PRETTY THINGS "SAVAGE EYE"

Artist: The Pretty Things
Album: Savage Eye
Company: Swan Song
Catalog: SS 8414
Year: 1975
Genre: rock
Grade: *** (3 stars)
Condition: VG+ cover / VG+ LP
Comments: gatefold sleeve with original custom inner sleeves
Quantity available: 2
Price: $15,00

So how could you go wrong when the world's biggest, baddest, and best known rock band [Led Zeppelin] goes out of their way to champion your cause, even signing you to their own record label ?  Seems like it would be hard to do ...  but The Pretty Things managed to pull it off.    

 

Released in 1976, "Savage Eye" was their second release for Swan Song and teamed the band with producer Norman Smith.   Musically this one has always struck me as being kind of an aural mess.  You almost got the feeling they knew they were operating on borrowed time and needed to find a hit, or they were going to be commercial and artistic toast.  That sense of desperation came through on the collection's extreme diversity.  'Under the Volcano', 'Remember That Boy', and 'Drowned Man' all aptly showcased their rock roots.   At the other end of the spectrum, the glorious 'Sad Eye' and  the throwaway instrumental 'Theme For Michelle' were stark ballads seemingly intended to showcase the softer, more commercial band.  And in-between those genres you got stabs at pedestrian blues-rock ('My Song'),  Jeff Lynne-styled orchestral pop ('My Song'), and even 10cc-styled pop-rock ('Remember That Boy').  It certainly wasn't a bad album, but the thing was so inconsistent you can easily understand people's frustration with the band and why it gets so many lukewarm reviews.  To my ears it had enough top notch material to warrant the investment of time and energy in checking it out.

 

"Savage Eye" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Under The Volcano   (Phil May - Pete Tolson) - 6:02
 

Seemingly inspired by the Malcolm Lowry novel and Phil May's own childhood memories (not everyone enjoys a textbook childhood), 'Under the Volcano' started the set off with a sizzling rocker that had one fatal flaw - namely Phil May's horrible vocal ... Producer Norman Smith managed to make it sound like the band had recorded the vocals from a phone booth in a neighboring country.  That said, the rest of the tune had a slinky energy that largely made up for the sloppy vocals.   rating: **** stars

2.) My Song   (Phil May) - 5:12 
 

LOL - May's heartbreaking dedication to writer's block ...  Not sure who actually sang the tune, but the vocal was a bit rough (thing along the lines of Graham Nash with a head cold).  Opening up as a stark ballad, the song abruptly shifted into Jeff Lynne/Electric Light Orchestra territory, complete with elaborate and fully orchestrated arrangement.   Strange.    rating: *** stars

3.) Sad Eye   (Pete Tolson) - 4:31
 

Featuring Jack Green on lead vocals, 'Sad Eye' was a pretty, plaintive, and stark ballad.  Most of the arrangement was just Green with an acoustic guitar accompaniment and some spine shivering backing vocals on the chorus.  One of the prettiest things The Pretty Things ever recorded.  The song was also tapped as a British single:

 

 

- 1976's 'Sad Eye' b/w 'Remember That Boy' (Swan Song catalog number )   rating: **** stars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.) Remember That Boy   (Phil May) - 5:04

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Back to full throttle, no-frills rock. that's actually always reminded mea bit of 10cc pretending they could actually rock out. (check out the weird little guitar refrain).   Not immediately breathtaking, but with a couple of spins the tune began to reveal it's charms.   Skip Alan's drumming was particularly good on this one.  rating: *** stars

 

(side 2)

 

1.) It Isn't Rock 'n' Roll   (John Povey) - 4:07     

Bouncing between music hall and conventional bar band moves, 'It Isn't rock 'n' Roll' probably wasn't going to appeal to hardcore rock fans, but I actually liked the oddball arrangement.  Surprising the tune wasn't tapped as a single.   rating; *** stars
 

2.) I'm Keeping'    (Phil May) - 4:04 
 

Admittedly a bit light in the concept department, but 'I'm Keeping' was a bouncy tribute to keeping bad, bad company with one of the album's sweetest melodies.  An album highlight.   rating:**** stars
 

3.) It's Been So Long   (Phil May) - 5:07 
Need to hear a breezy, bluesy ballad featuring Green on vocals ...  Well, here's 'It's Been So Long'.  Professional, but kind of plodding and forgettable, though the backing vocals were surprisingly sweet.  Always wondered about the strange almost Gregorian chants that were mixed way in the backing track. rating: *** stars
 

4.) Drowned Man   (Phil May - John Povey) - 4:23
 

Reportedly a tribute to a band roadie who drown in Greece, 'Drowned Man' was the album's best rocker. I've always loved the dark, heavy bass and Skip Alan 's martial drumming on this one ...  With May handling vocals, this was another tune with kind of a 10cc vibe.   rating: **** stars
 

5.) Theme For Michelle (instrumental)   (John Povey) - 1:59
 

Written by keyboardist John Povey, 'Theme For Michelle' was certainly an odd way for the band to end the album.  A fragile, piano-powered ballad, the brief track had a very Liberace/lounge lizard vibe to it.   You were left wondering if you'd somehow missed the joke.   rating: ** stars