The Pretty Things or...The Band That Greatness Eluded. In 1962, guitarist Dick Taylor and bandmates Mick Jagger and Keith Richards joined Brian Jones and Ian Stewart in a band they named after Muddy Waters' song Rolling Stone. Taylor was moved from guitar to bass, as there were too many guitarists. Not satisfied with that arrangement, he set off to create his own group, which he also named after a Chess R&B hit (Bo Diddley's "Pretty Thing") with the goal of becoming London's premiere R&B/R&R band...only to be beaten at this game by his former bandmates. As early as 1966, the Pretty Things recorded a song called "L.S.D." and set off to head England's psychedelic revolution, but were immediately superseded by an upstart band calling themselves Pink Floyd. Then, in 1968 they released the first rock opera/concept album which followed the life of its protagonist S.F. Sorrow, beginning with his birth ("S.F.Sorrow is Born"). But did they get the recognition? No, because in 1969 The Who published their own (erroneously but widely considered as the first) rock opera "Tommy", which followed the life of its protagonist Tommy Walker, beginning from his birth ("Overture/It's A Boy"). Despite the support from Led Zeppelin who signed them on their Swan Song record label, things went downhill after that and I lost track of them sometime in the early 70s. Then I found this cd in the used bin of a Rotterdam record store. Normally I wouldn't have bothered with a late Pretty Things recording (recorded in 1992 but released much later). Nevertheless the title hooked me (I confess I'm a huge garage rock fan) and they do cover all my favourite garage nuggets. Now, garage cover albums are a dime a dozen, but these are no second generation garage rockers -these are the guys who, along with other British Invasion groups, influenced the first generation. Next to Phil May & Dick Taylor of the 'Things, you have members of roots rockers The Inmates and Matthew Fischer of Procol Harum fame plus, for the bonus track, members of the Downliners Sect and The Yardbirds. Is it worth it, you ask? Damn well, it is! Unlike the Stones, these guys still ROCK! They do a ripping version of their own "Midnight To 6 Man" and really rock it out on versions of Sonics, Seeds and Standells oldies. I wonder if they ever considered antagonizing their old rivals by doing a Stones song. Anyway, it's just an album of covers, so it won't change your world, but crank it up and you'll soon be having a party in your living room!
Tracklisting: He's Waitin' (The Sonics)****, Strychnine (The Sonics)****, Pushing Too Hard (The Seeds)***, Kicks (Paul Revere & The Raiders)***, Candy (The Strangeloves)**, Louie Louie (The Kingsmen)**, 96 Tears (? And The Mysterians)***, Let's Talk About Girls (Chocolate Watch Band)**, Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White (The Standells)****, I'm A Man (Bo Diddley, bonus track)***, Red River Rock (Johnny & The Hurricanes)***, Midnight To 6 Man (The Pretty Things)****
P.S. They were supposed to visit my town Delft last year as part of a 50 Year Anniversary Tour (yes, the band were actually 51 years old - the old geezers are actually hiding their age). I was looking forward to it, but unfortunately their Dutch tour apparently fell out...
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