Pretty Things, The - The Psychedelic Years (1966-1970)

Year of Release: 2001
Label: Snapper Records
Catalog Number: SMCD344
Format: CD
Total Time: 00:00:00

When people gather to talk about the 60s and music, invariably groups like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Doors and Jimi Hendrix roll off their tongues naturally without even thinking about it. When do you ever hear The Pretty Things mentioned? I, for one, include them amongst the greats of that era, beyond, and into present day. I did not always feel that way; I was like everyone else, until I started listening to their immense and outstanding catalog spanning from the early sixties until now.

The Psychedelic Years clearly illustrates how the Pretties changed completely from a rhythm and blues band to a full-blown psychedelic rock band and then gradually developed their sound into progressive rock. Unfortunately, as far as the music buying public could see, other British bands like Yes and Pink Floyd popularized prog-rock, although primarily this band was the original punk rock band or freakbeat as it generally was referred to when one was discussing nonconformist hippies playing rock 'n' roll. How could we have just skipped over these pioneers and just paid attention to the 70's icons?

You will notice very quickly how a lot of this music sounds like Sgt. Pepper-era Beatles, and that is because some of it was recorded at the same time and Pink Floyd was in the studio when the Pretties were recording the first ever rock opera SF Sorrow. You see, not of a lot credit was given to this band for their ever evolving sound and other bands got credit for being the first to start a trend when all along it was Phil May and his talented mates. They are immeasurably underrated and always have been, not until only recently have they started to receive their just due.

Even though their recorded works are vast and far reaching, these two discs really do a nice job highlighting one of their more, if not best, creative period over four years. And to make it all that much more impressive, included are cuts from their live webcast and subsequent CD SF Sorrow Live (1998), proving 30 years on that they still had it all together and could play like few bands ever have or will.

I was delighted with the psychedelic saturated progressive direction of each track on this set. Mike Stax, the ultimate Pretties fan, while appropriately contributing loving liner notes to his heroes, had to set his words upon psychedelic colors, which makes it all very difficult to read. I somehow painfully made my way through it, enjoying every word regardless of the strain upon my peepers. Stax emphasizes just how important these eternal punk rockers turned rhythm blues conquerors turned rock-psychedelic kings are and they how they should have a throne befitting their long and magical career. This is but one of many gifts that will be coming our way if we choose to pay attention to what is dangling right in front of our noses for the taking. It is never too late to look back at history to see who really made a difference. After all, if we cannot objectively look back at the past how can we look forward with a clear path to the future? From 1963-2002 is nearly 4 decades of music, and they are still rockin' with no sign of slowing down, now that is incredible, and so are these two CDs.

Tracklisting:
Disc One: Scene One (1:51) / She Says Good Morning (3:44) / Talkin' About The Good Times (3:44) / L.S.D (2:27) / Old Man Going (3:09) / My Time (3:09) / SF Sorrow Is Born (3:14) / Trust (2:46) / October 26 (4:57) / There Will Never Be Another Day (2:28) / Mr Evasion (3:31) / Death (3:09) / Can't Stand The Pain (2:41) / The Journey (2:43) / I See You (6:11) / Well Of Destiny (2:49) / Alexander [Live 1969] (2:55)

Disc Two: Defecting Grey [Single Version] / In The Square/The Letter/Rain / Walking Through My Dreams / Bracelets of Fingers / Growing in My Mind / Baron Saturday / She's A Lover / Bright Lights Of The City / Blue Serge Blues / Children [Alternate Version] / One Long Glance / Private Sorrow / Balloon Burning / The Sun [With Strings] / Grass / What's The Use / Parachute / Loneliest Person

Musicians:
Jack Green, Phil May, Twink , Dick Taylor, Stuart Brooks, Gordon Edwards, John Elstar, Bertram Engel, Kevin Flanagan, Glen Matlock, Brian Pendleton, John Povey, Viv Prince, John Stax, Pete Tolson , Victor Unitt, Wally Allen Waller, Dave Wintour, Skip Alan, Bobbie Webb, Mark St. John, Joe Shaw, Frank Holland, Harry Alexander , John Clark, David Wilki, Steve Browning, Rolf Ter Veld

Discography:
The Pretty Things (1965/1989/1998*)
Get The Picture (1965/1990/1998*)
Emotions(1967/1991/1998*)
SF Sorrow (1968/1975/1987/1998*)
Parachute (1970/1975/1988)
Freeway Madness (1972/2002)
Silk Torpedo (1974)
Greatest Hits ''64-''67 (1975)
Savage Eye (1976/2005)
Singles A''s & B''s (1977)
The Pretty Things Live ''78 (1978)
Cross Talk (1980/2002)
The Pretty Things 1967-1971 (1982/1986)
Live At Heartbreak Hotel (1984)
Let Me Hear The Choir Sing (1984)
Closed Restaurant Blues (1985)
Cries From The Midnight Circus (1986)
Out Of The Island (1988)
On Air (1992) (15 previously unavailable tracks recorded for the BBC)
Midnight To 6 (1994)
Unrepentent (1995)
Resurrection (SF Sorrow) (1998)
Rage Before Beauty (1999)
Latest Writs Greatest Hits - The Best Of (2000)
Psychedelic Years (1966-1970) (2002)
The Rhythm & Blues Years (2002)

*enhanced, remastered reissue w/bonus tracks

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin UK

Added: December 2nd 2002
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
Score:
Artist website: www.theprettythings.com
Hits: 1908
Language: english