Sonic Youth Gossip - View Single Post - the Pretty Things

Mortte Jousimo · 11.02.2011, 01:17 AM

S.F. Sorrow and Parachute by the Pretty Things are the greatest albums I´ve heard last three years. I have read those albums are great already in the eighties, but never saw them any record shops until I found Sorrow re-release cd in the library and also Parachute vinyl re-release in the shop few years ago.

I think S.F Sorrow really is the most underrated album of the world. Made by same time, same studio, also with same producer/engineer as in Beatles sgt. Pepper and Pink Floyd piper at the gates (well there is no mention about Norman Smith in Sgt. Pepper album cover, but I´ve heard George Martin used his talents a lot in that record). And the music in S.F. Sorrow is as great as those others! The reasons why it isn´t as succesfull is that record company didn´t promote it almost at all. The recording budget was also so low that vocalist May drew the covers and guitarist Taylor take the pictures from album. And there were accusations from critics that it was a copy from the Who Tommy even it was released before Tommy. Afterwards It has said Townshead listened Sorrow very carefully before writing Tommy. Anyway there is not very much similarities in those albums. There´s the main characters, S.F. Sorrow and Tommy, both a "little" peculiar persons. There is also mirror in both, but there is only one scene where S.F. watches the mirror and Tommy does it all the time when he is blind/deaf/dumb. And the music is very different. You can heat Beatles influences in those both great albums, but is there a band in the sixties that don´t have them? And Those albums are really original, Sorrow isn´t really Sgt. peppers-copy. There is also some noise elements, so I think many SY-fans will like this record. Critics liked Parachute, but it wasn´t also record seller.

Here´s some pearls from the S.f Sorrow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVjot4KIBuY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg5t7T5_rR8

Here´s one of the greatest single b-sides at the same time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eN5qsjXMJFg

And here´s some songs from the Parachute:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE11sGJ9cVo

I haven´t heard much the Things before rhythm`n Blues stuff and after heavy-stuff, is here someone bigger fan than I? I am interested also those Rhythm`n`Blues records, I am also going to listen someday Emotions that is made before S.F. It has said both musical and commercial flop.

11.02.2011, 01:17 AM	#1
Mortte Jousimo expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 2,019	S.F. Sorrow and Parachute by the Pretty Things are the greatest albums I´ve heard last three years. I have read those albums are great already in the eighties, but never saw them any record shops until I found Sorrow re-release cd in the library and also Parachute vinyl re-release in the shop few years ago. I think S.F Sorrow really is the most underrated album of the world. Made by same time, same studio, also with same producer/engineer as in Beatles sgt. Pepper and Pink Floyd piper at the gates (well there is no mention about Norman Smith in Sgt. Pepper album cover, but I´ve heard George Martin used his talents a lot in that record). And the music in S.F. Sorrow is as great as those others! The reasons why it isn´t as succesfull is that record company didn´t promote it almost at all. The recording budget was also so low that vocalist May drew the covers and guitarist Taylor take the pictures from album. And there were accusations from critics that it was a copy from the Who Tommy even it was released before Tommy. Afterwards It has said Townshead listened Sorrow very carefully before writing Tommy. Anyway there is not very much similarities in those albums. There´s the main characters, S.F. Sorrow and Tommy, both a "little" peculiar persons. There is also mirror in both, but there is only one scene where S.F. watches the mirror and Tommy does it all the time when he is blind/deaf/dumb. And the music is very different. You can heat Beatles influences in those both great albums, but is there a band in the sixties that don´t have them? And Those albums are really original, Sorrow isn´t really Sgt. peppers-copy. There is also some noise elements, so I think many SY-fans will like this record. Critics liked Parachute, but it wasn´t also record seller. Here´s some pearls from the S.f Sorrow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVjot4KIBuY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg5t7T5_rR8 Here´s one of the greatest single b-sides at the same time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eN5qsjXMJFg And here´s some songs from the Parachute: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE11sGJ9cVo I haven´t heard much the Things before rhythm`n Blues stuff and after heavy-stuff, is here someone bigger fan than I? I am interested also those Rhythm`n`Blues records, I am also going to listen someday Emotions that is made before S.F. It has said both musical and commercial flop.
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