| Emotions : Allmusic album Review : The Pretty Things were one of the most underrated rhythm & blues bands to come out of the mid-60s British rock explosion. So well-loved by Brits, they were often thought of in the same breath as The Rolling Stones. And, like a lot of great rhythm & blues based groups to come put of England, they stepped somewhat uneasily into the precarious psychedelic music explosion. However, in all fairness, The Pretty Things did come up with a pretty fine and original album, Emotions. Superbly well-orchestrated (especially the gorgeous "The Sun," one of the albums standouts), The Pretty Things didnt lose sight of their R&B; leanings, as tracks such as "There Will Never Be Another Day" show. This reissue is also buttressed by a generous selection of bonus tracks seven of em - making it even more worthwhile. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 37 Title: S.F. Sorrow Released: 1968-12 Tracks: 17 Duration: 56:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 S.F. Sorrow Is Born (03:08) 2 Bracelets of Fingers (03:39) 3 She Says Good Morning (03:20) 4 Private Sorrow (03:50) 5 Balloon Burning (03:48) 6 Death (03:07) 7 Baron Saturday (03:59) 8 The Journey (02:45) 9 I See You (03:56) 10 Well of Destiny (01:46) 11 Trust (02:46) 12 Old Man Going (03:07) 13 Loneliest Person (01:25) 14 Defecting Grey (05:14) 15 Mr. Evasion (03:28) 16 Talkin About the Good Times (03:43) 17 Walking Through My Dreams (03:37) |
| S.F. Sorrow : Allmusic album Review : Who could ever have thought, going back to the Pretty Things first recording session in 1965 -- which started out so disastrously that their original producer quit in frustration -- that it would come to this? The Pretty Things early history in the studio featured the band with its amps seemingly turned up to 11, but for much of S.F. Sorrow the band is turned down to seven or four, or even two, or not amplified at all (except for Wally Allens bass -- natch), and theyre doing all kinds of folkish things here that are still bluesy enough so you never forget who they are, amid weird little digressions on percussion and chorus; harmony vocals that are spooky, trippy, strange, and delightful; sitars included in the array of stringed instruments; and an organ trying hard to sound like a Mellotron. Sometimes one gets an echo of Pink Floyds Piper at the Gates of Dawn or A Saucerful of Secrets, and it all straddles the worlds of British blues and British psychedelia better than almost any record you can name. The album, for those unfamiliar, tells the story of "S.F. Sorrow," a sort of British Everyman -- think of a working-class, luckless equivalent to the Kinks Arthur, from cradle to grave. The tale and the songs are a bit downbeat and no amount of scrutiny can disguise the fact that the rock opera S.F. Sorrow is ultimately a bit of a confusing effort -- these boys were musicians, not authors or dramatists. Although it may have helped inspire Tommy, it is, simply, not nearly as good. That said, it was first and has quite a few nifty ideas and production touches. And it does show a pathway between blues and psychedelia that the Rolling Stones, somewhere between Satanic Majesties, "We Love You," "Child of the Moon," and Beggars Banquet, missed entirely. [This CD reissue on Snapper adds four valuable songs from their 1967-1968 singles ("Defecting Grey," "Mr. Evasion," "Talkin About the Good Times," and "Walking Through My Dreams"). This version of "Defecting Grey" is the original, long, uncut five-minute rendition, and not of trivial importance; its superior to the shorter one used on the official single.] | ||
 | Album: 5 of 37 Title: Parachute Released: 1970-06 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:02:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Scene One (01:50) 2 The Good Mr. Square (01:26) 3 She Was Tall, She Was High (01:35) 4 In the Square (01:55) 5 The Letter (01:38) 6 Rain (02:28) 7 Miss Fay Regrets (03:27) 8 Cries From the Midnight Circus (06:28) 9 Grass (04:20) 10 Sickle Clowns (06:36) 11 Shes a Lover (03:32) 12 Whats the Use (01:45) 13 Parachute (03:50) 14 Blue Serge Blues (03:53) 15 October 26 (04:54) 16 Cold Stone (03:10) 17 Stone-Hearted Mama (03:28) 18 Summer Time (04:28) 19 Circus Mind (02:00) |
| Parachute : Allmusic album Review : If S.F. Sorrow is the Pretty Things Sgt. Pepper, Magical Mystery Tour, and Yellow Submarine wrapped in one, then Parachute is their more succinct White Album and Abbey Road. Its not just a time line comparison. The Pretties made this fascinating LP in the same studio as the Fab Four, Londons Abbey Road, with Beatles engineer Norman Smith producing. "The Good Mr. Square" replicates the three-part harmony the Beatles were so proud of on "Because." Two songs later, the group assembles a brief, interconnected three-song suite like the famous ones on side two of Abbey Road. Bassist Wally Allens vocals on tracks such as "Sickle Clowns" have the same throaty, mad anguish that John Lennon exhibited on "Yer Blues" and "Happiness Is a Warm Gun." If S.F. Sorrow is hard rock grandeur, then Parachute is its more bitter twist, the dream dying and the witching hour upon us. Yet, if this isnt as much of a triumph, the creative neurons are still firing throughout a multi-varied, cohesive LP. Like S.F. Sorrow, its a surprisingly palatable concept LP. This time the topic is a generation caught between the conflicting calls of (rural) peace, love, and boredom, and (urban) sophistication, sex, and squalor in a harsh world. Somehow the departure of the bands main creative force, Dick Taylor, didnt diminish the writing and inspired variety. Allen stepped up big time into the collaborator role with singer Phil May. The harmonies remain a strong point on an otherwise rock-inclined record, and the nasty edge of perfectly balanced bombast in the best songs have been a lost art ever since. (There are 18 minutes of good stuff tacked on the Snapper edition, taken from singles.) | ||
 | Album: 6 of 37 Title: Freeway Madness Released: 1973-01 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:10:07 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Love Is Good (06:55) 2 Havana Bound (03:53) 3 Peter (01:27) 4 Rip Off Train (03:20) 5 Over the Moon (04:34) 6 Religions Dead (04:13) 7 Country Road (04:49) 8 Allnight Sailor (01:58) 9 Onion Soup (03:51) 10 Another Bowl? (02:53) 11 Religions Dead (live 73) (04:49) 12 Havana Bound (live 73) (04:22) 13 Love Is Good (live 73) (06:46) 14 Onion Soup (live 73) (08:21) 15 Over the Moon (single edit) (04:06) 16 Havana Bound (single edit) (03:50) |
