The Pretty Things was preceded by Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys which consisted of Dick Taylor, fellow Sidcup Art College student Keith Richards, and Mick Jagger. When Brian Jones joined Little Boy Blue and the Blues Boys as guitarist, Taylor was pushed from playing guitar to bass and the Rolling Stones were formed.
Several months later Dick Taylor (born Richard Clifford Taylor, 28 January 1943, in Dartford, Kent) quit the newly formed Rolling Stones to pursue his schooling when he was accepted at London Central School of Art, where he met up with Phil May (born Phillip Arthur Dennis Kattner, on 9 November 1944, in Dartford, Kent: died 15 May 2020) and they formed Pretty Things.
Taylor was once again playing his preferred guitar with May singing and playing harmonica. They recruited Brian Pendleton (born 13 April 1944 in Wolverhampton–died 16 May 2001 in Maidstone, Kent) on rhythm guitar; John Stax (born John Edward Lee Fullegar, 6 April 1944 in Crayford, Kent) on bass; and, after trying a couple of different drummers, including Pete Kitley and Viv Andrews, stuck with Viv Prince (born Vivian St John Prince, 9 August 1944, in Loughborough, Leices).
Early career
They caused a sensation in England, and their first three singles — "Rosalyn" #41, "Don't Bring Me Down" #10, and the self-penned "Honey I Need" at #13 — appeared in the UK singles chart in 1964-1965. They never had a hit in the United States, but had considerable success in their native United Kingdom and in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, and the Netherlands in the middle of the decade. However, in the U.S. they, along with The Yardbirds and Van Morrison's Them, were a huge influence on hundreds of garage bands, including the MC5 and The Seeds.
Their early material was hard-edged blues-rock influenced by Bo Diddley (they took their name from Diddley's 1955 song "Pretty Thing" in humorous contrast to their unkempt long-haired appearance) and Jimmy Reed, much like that of their contemporaries The Stones and The Yardbirds. They were known for wild "rock and roll" behaviour and shocking the establishment; their song "Midnight to Six Man" defined the mod lifestyle. Around this time, the first of what would be many personnel changes over the years also began, with Prince the first to go late in 1965. He was replaced by Skip Alan. Pendleton left late in 1966, and was not initially replaced. Then, Stax quit early in 1967 and Jon Povey and Wally Waller joined to make the band a five piece once again.
After an uncomfortable flirtation with mainstream pop on the Emotions album in 1967, they embraced psychedelia, producing the groundbreaking concept album S.F. Sorrow during 1967-68. This album, released in late 1968, is arguably one of the first rock operas, preceding The Who's Tommy by about a year. It was recorded in the legendary Abbey Road Studios six months after The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and Pink Floyd's The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Each album shares a similar forward-thinking late-1960s psychedelic sound (as well as sharing the same record producer, Norman Smith, as the Floyd). S.F. Sorrow was followed by the highly-acclaimed record album Parachute, which continued the psychedelic sound and was named "Album of the Year" in 1970 by Rolling Stone Magazine. During this period they also recorded an album for a young French millionaire, Philippe DeBarge, which was intended only to be circulated among the man's social circle. The acetate has since been bootlegged.
Later career
From this point on, the group enjoyed less in the way of commercial success, but the devotion of a strong cult following, especially with critics and other rock musicians. Their material in the early 1970s tended towards more the hard rock and early heavy metal end of the spectrum, although still blues-based, on albums like Silk Torpedo. 1980's Cross Talk saw them incorporating influences of punk and New Wave into their hard rock sound; like most of their records, it was an artistic but not a commercial success.
With a new manager, Mark St John, they gigged sporadically during the 1980s. By the end of the decade their profile had almost disappeared, when founder members Phil May and Dick Taylor reformed the band for a successful European blues tour in late 1990 with Stan Webb's Chicken Shack and Luther Allison. This gigging outfit included drummer Hans Waterman (formerly of Dutch rock group Solution), bassist Roelf ter Velt and guitarist/keyboardist Barkley McKay (Waco Brothers and Pine Valley Cosmonaut's with Jon Langford of Mekon Fame). This line up regularly toured the European mainland playing a revitalised set that show cased their earlier, rootsy blues and r'n'b materiel, until late 1994. By 1995, they reformed the Cross Talk line-up and added Frank Holland on guitar in place of Peter Tolson. Their label, Snapper Music, issued remastered CDs with many bonus tracks, plus a DVD of a re-recording of S.F. Sorrow at Abbey Road Studios (with Dave Gilmour & Arthur Brown guesting). They toured more frequently, including a tour of the U.S. for the first time in decades
Original rhythm guitarist Brian Pendleton died of lung cancer on May 16, 2001.
In the early 2000's, they released new recordings, including a live album and the studio album Rage Before Beauty.
In 2003, Alan Lakey's biography of the band, Growing Old Disgracefully, was published by Firefly. The book dealt with the long and involved history of the band, and paid special attention to the legal proceedings issued against EMI in the 1990s.
The band did their final tour in 2018.
