THE PRETTY THINGS "PARACHUTE" Original 1970 Rare Earth Psych Classic DJ MINT
$
48
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Description
THE PRETTY THINGS "PARACHUTE" Original promo edition U.S. LP (Rare Earth) Catalog number RS-515. Featuring the great Phil May on vocals w/"The Good Mr. Square", "Sickle Clowns" + "Cries From The Midnight Circus".
The Pretty Things (whose name derived from a Bo Diddley song) were often compared to the Rolling Stones in their early years. But the Pretties were more outrageous, scruffier & had longer hair than their rivals. The comparison has some validity- lead guitarist Dick Taylor was a school mate of Mick Jagger & Keith Richards & had played guitar in their embryonic Little Boy Blue & the Blue Boys, switching to bass with the addition of Brian Jones in the newly named Rolling Stones before being replaced by Bill Wyman. Dick then teamed up with another classmate Phil May & the Pretty Things were born. After several years as a raving R&B band, the Pretty Things had evolved into a competent Psychedelic group by 1968 with a new label (Harvest in U.K., Rare Earth- Motown's pop imprint in the U.S.) & recorded one of the first Rock Operas "S.F. Sorrow"- it's release preceded the Who's "Tommy" by several months. They followed this up with "Parachute" in 1970. At this time, the band consisted of Phil May on vocals, John Povey on keyboards, Wally Allen on bass & Skip Allan is back on drums. Founding member Dick Taylor had departed & was replaced by Vic Unitt from the Edgar Broughton Band on lead guitar. "Parachute" was a critical success but failed to catch on commercially. Like "S.F. Sorrow", it's a concept album- this time dealing with the battle between Rural (peace) vs. Urban (decay). It draws some comparison to the Beatles "Abbey Road" which was being recorded in the same EMI studio. "Good Mr. Square" has 3-part harmonies similar to "Because" while the caustic "Sickle Clowns" is akin to John Lennon's "Mean Mr. Mustard". The album works beautifully though- the nasty edge is perfectly balanced with it's strong harmonies. Well produced by Norman "Hurricane" Smith, it's another under-rated classic by the Pretty Things.
Side 1 1. Scene One a. The Good Mr. Square b. She Was Tall, She Was High 2. In The Square 3. The Letter 4. Miss Fay Regrets 5. Cries From The Midnight CircusSide 2 1. Grass 2. Sickle Clowns 3. She's A Lover 4. What's The Use 5. Parachute
Gatefold Uni-Pak cover looks nearly new except for a minor crease in the bottom right corner. "Disc Jockey Copy/Not For Sale" is stamped in the center of the back cover. It is in near MINT condition. The record w/white labels & color Rare Earth logos has "Audition Copy/Not For Sale" printed under the catalog number on the right side. It has no scratches or scuffs & looks unplayed. It is graded MINT. A genuine 1970 pressing- not a recent reissue.
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