Psychedelia

Pretty Things, The

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One of the 60s most underrated bands. From their badder than bad, raucous R&B early in their career, the band shifted gears in the underground, first with freakbeat then psychedelia. Their tenure at Abby Road, recording with Norman Smith, ranks as some of the greatest music created in Britain in the 60s. Yes, it really is that good.

Founded: 1963

Location: London, England

Website: The Pretty Things

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RIP Phil May

Pretty Things' singer Phil May has died at age 75 from complications in surgery following a bike accident. Make no mistake: When you talk about The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Who and The Yardbirds, The Pretty Things need to be in that column. From early beat to freak beat to psychedelic to art rock, the Pretties were one of Britian's originals, and one of finest rock bands ever. I raise my glass to Phil, rest in peace and my sincere condolences to your loved ones. Long live the king!

Submitted by admin on Fri, 05/15/2020 - 14:52

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Psychedelia

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Sam Gopal's Dream

Named after the tabla player, Sam Gopal's Dream were regulars on London's underground, playing at the UFO, Middle Earth, etc. They later released one eponymous album which featured Ian "Lemmy" Willis on guitar and vocals.

Founded: 1967

Location: London, England

Website: Tabla Music by Sam Gopal

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Soft Machine, The

One of two Canterbury bands formed from the Wilde Flowers, Soft Machine's earliest days were in the psychedelia of London's underground of the late 60s. By Third however the band matured into one of Britain's finest jazz-fusion bands. After Robert Wyatt's departure in 1971, the band ventured further and further into a jazz-idiom, gaining members from Ian Carr's Nucleus along the way. Archival material on Cuneiform is highly recommended.

Founded: 1966

Location: Canterbury, England

Website: SOFT MACHINE (Calyx site)

Members:

Daevid Allen

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Space Ritual

Nik Turner-led band that includes Terry Ollis, Mick Slattery, Dave Anderson, Thomas Crimble and other Hawkwind stalwarts and all.

Founded: 2002

Location: London, England

Website: Space Ritual

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Syn, The

With Pete Banks, Chris Squire as a core, The Syn were the pre-cursor to Maybel Greer's Toyshop (and Yes), releasing a handful of singles in the late 60s. The latter-day reformation was primarily a vanity project for Steve Nardelli, though the albums are of some particular note, as well as the controversy.

Founded: 1965

Location: London, England

Website: The SYN

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The Pretty Things with Philippe Debarge

Just in from The Bexley Brothers (Wally Waller and Jon Povey), The Pretty Things with Philippe Debarge will be reissued on September 1st, with new artwork, bonus tracks and remastering, on Snapper Records. Make no mistake, this is classic psychedelic Pretties, recorded in 1969 between S.F. Sorrow and Parachute records, and contains the suite "Peace," "Eagle's Son," "Graves of Grey," and "New Day."

Submitted by Charles Snider on Sat, 07/01/2017 - 17:10

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The Pretty Things, Bouquets From A Cloudy Sky unboxing

On the web:

Youtube

Submitted by Charles Snider on Mon, 02/16/2015 - 23:36

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Psychedelia

Charles Snider's blog

Thirty-Three Essential Progressive Rock Albums

Everybody loves lists, myself included. What are my favorite progressive rock albums? Here they are, do you have them all?

Essential: 33 Progressive Rock Albums
1. The Nice – The Thoughts Of Emerlist DavJack (Immediate 1967)
2. Soft Machine – Volume Two (Probe 1969)
3. Colosseum – Those Who Are About To Die Salute You (Vertigo 1969)
4. Jethro Tull – Stand Up (Reprise 1969)
5. King Crimson – In The Court Of The Crimson King (An Observation By King Crimson) (EG 1969)
6. The Pretty Things – Parachute (Harvest 1970)
7. Caravan – In The Land of Grey And Pink (Deram 1971)

Submitted by Charles Snider on Fri, 11/23/2018 - 23:34

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Tomorrow

In the beginning there was psychedelia - inspired by the liberation of drug culture, supported by the new "Underground" and musically, and bringing novel invention to music. Tomorrow were one of London's darlings during their short existence, but commercial success never quite came their way.

Founded: 1966

Location: London, England

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