| Freeway Madness : Allmusic album Review : After raging through R&B; early in their career, then exploring the limits of psychedelia, the Pretty Things changed their direction with Freeway Madness, which in retrospect seems like the first part of a musical trilogy (along with Silk Torpedo and Savage Eye). With a huge change in personnel and the team of Phil May and Pete Tolson doing most of the writing, the sound featured John Poveys keyboards, while the lush harmonies that had buoyed Parachute became a mainstay of the sound, which turned decidedly more American radio-friendly. They could rock as hard as ever, but the softer side was decidedly mushier (as on "Love Is Good"), with harmonies so tight you could bounce a quarter off them ("Peter"). Decidedly less original than the work theyd done on Parachute, it still had its moments, such as the delicious "Havana Bound" or the rock boisterousness of "Rip off Train," and while their alliance with Warner Bros. only lasted for this album, it pointed the way to their mid-70s future. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 37 Title: Silk Torpedo Released: 1974-11-01 Tracks: 12 Duration: 56:26 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Dream/Joey (06:46) 2 Maybe You Tried (04:21) 3 Atlanta (02:41) 4 L.A.N.T.A. (02:24) 5 Is It Only Love (05:06) 6 Come Home Momma (03:43) 7 Bridge of God (04:57) 8 Singapore Silk Torpedo (05:08) 9 Belfast Cowboys (04:56) 10 Bruise in the Sky (01:58) 11 Singapore Silk Torpedo (live) (07:11) 12 Dream / Joey (live) (07:15) |
| Silk Torpedo : Allmusic album Review : Silk Torpedo provides an interesting glance into the glam era. Beginning with "Dream" -- a ghostly instrumental prelude that the groups friends in Led Zeppelin would later cop for "In the Evening" -- this album launches into "Joey," a superb combination of piano boogie, crashing drums, and melodramatic choruses draped in Hammond organ. Phil Mays vocals on this piece run somewhere between Ian Hunter and Steve Tyler, and are every bit as effective. "Maybe You Tried" is a glittering slice of glam rock, all pouting and hip-thrusting, with a simply killer guitar hook from Pete Tolson. From this strong start, though, the album falters into a torpid sort of introspection. Still, "Belfast Cowboys" deserves kudos for taking on the Irish question long before U2 was taking its first music lessons. The CD reissue adds live versions of "Singapore Silk Torpedo" and "Dream/Joey," both recorded in 1974. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 37 Title: Savage Eye Released: 1975-12 Tracks: 12 Duration: 49:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Under the Volcano (05:58) 2 My Song (05:08) 3 Sad Eye (04:29) 4 Remember That Boy (05:03) 5 It Isnt Rock n Roll (03:55) 6 Im Keeping (03:58) 7 Its Been So Long (05:06) 8 Drowned Man (04:24) 9 Theme for Michelle (01:50) 10 Tonight (03:07) 11 Love Me a Little (03:13) 12 Dance All Night (03:00) |
| Savage Eye : Allmusic album Review : The last album recorded by the Pretty Things before Phil May left; within months of this recording, the band split for a few years. Even more than Silk Torpedo, Savage Eye seemed to have been cannily devised with an eye toward picking up FM airplay in the U.S. There were hard rock, glam rock, and AOR rock influences from David Bowie, Queen, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney to be heard at various points, and while this album wasnt explicitly derivative of any of them, it didnt have much of a personality of its own, either. It certainly didnt sound like the Pretty Things, for gosh sakes. And although it went to number 163 on the charts and was one of only two records by the band to chart in the States, it was one of their least memorable. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 37 Title: The Vintage Years Released: 1976 Tracks: 28 Duration: 1:15:49 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Dont Bring Me Down (02:13) 2 Road Runner (03:12) 3 Come See Me (02:39) 4 Rainin in My Heart (02:30) 5 13, Chester Street (02:22) 6 I Can Never Say (02:36) 7 Honey, I Need (01:59) 8 Rosalyn (02:20) 9 Can’t Stand the Pain (02:41) 10 The Moon Is Rising (02:33) 11 Judgement Day (02:46) 12 Mama Keep Your Big Mouth Shut (02:55) 13 Gonna Find Me a Substitute (02:58) 14 Oh Baby Doll (03:01) 1 Midnight to Six Man (02:19) 2 Buzz the Jerk (01:54) 3 Well Play House (02:33) 4 Cry to Me (02:51) 5 Dont Lie to Me (03:53) 6 Unknown Blues (03:48) 7 Big City (02:02) 8 Tripping (03:24) 9 Photographer (02:07) 10 A House in the Country (03:00) 11 Progress (02:41) 12 Shes Fine, Shes Mine (04:24) 13 L.S.D. (02:25) 14 Pretty Thing (01:38) |
 | Album: 10 of 37 Title: Singles As & Bs Released: 1977 Tracks: 66 Duration: 3:49:35 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Rosalyn (02:20) 2 Big Boss Man (02:38) 3 Dont Bring Me Down (02:09) 4 Well Be Together (02:10) 5 Honey, I Need (01:58) 6 I Can Never Say (02:35) 7 Road Runner (03:12) 8 Big City (02:00) 9 Cry to Me (02:51) 10 Get a Buzz (04:01) 11 Judgement Day (02:46) 12 Mama Keep Your Big Mouth Shut (03:02) 13 Sittin All Alone (02:47) 14 Rainin in My Heart (02:30) 15 Midnight to Six Man (02:19) 16 Cant Stand the Pain (02:41) 17 Come See Me (02:39) 18 L.S.D. (02:25) 19 A House in the Country (03:00) 20 Me Needing You (01:57) 21 Progress (02:38) 22 Buzz the Jerk (01:54) 23 Children (03:02) 24 My Time (03:06) 25 Trippin (03:23) 26 Death of a Socialite (02:42) 27 Photographer (02:06) 28 Bright Lights of the City (03:02) 1 Defecting Grey (04:28) 2 Mr. Evasion (03:28) 3 Talkin About the Good Times (03:43) 4 Walking Through My Dreams (03:37) 5 Private Sorrow (03:52) 6 Balloon Burning (03:46) 7 The Good Mr. Square (03:00) 8 Blue Serge Blues (03:53) 9 October 26 (04:54) 10 Cold Stone (03:10) 11 Stone-Hearted Mama (03:28) 12 Summer Time (04:28) 13 Circus Mind (02:00) 14 Over the Moon (single edit) (04:06) 15 Havanan Bound (03:51) 16 Is It Only Love (05:04) 17 Joey (06:46) 18 Atlanta (02:41) 19 Im Keeping (03:58) 20 Bridge of God (04:57) 1 Sad Eye (04:29) 2 Remember That Boy (05:03) 3 Tonight (03:07) 4 It Isnt Rock n Roll (03:55) 5 Im Calling (04:04) 6 Sea of Blue (03:12) 7 Falling Again (03:18) 8 She Dont (04:07) 9 Eve of Destruction (03:01) 10 Goin Downhill (03:53) 11 Cant Stop (03:57) 12 Goin Downhill (extended 12") (05:16) 13 Passion of Love (03:21) 14 All Light Up (04:31) 15 Vivian Prince (05:15) 16 Love Keeps Hanging On (08:55) 17 Goin Downhill (alternate take) (04:11) 18 Pretty Beat (02:51) |
