Pretty Things Quiz | Music

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The band was formed in 1963 in London by Dick Taylor and Phil May. Their name was taken from the song "Pretty Thing" which was first performed in 1955 by which famous American singer/songwriter?

Answer: Bo Diddley

"Pretty Thing" was written by Willie Dixon and was Diddley's third hit single. "You pretty thing, Let me buy you a wedding ring," are the opening lines of the song. John Mayall and Spencer Davis were British musicians.

2. In 1964 The Pretty Things released their first single in the UK which was a relative success. The song was named after a girl. What was her name?

Answer: Rosalyn

"Cracklin' Rosie" was a hit for Neil Diamond, "Rose Marie" for Slim Whitman and "Song for Rosemary" by Fats Domino. "Rosalyn" reached 41 in the British charts. The song had that distinctive 60s sound with twanging guitars and heavy drum beat that reminds one of the early raw Rolling Stones sound.

The opening verses of the song were "Yeah Rosalyn, tell me where you've been, Oh Rosalyn, tell me where you've been".

3. The Pretty Things released a second song in the UK in 1964 which reached number ten in the charts. Not to be confused with a song by the same name by ELO, what was their most successful single called?

Answer: Don't Bring me Down

The song was written by Johnny Dee and was released on the Fontana label. The band's line-up was Phil May, Dick Taylor, Brian Pendleton, John Stax and Viv Prince. "I'm on my own, nowhere to roam, I tell you baby, don't want no home" were the opening verses of the song. The other three songs were 1964 hits for the Rolling Stones.

4. The first studio album of the Pretty Things in the UK was called "The Pretty Things" and was released in 1965. One of the tracks on the album "Oh, Baby Doll" was written by which American rock legend?

Answer: Chuck Berry

The album reached number six in the UK album charts. It contained both original material and songs by other artists such as Willie Dixon, Jimmy Reed and Tampa Red. There were 12 songs on the album with total playing time 35:29 minutes. The original Chuck Berry song was released in 1957. The other three persons listed are all British musicians.

5. The Pretty Things released a second album in 1965. What was the name of the album?

Answer: Get the Picture?

The album consisted of 12 tracks with original material and songs by other artists such as Jimmy Witherspoon, Johnny Dee, Tim Hardin and Ike Turner. On one of the tracks, "You Don't Believe Me", Jimmy Page is credited as a writer together with Phil May and Bobby Graham.

The personnel on the album were Phil May, Dick Taylor, Brian Pendleton and John Stax. Viv Prince played drums on some of the tracks and Bobby Graham and Twink on the rest. "Every Picture Tells a Story" was an album by Rod Stewart, "Pictures at an Exhibition" was composed by Modest Mussorgsky and "Pictures of Lily" a song by The Who.

6. In 1965 the Pretty Things released as a single a track from their second album. What was the name of the song that was first released by Bo Diddley in 1960?

Answer: Road Runner

Although "Road Runner" was a hit for Bo Diddley in the USA, the same did not happen for the Pretty Things in the UK. The opening verses of the song were "I'm a road runner, honey Well I'm a road runner, honey I bet you can't keep up with me".
"On the Road Again" was a hit for Canned Heat, "Yellow Brick Road" by Elton John and "Road to Ruin" by The Ramones.

7. In 1966 while working on the third album two of the members of the Pretty Things left the band because they didn't like the direction in which the band was going. Brian Pendleton was the first to quit; who was the second?

Answer: John Stax

John Stax was the bassist with the band since their formation while Brian Pendleton was on rhythm guitar. John Stax left the UK for Australia were he was building cigar box guitars. Pendleton quit the music scene altogether and became an insurance agent. He died in 2001. Winwood, Capaldi and Grech were all members of the band Traffic.

8. Following the departure of personnel the Pretty Things did release their third studio album in April 1967. What was the name of this album?

Answer: Emotions

Taylor and May enlisted the services of Wally Waller on bass who in turn introduced Jon Povey on drums and keyboards and they finally completed the album. By the time the album was completed the band had changed musical direction and not being happy with what was produced did absolutely nothing to promote it.
"Forever Changes" was an album by the band Love, "Between the Buttons" was released by the Rolling Stones and "Strange Days" by the Doors.

9. The change of musical direction by The Pretty Things became evident with the release of their fourth studio album. What was their new direction?

Answer: Psychedelic rock

Psychedelic rock was the "in" thing in late 60s. Prime examples were "Their Satanic Majesties Request" by the Rolling Stones, "Surrealistic Pillow" by Jefferson Airplane, "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" by Pink Floyd and "Sgt Pepper" by the Beatles.
The other rock genres listed were not evident during the late 60s and appeared at a later time.

10. The fourth studio album by the Pretty Things was released in 1968 and was one of the first concept albums. What was the name of their fourth album?

Answer: S.F. Sorrow

"S.F. Sorrow" follows the life of Sebastian F. Sorrow from birth to lonely old age. It was first written as a short story by band member Phil May. The first track was called "S.F. Sorrow Is Born" and the last "Loneliest Person". The story was written as notes that preceded the lyrics that were printed inside the inner sleeve of the album. Two of the songs on the album, "Private Sorrow" and "Balloon Burning", were released as singles prior to the release of the album.
"Tommy" was by The Who, "Thick as a Brick" by Jethro Tull and "Pet Sounds" by the Beach Boys.

Source: Author gme24

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Pretty Things Trivia Quiz

A British band that appeared in the 1960s having rock and blues influences. They produced some great music but were not as successful as other British bands of that era.

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