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 - Silk Torpedo - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £15.00, $18.45, €17.70 (Back In Stock) (arrived 20-Jan-2025 18:00)on January 22, 2025 at 1:53 pm
PRETTY THINGS Silk Torpedo (1974 UK 11-track 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)
- The Pretty Things - Freeway Madness - 1st - Ex - UK - vinyl LP - £18.00, $22.14, €21.24 (New Item) (arrived 28-Nov-2024 08:57)on January 22, 2025 at 1:53 pm
THE PRETTY THINGS Freeway Madness (1972 UK first issue green label 10-track LP, including stage favourites Havana Bound and Rip Off Train; gatefold sleeve with lyrics. The sleeve shows light shelfwear, whilst the vinyl has light surface scuffing which has little or no impact on play K46190)
- The Pretty Things - Honey, I Need [Live] - Black Vinyl - UK - 7" vinyl - £10.00, $12.30, €11.80 (New Item) (arrived 25-Oct-2024 15:23)on January 22, 2025 at 1:53 pm
THE PRETTY THINGS Honey, I Need (2010 UK 7" vinyl single which was recorded live at the 100 Club in London in December 2010 plus demo of I Can Never Say [taken from an 1965 recording]. The vinyl [with labels designed to look vintage] looks barely played issued in the picture sleeve CRUSTACEAN29)
- The Pretty Things - Honey, I Need [Live] - Black Vinyl - UK - 7" vinyl - £10.00, $12.30, €11.80 (New Item) (arrived 25-Oct-2024 17:00)on January 22, 2025 at 1:53 pm
THE PRETTY THINGS Honey, I Need (2010 UK 7" vinyl single which was recorded live at the 100 Club in London in December 2010 plus demo of I Can Never Say [taken from an 1965 recording]. The vinyl [with labels designed to look vintage] looks barely played issued in the picture sleeve CRUSTACEAN29)
- The Pretty Things - Closed Restaurant Blues - UK - vinyl LP - £15.00, $18.45, €17.70 (Back In Stock) (arrived 28-Oct-2024 17:00)on January 22, 2025 at 1:53 pm
PRETTY THINGS Closed Restaurant Blues (1985 UK 17-track compilation vinyl LP on Bam Caruso including fold out biography/discography insert with picture sleeve. The sleeve shows some edge wear and some light indentation marks to the front. The vinyl reveals minimal signs of play. KIRI032)
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