 | Album: 11 of 37 Title: Cross Talk Released: 1980-08 Tracks: 13 Duration: 46:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Im Calling (04:04) 2 Edge of the Night (03:18) 3 Sea of Blue (03:12) 4 Lost That Girl (02:48) 5 Bitter End (03:14) 6 Office Love (04:11) 7 Falling Again (03:18) 8 Its So Hard (03:13) 9 She Dont (04:07) 10 No Future (04:27) 11 Wish Fulfillment (03:05) 12 Sea About Me (03:22) 13 The Young Pretenders (04:05) |
| Cross Talk : Allmusic album Review : Who would have thought it? Reunited after splitting in the mid-70s, the Pretty Things return with a new wave album. Its not what anyone might have expected, but its very far from a disaster. The stop-on-a-dime arrangements and natural power show them to be well-seasoned, and Phil May, with an extremely mannered voice, comes across as a taunting frontman. In fact, you tend to feel that if Thin Lizzy had eased up on the metal, they might have made an album very much like this -- great, catchy songs based in R&B; and old rock & roll ("Lost That Girl") -- but with the tongue firmly in cheek (check the Sting imitation on "No Future") while pandering to fashion. But when the results are as good as the jangly "Office Love" or "Im Calling," you really dont care where the tongues residing. Theres a sense of history about the 50s drums on "Falling Again" that no young bucks could ever match, nor could they come close to the bands overall professionalism or stinging guitar work of Peter Tolson. Any of these ten tracks would have made a great single and by rights should have returned the band to major-name status. But justice is thin on the ground in music and instead it became one of the lost Pretties albums -- a shame, since in its own lighter way, its every bit as good as their classic albums of a decade earlier. Some reunions dont work; this one just roars. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 37 Title: The Pretty Things 1967-1971 Released: 1983 Tracks: 13 Duration: 48:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Defecting Grey (04:30) 2 Mr. Evasion (03:28) 3 Talkin About the Good Times (03:43) 4 Walking Through My Dreams (03:37) 5 Private Sorrow (04:04) 6 Balloon Burning (03:48) 7 The Good Mr. Square (03:00) 8 Blue Serge Blues (03:53) 9 October 26 (04:54) 10 Cold Stone (03:10) 11 Summer Time (04:28) 12 Circus Mind (02:00) 13 Stone-Hearted Mama (03:28) |
 | Album: 13 of 37 Title: Live at the Heartbreak Hotel Released: 1984 Tracks: 12 Duration: 46:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Big Boss Man (04:15) 2 Midnight to Six Man (03:18) 3 Im a King Bee (05:45) 4 Honey I Need (02:55) 5 Shakin All Over (03:55) 6 Rosalyn (02:17) 7 Road Runner (02:56) 8 Mamma (Keep Your Big Mouth Shut) (02:11) 9 Rainin in My Heart (04:05) 10 Round n Round (02:50) 11 Dont Bring Me Down (05:58) 12 Mona (I Need You Baby) (05:58) |
 | Album: 14 of 37 Title: Closed Restaurant Blues Released: 1985 Tracks: 18 Duration: 44:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Come See Me (02:39) 2 House of Ten (02:54) 3 One Long Glance (02:54) 4 Progress (02:41) 5 Cant Stand the Pain (02:41) 6 Me Needing You (01:58) 7 L.S.D. (02:25) 8 Photographer (02:07) 9 Growing in My Mind (02:21) 10 Midnight to Six Man (02:19) 11 The Sun (03:06) 12 Death of a Socialite (02:41) 13 Buzz the Jerk (01:54) 14 My Time (03:09) 15 Get the Picture? (01:55) 16 You Dont Believe Me (02:23) 17 Children (03:05) 18 Pretty Thing (01:39) |
| Closed Restaurant Blues : Allmusic album Review : This compilation picks up where the Let Me Hear the Choir Sing anthology left off, collecting their most significant tracks from mid-1965 through early 1967. And as with Let Me Hear the Choir Sing, its been made redundant in the CD age. | ||
 | Album: 15 of 37 Title: Out of the Island Released: 1987 Tracks: 14 Duration: 59:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Cry to Me (04:31) 2 Oh Baby Doll (02:39) 3 Shes Fine Shes Mine (05:03) 4 Get the Picture (03:15) 5 Havana Bound (04:00) 6 Cant Stop (04:00) 7 Loneliest Person / L.S.D. (07:22) 8 Private Sorrow (04:22) 9 Moon Is Rising (04:31) 10 Big City (03:07) 11 Cause and Effect (03:09) 12 Well Known Blues (05:42) 13 You Dont Believe Me (03:51) 14 Judgement Day (03:30) |
 | Album: 16 of 37 Title: Electric Banana Released: 1990 Tracks: 14 Duration: 44:25 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Walking Down the Street (02:53) 2 If I Needed Somebody (03:08) 3 Free Love (02:14) 4 Cause Im a Man (02:52) 5 Danger Signs (02:42) 6 I See You (03:48) 7 Street Girl (02:46) 8 Grey Skies (02:37) 9 I Love You (02:21) 10 Love, Dance and Sing (02:51) 11 A Thousand Ages From the Sun (02:29) 12 Do My Stuff (04:53) 13 Take Me Home (05:10) 14 James Marshall (03:36) |
| Electric Banana : Allmusic album Review : As chart activity became slim for the Pretty Things around 1967, they started a sideline of recording songs specifically for film soundtracks. This compilation features their vocal contributions to these projects, and consists mostly of fairly pedestrian psychedelic-tinged rock of a lower standard than either their 1967-68 singles or the S.F. Sorrow album. Highlights are the driving fuzzy rocker "Alexander" and an early version of the S.F. Sorrow track "I See You." | ||
 | Album: 17 of 37 Title: More Electric Banana Released: 1990 Tracks: 15 Duration: 51:53 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Sweet Orphan Lady (04:36) 2 I Could Not Believe My Eyes (03:22) 3 Good Times (04:20) 4 Walk Away (03:53) 5 The Loser (03:25) 6 Easily Done (03:55) 7 Alexander (03:11) 8 Itll Never Be Me (03:05) 9 Eagles Son (03:18) 10 Blow Your Mind (03:41) 11 Whats Good for the Goose (02:02) 12 Rave Up (02:03) 13 The Dark Theme (02:59) 14 Maze Song (04:02) 15 Whiskey Song (03:54) |
 | Album: 18 of 37 Title: Midnight to 6 Released: 1994 Tracks: 14 Duration: 36:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Dont Bring Me Down (02:13) 2 Children (03:03) 3 Cry to Me (02:51) 4 Judgement Day (02:44) 5 Well Be Together (02:10) 6 The Moon Is Rising (02:33) 7 Progress (02:42) 8 Midnight to Six Man (02:19) 9 Get the Picture (01:58) 10 Road Runner (03:12) 11 I Can Never Say (02:37) 12 Mama Keep Your Big Mouth Shut (03:05) 13 I Want Your Love (02:18) 14 Rainin in My Heart (02:29) |
