Silk Torpedo

Silk Torpedo
Silk Torpedo
Studio album by Pretty Things
Released	1 November 1974
Recorded	1973
Studio	Olympic Studios, London
Genre	Rock
Length	42:02 (original release)
Label	Swan Song
Producer	Norman Smith
Pretty Things chronology

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[1]
Tom Hull	B−^[2]

Silk Torpedo is the seventh album by the English rock band Pretty Things. This is their second album without Wally Waller, the group's rhythm guitarist/bassist since 1967. The album has more of a glam rock feel, a contrast from their early R&B years and their psychedelic years.

The album was the first to be released in the UK on the Swan Song Records label.^[3]

The album is the second rock opera by The Pretty Things, the first being S.F. Sorrow (1968), and follows the story of an unnamed protagonist throughout major points in his life. Since the band has not commented on it much, the story may be open to interpretation, as the story contains some plot ambiguity.

Track listing

("Dream" and "Joey" are conjoined into a single song, as are "Belfast Cowboys" and "Bruise In The Sky".)

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Dream"	Jon Povey	1:08
2.	"Joey"	Phil May	5:35
3.	"Maybe You Tried"	May, Pete Tolson	4:19
4.	"Atlanta"	May, Tolson	2:42
5.	"L.A.N.T.A."	May, Povey, Norman Smith	2:23
6.	"Is It Only Love"	May	5:04

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Come Home Momma"	May	3:32
2.	"Bridge of God"	May	5:01
3.	"Singapore Silk Torpedo"	May, Tolson	5:11
4.	"Belfast Cowboys"	May, Povey	5:10
5.	"Bruise in the Sky"	Povey	1:50

Bonus tracks from 2002 CD reissue by Repertoire Records
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
11.	"Singapore Silk Torpedo" (live at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1974)	May, Tolson	7:11
12.	"Dream / Joey" (live at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1974)	May, Povey	7:16

Personnel

The Pretty Things

Phil May – lead vocals, percussion
Pete Tolson – lead and acoustic guitars, bass
Jon Povey – keyboards, backing vocals, harmonica, percussion
Gordon John Edwards – bass, backing vocals, keyboards, guitar
Skip Alan – drums, backing vocals, percussion

with:

Jack Green – backing vocals
Silver Band – brass on "Is It Only Love"

Technical

Norman Smith – production
Keith Harwood – engineer
Hipgnosis – cover art

References

^ Allmusic review
^ Hull, Tom (April 1975). "The Rekord Report: Third Card". Overdose. Retrieved 26 June 2020 – via tomhull.com.
^ Davis, Stephen (18 August 2023). Hammer of the Gods (2008 ed.). London: Pan Books. p. 222. ISBN 978-0-330-43859-9.

[1] Allmusic review

[2] Hull, Tom (April 1975). "The Rekord Report: Third Card". Overdose. Retrieved 26 June 2020 – via tomhull.com.

[3] Davis, Stephen (18 August 2023). Hammer of the Gods (2008 ed.). London: Pan Books. p. 222. ISBN 978-0-330-43859-9.

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v t e Pretty Things
Phil May Dick Taylor Skip Alan Jon Povey Wally Waller Pete Kitley Brian Pendleton John Stax Viv Andrews Viv Prince Twink Victor Unitt Pete Tolson Stuart Brooks Gordon John Edwards Jack Green Simon Fox Joe Shaw Dave Wintour Dave Wilki John Clark Kevin Flanagan Perry Margouleff Doede Ter Veld Roelf Ter Veld Bertram Engel Frank Holland Mark St. John Steve Browning Hans Waterman Barkley McKay Jack Greenwood George Woosey
Studio albums	The Pretty Things Get the Picture? Emotions S. F. Sorrow Parachute Freeway Madness Silk Torpedo Savage Eye Cross Talk ... Rage Before Beauty Balboa Island The Pretty Things/Philippe DeBarge The Sweet Pretty Things (Are in Bed Now, of Course...) Bare as Bone, Bright as Blood
Live albums	Resurrection The Final Bow
Extended plays	Rainin' in My Heart
Singles	"Rosalyn" "Don't Bring Me Down" "Honey I Need" "Road Runner "Midnight to Six Man" "Come See Me"
Related articles	Discography
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