Nuggets II: Rosalyn by The Pretty Things

The success of Rhino’s 1998 Nuggets boxset justified a follow-up. The sequel covers the rest of the world since the first volume only chronicled the USA.

Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969 emerged in 2001. It features music from countries such as Iceland, Uruguay, and Japan. I’m profiling and rating each of the 109 tracks, working backwards.

Track 82 – Rosalyn by The Pretty Things

From: Sidup, Kent

Credits

4/1. ROSALYN – The Pretty Things
(Jimmy Duncan/Bill Farley)

PERSONNEL/PHIL MAY: vocals * DICK TAYLOR: lead guitar * BRIAN PENDLETON: rhythm guitar * JOHN STAX: bass * VIV PRINCE: drums
Produced by JIMMY DUNCAN & BILL FARLEY
Recorded in London, England
Fontana single #TF-469 (1964)

The Pretty Things

Guitarist Dick Taylor played bass in the Rollin’ Stones, with Brian Jones, Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards. He quit the band to attend the Central School of Art and Design in London, where he formed The Pretty Things. The Pretty Things are one of the most famous bands on Nuggets – 1964’s ‘Don’t Bring Me Down’ sneaked into the UK top 10, while 1968’s S.F. Sorrow was among the first rock operas.

The Pretty Things left a lasting impression when they toured New Zealand in 1965. Mick Jagger famously called Invercargill the “arsehole of the world” when the Rolling Stones toured the same year. But The Pretty Things were even more infamous. Drummer Vivian Prince drank freely and walked on public streets with a dead crayfish on a string, proclaiming “I’m the king of the world!” Here’s a selection of newspaper cuttings, courtesy of Audioculture:

Other acts on the bill were of a fairly high standard, but this group was about the worst we have yet seen. Good thing they have gone back home, we certainly don’t want any more imports like that.

This Is A Pop Star?

Looking more like his hairy ancestral cousin than a modern human being, [Viv Prince] a member of Britain’s way-out pop group, “The Pretty Things”, throws an ape-like pose for the camera shortly after arriving in Gisborne last month.

Rosalyn

The Pretty Things took their name from a Bo Diddley song, so I guess it makes sense that their first hit employs the Bo Diddley beat.

The bluesy Nuggets are often my least favourite, but this one works with a charismatic vocal and a busy arrangement.

Released in June 1964, “Rosalyn” was The Pretty Things’ first single, a powerful Bo Diddley beat pounder ablaze with maracas, slide guitar, booming bass, and a screaming yet sensual vocal by Phil May. A TV appearance for the song sparked sufficient press furore to propel it into the lower reaches of the charts. The band quickly became one of the biggest draws on the club circuit, causing near riots in several towns and inspiring a wave of like-minded bands won over by their tough, aggressive sound and uncompromising image.
Mike Stax, Nuggets II liner notes

David Bowie covered ‘Rosalyn’ on his 1960s covers album Pin Ups.

The Aftermath

The Pretty Things weren’t household names, except in 1965 New Zealand. But they enjoyed a long and acclaimed career. May and Taylor (sounds like Queen!) kept the band going until their 2018 farewell tour.

9 Comments

80smetalman

January 6, 2026 / 7:24 am Reply

They do sound very similar to the Rolling Stones.
- Aphoristical
  
  January 7, 2026 / 7:42 pm Reply
  
  For sure. It’s impressive they have a singer with some of Jagger’s charisma.
Christian's Music Musings

January 6, 2026 / 1:31 pm Reply

I immediately recognized their name but don’t recall having heard “Don’t Bring Me Down” and “S.F. Sorrow Is Born” or “Rosalyn” for that matter. I like all three songs. I also agree with 80smetalman the sound of The Pretty Things is very reminiscent of The Rolling Stones.
- Aphoristical
  
  January 7, 2026 / 7:43 pm Reply
  
  They’re one of the more famous bands on Nuggets, I think. And this tracks very Stones-y, even if they diverged a bit later.
greenpete58

January 6, 2026 / 4:00 pm Reply

(The “ape-like” person in the photo I’m fairly certain is Viv Prince, not Phil May. Prince died just last year.)

A good band that never hit the A league. I have a U.S. copy of S.F. Sorrow and am amazed how collectible it is.
- Aphoristical
  
  January 6, 2026 / 4:34 pm Reply
  
  Oops -you’re right – I’ve fixed that.
  
  I remember enjoying S.F. Sorrow and Parachute too,
Badfinger (Max)

January 9, 2026 / 3:35 pm Reply

I like them a lot. They were rawer than the Stones or Them to me. Yea the Stones didn’t care much for New Zealand. Keith Richards mentioned Dunedin, New Zealand as being a “black hole”….I thought damn. I think the Small Faces had trouble there and Australia as well. The Pretty Things just couldn’t get over that proverbial hump.
- Aphoristical
  
  January 12, 2026 / 8:05 pm Reply
  
  Yup, Dunedin was a “black hole” and Invercargill (even further south) was the “arsehole of the world”. Hard to imagine international bands playing Invercargill – it’s NZ’s 15th biggest city.
  
  Pretty Things are really good, but I don’t think they were ever going to be Stones huge.
  - Badfinger (Max)
    
    January 13, 2026 / 3:42 am Reply
    
    No not that huge… but they aren’t remembered much at all.