Orig 1968 THE PRETTY THINGS SF SORROW Psych Beatles
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Description
1968 ORIGINAL FIRST ROCK OPERA
PSYCH/ROCK MASTERPIECE
THE PRETTY THINGS
S F SORROW
\ USA - Rare Earth Records - RS 506
Original 1968 first pressing vinyl in specially designed rounded gatefold cover of the British masterpiece psychedelic that went over the heads of the masses until too many years later when lightbulbs starting going off in collectors heads ... now everyone needed a copy
The history of rock is littered with lost masterpieces and opportunities missed, but few seem to have been as cursed as "SF Sorrow." You would think that an album recorded at Abbey Road, at the height of British psychedelia, featuring Norman Smith in the producer’s seat, could do no wrong. After all, Smith had worked on Sgt. Pepper and produced Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Unfortunately, line-up problems and label problems delayed and buried the project. It should be remembered as a classic, however. Smith and the Pretty Things went to great lengths experimenting in the studio, layering overdubs of odd instruments at odd speeds. What makes this all so much more than the "kids in the candy store" overkill so endemic to the era is the subtlety with which the effects are handled and the fact that the songwriting is first rate. The album was conceived as a rock opera, and inspired Pete Townshend (unfortunately!) to write Tommy. Luckily, the songs are songs first, and the opera concept merely unites the album. While it’s possible to follow the story of a man’s life, from birth to love, war, madness and death, it’s handled more as poetry, less as libretto. The first track, SF Sorrow is Born, is a mild introduction. Over a mainly acoustic guitar groove we are introduced to our protagonist. The trumpet fanfares and phased out backing vocals and handclaps at the end hint that the Pretties are no longer an R+B band. Next Bracelets oF Fingers brings in the psych elements more fully, with medieval guitars and wah-wah meeting choral vocals extolling the virtues of wanking. She Says Good Morning is a syncopated seventh chord groove, which builds to a fantastic fuzz climax. Private Sorrow brings back the pastoral acoustic guitar, mellotron and recorder and finally decays under organ chords. Balloon Burning brings back the rock and fuzz and a wild, exhilarating guitar solo. Following is Death, a Baltic sounding pastoral track with fantastic bass riffs sliding around bazouki and punctuated by gongs and chants. Baron Saturday takes us back to the syncopated rock, here punctuated by keyboard chords, mellotron glissandos and an array of shakers and handclaps. All of this builds up to a percussion workout, spinning around the stereo field as more and more delay threatens to dissolve into feedback. There’s a brief, teasing interlude of mellotron and acoustic guitar before we’re back into the song for another chorus. The Journey starts in acoustic mode, and devolves into an echoing rock workout. Snippets of the rest of the album pop in and out like auditory hallucinations as the guitars and delay build, only to stop suddenly with an acoustic chord signaling the beginning of I See You. Deep fuzz lays underneath and the chorus swells with more tremoloed chorale and mellotron orchestration. As the guitar leads interlace a voice intones, ever more hysterically with sped up tape until it all snaps and Well of Destiny begins. This piece is abstract, with tremoloed and delayed piano and guitar bouncing back and forth in an ever rising game of tag until a forceful guitar riff comes over the top obliterating it all as the fever builds to an abrupt end. Trust is a circling, layered canon, relatively stripped down and a welcome respite. Old Man Going rocks like early period Sabbath and again builds and builds to two cathartic moments, the fuzzy guitar solo and the point of collapse. Finally we’re left with the folky Loneliest Person, a wistful coda of voice and guitar alone. The album had everything going for it, and like The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society and The Zombies’ Odessey and Oracle somehow missed out on canonisation. The sound represents the apex of British style psych, and the songwriting is on a par with the best bands of the time. There’s more to discover with each listen and each discovery is rewarding.