 | Album: 19 of 37 Title: A Whiter Shade of Dirty Water Released: 1994 Tracks: 12 Duration: 00:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Hes Waitin (?) 2 Strychnine (?) 3 Pushing Too Hard (?) 4 Kicks (?) 5 Candy (?) 6 Louie Louie (?) 7 96 Tears (?) 8 Lets Talk About Girls (?) 9 Sometimes Good Guys Dont Wear White (?) 10 Im a Man (?) 11 Red River Rock (?) 12 Midnight to Six Man 93 (?) |
 | Album: 20 of 37 Title: Unrepentant: The Anthology Released: 1995 Tracks: 43 Duration: 2:32:59 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Rosalyn (02:20) 2 Dont Bring Me Down (02:10) 3 Get Yourself Home (02:16) 4 Road Runner (03:12) 5 Judgement Day (02:45) 6 Honey, I Need (02:00) 7 You Dont Believe Me (02:23) 8 Buzz the Jerk (01:55) 9 Cry to Me (02:50) 10 Midnight to Six Man (02:19) 11 L.S.D. (02:25) 12 Death of a Socialite (02:41) 13 Growing in My Mind (02:21) 14 Defecting Grey (05:10) 15 S.F. Sorrow Is Born (03:08) 16 Private Sorrow (03:50) 17 Balloon Burning (03:48) 18 Old Man Going (03:07) 19 Loneliest Person (01:25) 20 Scene One (01:50) 21 In the Square (01:55) 22 The Letter (01:38) 23 Rain (02:28) 24 Grass (04:20) 25 Parachute (03:50) 26 October 26 (04:54) 27 Summer Time (04:28) 1 Peter (01:27) 2 Rip Off Train (03:20) 3 Havana Bound (03:53) 4 Dream/Joey (06:46) 5 Bridge of God (04:57) 6 Is It Only Love (05:04) 7 Singapore Silk Torpedo (05:11) 8 Under the Volcano (05:58) 9 Sad Eye (04:33) 10 Remember That Boy (05:03) 11 Its Been So Long (05:06) 12 Im Calling (04:04) 13 Office Love (04:11) 14 She Dont (04:07) 15 No Future (04:27) 16 God Give Me the Strength (To Carry On) (07:10) |
 | Album: 21 of 37 Title: The EP Collection... Plus Released: 1997 Tracks: 26 Duration: 1:07:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Road Runner (03:12) 2 Dont Bring Me Down (02:12) 3 Big Boss Man (02:40) 4 Buzz the Jerk (01:55) 5 Sittin All Alone (02:49) 6 Come See Me (02:40) 7 London Town (02:26) 8 Judgement Day (02:47) 9 Progress (02:42) 10 Well Play House (02:33) 11 Cant Stand the Pain (02:41) 12 Midnight to Six Man (02:19) 13 Big City (02:03) 14 Get the Picture (01:56) 15 Well Be Together (02:10) 16 Rainin in My Heart (02:32) 17 I Can Never Say (02:37) 18 Gonna Find Me a Substitute (02:58) 19 Get a Buzz (04:01) 20 Me Needing You (01:58) 21 Honey I Need (02:00) 22 Cry to Me (02:51) 23 Mama Keep Your Big Mouth Shut (03:05) 24 L.S.D. (02:25) 25 A House in the Country (03:00) 26 Rosalyn (02:20) |
 | Album: 22 of 37 Title: Resurrection Released: 1998 Tracks: 27 Duration: 59:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Introduction (01:47) 2 Untitled Narration (01:08) 3 S.F. Sorrow Is Born (03:10) 4 Untitled Narration (00:23) 5 Bracelets of Fingers (03:48) 6 Untitled Narration (00:32) 7 She Says Good Morning (04:35) 8 Untitled Narration (00:43) 9 Private Sorrow (03:36) 10 Untitled Narration (02:10) 11 Balloon Burning (03:51) 12 Untitled Narration (00:06) 13 Death (03:04) 14 Untitled Narration (00:30) 15 Baron Saturday (04:20) 16 Untitled Narration (00:44) 17 The Journey (02:42) 18 Untitled Narration (02:00) 19 I See You (06:11) 20 Well of Destiny (02:49) 21 Untitled Narration (00:10) 22 Trust (02:46) 23 Untitled Narration (00:19) 24 Old Man Going (05:21) 25 Untitled Narration (00:09) 26 Loneliest Person (01:40) 27 Untitled Narration (00:38) |
| Resurrection : Allmusic album Review : On September 6, 1998, the Pretty Things gathered at Abbey Road Studios to perform -- for the first time ever -- their 60s rock opera S.F. Sorrow live in its entirety. The performance, by the Pretties actual 1966-1967 lineup (with the addition of Frankie Holland on guitar), was simulcast on the Internet and recorded for release on this CD. Since the 1968 album of S.F. Sorrow remains available on CD (on the same label, in fact), one could justifiably wonder why exactly anyone, even a Pretty Things fan, would want a 1998 live version of it. Well, there are some small extras that make this of more interest than such remakes usually are. One is the presence of Dave Gilmour on guitar on five tracks. Another is the narration of Arthur Brown, whose richly recited between-song links give the story more cohesion than it did first time around. No, this could not be said to be better or as good as the original S.F. Sorrow, but the band do play and sing it quite well here, without any of the ghastly modernizing technology that usually clouds such re-creations. As a souvenir, its a pretty good one. | ||
 | Album: 23 of 37 Title: ...Rage Before Beauty Released: 1999 Tracks: 14 Duration: 1:04:34 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Passion of Love (03:22) 2 Vivian Prince (05:15) 3 Everlasting Flame (03:46) 4 Love Keeps Hanging On (08:55) 5 Eve of Destruction (03:02) 6 Not Givin In (04:01) 7 Pure Cold Stone (05:46) 8 Blue Turns To Red (04:00) 9 Goodbye, Goodbye (02:45) 10 Goin Downhill (04:11) 11 Play With Fire (04:07) 12 Fly Away (04:30) 13 Mony Mony (04:44) 14 God Give Me The Strength (To Carry On) (06:03) |
 | Album: 24 of 37 Title: Latest Writs the Best of... Greatest Hits Released: 2000 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:11:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Come See Me (02:39) 2 Dont Bring Me Down (02:12) 3 Defecting Grey (04:31) 4 S.F. Sorrow Is Born (03:08) 5 L.S.D. (02:25) 6 All Light Up (04:31) 7 Midnight to Six Man (02:19) 8 Remember That Boy (05:03) 9 Rosalyn (02:20) 10 Singapore Silk Torpedo (05:11) 11 Old Man Going (03:07) 12 Vivian Prince (05:15) 13 Road Runner (03:12) 14 Talkin About the Good Times (03:43) 15 Summer Time (04:28) 16 Tripping (03:26) 17 Havanah Bound (03:53) 18 Cries From the Midnight Circus (06:28) 19 Bitter End (03:14) |
 | Album: 25 of 37 Title: The Rhythm & Blues Years Released: 2001-11-27 Tracks: 34 Duration: 1:36:37 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Judgement Day (02:49) 2 The Moon Is Rising (02:33) 3 Gonna Find Me a Substitute (02:58) 4 13, Chester Street (02:22) 5 Oh Baby Doll (03:01) 6 Get a Buzz (04:01) 7 Dont Bring Me Down (02:11) 8 Sittin All Alone (02:49) 9 Youll Never Do It Baby (02:27) 10 Come See Me (02:41) 11 Rosalyn (02:20) 12 Shes Fine, Shes Mine (04:24) 13 I Can Never Say (02:37) 14 Get Yourself Home (02:16) 15 I Had a Dream (02:59) 16 Me Needing You (01:59) 17 Its Been So Long (05:06) 1 Mama Keep Your Big Mouth Shut (03:05) 2 Rainin in My Heart (02:32) 3 Big Boss Man (02:39) 4 Unknown Blues (03:48) 5 Well Play House (02:33) 6 Dont Lie to Me (03:53) 7 I Want Your Love (02:17) 8 Roadrunner (03:12) 9 Well Be Together (02:10) 10 Honey, I Need (02:00) 11 Cry to Me (02:53) 12 Buzz the Jerk (01:55) 13 Big City (02:02) 14 London Town (02:26) 15 Out in the Night (02:41) 16 Vivian Prince (05:15) 17 Pretty Thing (01:39) |
