|
|
 |
THE PRETTY THINGS is an Enhanced CD containing both a full audio program as well as multimedia computer files including a promotional video of "Rosalyn."
All tracks digitally remastered from the original master tapes by Mark St. John and Andy Pearce (February 1998, Masterpiece Mastering, London, England).
Raucous to the point of making their peers the Rolling Stones look tame, the Pretty Things took the emerging British blues-rock sound of the mid-1960s and injected it with a heavy dose of manic energy. Given guitarist Dick Taylor's initial musical camaraderie with classmates Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (Taylor was in the Stones briefly before bowing out to attend art school), it's no surprise that the lesser-known group had much in common with the soon-to-be superstars.
The Pretty Things' self-titled 1965 debut is a restless set of tunes largely made up of Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry covers, with the quartet surging through a feisty take on Diddley's "Roadrunner" and a breakneck-paced rendition of Berry's "Oh Baby Doll," among others. Phil May, the group's hyperactive vocalist, makes Mick seem positively polite, while the rest of the band has clearly borrowed pages from the Keith Moon book of freewheeling musicianship. The resulting album may be too raw for some listeners, but for ardent fans of early Stones, Animals, and Kinks, THE PRETTY THINGS will be a welcome discovery.
2002 reissue of 1965 album includes seven bonus tracks, 'Rosalyn', 'Big Boss Man', 'Don't Bring Me Down', 'We'll Be Together', 'I Can Never Say', 'Get Yourself Home' (prev. unreleased) & a video track section featuring exclusive footage. Digipak. Repertoire.
Includes liner notes by Paul Du Noyer.
CD contains bonus tracks.
The Pretty Things: Phil May (vocals); Dick Taylor, Brian Pendleton (guitar); John Stax (bass); Viv Prince (drums).Rolling Stone (4/1/99, p.100) - 4 Stars (out of 5) - "...THE PRETTY THINGS packs the band's lock-up-your-daughters-and-liquor-cabinets stage charm into tightly wound Bo Diddley covers...and white R&B bullets..."
Q (10/00, p.148) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Apocalyptic R&B, Stonesy rock and Kinksy pop..."
Pretty Things Music Review
Average Rating: (4.5 out of 5 stars)    Bo Diddleys' boys
Although Phil May's vocals are something of an aquired taste, there is an immense amount of subtlety in the music. Hard rocking numbers, slow blues, all whipped on by Dick Taylors' stinging, cutting guitar show that musical ability was paramount in those days, even on the blues standards you thought you knew. And "Unknown Blues", hard and with the needles well into the red, still makes the hair stand up on my neck for the sheer audacity of the guitar playing. An excellent debut album and a brilliant snapshot of the English music scene of the time.
Submitted by bob phillips (plymouth,devon, england)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
This review is for a different format.
 Pretty Things
The best way to describe the Pretty Things' first album is raw as an open wound. Quite simply, this album is punk-blues. The Pretties rip through old Chicago blues songs and some originals as well. Most of the album is great although there are a few cuts that do not hold up to the rest of the material. The CD re-issue also adds some non-album bonus tracks that were singles or not released at all. Highlights include "Roadrunner", "Mama Keep Your Big Mouth Shut", "Rosalyn" and "Don't Bring Me Down". One of my personal favorites is the original "Unknown Blues" which has the filthiest blues guitar tone ever recorded.
Submitted by a reviewer (Lafayette, CA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
This review is for a different format.
| Have you heard this album? |  |
Purchase Pretty Things CD
To buy, Click on price to add to cart
|
|
|
|
|
Share this Product