From loudersound.
The Pretty Things have released two tracks in memory of their late singer Phil May.
May died at the age of 75 on May 15 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, after being admitted earlier that week following a fall from his bike. The singer had undergone emergency hip surgery, after which complications set in.
The Pretty Things had been working on new material following their retirement from live touring in December 2018, with the two tracks unveiled today covers of Will Varley’s To Build A Wall and Gillian Welch’s Devil Had A Hold On Me.
A statement reads: “These recordings are taken from the work that the band had been doing, following lengthy discussions about whether they could actually create meaningful new music in a stripped back, acoustic-driven format.
“It seems that they could, and Phil May and Dick Taylor – together with manager and producer Mark St. John – began work on a new album, in an entirely acoustic format.
“Featuring strong, intuitive arrangements from Taylor, who reminds us of his well-earned place as one of Britain’s finest guitarists, these recordings set the scene for some of the most vulnerable, intimate and achingly moving vocals that we have ever heard from Phil May.
“This is the sound of authenticity, experience and deep pain and longing. The sound of two long, long lives in art and music that have always been at the cutting edge, and that have always worked as they did at the very start, in their teenage years, with absolute honesty.
“Both of these new recordings are taken from a stripped back new album due for release later this year.”
The Pretty Things played their last show, The Final Bow, at London’s Indigo at the O2 in December 2018, where they were joined onstage by David Gilmour and Van Morrison.
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- The Pretty Things - Savage Eye + Inner - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £25.00, $33.25, €28.75 (New Item) (arrived 17-Mar-2026 17:00)
on March 23, 2026 at 7:12 pmTHE PRETTY THINGS Savage Eye (1975 UK 9-track vinyl LP, complete with the original thick card picture inner, gatefold picture sleeve with lyrics inside. The sleeve shows just a little light shelfwear with a bit of edge scuffing and deletion hole punch to the top right corner & the vinyl remains in wonderful condition with few signs of play SSK59401)
- The Pretty Things - Savage Eye + Inner - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £25.00, $33.25, €28.75 (New Item) (arrived 17-Mar-2026 08:29)on March 23, 2026 at 7:12 pm
THE PRETTY THINGS Savage Eye (1975 UK 9-track vinyl LP, complete with the original thick card picture inner, gatefold picture sleeve with lyrics inside. The sleeve shows just a little light shelfwear with a bit of edge scuffing and deletion hole punch to the top right corner & the vinyl remains in wonderful condition with few signs of play SSK59401)
- The Pretty Things - Parachute - German - vinyl LP - £35.00, $46.55, €40.25 (Back In Stock) (arrived 24-Feb-2026 17:00)
on March 23, 2026 at 7:12 pmTHE PRETTY THINGS Parachute (2025 German issue of the 1970 UK 13-track stereo LP. Recorded at Abbey Road with Beatles engineer Norman Smith, this a magical album,more subtle than its predecessor; we feel The Pretty Things just don't get as much praise as they should compared to their peers. The gatefold picture sleeve has a little light wear and the vinyl remains in Excellent condition SMALP1324)
- The Pretty Things - Parachute - German - vinyl LP - £35.00, $46.55, €40.25 (New Item) (arrived 23-Feb-2026 09:55)on March 23, 2026 at 7:12 pm
THE PRETTY THINGS Parachute (2025 German issue of the 1970 UK 13-track stereo LP. Recorded at Abbey Road with Beatles engineer Norman Smith, this a magical album,more subtle than its predecessor; we feel The Pretty Things just don't get as much praise as they should compared to their peers. The gatefold picture sleeve has a little light wear and the vinyl remains in Excellent condition SMALP1324)
- The Pretty Things - S.F. Sorrow & Parachute - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £30.00, $39.90, €34.50 (New Item) (arrived 06-Feb-2026 17:00)
on March 23, 2026 at 7:12 pmPRETTY THINGS S.F. Sorrow & Parachute (1975 UK 22-track double vinyl LP, repackaging the two classic albums on the green Harvest label as part of the 'Harvest Heritage' series. Comes housed in a unique gatefold picture sleeve with the story ofS.F. Sorrow inside. The sleeve is Excellent with some light ring wear and vintage price indentation marks, whilst both vinyl discs are Excellent with very little play in its life SHDW406)
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