1965 studio album by Pretty Things
The Pretty Things
is the self-titled debut album by the English rock band
Pretty Things
. Released in 1965 in alternate track listings in the United Kingdom and United States, the album demonstrated the band's raw, loud sound, influenced by American
rock and roll
musician
Bo Diddley
.
Recording
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Fontana Records
booked two days worth of recording sessions with Pretty Things for their debut album.
[1]
30 minutes into the first recording session, the original producer, Jack Baverstock, the head of the label, quit over the band's behavior and alcoholism, and was subsequently replaced by the more sympathetic
Bobby Graham
in order to salvage the sessions.
[1]
Composition
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The band's playing was noted for being exceptionally loud for the time period, with their performance on "
Road Runner
" being described as being "about as raw and loud as
British rock & roll
ever got up to that time" by
AllMusic
.
[1]
The final three minutes of "Mama, Keep Your Big Mouth Shut" is composed of
feedback
and distortion held together by a repeated bass guitar rhythm; the use of such elements was considered unusual for the time.
[2]
A third of the album's compositions were written by American
blues
and
rock and roll
musician
Bo Diddley
, and the rest of the album's performances were inspired by his works, with
AllMusic
saying that the band's cover of
Chuck Berry
's "Oh, Baby Doll" sounded like it was performed in Bo Diddley's style.
[1]
"13 Chester Street", a homage to a house that Pretty Things shared with
the Rolling Stones
'
Brian Jones
, is musically a cross between the Stones and a lead influenced by
Slim Harpo
.
[1]
The album includes a cover of "
Pretty Thing
", written by
Willie Dixon
, which the band was named after.
[3]
Release
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The album was released in 1965 with alternate track listings in the United Kingdom and United States.
[3]
The US version included the singles "
Rosalyn
" and
Don't Bring Me Down
", both of which were covered by self-professed fan of the band
David Bowie
on his 1973 album
Pin Ups
.
[3]
In 2023, all 13 of the band's studio albums (with
The Pretty Things
being in its UK version) were released in a box set under the title
The Complete Studio Albums 1965-2020
.
[3]
[4]
Reception
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The album reached number six and spent 10 weeks on the
UK Albums Chart
in 1965.
[6]
AllMusic
said that the album's raw sound paved the way for
garage rock
bands like
MC5
.
[1]
In a review of
The Complete Studio Albums 1965-2020
,
Mojo
said that "May’s lusty Road Runner was a calling card, but the remainder of their self-titled 1965 debut lacks sizzle."
[4]
Track listing
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- UK version
Side A
Title
| Writer(s)
|
---|
1.
| "
Road Runner
"
| Ellas McDaniel
| 3:14
|
---|
2.
| "Judgement Day" (adapted and arranged by the Pretty Things)
| Bryan Morrison
| 2:49
|
---|
3.
| "13 Chester Street"
| | 2:22
|
---|
4.
| "Big City"
| | 2:02
|
---|
5.
| "Unknown Blues"
| - May
- Taylor
- Pendleton
- Stax
- Prince
| 3:49
|
---|
6.
| "Mama, Keep Your Big Mouth Shut"
| Ellas McDaniel
| 3:03
|
---|
Total length:
| 17:15
|
---|
- US version
Side A
Title
| Writer(s)
|
---|
1.
| "Honey, I Need"
| | 1:58
|
---|
2.
| "
Rosalyn
"
| | 2:20
|
---|
3.
| "13 Chester Street"
| - May
- Taylor
- Pendleton
- Stax
- Prince
| 2:20
|
---|
4.
| "I Can Never Say"
| - May
- Taylor
- Pendleton
- Stax
- Prince
| 3:00
|
---|
5.
| "Unknown Blues"
| - May
- Taylor
- Pendleton
- Stax
- Prince
| 2:35
|
---|
6.
| "The Moon Is Rising"
| Reed
| 2:30
|
---|
Side B
Title
| Writer(s)
|
---|
7.
| "
Don't Bring Me Down
"
| Johnnie Dee
| 2:09
|
---|
8.
| "Road Runner"
| McDaniel
| 3:13
|
---|
9.
| "We'll Be Together"
| | 2:09
|
---|
10.
| "Judgement Day"
| - May
- Taylor
- Pendleton
- Stax
- Prince
| 2:45
|
---|
11.
| "Big City"
| | 2:30
|
---|
12.
| "
Pretty Thing
"
| Willie Dixon
| 1:39
|
---|
Personnel
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]
- The Pretty Things
Charts
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]
References
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]
|
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|
Studio albums
| |
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Live albums
| |
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Extended plays
| |
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Singles
| |
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Related articles
| |
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