| The Rhythm & Blues Years : Allmusic album Review : Before the Pretty Things began dabbling with psychedelia in the late 60s, they were primarily a R&B-influenced; rock band. The double-disc, 34-track The Rhythm & Blues Years collection compiles the work from that early era in the bands history. Featured songs include the groups biggest hit from the time, "Dont Bring Me Down," along with less-remembered songs like "Honey, I Need," "Judgement Day," "The Moon Is Rising," "Im Gonna Find Me Substitute," "13 Chester Street," "Oh Baby Doll," "Get a Buzz," and many more. Overall, this is a great one-stop collection for anyone interested in the groups more-anchored and less-heady work. | ||
 | Album: 26 of 37 Title: The BBC Sessions Released: 2002-09-30 Tracks: 41 Duration: 2:37:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Big Boss Man (02:45) 2 Dont Bring Me Down (02:09) 3 Mama Keep Your Big Mouth Shut (02:21) 4 Roadrunner (02:07) 5 Big City (01:52) 6 Midnight to Six Man (02:24) 7 Sitting All Alone (02:58) 8 Midnight to Six Man (02:24) 9 Buzz the Jerk (01:42) 10 £.S.D (02:23) 11 Defecting Grey (03:12) 12 Turn My Head (02:44) 13 Walking Through My Dreams (02:41) 14 Balloon Burning (03:30) 15 S.F. Sorrow Is Born (02:51) 16 She Says Good Morning (03:03) 17 Send You With Loving (02:10) 18 Spring (02:02) 19 Sickle Clowns (04:24) 20 Shes a Lover (02:59) 21 Cries From the Midnight Circus (05:20) 22 Stone-Hearted Mama (02:48) 23 Cold Stone (03:23) 24 Summer Time (04:19) 25 Rosalyn (02:21) 26 All Night Sailor (02:34) 27 Religions Dead (05:27) 1 Havana Bound (05:19) 2 Love Is Good (15:21) 3 Route 66 (03:03) 4 Onion Soup / Another Bowl (07:52) 5 Route 66 (02:39) 6 Peter / Rip Off Train (05:18) 7 Atlanta (07:33) 8 Bridge of God (04:53) 9 Singapore Silk Torpedo (04:52) 10 Come Home Momma (03:20) 11 Dream / Joey (06:22) 12 Not Only but Also (01:10) 13 Big City (03:41) 14 Belfast Cowboys / Bruise in the Sky (06:54) |
| The BBC Sessions : Allmusic album Review : It seems as if every British rock band of any note recorded at least a few sessions for the British Broadcasting Corporation in the 1960s, and the Pretty Things were nothing if not notable; they spent more than their fair share of time at the BBCs radio and television studios, and this jam-packed two-disc set offers up the lions share of their "Beeb" material in (generally) strong sound quality and a well-appointed package. Like most BBC collections, these performances sound drier and more stripped-down than the versions most fans are used to, but since "stripped-down" was a thing the Pretty Things did quite well back in the day, this isnt much of a drawback; if these takes of "Big Boss Man," "Big City," and "Road Runner" have a bit less bite than the official recordings, they still sound like the Pretty Things, with enough swaggering attitude to face an army (best reflected in Phil Mays gloriously insolent vocals and Dick Taylors switchblade guitar). The bands psychedelic period kicks off midway through disc one, and while the studio gingerbread of S.F. Sorrow and Parachute doesnt quite make it onto tape here, these simpler and more organic arrangements make a fine case for the strength of the material, and testify to the Pretties continued strength and range as a live act (and a bit of taped effects of "Defecting Grey" adds some amusing but welcome ambience). Disc two is where this set gets to be rough sledding for many fans; while the bands punky R&B; and alternately graceful and furious psych numbers have long been cherished by their followers, the boogie-centric rock of their 70s period commands far fewer partisans, and thats what dominates the second half of this program (though versions of "Route 66" and "Big City" show Phil May and his partners could still make with the shake when the spirit moved them). Nevertheless, it makes for a complete and well-detailed portrait of the bands long (and not yet concluded) career, and the liner notes from über-fan Mike Stax (of Ugly Things magazine) follow their time-line well and offer plenty of insight into these sessions. If youre a Pretties fan, The BBC Sessions will sound like manna from heaven, and if youre just getting your feet wet, its a fine road map through the nooks and crannies of their music. Either way, this is well worth a spin. | ||
 | Album: 27 of 37 Title: Still Unrepentant Released: 2004 Tracks: 45 Duration: 2:40:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Rosalyn (02:20) 2 Dont Bring Me Down (02:08) 3 Get Yourself Home (02:16) 4 Roadrunner (03:10) 5 Judgement Day (02:44) 6 Honey, I Need (02:00) 7 You Dont Believe Me (02:23) 8 Buzz the Jerk (01:55) 9 Cry to Me (02:50) 10 Midnight to Six Man (02:19) 11 Come See Me (02:39) 12 L.S.D. (02:25) 13 Death of a Socialite (02:41) 14 Growing in My Mind (02:21) 15 Defecting Grey (05:10) 16 S.F. Sorrow Is Born (03:08) 17 Private Sorrow (03:50) 18 Balloon Burning (03:48) 19 Old Man Going (03:07) 20 Loneliest Person (01:25) 21 Scene One (01:50) 22 In the Square (01:55) 23 The Letter (01:38) 24 Rain (02:28) 25 Grass (04:20) 26 Parachute (03:50) 27 October 26 (04:54) 28 Summer Time (04:28) 1 Peter (01:27) 2 Rip Off Train (03:20) 3 Havana Bound (03:53) 4 Dream/Joey (06:46) 5 Bridge of God (04:57) 6 Is It Only Love (05:04) 7 Singapore Silk Torpedo (05:11) 8 Under the Volcano (05:58) 9 Sad Eye (04:33) 10 Remember That Boy (05:03) 11 Its Been So Long (05:06) 12 Im Calling (04:04) 13 Office Love (04:11) 14 She Dont (04:07) 15 No Future (04:27) 16 God Give Me the Strength (07:10) 17 All Light Up (04:31) |
| Still Unrepentant : Allmusic album Review : If theres a band that deserves a good compilation, its the Pretty Things. Thankfully, Snapper has the rights to the bands entire catalog, and has done an excellent job of remastering individual albums. This best-of is derived from that remastered material and does the Pretty Things proud with an extensive and exhaustive trawl through the groups archives. All three major periods of their career -- R&B; band, psychedelic pioneers, and rock & roll outfit -- get a workout, even going into their 80s new wave period with tracks like "Office Love." There are the obvious early high spots like "Rosalyn" and "Midnight to Six Man," but through "L.S.D." and "Defecting Grey" you can trace the rapid development that led to their masterpieces, S.F. Sorrow and the criminally undervalued Parachute. Whether their reinvention as California-inspired rockers was the best move remains debatable, although "Havana Bound" still packs a punch. Phil May, the bands consistent figure throughout, is one of the towering figures of British rock. Considering they began with an image even more outrageous than that of the Rolling Stones, they found their own voice quickly, and kept expanding it in solid ways that mark them as among the greats. As an introduction to a legendary band, this truly cannot be beat. | ||
