Exposé Online banner

The Pretty Things

The Pretty Things
Country
England
Profile
The Pretty Things was a band from London formed in 1963 by Phil May (vocals, harmonica), Dick Taylor (guitar), John Stax (bass), Brian Pendleton (guitar), and Pete Kitley (drums), though Kitley was shortly replaced by Viv Andrews, then Viv Prince. They pioneered a raw approach to rhythm and blues that went over well in England, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, though they never managed to gain a foothold in the US. Many personnel changes followed, and they recorded three albums of this kind of material before S.F. Sorrow, which has come to be regarded as a psychedelic classic though it didn't sell well at the time of its release in 1968. Members of the band came and went, with connections to such bands as Pink Fairies, Edgar Broughton, Eire Apparent, Black Cat Bones, The Kinks, Rainbow, Solution, and more. The group broke up briefly in 1971, recording some soundtrack and library music as Electric Banana, then reformed to record a few more albums as Pretty Things. They have been active intermittently in varying forms since. Two former members put together the group Star Sponge Vision.
Website
http://www.theprettythings.net
Related articles (15)
Releases on file (23)
Various Artists — A Band for All Seasons Various Artists — A Band for All Seasons
(Fruits de Mer crustacean 87CD, 2020, 4CD)
Various Artists — Goldfish Various Artists — Goldfish
(Fruits de Mer crustacean 84 & 85, 2018, 3LP+7")
Dave Thompson — The Incomplete Angler - 10 Years of Fruits de Mer Records Dave Thompson — The Incomplete Angler - 10 Years of Fruits de Mer Records
(Dave Thompson Books, 2018, TPB)
Various Artists — The Three Seasons Various Artists — The Three Seasons
(Fruits de Mer crustacean 87, 2018, 3LP)
The Pretty Things — Bouquets from a Cloudy Sky The Pretty Things — Bouquets from a Cloudy Sky
(Madfish , 2015, 13CD+2DVD+10")
The Pretty Things — The Same Sun The Pretty Things — The Same Sun
(Fruits de Mer crustacean 83, 2015/2018, 7")
The Pretty Things — The Sweet Pretty Things (Are Now in Bed, of Course...) The Pretty Things — The Sweet Pretty Things (Are Now in Bed, of Course...)
(Repertoire REPUK1265, 2015, CD)
Various Artists — Postcards from the Deep Various Artists — Postcards from the Deep
(Fruits de Mer Crustacean 58, 2014, 10 Flexi)
Various Artists — The Crabs Sell Out / The Crabs Freak Out Various Artists — The Crabs Sell Out / The Crabs Freak Out
(Fruits de Mer Crustacean 36, 2012, 2CD)
Various Artists — Sorrow's Children - The Songs of S.F. Sorrow Various Artists — Sorrow's Children - The Songs of S.F. Sorrow
(Fruits de Mer Crustacean 25, 2012, LP)
The Pretty Things — Honey, I Need / I Can Never Say The Pretty Things — Honey, I Need / I Can Never Say
(Fruits de Mer , 2010/2012, 7" Single)
The Pretty Things — Balboa Island The Pretty Things — Balboa Island
(Repertoire REPUK 1229, 2007, CD)
The Pretty Things — ...Rage before Beauty The Pretty Things — ...Rage before Beauty
(Repertoire REP 4936, 1999/2002, CD)
Various Artists — Supernatural Fairy Tales Various Artists — Supernatural Fairy Tales
(Rhino Records R2 72451, 1996, 5CD)
Pretty Things — Cross Talk Pretty Things — Cross Talk
(Repertoire REP 4935, 1980/2007, CD)
Pretty Things — Savage Eye Pretty Things — Savage Eye
(Repertoire REP 4934, 1976/2002, CD)
Pretty Things — Silk Torpedo Pretty Things — Silk Torpedo
(Repertoire REP 4933, 1974/2002, CD)
Pretty Things — Freeway Madness Pretty Things — Freeway Madness
(Repertoire REP 4932, 1972/2002, CD)
Pretty Things — Parachute Pretty Things — Parachute
(Snapper Music SMACD964, 1970/2010, 2CD)
The Pretty Things — S.F. Sorrow The Pretty Things — S.F. Sorrow
(Columbia SCX 6306, 1968, LP)
The Pretty Things — Emotions The Pretty Things — Emotions
(Snapper Music SDPCD 111, 1967/2009, CD)
The Pretty Things — Get the Picture? The Pretty Things — Get the Picture?
(Snapper Music SDPCD114, 1965/2009, CD)
The Pretty Things — The Pretty Things The Pretty Things — The Pretty Things
(Madfish SDPCD 115, 1965/2009, CD)

