I'm a huge 'Pretty Things' fan and just found this thread. Man, talk about a band that should have made it but didnt. They missed on every account. Usually it was bad management, and then when they finally did get somebody that new what was going on (Peter Grant, manager of Led Zeppelin and head honcho of Swan Songs), the drug use zapped any momentum they had. Even without the commercial success that most british invasion **** had, the Pretties still garnished a rich and interesting history.
I think its cool how their early drummer Vivain Prince was the motivator and precursor for Keith Moon. The man was a maniac, but like Moon, it was also his downfall. He partied so much and caused such trouble that the band was forced to boot him and move forward. He stayed awake for days at a time with constant fighting and pranking, He was the reason they were deported from New Zealand during a successful early tour (the band is still banned from the country to this day). Its things like this that destroyed any chances the band may have had.
I really wasnt a fan of the first couple of albums which were raunchy R&B, and its funny that I really started enjoying them around the 'Emotions' album. I feel this is the record they started to display some real depth in their music writing and a tightness that wasnt there beforehand. Its also funny that they had a grudge with Fontana records at the time because of the producer (Steve Rowland) who was assigned to them. The Pretties were afraid that they were being pushed towards a more commercial sound then what they were accustomed to, so they just did the record to fill the obligation and gave it to them. Fontana then added their own strings and brass over the songs and the finished product was somewhat of a mixed bag. The band hated it, but didnt have a leg to stand on. If you listen to the album, you can tell some parts are so blatantly out of place that its comical, but I still like the record and find it interesting.