 | Album: 28 of 37 Title: Come See Me: The Very Best of The Pretty Things Released: 2004-04-20 Tracks: 25 Duration: 1:16:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Rosalyn (02:20) 2 Honey, I need (01:58) 3 Road Runner (03:12) 4 Dont Bring Me Down (02:09) 5 Judgment Day (02:46) 6 Rainin in My Heart (02:30) 7 Midnight to Six Man (02:19) 8 Buzz The Jerk (01:54) 9 You Dont Believe Me (02:23) 10 Cant Stand the Pain (02:41) 11 Come See Me (02:39) 12 Get The Picture? (01:55) 13 L.S.D. (02:25) 14 Progress (02:56) 15 The Sun (03:06) 16 Death of a Socialite (02:43) 17 Defecting Grey (04:29) 18 Walking Through My Dreams (03:37) 19 Balloon Burning (03:48) 20 Talkin About the Good Times (03:43) 21 Mr. Evasion (03:28) 22 Loneliest Person (01:25) 23 Grass (04:20) 24 Joey (06:47) 25 Singapore Silk Torpedo (05:11) |
| Come See Me: The Very Best of The Pretty Things : Allmusic album Review : Come See Me: The Very Best of the Pretty Things is a lovingly packaged, mostly well-chosen collection of one of the best bands of the British Invasion that never quite managed to invade. Their lack of success in the States was certainly not due to a lack of great songs. The songs taken from the groups first three albums on Fontana bear this out. The stomping "Rosalyn," the mad take on Bo Diddleys "Roadrunner," the shuddering "Dont Bring Me Down," "Midnight to Six Man," and the snarling folk-rocker "You Dont Believe Me" are all beat group classics, revered by garage revivalists and lovers of tough R&B-influenced; rock. The Pretty Things were tougher than the Stones, probably tougher than anyone in the U.K. In fact, stack up the murderously rough and tumble "Come See Me" or "Get the Picture" against any band that ever thought it was tough and youll have a real fight on your hands. By its third album the group was showing signs of expanding its musical horizon. The string-laden pysch-pop ballad "The Sun" and acoustic guitar-based big pop tune "Death of a Socialite" bear this out. The collection gathers four songs from their post-Fontana period, which may be the creative high point of the group. "Deflecting Grey," "Walking Through My Dreams," "Talking About the Good Times," and "Mr. Evasion" all fully embrace the sonic possibilities of psychedelia without sacrificing any of the bands aggressiveness or ability to write big hooks. The collection sort of rushes through the rest of the bands career, only picking two songs (and not the strongest) from their excellent concept record S.F. Sorrow, one from their surprisingly solid hard rock album from 1970, Parachute, and two from their fairly dire 1974 effort Silk Torpedo, including the very Spinal Tap-ish "Singapore Silk Torpedo." Having songs from their hard rock period is not as bad an idea as some garage rock purists might imagine. The main problem is that the songs are poorly chosen. It would have been nice to include one or two songs the band recorded as Electric Banana in the late 60s. In fact Shout! Factory should look into a legit re-release of those recordings because they are some of the best work the band did. Still, this is the best Pretty Things collection of the CD era, and if it does anything to bring the Pretty Things to a wider audience, it has done well. Anyone who wants to know what the band was all about will be thoroughly educated and will most likely come away with a new favorite British Invasion band. | ||
 | Album: 29 of 37 Title: Balboa Island Released: 2007-10-19 Tracks: 13 Duration: 58:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Beat Goes On (04:14) 2 Living in My Skin (03:57) 3 Buried Alive (03:36) 4 Blues for Robert Johnson (08:00) 5 Mimi (02:35) 6 Pretty Beat (02:51) 7 The Ballad of Hollis Brown (06:30) 8 In the Beginning (04:42) 9 Feel Like Going Home (02:39) 10 Freedom Song (04:46) 11 Dearly Beloved (04:59) 12 All Light Up (04:31) 13 Balboa Island (04:42) |
| Balboa Island : Allmusic album Review : A problem with bands that have been on the scene for over 40 years (count em) is that they can sometimes still write songs with titles like "The Beat Goes On" and "Buried Alive," as if those tropes hadnt lost their edge several decades ago. On the other hand, when a band has played together for four decades its members have often learned one of rock & rolls great lessons: how to create maximum groove with minimal ingredients. So when the Pretty Things lay down a song as thunderous as "Livin in My Skin," they do so with the ponderous grace and inexorable momentum of an elephant walking to water. Theyve also been around long enough to have heard some of their source material at the source, which means that they can deliver an ancient Delta blues like "Feel Like Going Home" with a certain arch authority. (And if you want more cowbell, these guys can deliver that with authority as well -- check out the raunchy period piece "Mimi.") On the downside, they sometimes abuse their elder-statesmen status to impose eight minutes of two-chord vamp on their hapless listeners ("[Blues For] Robert Johnson"), and the title track, which closes the album, does so with much more of a whimper than a bang. Not bad at all, but unless youre a die-hard fan youll want to be a little selective. | ||
 | Album: 30 of 37 Title: The Pretty Things / Philippe DeBarge Released: 2008 Tracks: 12 Duration: 38:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Hello, How Do You Do (04:03) 2 You Might Even Say (03:59) 3 Alexander (02:55) 4 Send You with Loving (03:00) 5 Youre Running You and Me (04:36) 6 Peace (01:44) 7 Eagles Son (03:06) 8 Graves of Grey (00:48) 9 New Day (04:07) 10 Itll Never Be Me (04:32) 11 Im Checking Out (03:40) 12 All Gone Now (02:14) |
