The Pretty Things - SF Sorrow at Abbey Road

Rating:
Summary: Another Great Performance!....
Review: Who'd thought we'd be living in an age where old (er, "VINTAGE" rather!) GREAT albums of the past would be re-created 'live' by their original artists? (See my review for "LOVE: The Forever Changes Concert" DVD).

This is really a nice DVD with the COMPLETE "S.F. SORROW" album (originally released in 1968) RE-CREATED LIVE on a stage in EMI's Studio Two (in Abbey Road).

There are also lengthy interviews with original band members & a couple extra song performances, and David Gilmour & Arthur Brown in the show too!

I first heard the original S.F. Sorrow album (the 'EDSEL' CD re-issue) in 1994, & quickly liked it. Very unique & original!! (What can I say??) It stands out alongside a few other late 60s British albums [along with The Zombies "Odyssey & Oracle", Love's "Forever Changes" to barely name a few!).

This newer performance took place in September 1998, and the performance is GREAT, considering how the band mentioned NOT performing it for over 30 years (I'd like to see ANY older OR younger band try that!) I sat mesmerized while watching thinking; "I can't believe I'm hearing THIS ALBUM being newley RE-CREATED, and IN the original studio too!" I was playing 'air drums' & 'air guitar' as I sat. The performance of "I See You" really gave me chills -- THESE guys KNOW what they're doing!

My only complaints would be the cameras left John Povey (keyboards) OUT of too many shots (they seemed to be focused on stage right!) He seems to be the band's 'multi-instrumentalist' (like 'Brian Jones' was in The Rolling Stones) but you can hardly see him. (?) And the camera shots during the interviews seemed on the 'amaturish' side(??) But I STILL give it 5 stars!

Beatles fans & early Pink Floyd fans will enjoy all the 'EMI Studio' references to them as well.

Get this DVD because the 'pathetically mainstream' "MTV" & "VH1" will never be hip enough to show it.