The Pretty Things (1965)

When Dick Taylor was at Sidcup Art School he formed a band called Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys with fellow students Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. The three then joined  Brian Jones and Ian Stewart to form The Rollin' Stones in 1962.

Taylor left the Stones when he moved to London Central School of Art, which is where he formed The Pretty Things.

They released their debut LP in 1965. The American version included the single Rosalyn (also included here). They released 7 singles between 1964-66, but only touched the top ten once.

After a million line up changes they are still going today. Why they aren't up there with the likes of The Animals, The Yardbirds, The Stones and The Who is a mystery to me. 

Being a fan of Billy Childish I really enjoy this.

Line up here:

Phil May - vocals, harmonica
Dick Taylor -guitar
Brian Pendleton- rhythm guitar
John Stax -bass
Viv Prince -drums

• Later the band would record soundtrack music for the De Wolfe Music Library under the name Electric Banana.

A 1999 compilation of Electric Banana tracks from 1967-1969 can be found here:
http://psychedelicobscurities.blogspot.com/2011/02/electric-banana-1967-ish-blows-your.html

Pinups

PINUPS was really my way of shaking off Ziggy completely, while retaining some excitement in the music. It really was treading water, but it happens to be one of my favourite albums. I think there is some terrific stuff on it...

These are all songs which really meant a lot to me then - they're all very dear to me. These are all bands which I used to go and hear play down The Marquee between 1964 and 1967. Each one meant something to me at the time. Its my London of the time - David Bowie

This was the second of David Bowie's number one albums in 1973, a selection of covers from 1964-1967, the era of his unsuccessful attempts to make it, first in a series of beat bands (Davie Jones and the King Bees, Lower Third, The Buzz) and later as a rather twee Anthony Newley inspired 'all round entertainer'.
Mick Ronson (guitar) and Trevor Bolder (bass) were retained from The Spiders From Mars line up.

And here are the originals:

The Who, The Pretty Things, Them
The McCoys, The Kinks, The Easybeats,
The Mojos, Pink Floyd, The Yardbirds

1. Rosalyn The Pretty Things 2. Here Comes the Night Them 3. I Wish You Would The Yardbirds 4. See Emily Play Pink Floyd 5. Everything's Alright The Mojos 6. I Can't Explain The Who 7. Friday on My Mind The Easybeats 8. Sorrow The McCoys 9. Don't Bring Me Down The Pretty Things 10. Shapes of Things The Yardbirds 11. Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere The Who 12. Where Have All the Good Times Gone The Kinks

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