Pretty Things - S.F. Sorrow (1968) *New Rip* 24-bit/96kHz
Rock, Psychedelia | 1975 UK re-issue | Harvest SHSP 4061
S.F. Sorrow is the title of the fourth LP by the British rock group The Pretty Things, released in 1968. One of the first rock concept albums, S.F. Sorrow was based on a short story by singer-guitarist Phil May. The album is structured as a song cycle, telling the story of the main character, Sebastian F. Sorrow, from birth through love, war, tragedy, madness, and the disillusionment of old age.
Recording began at Abbey Road Studios in November 1967 with work on "Bracelets of Fingers". Two tracks that had been earmarked for the album, "Talking About the Good Times" and "Walking Through My Dreams", were instead released as a single in February 1968. In March 1968, drummer Skip Alan suddenly quit the band thanks to a whirlwind romance, and Twink (born John Charles Alder), whose band Tomorrow had recently split up, took his place.
Working with noted EMI staff producer Norman "Hurricane" Smith (who had engineered the earlier Beatles recordings and produced Pink Floyd's The Piper at the Gates of Dawn) and house engineer Peter Mew, the group experimented with the latest sound technology, including the Mellotron and early electronic tone generators, often employing gadgets and techniques devised on the spot by Abbey Road's technicians.
Phil May has emphatically stated that Smith was the only person at EMI who was fully supportive of the project, and that his technical expertise was invaluable to the ambitious, experimental sound of the album; May once even referred to Smith as a "sixth member" of the band. This attitude was in marked contrast to Pink Floyd's unhappiness with Smith.
Work on the album concluded in September 1968 with the recording of what would be its closing track, "Loneliest Person". "Private Sorrow" and "Balloon Burning" were extracted for an October 1968 single, and the album was released the following month, in the same week as The Beatles' White Album, and The Kinks' The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society. Wikipedia
Track listing:
01. S.F. Sorrow Is Born
02. Bracelets
03. She Says Good Morning
04. Private Sorrow
05. Balloon Burning
06. Death
07. Baron Saturday
08. The Journey
09. I See You
10. Well of Destiny
11. Trust
12. Old Man Going
13. Loneliest Person
Personnel:
Phil May – vocals
Dick Taylor – lead guitar, vocals
John Povey – organ, sitar, percussion, vocals
Wally Allen (aka Waller) – bass, guitar, vocals, wind instruments, piano
Skip Alan – drums
John Charles Alder (aka Twink) – drums
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios.
Produced by Norman Smith
Technicals:
Knosti RCM.
Michell GyroDec full version.
Funk Firm FXR II Tonearm.
Audio Technica AT33PTG/II MC Cartridge.
Harman Kardon HK990 Integrated Amplifier.
Gold Interconnects. E-MU 0204 Audio Interface.
Recording, split and manual de-click with Adobe Audition 3.0.1
Click Repair 3.9.1
Vinyl transfer by son-of-albion, February 2014