Don't Bring Me Down
The Pretty Things Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I tell you baby, don't want no home
I wander round, feet off the ground
I even go from town to town
I said I think this rock is grand
Say I'll be your man
Don't bring me down, don't bring me down
And then to me, she said she'll stay
I get this pad, just like a cave
And then we'll have, our living made
And then I'll lead her on the ground
My head is spinning round
Don't bring me down, don't bring me down
I, I, I, I, I need a lover 'cause someone new
And then to her I will be true
I'll buy her furs and pretty things
I'll even buy a wedding ring
But until then I'll settle down?
Say I'll be your man
Don't bring me down, don't bring me down
Until then I'll settle down?
Say I'll be your man
Don't bring me down, don't bring me down
Don't bring me down
The song "Don't Bring Me Down" by The Pretty Things is a rock and roll classic that has been labeled as one of the greatest garage rock songs of all time. The song is a high-energy piece about a young man who is seeking adventure, excitement, and love. In the opening lines of the song, the singer makes it clear that he is on his own and does not want to settle down. He has an adventurous spirit and enjoys wandering from place to place without being tied down by responsibilities. The lyrics "I even go from town to town, I said I think this rock is grand, Say I'll be your man, Don't bring me down" convey the idea that the singer is always looking for new experiences and opportunities.
The second verse of the song introduces a new character - a woman who wants to settle down with the singer. She offers him a place to stay ("I get this pad, just like a cave, And then we'll have, our living made") and promises to be faithful to him ("And then to me, she said she'll stay"). However, the singer is not interested in settling down just yet. He tells her that he needs a lover who is new ("I, I, I, I, I need a lover 'cause someone new") and that he will be true to her ("And then to her I will be true"). He promises to buy her pretty things and furs and even a wedding ring, but he wants to explore life a little longer.
Overall, "Don't Bring Me Down" is a song about youthful rebellion and the desire for adventure. The lyrics express the singer's desire to explore life and not be tied down by responsibilities. Even though he meets a woman who offers him stability and love, he is not ready to settle down just yet. The energetic guitar riffs and the raw vocals of The Pretty Things perfectly capture the spirit of the song and make it an enduring classic.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm on my own, nowhere to roam
I am currently alone without a permanent place to stay or reside.
I tell you baby, don't want no home
I inform you, dear, that I am not interested in having a permanent residence.
I wander round, feet off the ground
I move randomly, feeling carefree and unburdened.
I even go from town to town
I move from one town to another, not staying in one place for too long.
I said I think this rock is grand
I expressed my fondness and admiration for this style of music.
Say I'll be your man
Promise to be your lover and partner.
Don't bring me down, don't bring me down
Do not make me feel sad, depressed, or disappointed.
I met this chick, the other day
Recently, I encountered a woman.
And then to me, she said she'll stay
She promised to be with me and not leave.
I get this pad, just like a cave
I acquire a place to live, which is secluded and protected.
And then we'll have, our living made
Together, we will establish and maintain our living situation.
And then I'll lead her on the ground
I will have sexual intercourse with her.
My head is spinning round
I feel disoriented and overwhelmed with my current situation.
I, I, I, I, I need a lover 'cause someone new
I am searching for a new romantic interest because I crave love and companionship.
And then to her I will be true
I promise to be faithful and loyal to my new lover.
I'll buy her furs and pretty things
I will purchase luxurious and beautiful items for my new lover.
I'll even buy a wedding ring
I will buy an engagement ring in preparation for a possible marriage.
But until then I'll settle down?
However, for the time being, I am unsure if I want to commit to a serious relationship.
Say I'll be your man
Promise to be your lover and partner.
Don't bring me down, don't bring me down
Do not make me feel sad, depressed, or disappointed.
Until then I'll settle down?
For now, I will focus on finding a stable and trusting relationship.
Say I'll be your man
Promise to be your lover and partner.
Don't bring me down, don't bring me down
Do not make me feel sad, depressed, or disappointed.
Don't bring me down
Do not bring negativity or harsh emotions upon me.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Johnnie Dee
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ruthdixon7807
cool classic british R&B from the band that gave the stones bad dreams and cold sweats.
@Djjohnreed
Great song. I was lucky to see the band when they toured the USA in 1999. Amazing night!! RIP Phil.
@carlhorowitz5916
Phil May, one of the greats, RIP.
@RHR-221b
💚
@Exisles
Bought 'Pin-ups' aged 15 & loved every song ! Now 45 years on, hearing a few of the originals for the first time & this one is immense !
@balloonfarm5903
The Pretty Things out stoned the Stones. Downright greasy and gritty like rock was meant to be.😎✌🏽☮️🎸
@paulherring2434
One of the really good rnb tracks from the mid sixties. The Pretty Things should have gone much further in music than they did.
@flagwanker6346
Saw them first on the Isle of Wight, just after the release of Rosalyn. They were the support act for Matt Munroe. Second time just after release of S.F. Sorrow. Local Isle of Wight club and the first light show using manual slide projectors. Dick Taylor still lives on the Island
@kevocarroll3297
I vividly remember them at the 69 IoW festival doing "Balloon Burning" from SF Sorrow - Twink was doing his loony tunes mime routine. R.I.P. Phil May, the most charismatic frontman ever.
@surfercrow
1964! Legends. Best of the best.