Side 1
- "S.F. Sorrow is Born" – 3:12
- "Bracelets of Fingers" – 3:41
- "She Says Good Morning" – 3:23
- "Private Sorrow" – 3:51
- "Balloon Burning" – 3:51
- "Death" – 3:05
Side 2
- "Baron Saturday" – 4:01
- "The Journey" – 2:46
- "I See You" – 3:56
- "Well of Destiny" – 1:46
- "Trust" – 2:49
- "Old Man Going" – 3:09
- "Loneliest Person" – 1:29
CONDITION: The Cover: specially designed rounded top corners gatefold is solid despite some light general shelf wear, bit on spine ... collectible VG+ with no split seams, no writing
The Vinyl: glossy on both sides there are but a few nothing/whispy soft scuffs not audible. Just played it and is flowing clear and excellent ...visual rates near "EX" (excellent) with clean Rare Earth labels...
A cool addition to anyone's music library!
SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people...
EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING
All imperfections are noted both cover & record
NOTE: All Items backed by money back guarantee! IF you have a problem PLEASE let us solve for you BEFORE leaving ANY negative feedback. Thanks! GRADING SCALE: M, M-, EX, VG++,VG+, VG, VG- M Completely clean, no marks M- Carefully used, looks clean, plays clean, shiny gloss, no marks EX Faint scuff or superficial mark, near M-, high gloss, plays clean VG++ Glossy with minimal scuffing or light mark playing very nice, clean VG+ a bit more scuff or markls still plays well with very minimal surface at worse VG more marks/scratches only minor, nothing deep, no loud clicks or pops this grade is abused by many, VG here does not mean "trashed" VG- surface noise present, will not have skips or jumps SHIPPING: (Attention: Items are sent out every Friday of each week) USA: $4.00 = Media Mail = U.S.A / delivery confirmation included (add 1.00 each additional LP/disc) $8.50 = Priority = U.S.A. /delivery confirmation included. (add $1.00 each additional LP) CANADA shipping is $8.50 AIRMAIL ...please add $1.50 for each additional LP MEXICO shipping is $9.95 AIRMAIL ... please add $1.50 for each additional Lp NOTE: Please wait until receipt of OUR invoice for proper shipping charges ***To our international OVERSEAS customers*** Due to the increase in U.S.A. postal shipping rates, we are forced to restructure shipping charges. Please see chart below. It is our hopes to provide you with our best possible service and keeping your shipping costs as low as possible. We have had problems with many international shipping orders costing us more than actual (higher) charges; The more Lp's you get in one parcel, the better the shipping costs, so we urge you to take advantage that we will HOLD your purchases to save YOU on shipping costs. IMPORTANT: Pay each invoice you receive, and, if you wish, ask us to HOLD your order reach lowest shipping costs. We value ALL our customers and will continue to list MANY interesting "rare" 60's & 70's Lp's that we obtain in our constant search and travels over all parts of the U.S. Thank you for your continued interests. International AIR MAIL shipping charges (all countries apply): 1 Lp = $14.00 2 Lp = $18.00 3 Lp's = $24.00 4 Lp's = $30.00 5 Lp's = $36.00 6 Lp's = $42.00 7 Lp's = $45.00 8 Lp's = $48.00 9 Lp's = $51.00 10 Lp's = $54.00 11 Lp's = $57.00 12 Lp's = $60.00 13 Lp's = $63.00 14 Lp's = $66.00 15 Lp's = $69.00 MULTIPLE LP SETS COUNT EACH DISC FOR SHIPPING COST (double Lp count as 2-Lp, etc.) Items In All Parcels Are Well Protected = The disc of an LP will always be separated from its cover (avoiding seam splits,etc) ALL PAYMENTS SHOULD BE MADE WITHIN 5 DAYS Of AUCTIONS END Appropriate Feedback Is Left AFTER Yours Is Left BIDDERS PLEASE = Do Not Bid If You Are Not Serious About Following Through The Transaction! ALL ITEMS GUARANTEED FOR WINNING BID - LESS SHIPPING!
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