The Pretty Things 

Boasting a widescreen production from EMI staff producer Norman 'Hurricane' Smith (fresh from his work with The Beatles and Pink Floyd), their 1967 single Defecting Grey skilfully incorporated a fragile harpsichord waltz with swathes of fuzz guitar and backwards sitar to create one of the definitive examples of the British studio psych sound. 

Dick Taylor later expanded on the band's modus operandi during arguably the most creative phase of their existence: "Our basic principle was that if it made a noise, we would bring it into the studio and our producer, Norman Smith, would find a way to incorporate it into a track".

Defecting Grey reinvigorated the band's career after the unconvincing Emotions, but ultimately it failed to reverse their commercial fortunes, which had been in steady decline for a year or two. By the time the single appeared in the shops, the band were at Abbey Road to record their next 45, Talkin' About The Good Times - another glorious lysergic flop.

A brief recording hiatus ensued before The Pretty Things spent the bulk of 1968 desultorily recording the equally epic S.F. Sorrow, one of the finest albums to emerge from the period and a significant influence on Pete Townshend's magnum opus, Tommy.