 | Album: 31 of 37 Title: The Pretty Things / Get the Picture? Released: 2011-10-24 Tracks: 36 Duration: 1:35:05 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Road Runner (03:12) 2 Judgement Day (02:46) 3 13, Chester Street (02:22) 4 Big City (02:02) 5 Unknown Blues (03:48) 6 Mama Keep Your Big Mouth Shut (03:04) 7 Honey, I Need (01:59) 8 Oh Baby Doll (03:01) 9 Shes Fine, Shes Mine (04:24) 10 Dont Lie to Me (03:53) 11 The Moon Is Rising (02:33) 12 Pretty Thing (01:39) 13 Rosalyn (02:20) 14 Big Boss Man (02:38) 15 Dont Bring Me Down (02:10) 16 Well Be Together (02:10) 17 I Can Never Say (02:36) 18 Get Yourself Home (02:16) 1 You Dont Believe Me (02:23) 2 Buzz the Jerk (01:54) 3 Get the Picture? (01:55) 4 Cant Stand the Pain (02:41) 5 Rainin in My Heart (02:30) 6 Well Play House (02:33) 7 Youll Never Do It Baby (02:27) 8 I Had a Dream (02:59) 9 I Want Your Love (02:16) 10 London Town (02:26) 11 Cry to Me (02:51) 12 Gonna Find Me a Substitute (02:58) 13 Get a Buzz (04:01) 14 Sittin All Alone (02:47) 15 Midnight to Six Man (02:19) 16 Me Needing You (01:58) 17 Come See Me (02:39) 18 L.S.D. (02:25) |
| The Pretty Things / Get the Picture? : Allmusic album Review : One of the rawest and easily the most garage and punk of the British blues bands that fed the British Invasion pop era of the mid-60s, the Pretty Things, led by the Mick Jagger-like lead vocals of Phil May and the kinetic, stinging electric guitar lines of Dick Taylor, managed to find a gazillion different ways to work Bo Diddley rhythms into songs that tilted, jerked, and growled with attitude on their first two albums, The Pretty Things and Get the Picture?, both of which appeared in 1965. This set combines both of those albums and adds in a dozen bonus tracks cut for singles and EP releases at the same sessions, including the marvelous and manic “Midnight to Six Man” and the purposely messy and loose “L.S.D.,” which prefigured the psychedelic turn the band was about to take with 1967’s Emotions LP. | ||
 | Album: 32 of 37 Title: Live at the 100 Club Released: 2014 Tracks: 12 Duration: 40:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Roadrunner (03:19) 2 Judgement Day (02:37) 3 13, Chester Street (03:07) 4 Big City (02:34) 5 Unknown Blues (04:30) 6 Mama, Keep Your Big Mouth Shut (03:01) 7 Honey, I Need (02:17) 8 Oh Baby Doll (03:04) 9 Shes Fine, Shes Mine (05:20) 10 Dont Lie To Me (04:15) 11 The Moon Is Rising (03:49) 12 Pretty Thing (02:49) |
 | Album: 33 of 37 Title: Bouquets from a Cloudy Sky Released: 2015-02-23 Tracks: 218 Duration: 12:53:37 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Road Runner (03:12) 2 Judgement Day (02:46) 3 13, Chester Street (02:22) 4 Big City (02:02) 5 Unknown Blues (03:48) 6 Mama, Keep Your Big Mouth Shut (03:04) 7 Honey, I Need (01:59) 8 Oh Baby Doll (03:01) 9 Shes Fine, Shes Mine (04:24) 10 Dont Lie to Me (03:53) 11 The Moon Is Rising (02:33) 12 Pretty Thing (01:39) 13 Rosalyn (02:20) 14 Big Boss Man (02:38) 15 Dont Bring Me Down (02:10) 16 Well Be Together (02:10) 17 I Can Never Say (02:36) 18 Get Yourself Home (02:16) 1 You Dont Believe Me (02:23) 2 Buzz the Jerk (01:55) 3 Get the Picture? (01:55) 4 Cant Stand the Pain (02:41) 5 Rainin in My Heart (02:30) 6 Well Play House (02:33) 7 Youll Never Do It Baby (02:27) 8 I Had a Dream (02:59) 9 I Want Your Love (02:17) 10 London Town (02:26) 11 Cry to Me (02:51) 12 Gonna Find Me a Substitute (02:58) 13 Get a Buzz (04:01) 14 Sittin All Alone (02:47) 15 Midnight to Six Man (02:19) 16 Come See Me (02:39) 17 L.S.D. (02:25) 18 Me Needing You (04:29) 1 Death of a Socialite (02:43) 2 Children (03:05) 3 The Sun (03:05) 4 There Will Never Be Another Day (02:22) 5 House of Ten (02:54) 6 Out in the Night (02:40) 7 One Long Glance (02:54) 8 Growing in My Mind (02:21) 9 Photographer (02:07) 10 Bright Lights of the City (03:02) 11 Tripping (03:24) 12 My Time (03:07) 13 A House in the Country (03:00) 14 Progress (02:41) 15 Children (single version) (03:00) 16 My Time (single version) (02:57) 17 Death of a Socialite (single version) (02:42) 18 Photographer (single version) (02:07) 19 There Will Be Another Day (undubbed alternate version) (02:25) 20 My Time (undubbed alternate version) (03:12) 21 The Sun (undubbed alternate version) (03:10) 22 Progress (undubbed alternate version) (02:54) 23 Photographer (undubbed alternate version) (02:14) 1 S.F. Sorrow Is Born (03:08) 2 Bracelets of Fingers (03:39) 3 She Says Good Morning (03:20) 4 Private Sorrow (03:50) 5 Balloon Burning (03:48) 6 Death (03:07) 7 Baron Saturday (03:59) 8 The Journey (02:45) 9 I See You (03:56) 10 Well of Destiny (01:46) 11 Trust (02:46) 12 Old Man Going (03:07) 13 Loneliest Person (01:25) 14 Defecting Grey (05:14) 15 Mr. Evasion (03:28) 16 Talkin About the Good Times (03:43) 17 Walking Through My Dreams (03:37) 1 Scene One (01:50) 2 The Good Mr. Square (01:26) 3 She Was Tall, She Was High (01:35) 4 In the Square (01:55) 5 The Letter (01:38) 6 Rain (02:28) 7 Miss Fay Regrets (03:27) 8 Cries From the Midnight Circus (06:28) 9 Grass (04:20) 10 Sickle Clowns (06:36) 11 Shes a Lover (03:32) 12 Whats the Use (01:45) 13 Parachute (03:50) 14 Blue Serge Blues (03:53) 15 October 26 (04:54) 16 Cold Stone (03:10) 17 Stone-Hearted Mama (03:28) 18 Summer Time (04:28) 19 Circus Mind (02:00) 1 Love Is Good (06:55) 2 Havana Bound (03:53) 3 Peter (01:27) 4 Rip Off Train (03:20) 5 Over the Moon (04:34) 6 Religions Dead (04:13) 7 Country Road (04:49) 8 Allnight Sailor (01:58) 9 Onion Soup (03:51) 10 Another Bowl? (02:53) 11 Religions Dead (live 73) (04:49) 12 Havana Bound (live 73) (04:22) 13 Love Is Good (live 73) (06:46) 14 Onion Soup (live 73) (08:21) 1 Dream/Joey (06:46) 2 Maybe You Tried (04:21) 3 Atlanta (02:41) 4 L.A.N.T.A. (02:24) 5 Is It Only Love (05:10) 6 Come Home Momma (03:43) 7 Bridge of God (04:57) 8 Singapore Silk Torpedo (05:13) 9 Belfast Cowboys (06:58) 10 Singapore Silk Torpedo (live) (07:07) 11 Dream / Joey (live) (07:21) 1 Under the Volcano (05:58) 2 My Song (05:08) 3 Sad Eye (04:29) 4 Remember That Boy (05:03) 5 It Isnt Rock n Roll (03:55) 6 Im Keeping (03:58) 7 Its Been So Long (05:06) 8 Drowned Man (04:24) 9 Theme for Michelle (01:50) 10 Tonight (03:07) 11 Love Me a Little (03:13) 12 Dance All Night (03:00) 1 Im Calling (04:04) 2 Edge of the Night (03:18) 3 Sea of Blue (03:12) 4 Lost That Girl (02:48) 5 Bitter End (03:14) 6 Office Love (04:11) 7 Falling Again (03:18) 8 Its So Hard (03:13) 9 She Dont (04:07) 10 No Future (04:27) 11 Wish Fulfillment (03:05) 12 Sea About Me (03:22) 13 The Young Pretenders (04:05) 1 Passion of Love (03:22) 2 Vivian Prince (05:15) 3 Everlasting Flame (03:46) 4 Love Keeps Hanging On (08:55) 5 Eve of Destruction (03:02) 6 Not Givin In (04:01) 7 Pure Cold Stone (05:46) 8 Blue Turns To Red (04:00) 9 Goodbye, Goodbye (02:45) 10 Goin Downhill (04:11) 11 