Latest news

2020-03-24
Bill Rieflin RIP – The sad news reaches us today of Bill Rieflin's death. Rieflin was best known as a drummer in bands ranging from post-punk to industrial to indie-rock to progressive rock, including work with The Blackouts, Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, Swans, Land, and King Crimson. Rieflin had been battling cancer for several years, and succumbed to it on March 24. He was 59. » Read more

2020-03-17
Cruise to the Edge and Seaprog 2020 Festivals Postponed – The worldwide outbreak of the novel coronavirus has started to produce casualties in the music world, and festivals are not immune. We've had word that both the Cruise to the Edge (originally slated for March 27 - April 1) and Seaprog (originally June 5-7) have been postponed to later dates, with those dates to be announced. » Read more

2020-03-06
McCoy Typer RIP – Word reaches us today of the passing of one of the most influential pianists in the history of jazz, McCoy Tyner. His tenure with John Coltrane in the early 60s includes some of the most treasured recordings of the era, including My Favorite Things and A Love Supreme. After leaving Coltrane's group, he had a long and successful solo career. He was 81. » Read more

2020-02-18
Jon Christensen RIP – Word reaches us today of the passing of Norwegian drummer Jon Christensen, a musician whose sensitive playing did much to help define the atmospheric sound of ECM jazz recordings. His work with Jan Garbarek, Bobo Stenson, Terje Rypdal, and many more was sensitive and varied, adapting to a wide variety of styles while maintaining a distinct identity of its own. Christensen was 76. » Read more

2020-01-21
Gong Announces UK Tour for 2020 – Having spent the last few years touring the world, including dates in Japan with psych legend Steve Hillage, multiple headline European tours and festivals, America’s Cruise to the Edge festival, a South America headline tour, and a headline performance at Tomorrow Festival in China, the band have won the hearts of both traditional and modern Gong fanbases. During this live journey, Gong has delved further into the truly psychedelic, exploratory, and mind-expanding side of the music. » Read more

More news

Previously in Exposé...

Birdsongs of the Mesozoic - Petrophonics – Ever since I first heard this band back in the early 80s, I’ve been fascinated by their style: rock instrumentation playing challenging music which is not based in the conventions of rock and...  (2001) » Read more

Už Jsme Doma - Pohádky Ze Zapotrebí – It's a pretty rare event when I can honestly compare a CD reviewed in this magazine to both Devo and Madness, so I'm going to make the most of it here. The Devo comparisons are actually quite...  (1996) » Read more

Various Artists - Lost Years in Labyrinth – This album was just what the doctor ordered back in 1991. Finally someone saw fit to start focusing on other styles besides the symphonic rock that the eighties were glutted with. Featured here are...  (1996) » Read more

Ilitch - Lena's Life and Other Stories – This is the second disc of all new material in Ilitch’s recent batch of activity beginning with Hors Temps in 2004 (last years’ Rainy House was mixed with older unreleased material), and...  (2008) » Read more

Ax Genrich - Wave Cut – Hey, anyone in the mood for a cheery toe-tapping experience courtesy of the pleasantries of MIDI sequencers, drum machines, and other groovy techno devices? False alarm! You won't find it here....  (1997) » Read more

Random review

Listen & discover

Robert Rich live on Earth

More recommendations
The Seventeenth Dream of Dr. Sardonicus Festival 2019

Print issues