Description
Label Review.
2019 release. Live at O2 Indigo London in December 2018 featuring special guests David Gilmour and Van Morrison.
Our Overview.
‘The Final Bow’ celebrates 55 years of the legendary 1st wave R&B cult heroes The Pretty Things - one of the greatest band most people have never heard of - final electric performance recorded at the O2 Indigo London in December 2018 featuring special guests David Gilmour and Van Morrison. ‘The Final Bow’ captures The Pretty Things at their rocking and unique, mercurial best across 3 sets of classic tracks featuring special guest appearances from good friends David Gilmour and Van Morrison. This 2LP set features a selection of the evening’s live recordings presented in a gatefold sleeve featuring photography from Judy Totton and printed inner bags with liner notes written by Phil May of his life as the frontman of the ballsy and successful rock band. The audio was recorded by Ben McCusker, mastered by Gwyn Matthias and produced by Mark St. John.
Invaluable to the development of British music, The Pretty Things have been a critical success and a huge influence on artists as diverse as David Bowie, Aerosmith, The Ramones, Bob Dylan, The Sex Pistols, The White Stripes, Kasabian and many, many more - who site their outrageous behaviour, incandescent stage performances and astonishing catalogue of remarkable, ground-breaking recordings as fundamental in the creation of their own work. Still creating significant music today and with a rich catalogue including top-level albums such as ‘Get the Picture ?’, ‘S.F. Sorrow’ & ‘Parachute’, they remain a hugely significantartistic and creative force. They are a band to revere with no other firstwave artist but The Rolling Stones outselling their frontline recordings today and probably no artist at all outperforming them live.
This electric performance features all the youthful and incendiary vigour from their 60’s beginnings, showing off a technical prowess by performing tracks from their full range of styles: first wave R’n’B, psychedelic rock, and the blues. Led by founding vocalist and guitarist Phil May & Dick Taylor, the band was driven by their current line-up consisting Frank Holland, Jack Greenwood & George Woosey and featured returns from original recording band members Skip Allen, Wally Waller & John Povey. The evening was transformed from unmissable to sensational with the guest performances of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour on classics including “Cries from the Midnight Circus” & “L.S.D.”, and legendary vocalist Van Morrison on blues classic “Baby, Please Don’t Go” & soul standard “You Can’t Judge a Book by its Cover”. ‘The Final Bow’ should be compulsory for anyone with the slightest interest in popular music and the youth and social revolution of the 1960’s.
LP 1: Mark St John “Introduction” / “Honey, I Need” / “Don’t Bring Me Down” / “Get The Picture ?” / “The Same Sun” / “Alexander/Defecting Grey”/ “Midnight To Six Man” / “Mr Evasion” / Mark St John “S.F. Sorrow Set - Introduction” / “Scene One” / “S.F. Sorrow Is Born” / feat David Gilmour “She Says Good Morning” / feat David Gilmour “I See You”
LP 2: feat David Gilmour “Cries From The Midnight Circus” / Mark St John “End Set Intro” / “Can’t Be Satisfied” / Phil May “Van Morrison Introduction” / feat Van Morrison “Baby Please Don’t Go” / feat Van Morrison “You Can’t Judge A Book By It’s Cover” / “Come See Me” / feat David Gilmour “L.S.D. / Old Man Going” / Mark St John “Encore - Introduction” / “Rosalyn” / “Phil’s Final Words” / “Loneliest Person”