Play With Fire (04:07) 12 Fly Away (04:30) 13 Mony Mony (04:44) 14 God Give Me The Strength (To Carry On) (06:03) 1 The Beat Goes On (04:14) 2 Living in My Skin (03:57) 3 Buried Alive (03:36) 4 Blues for Robert Johnson (08:00) 5 Mimi (02:35) 6 Pretty Beat (02:51) 7 The Ballad of Hollis Brown (06:30) 8 In the Beginning (04:42) 9 Feel Like Going Home (02:39) 10 Freedom Song (04:46) 11 Dearly Beloved (04:59) 12 All Light Up (04:31) 13 Balboa Island (04:42) 1 Dont Bring Me Down (Live on The Beat Room 1964) (02:16) 2 Mama Keep Your Big Mouth Shut (Live on The Beat Room 1964) (03:26) 3 Johnny B. Goode (Live on The Beat Room 1964) (01:42) 4 Cry to Me (Alternate Version) (02:44) 5 Photographer (Rough Mix from Acetate) (02:12) 6 Bright Lights of the City (Demo) (03:00) 7 Out in the Night (Demo) (02:39) 8 One Long Glance (Demo) (02:55) 9 Children (Alternate Version) (03:02) 10 Defecting Grey (Alternate Mix) (03:12) 11 Why (06:16) 12 She Says Good Morning (Live at the Paradiso, Amsterdam) (03:41) 13 Alexander (Live at the Paradiso, Amsterdam) (03:29) 14 Renaissance Fair (Live at the Paradiso, Amsterdam) (02:13) 15 S.F. Sorrow Is Born (Live at the Paradiso, Amsterdam) (03:34) 16 You Might Even Say (03:59) 17 Eagles Son (03:06) 18 Graves of Grey (00:48) 19 Itll Never Be Me (04:32) 20 Scene One (Westbourne Terrace Demo) (01:15) 21 The Good Mr. Square (Westbourne Terrace Demo) (04:33) 22 She Was Tall, She Was High (Westbourne Terrace Demo) (00:56) 23 In the Square / The Letter (Westbourne Terrace Demo) (03:41) 24 Rain (Westbourbe Terrace Demo) (03:20) 25 Cries from the Midnight Circus (Westbourne Terrace Demo) (03:53) 1 Id Love Her If I Knew What to Do (Version 1 - Westbourne Terrace Demo) (02:16) 2 Seen Her Face Before (Westbourne Terrace Demo) (01:24) 3 Everything You Do Is Fine (Westbourne Terrace Demo) (04:07) 4 Cold Stone (Westbourne Terrace Demo) (03:28) 5 You Never Told Me Lies (Westbourne Terrace Demo) (02:04) 6 Take a Look at Me (Westbourne Terrace Demo) (04:12) 7 Wild and Free (Demo) (03:42) 8 Id Love Her If I Knew What to Do (Version 2 - Demo) (01:39) 9 Spider Woman (BBC Radio Session) (04:32) 10 Route 66 (Live at the Hippodrome) (02:52) 11 Joey (Mono US Single Mix) (03:02) 12 Monster Club (03:51) 13 Cause and Effect (03:09) 14 Holding onto Love (Outtake) (06:07) 15 You Can’t Judge a Book by the Cover (03:05) 16 Chain of Fools (04:59) 17 No Questions (04:20) 18 Its All Over Now Baby Blue (Outtake) (04:04) 19 Hoochie Coochie Man (Outtake) (05:44) 20 Look Away Now (Outtake) (05:15) 21 Helter Skelter (04:54) |
 | Album: 34 of 37 Title: Live at the BBC Released: 2015-05-18 Tracks: 60 Duration: 4:13:32 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Big Boss Man (02:45) 2 Dont Bring Me Down (02:09) 3 Mama Keep Your Big Mouth Shut (02:21) 4 Roadrunner (02:07) 5 Big City (01:52) 6 Sitting All Alone (02:58) 7 £.S.D (02:23) 8 Midnight to Six Man (02:24) 9 Buzz the Jerk (01:42) 10 Midnight to Six Man (02:22) 11 Turn My Head (02:44) 12 Defecting Grey (03:12) 13 Walking Through My Dreams (02:41) 14 S.F. Sorrow Is Born (02:51) 15 She Says Good Morning (03:03) 16 Balloon Burning (03:30) 17 Send You With Loving (02:10) 18 Spring (02:02) 19 Shes a Lover (02:59) 20 Sickle Clowns (04:24) 21 Cries From the Midnight Circus (05:20) 22 Cold Stone (03:23) 23 Stone-Hearted Mama (02:48) 24 Summer Time (04:19) 25 Sweet Orphan Lady (04:33) 1 Peter / Rip Off Train (04:58) 2 Love Is Good (07:05) 3 Summertime (04:34) 4 Slow Beginnings (04:58) 5 Stone Hearted Mama (03:24) 6 Cold Stone (03:45) 7 Circus Mind (01:55) 8 Onion Soup (09:20) 9 Love Is Good (07:09) 10 Rosalyn (02:21) 11 All Night Sailor (02:34) 12 Onion Soup / Another Bowl (07:52) 13 Route 66 (02:39) 14 Peter / Rip Off Train (05:18) 15 Atlanta (07:33) 1 Religions Dead (05:27) 2 Havana Bound (05:19) 3 Love Is Good (06:43) 4 Onion Soup (08:15) 5 Route 66 (03:03) 6 Religions Dead (05:06) 7 Havana Bound (04:15) 8 Love Is Good (06:35) 9 Onion Soup (08:19) 10 Route 66 (03:08) 1 Bridge of God (04:53) 2 Singapore Silk Torpedo (04:52) 3 Come Home Momma (03:20) 4 Dream / Joey (06:22) 5 Not Only but Also (01:10) 6 Big City (03:41) 7 Belfast Cowboys / Bruise in the Sky (06:54) 8 Dream / Joey (06:31) 9 Singapore Silk Torpedo (04:47) 10 Dream / Joey (06:14) |
 | Album: 35 of 37 Title: The Sweet Pretty Things (Are in Bed Now, of Course) Released: 2015-07-10 Tracks: 10 Duration: 36:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Same Sun (03:25) 2 And I Do (03:33) 3 Renaissance Fair (01:54) 4 You Took Me By Surprise (02:35) 5 Turn My Head (03:42) 6 Dark Days (04:41) 7 Greenwood Tree (04:18) 8 Hell, Here and Now (04:57) 9 In the Soukh (02:31) 10 Dirty Song (05:12) |
 | Album: 36 of 37 Title: Greatest Hits Released: 2017 Tracks: 37 Duration: 1:55:45 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Rosalyn (02:20) 2 Dont Bring Me Down (02:08) 3 Honey, I Need (01:59) 4 Cry to Me (02:51) 5 Midnight to Six Man (02:19) 6 Come See Me (02:39) 7 Cant Stand the Pain (02:41) 8 Sittin All Alone (02:47) 9 Get the Picture? (01:55) 10 You Dont Believe Me (02:23) 11 I Can Never Say (02:35) 12 L.S.D. (02:25) 13 Defecting Grey (06:07) 14 Talkin About the Good Times (03:43) 15 Mr. Evasion (03:28) 16 Walking Through My Dreams (03:37) 17 S.F. Sorrow Is Born (03:08) 18 Trust (02:46) 19 Old Man Going (03:07) 20 Loneliest Person (01:25) 21 Scene One (01:50) 22 Grass (04:20) 23 Cold Stone (03:10) 24 October 26 (04:54) 25 Mr. Tambourine Man (04:21) 1 Roadrunner (03:19) 2 Judgement Day (02:37) 3 13, Chester Street (03:07) 4 Big City (02:34) 5 Unknown Blues (04:30) 6 Mama, Keep Your Big Mouth Shut (03:01) 7 Honey, I Need (02:17) 8 Oh Baby Doll (03:04) 9 Shes Fine, Shes Mine (05:20) 10 Dont Lie To Me (04:15) 11 The Moon Is Rising (03:49) 12 Pretty Thing (02:49) |
 | Album: 37 of 37 Title: Singapore Silk Torpedo Live at the BBC & Other Broadcasts Released: 2018 Tracks: 21 Duration: 1:54:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Old Man Going (05:16) 2 Dream / Joey (06:47) 3 Its Been So Long (07:23) 4 Bridge of God (04:53) 5 Singapore Silk Torpedo (04:52) 6 Come Home Momma (03:20) 7 Dream / Joey (06:22) 8 Not Only but Also (01:10) 9 Big City (03:41) 10 Belfast Cowboys / Bruise in the Sky (06:54) 11 Dream / Joey (06:11) 12 Singapore Silk Torpedo (04:44) 13 Dream / Joey (06:12) 1 Old Man Going (05:37) 2 Living Without You (04:25) 3 Joey (06:38) 4 Belfast Cowboys (07:09) 5 Its Been So Long (07:08) 6 Bridge of God (06:36) 7 Come Home Moma (03:31) 8 Singapore Silk Torpedo (05:13) |