Before Tommy, Jesus Christ Superstar and Quadrophenia there was S.F. Sorrow, recognized as the first rock opera.
Written and recorded by the Pretty Things and produced by Norman Smith (aka “Hurricane” Smith), the album initially only saw a British release in December 1968 with the American LP not out for six months as the first release on Motown’s Rare Earth Records. Never a big seller (Tommy was out in the U.S. by the time Sorrow was released), it went on to be considered one of the most important albums of the era.
Of course, there are many other firsts attributed to the band including first ever rock and roll drugs bust, most arrests of any band, first ever “garage” single, first ever rock opera, first U.K. band to win Rolling Stone record of the year and first band to regain control of its entire recorded catalog.
Phil May and ex-Rolling Stone Dick Taylor have been the backbone for the majority of the band’s history with Taylor being out for just under a decade throughout the 70’s. That’s 55 years as a working band but that will come to an end, at least for their “electric performances”, at the end of the year.
It does appear that they will continue to perform acoustically on occasion but true music fans know that it is their electric performances that so successfully recreates the sound of the Pretty Things.
The following is the current schedule for The Pretty Things’ final year:
03/09 – Skegness, UK – Skegness Festival of the 60’s
03/10 – Morecambe, UK – The Platform
03/13 – Guildford, UK – G Live, Bellerby Studio (acoustic lineup)
03/16 – Chelmsford, UK – City Football Club
03/21 – Brighton, UK – Komedia
03/24 – Frome, UK – Frome Rhythm and Blues Festival
03/30 – London – Le Beat Bespoke
04/03 – Dorfen, Germany – Jakobmayer-Saal
04/05 – Vienna, Austria – Reigen
04/06 – Obertraubling, Germany – Airport Club Regensburg
04/07 – Lichtentanne, Germany – Kulturkirche
04/09 – Berlin, Germany – Quasimodo
04/11 – Hamburg, Germany – Downtown Blues Club
04/13 – The Hague, Netherlands – Paard
04/14 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso Kleine Zaal
04/15 – Cologne, Germany – Yard Club / Die Kantine
05/02 – Copenhagen, Denmark – BETA
05/04 – Oslo, Norway – Rockefeller
05/05 – Malmö, Sweden – Folk Å Rock
05/06 – Stockholm, Sweden – Slaktkyrkan
05/12 – Lincoln, UK – Drill Hall
05/13 – Herts, UK – Harpenden Public Halls
06/24 – Isle of Wight Festival
07/13 – London (Putney), UK – Half Moon
08/03 – Hawkhurst, UK – SOL Party Festival
09/06 – Twickenham, UK – Eel Pie Club
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