When THE PRETTY THINGS transitioned from their original rhythm-and-blues to fanciful psychedelia of “S. F. Sorrow” in the late ’60s and then heavy glam of “Silk Torpedo” in the following decade, they more than ensured the ensemble’s immortality, and yet there are many obscure corners in their oeuvre. Much has been made to shed a light on those reaches, and aficionados eagerly snatched various box sets which charted the band’s official trajectory. Some of the reissues came augmented with previously unheard tracks – but not on the scale that the forthcoming twelve-CD offering titled “Pretty Rare” will achieve.
To be out on November 20th, the collection – featuring the typical Madfish trimmings – runs from the band’s early output to their latter-day live outings and includes demos and alternative takes, among them final recordings made by Phil May and Dick Taylor, Wally Waller’s rehearsal tapes and live delivery of the veterans’ first album. A Holy Grail for fans.
Pretty Rare
CD 1:
1. Don’t Bring Me Down (true stereo mix)
2. Get Yourself Home (1965 demo)
3. I Can Never Say (EMI disc acetate)
4. Don’t Bring Me Down (EMI disc acetate)
5. Cry To Me (alternate version)
6. Progress (alternate take)
“Emotions” demos:
7. One Long Glance
8. The Sun
9. There Will Never Be Another Day
10. My Time
11. Out In The Night
12. Bright Lights Of The City
13. Children (alternate version)
14. Photographer (rough mix, from acetate)
15. Defecting Grey (full length demo)
16. Turn My Head (demo, Advision acetate)
17. Defecting Grey No. 3 (EMI acetate)
CD 2
Palais des Sports, Paris. June 1st, 1967:
1. Children
2. Reincarnation
Hyde Park, London, July 27th, 1968:
3. Why
4. Talking About The Good Times
5. Alexander
6. Mr. Evasion / I See You / My White Bicycle
Paradiso, Amsterdam. March 29th, 1969:
7. Why
8. Talking About The Good Times
9. Renaissance Fair
10. S.F. Sorrow Is Born
11. She Says Good Morning
CD 3 – Philippe Debarge sessions:
1. Hello, How Do You Do
2. You Might Even Say
3. Alexander
4. Send You With Loving
5. You’re Running You And Me
6. Peace
7. Eagle’s Son
8. Graves Of Grey
9. New Day
10. It’ll Never Be Me
11. I’m Checking Out
12. All Gone Now
13. Monsieur Rock (Ballad Of Philippe)
CD 4 – Westbourne Terrace demos:
1. Scene One (June-September 1969)
2. The Good Mr. Square (June-September 1969)
3. She Was Tall, She Was High (June-September 1969)
4. In The Square / The Letter (June-September 1969)
5. Rain (June-September 1969)
6. Cries From The Midnight Circus (June-September 1969)
7. I’d Love Her If I Knew What To Do (version 1 – June 1970-early 1971)
8. Seen Her Face Before (June 1970-early 1971)
9. Everything You Do Is Fine (June 1970-early 1971)
10. Cold Stone (June 1970-early 1971)
11. You Never Told Me Lies (June 1970-early 1971)
12. Take A Look At Me (June 1970-early 1971)
13. Silver Stars (June 1970-early 1971)
14. Lover (June 1970-early 1971)
Home demos – October-November 1971:
15. I’d Love Her If I Knew What To Do (version 2)
16. Wild And Free
CD 5 – The Lottery, Aurora, Illinois – April 28th, 1973:
1. Religion’s Dead
2. Havana Bound
3. Love Is Good
4. Peter / Rip Off Train
5. All Night Sailor
6. In The Square / The Letter / Rain
7. Live With Me
8. Onion Soup
9. Old Man Going
10. Route 66
11. Rosalyn
12. Roadrunner
CD 6
Agora, Cleveland – March 18th, 1975:
1. Singapore Silk Torpedo
2. Dream / Joey
3. Havana Bound
4. It’s Been So Long
5. Bridge Of God
6. Come Home Momma
7. Rosalyn
8. Route 66
9. Over The Moon (45 edit)
10. Joey (US promo mono)
11. Bridge Of God (45 edit)
12. I’m Keeping (45 edit)
13. It Isn’t Rock ‘N Roll (mono promo 45 edit)
14. Tonight (non-LP single)
CD 7
Easy Studios, London – March 13th, 1984:
1. Big Boss Man
2. Midnight To Six Man
3. I’m A King Bee
4. Honey, I Need
5. Shakin’ All Over
6. Rosalyn
7. Roadrunner
8. Mama, Keep Your Big Mouth Shut
9. Rainin’ In My Heart
10. Around And Around
11. Don’t Bring Me Down
12. Mona
13. Monster Club (1981)
14. Wish Fulfilment (1980-1981)
15. Sea About Me (1980-1981)
16. The Young Pretenders (1980-1981)
17. Eve Of Destruction (single, 1989)
18. Goin’ Downhill (extended 12″ version)
19. Holding Onto Love (Rage Before Beauty outtake, 1989)
CD 8 – 1987 versions:
1. Cry To Me
2. Oh Baby Doll
3. She’s Fine, She’s Mine
4. Get The Picture?
5. Havana Bound
6. Can’t Stop
7. Loneliest Person / L.S.D.
8. Private Sorrow
9. The Moon Is Rising
10. Big City
11. Cause And Effect
12. Well Known Blues
13. You Don’t Believe Me
14. Judgement Day
CD 9 – Wally Waller’s Rehearsal Tapes:
1. Rosalyn (1994)
2. Time Slides Away (1995)
3. Havana Bound (1996)
4. In The Square / The Letter / Rain (1996)
5. Onion Soup (1996)
6. Rainin’ In My Heart (2002)
7. Renaissance Fair (2002)
8. Buzz The Jerk (2002)
9. L.S.D. / Old Man Going (2002)
10. Too Much (2004)
11. It’s Been So Long (2004)
12. Blue Serge Blues (2004)
13. Bridge Of God (2004)
14. S.F. Sorrow Is Born / Balloon Burning (2004)
15. Alexander (1994)
CD 10 – The Pressure Point, Brighton – August 30th, 2004:
1. Roadrunner
2. Don’t Bring Me Down
3. Havana Bound
4. S.F. Sorrow Is Born
5. Balloon Burning
6. Circus Mind
7. Baron Saturday
8. Hoochie Coochie Man
9. Come See Me
10. Cries From The Midnight Circus
11. In The Square / The Letter / Rain
12. Goodbye, Goodbye / Goin’ Downhill
13. Judgement Day
14. L.S.D. / Old Man Going
15. Rosalyn
16. Route 66
CD 11 – The 100 Club, London. December 17th, 2010:
1. Roadrunner
2. Judgement Day
3. 13 Chester Street
4. Big City
5. Unknown Blues
6. Mama, Keep Your Big Mouth Shut
7. Honey, I Need
8. Oh Baby Doll
9. She’s Fine She’s Mine
10. Don’t Lie To Me
11. The Moon Is Rising
12. Pretty Thing
13. S.F. Sorrow Is Born
14. She Says Good Morning
15. Baron Saturday
CD 12
Phil and Dick ca. 2018:
1. Wounded
2. Sandstorm
3. Flatline
4. When The Rain Comes
Balboa Island outtakes, 2005-2006:
5. It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
6. Look Away Now
7. Hoochie Coochie Man
Acoustic:
8. Scene One
9. In The Square / The Letter / Rain
10. Cries From The Midnight Circus
11. Grass
12. Sickle Clowns
13. She’s A Lover
14. What’s The Use
15. Helter Skelter (2012)
16. Mr. Tambourine Man (2016)
