Biography
The Pretty Things are an English rock band, formed in 1963 in London. They took their name from Willie Dixon’s 1955 song “Pretty Thing”. A pure rhythm and blues band in their early years, with several singles charting in the United Kingdom, they later embraced other genres such as psychedelic rock in the late 1960s (with 1968 S.F. Sorrow being one of the first rock operas), hard rock in the early 1970s and new wave in the early 1980s. Despite this, they never managed to recapture the same level of commercial success of their very first releases. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretty_Things
Album & Cover
Their final album for Fontana Records was a contractual obligation produced by Steve Rowland and the subject of controversy, since Emotions was laden with brass and string arrangements arranged by Reg Tilsley. EMI producer Norman Smith expressed interest in working with them and at the end of September 1967, The Pretty Things signed to EMI’s Columbia label. In November 1967 they released “Defecting Grey”, a psychedelic effort that failed to sell. This was followed three months later by a double A-side single, “Talking About the Good Times” / “Walking Through My Dreams”. That single marked the beginning of sessions for the S.F. Sorrow album. Released in December 1968, it was the first rock opera, preceding the release of the Who’s Tommy in May 1969. It was recorded between December 1967 and September 1968 at the Abbey Road Studios, while Pink Floyd were working on A Saucerful of Secrets (also produced by Norman Smith) and the Beatles worked on the White Album. In March 1968, drummer Skip Alan left the group. Twink replaced him to help the band to complete the album. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretty_Things#Compilation_albums
Cover Location:
Who Did What: Photography – A. Powell/P. Christopherson
Label: Harvest SHDW406(UK)
Source: Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art, The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue: Aubrey Powell
Tracklist
| S.F. Sorrow Side One S.F. Sorrow Is Born Bracelets She Says Good Morning Private Sorrow Balloon Burning Death |
Side Two Baron Saturday The Journey I See You Well Of Destiny Trust Old Man Going Loneliest Person |
Parachute Side One Scene One – The Good Mr. Square – She Was Tall, She Was High In The Square – The Letter – Rain Miss Fay Regrets Cries From The Midnight Circus |
Side two Grass Sickle Clowns She’s A Lover What’s The Use Parachute : |
Credits
Bass, Guitar, Vocals, Wind, Piano – Wally Waller
Drums, Vocals – Twink
Engineer – Peter Mew
Guitar [Lead], Vocals – Dick Taylor
Organ, Sitar, Percussion, Vocals – John Povey
Producer – Norman Smith
Vocals – Phil May
