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 - Parachute - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £125.00, $157.50, €151.25 (New Item) (arrived 17-Feb-2025 17:00)on February 21, 2025 at 7:50 pm
PRETTY THINGS Parachute (Rare original 1970 UK 13-track stereo vinyl LP on the Harvest label with no EMI boxed logo & 'The Gramophone Co. Ltd' perimeter label text. 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 front laminated gatefold picture sleeve has a small mark to one corner otherwise has some light edgewear and a couple of creases in the laminate. The labels have some spindle marks whilst the vinyl has just a few minor surface scuffs, to indicate play. A more than acceptable Excellent condition copy of this fifty year old pressing SHVL774)
- The Pretty Things - Parachute - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £125.00, $157.50, €151.25 (New Item) (arrived 17-Feb-2025 12:34)on February 21, 2025 at 7:50 pm
PRETTY THINGS Parachute (Rare original 1970 UK 13-track stereo vinyl LP on the Harvest label with no EMI boxed logo & 'The Gramophone Co. Ltd' perimeter label text. 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 front laminated gatefold picture sleeve has a small mark to one corner otherwise has some light edgewear and a couple of creases in the laminate. The labels have some spindle marks whilst the vinyl has just a few minor surface scuffs, to indicate play. A more than acceptable Excellent condition copy of this fifty year old pressing SHVL774)
- The Pretty Things - Parachute - UK - vinyl LP - £150.00, $189.00, €181.50 (Back In Stock) (arrived 03-Feb-2025 11:18)on February 21, 2025 at 7:50 pm
THE PRETTY THINGS Parachute (Rare original 1970 UK 13-track stereo LP on the Harvest label with no EMI boxed logo & 'The Gramophone Co. Ltd' perimeter label text. 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 front laminated gatefold picture sleeve displays some light general wear with just a couple of light creasesin the laminate at the edges and some light edge & corner wear. The labels are very clean with minimal spindle marks, and the vinyl remains in a 'near mint' condition with little to no signs of play. A nice one previous owner copy of this over fifty year old pressing SHVL774)
- The Pretty Things - Parachute - VG - UK - vinyl LP - £50.00, $63.00, €60.50 (Back In Stock) (arrived 03-Feb-2025 11:17)on February 21, 2025 at 7:50 pm
THE PRETTY THINGS Parachute (1970 UK first press 13-track stereo LP on the Harvest label, with no EMI boxed logo & 'The Gramophone Co. Ltd' perimeter label print. 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 [VG] shows some noticable light ageing to the laminate with a small tear to the rearpanel along with a little creasing and edge scuffing. The vinyl grades Very Good & reveals some spindle wear & hairline marks which have little effect on play, still sounding fantastic given it's a first issue SHVL774)
- The Pretty Things - Silk Torpedo - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £15.00, $18.90, €18.15 (Back In Stock) (arrived 20-Jan-2025 18:00)on February 21, 2025 at 7:50 pm
PRETTY THINGS Silk Torpedo (1974 UK 11-track vinyl LP, the second release on the Swansong label, complete with full colour illustrated lyric insert, gatefold picture sleeve. The sleeve shows just a little light shelfwear & the vinyl remains in excellent condition with few signs of play SSK59400)
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