Re: The Pretty things

In 1968, a full year before the release of "Tommy", The Pretty Things album "S.F. Sorrow" was released and became the first "rock opera" of its kind to hit the music world. It featured a running story focusing on "Sebastian F. Sorrow" and his trials and tribulations in a society stricken by war and his descent into a dark world of depression after the death of his true love. The similarities between "S.F. Sorrow" and "Tommy" are noticable considering the manner in which the album is constructed, the storyline and some of the music (i.e the intro to Pinball Wizard vs. the intro to Old Man Going...of course Pinball Wizard being a much superior display of power strumming). However, "Tommy" brought in more of the elements of opera such as a reoccurring musical theme.

In the liner notes to the recently remastered version of the cd Aurthur Brown (of "Fire" fame) states what he saw as the importance of S.F. Sorrow to Pete. He claims that more so than Pete, Kit Lambert "saw the power of the idea" of S.F. Sorrow and "hammered away at Townshend to write an opera like S.F. Sorrow". Needless to say "S.F. Sorrow" soared into obscurity and didn't see its due share of praise until years after its release and we all know what happened with "Tommy". At any rate, "S.F. Sorrow" warrents a listen from any Who fan...it's an amazing album. Hope this helps clear the air some...