the pretty things bouquets of barbed wire

Not being ones to have got our grubby hands on the boxset of the complete works of The Pretty Things here's the opening from Phil Alexander's review at Mojo mag who actually has opened the limited edition package.

"As you open this lavish box set you chance upon a thick, vanilla-coloured envelope.
It contains paper-clipped reproductions of legal papers documenting two court cases fought by Mark St John, the Pretty Things manager of three decades, in order to reclaim the bands copyrights in lieu of unpaid royalties.
These document make forr remarkable reading, most specifically a 1994 fax to Roger Ames, the then-chief executive of Polygram UK, The first paragraph of which outlines guitarist Dick Taylor;s "unstable" financial position before explaining that Taylor's modest Isle Of EWight home (inherited from his mother) is subject to a compulsory purchase order for a meagre £2,500."

And that might as well be the symbolic story of the The Pretty Things. The ingredients of which were "bad luck, self destruction and record company shafting". It's unbelievable these guys are still playing today and this boxset marks the tumultuous journey from the raw garage r&b of the early 60's, through the bleary haze of psychedelia in the late 60's and on into the 70's. The 11 studio albums are all here, plus all this other stuff. 2 DVD's, 2 Rarities CD's, a 10″ replica acetate, 100 page hardback book, family tree with posters.
And the Pretty Things story is as much a part of rock and roll history as the Stones, only without the empire of wealth at the end of it. At last this box-set puts it all into context.

“David Bowie worshipped Phil (May) – Phil had to write his telephone number in David Bowie’s book, and it was under ‘G’ for God!” Dick Taylor, The Pretty Things
“The Pretty Things made the Stones look tame.” David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
“The Pretty Things were the biggest influence on us… they invented garage bands.” Joey Ramone
“The Pretty Things completely bent my head.” Noel Gallacher

A full break down of the contents of 'Bouquets Of Barbed Wire' and pre-odering are here at Burning Shed

the electric banana

The 2010 British film noir 'London Boulevard' is the story of a man (Colin Farrel) newly released from prison who falls in love with a reclusive young movie star (Keira Knightley) and finds himself in a duel with a vicious gangster (Ray "git aht-a Lundan" Winstone), that's "get out of London" for those not used to hearing the delicate tones of East London.
It's a film with less than gentlemanly behavior as you might predict. Although what you wouldn't predict as the soundtrack is a rather splendid mix of garage rock and psyche classics that's had a fare few viewers going in search of what they heard. Comments abound of the found tracks "London Boulevard brought me here" and from others stumbling on the track "WTF is London Boulevard".
Here's a pick of some of what awaits the movie goers ears.

The Yardbirds - Heart Full Of Soul
The Rolling Stones - Sray Cat Blues
22-20s - Devil In Me
The Pretty Things - Come See Me
The Electric Banana - Street Girl
The Box Tops - The Letter
The Knickerbockers - One Track Mind
The Electric Banana - It'll Never Be Me
Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues
The YardBirds - Train Kept A-Rollin

'Electric Banana', you'll notice appearing twice, one track alongside The Pretty Things - "Come See Me", were actually the same band.
The Pretty Things who'd been going since 1963 had by the late 60's become somewhat hard up and made some extra money by recording for music library company DeWolfe. Some of these songs ended up in low-budget films. The initial releases featured one side of vocal and one side of instrumental tracks. Subsequent releases of these albums generally keep the true identity of the band secret, a reasonably good idea as The Pretty Things were to continually reinvent themselves over the following decades.

Back in 1969, The Electric Banana's - "It'll Never Be Me" was originally used in the film 'What's Good For the Goose' which had comic/clown actor Norman Wisdom in a failed attempt to popularise himself with a new swinging 60's generation which by 1969 was looking every bit 3 years too late to the trends of that year.
Even though it still has a wonderful moment of The Electric Banana (or Pretty Things) appearing in a scene as a 'band in the club' performing the psychedelic "It'll Never Be Me" with it should be mentioned, the rare site of fellow sky pilot Twink of 'The Pink Fairies' on drums.
Who would have guessed, certainly not the band, that 'The Electric Banana' (geddit.. Prunes, Banana) and their invented pastiche name would appear over 4 decades in two films entirely at odds with one another. Whether the band get any of the royalties from the films or revenue of the inevitable YT ad you'll see is doubtful. Library music is usually payed for and then owned by, as in this case DeWolfe Music.
The Pretty Things still perform. They never did get that big payday.

the pretty things

Those psyche retrievers Fruits De Merr records have recently released a rather splendid 'The White E.P.' redefining the Beatles classic White Album (see post). One of the groups guesting on the mix of reworkings is by one of the longest running groups from that 60's era.
We all here about the star names still around, Stones, Who, Macca etc. but there, always lurking in the shadows have been The Pretty Things.
Formed in 1963 as Little Boy Blue and The Blue Boys (who on earth came up with that name?) who then split with three of their members going to form a new band with a guy named Brian Jones. The three who split were Dick Taylor, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger.

Dick Taylor playing bass stayed with the newly formed Rolling Stones for several months before leaving to go the London Central School of Art, where he met fellow art student Phil May and started The Pretty Things, (the art college has always been a place that fed rock and roll from the 60's on and the big names that have gone through that grounding in the UK is long).

The Pretty Things over 40 years have released a dozen albums, and you know what none, yes none of them have achieved any great sales to boost their career. Sure, there were a string of singles in the 60's with one managing No.10 in the UK charts but as the years passed and several reforms later around the heart of the band, Taylor and May there sales figures just didn't figure. They beat Pete Townshend in being the first group to write a 'Rock Opera' and even that didn't get much recognition. But no matter what happened The Pretty Things came back again. Even last year in 2012 they performed for the first time in New Zealand since being banned in 1965! Now that's setting the record straight and they've waited 45 years to do it.

So kudos to Fruits De Merr for releasing a track by them on their latest record. And how could anyone doubt the sincerity of a couple of London guys who played their rock and roll for anything but big money. They survived and still tell the tale.
Here they are in 1965 with a now psychedelic classic 'LSD'.
And no it's not just about a mind bending drug.. here's why.
Back in the 1960's UK and preceding decimal currency the UK dealt in 'pounds, shillings and pence' , the term having been taken from the Latin words "librae, solidi, denarii". This was then abbreviated and represented by the letter L, S, D, and commonly used in the day with banking matters. Of course any young spacehopper of the psychedelic period immediately saw the laugh in that.
So here's The Pretty Things just having a bit of a pun. You don't believe that and thought the song was just about acid? Just take it from Mr Dick Taylor, he cleared the whole thing up on the YouTube comments to this video.
And just look at that video.. must be one of the first ever done of a band.
Then look at Phil May's hair length in 1966! Pretty things!!... band having another laugh you might think.