Description
The Pretty Things – The Pretty Things – 180 Gram Vinyl Record
“The Pretty Things” is the debut studio album by British rock band The Pretty Things, released in March 1965 by Fontana Records. A raw, raucous, and unapologetically gritty piece of British R&B, the album is a defining example of the mid-1960s UK rhythm and blues boom, rivaling early work by The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, and The Animals in both energy and attitude.
What sets The Pretty Things apart—even from their blues-based contemporaries—is their willingness to push boundaries, both musically and in terms of sheer sonic aggression. Their sound on this debut is loud, brash, and heavily distorted, with a wildness that prefigures elements of garage rock, proto-punk, and psychedelia. While they were often seen as a rougher, more unruly cousin to the Stones, The Pretty Things carved out a niche that would eventually influence everyone from David Bowie to The Sex Pistols.
The album is firmly rooted in American blues and R&B, channeling the likes of Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, and Jimmy Reed, but amped up with a dirty, feedback-heavy guitar tone and snarling vocals. It features a mix of covers and original material, with many of the covers being definitive British interpretations of African-American blues songs.
Highlights include:
“Rosalyn” – A pounding opener with a signature fuzzed-out guitar riff and relentless rhythm. It’s become one of the band’s most enduring tracks.
“Don’t Bring Me Down” – A tough, stomping R&B number that became a UK hit, showing Phil May’s raw vocal charisma and Dick Taylor’s biting guitar work.
“Big City” and “13 Chester Street” – Early glimpses at the band’s songwriting potential, capturing urban grit and teenage angst.
“Pretty Thing” – A cover of the Bo Diddley classic (from which they took their name), driven by thumping jungle drums and Diddley’s iconic rhythm, delivered with punkish energy.
“Road Runner” and “Mama, Keep Your Big Mouth Shut” – Explosive, high-octane covers that emphasize the band’s garage rock credentials. The latter closes the album with nearly six minutes of primal riffing and attitude.
Throughout the album, there’s a sense of barely contained chaos. Viv Prince’s drumming is unrefined but passionate, while the dual guitar interplay between Taylor and Pendleton lends a thick, aggressive edge to the arrangements. The Pretty Things didn’t aim for finesse—they aimed for impact, and they hit hard.
In 1965, the British Invasion was in full swing, and while The Pretty Things never reached the commercial heights of The Beatles or the Stones, they embodied the raw, rebellious spirit of R&B-driven rock perhaps more authentically than anyone else. Their look—unkempt, long-haired, and confrontational—was considered scandalous at the time, and their sound matched the image.
They were banned from some TV shows for their appearance and behavior, and their gigs often descended into wild, chaotic scenes. This album captures that same energy in studio form—barely polished, joyously unfiltered, and bristling with intensity.
While the album itself was only a moderate commercial success, its legacy looms large. The Pretty Things is now seen as one of the foundational albums of British garage rock. It laid the groundwork for the band’s evolution into more experimental and psychedelic territory, particularly on later releases like “SF Sorrow” (1968)—often cited as one of the first rock operas.
Artists like Iggy Pop, The Damned, and even Jack White have cited the Pretty Things as an influence, and this debut album is a key piece of that puzzle. The primal, stripped-down attack heard here is echoed in early punk and garage rock revival bands decades later.
The Pretty Things is one of the most exciting debut albums of the British R&B era—undeniably raw, unapologetically loud, and full of swagger. If you’re looking to explore the roots of garage rock or the dirtier, louder side of the British Invasion, this record is essential listening.
LP re-issue of the band’s debut album from 1965
Re-cut directly from the original master tapes
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Road Runner
Judgement Day
13 Chester Street
Big City
Unknown Blues
Mama, Keep Your Big Mouth Shut
Honey, I Need
Oh Baby Doll
She’s Fine She’s Mine
Don’t Lie To Me
The Moon Is Rising
Pretty Thing
