Pretenders: Pretenders (Remastered & Expanded) (Disc 1) CD Track Listing

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Pretenders Pretenders (Remastered & Expanded) (Disc 1) (1980)
The Pretenders (Remastered + Expanded) - Disc 1 of 2\n2006 Sire Records/Rhino\n\nOriginally Released January 19, 1980\nCD Edition Released 1987 ??\nRemastered + Expanded CD Edition Released October 3, 2006\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: The Pretenders' debut album received a much-deserved upgrade in the fall of 2006, as Rhino reissued it as a double-disc set containing a remastered version of the original album on the first disc and a wealth of rarities on the second. Of the 16 tracks, 11 are previously unreleased, but the five previously released cuts are relatively rare, including "Cuban Slide" and "Porcelain," the two excellent non-LP cuts from the 1981 EP Extended Play that didn't surface on CD until the 2006 box Pirate Radio. They're highlights here too, particularly for fans of the first lineup of the Pretenders who didn't want to invest in the big box, but this entire second disc is extremely worthwhile, a worthy supplement to one of the greatest rock & roll albums ever made. Not that it is always as confident and assured as the finished album; it's often rough, particularly on the demos, such as "Stop Your Sobbing," which isn't as full as the studio version, or on the demo of "Brass in Pocket," which reveals that Chrissie Hynde's original line for the chorus was "you're special" instead of "I'm special," a slight shift that changes the meaning of the song considerably. These may not be as good as the final versions, but they're certainly worthwhile, if only to hear a great band at work, and they're complemented by raucous live cuts -- including a rampaging cover of "Sabre Dance" -- capturing the band at its peak. Add to this a few rarely heard but strong songs -- a demo of "I Can't Control Myself," an early extremely laconic and shambolic version of "Tequila," "Swinging London," and "Nervous But Shy" -- and this is an essential purchase for anybody who is a fan of the first album (which should include anybody who loves rock & roll). -- Stephen Thomas Erlewine\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Few rock & roll records rock as hard or with as much originality as the Pretenders' eponymous first album. A sleek, stylish fusion of Stonesy rock & roll, new wave pop and pure punk aggression, Pretenders is teeming with sharp hooks and a viciously cool attitude. Although Chrissie Hynde establishes herself as a forceful and distinctively feminine songwriter, the record isn't a singer-songwriter's tour de force -- it's a rock & roll album, powered by a unique and aggressive band. Guitarist James Honeyman-Scott never plays conventional riffs or leads, and his phased, treated guitar gives new dimension to the pounding rhythms of "Precious," "Tattooed Love Boys," "Up the Neck" and "The Wait," as well as the more measured pop of "Kid," "Brass in Pocket" and "Mystery Achievement." He provides the perfect backing for Hynde and her tough, sexy swagger. Hynde doesn't fit into any conventional female rock stereotype, and neither do her songs, alternately displaying a steely exterior or a disarming emotional vulnerability. It's a deep, rewarding record, whose primarily virtue is its sheer energy. Pretenders moves faster and harder than most rock records, delivering an endless series of melody, hooks and infectious rhythms in its 12 songs. Few albums, let alone debuts, are ever this astonishingly addictive. -- Stephen Thomas Erlewine\n\nAmazon.com Editorial Review\nThis nearly perfect debut album showcases both the extraordinary songs of Ohio-born singer Chrissie Hynde and the rhythmically complex performances of her U.K.-bred band, Pretenders. The band tramples through the sexual aggression of "Precious," "Up the Neck" and "Tattooed Love Boys"; the classic pop of "Kid" and "Brass in Pocket"; and a brilliant cover of the Kinks's "Stop Your Sobbing." Hynde's sneering vocals add resonance to these tales of sexual revenge, abuse, and longing appropriately fleshed out with blood, guts, and guitar. --Rob O'Connor \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nEasily the best debut album ever, May 12, 2006\nReviewer: Alice Miller "guitar girl" (Moss Beach, CA USA)\nComing after endless years of flabby glam and mushy disco, this album reminded us of what rock and roll is supposed to be. From beginning to end, it is so relentlessly tough, edgy, and downright overpowering that it will rearrange your teeth in their sockets. As a public safety consideration, do not play this CD while driving in your car. Easily the best debut album by anybody, ever.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nIt took me a while to like it, but it finally hit me!, April 1, 2006\nReviewer: Squash 'N' Squeak "The Torment of Existence Weighed Against the Horror of Non-Being" (The Gates Of Delirium)\nOk, so I know I'm going to get a hurricane of un-helpful votes for not loving this albm *right* away, but f*** you then. I remeber when I 1st heard Precious, it sounded like Chrissie was just reading the lyrics off some note card with no rythm, and it convinced me that the Pretenders were overrated, and I didn't like The Phone Call either since it was like the previous track. The only tracks I could really get into were Up The Neck and Stop Your Sobbing, the rest seemed so boring to me. After a month or so I decided to give it a second chance... \n\n... And BOY WAS I WRONG. \n\nI finally understood what was so great about them- the Pretenders' debut makes you think, I can't really explain it, but it does. While The Phone Call is still my least favorite track here, it's still not that bad. I feel that if James Honeyman Scoot played keyboards on Space Invader (like he did on other tracks), it would've set a better mood for the song, but overall, it's still a pretty good instrumental, and I love that snaeaky bass solo in the beginning from Pete. The Wait is, in my opinion, the album's rocker. I like the quick picking of the guitar from... Either Chrissie or James, and Pete's bass playing on this song is probably some of the best on the whole album (along with the bass playing on Space Invader). Kid almost sounds like a Hawaiin song to me (if you pay close attention to the opening guitar riff, you'll see what I mean). Private Life is a very slow and jazzy song instrumental wise (Chrissie's voice is very upbeat, and while it may not go with the mood of the song, she pulls it off well); it's also one of my favorite songs off the record. Brass Pocket is the most popular song off here, last time off here. There's really nothing complicated about it, it's just a fun little rocker. Pete's bass is very good on this one, as well(I think he could actually be the most talented Pretender). Lovers of Today starts off with some very quiete guitars, and thunderous guitar solo from James slowly builds up in the chorus. It seems to more just be about a man and a woman than *all* sorts of lovers of today, but I suppose it's supposed to symbolize all lovers of today. As the song progresses, it seems to get darker instrument wise. Mystery Acheivement seems to be a strange way to end the album (I personally think Lovers of Today would've been the best way), but it's still a very good song. I like Martin's simple yet effective drumming in the beginning and I also love Pete's bass in the beginning as well(I keep refering to Pete because I am a bassist myslef, so I always note the bass in a song). \n\nThis and Radiohead's Ok Computer were both challenging albums for me to like, but I finally fell in love with both of them. Definately add this to your collection- it's a mixture of all sorts of music, while still holding on to that rock and roll vibe. The Pretenders' self-titled debut is undoubtedly one of the best debut albums of all time and I highly reccomend it! \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nGonna make you, make you, make you notice, February 1, 2005\nReviewer: Tim Brough "author and music buff" (Springfield, PA United States)\nThose prophetic words come from the breakthrough single "Brass In Pocket," and they completely sum up the debut album from The Pretenders. This band of English scruffs backed up ex-pat Chrissie Hynde and made one of rock's all time great debut albums. At a time when female singers either had to be disco wailers or blues chicks (the sole exception being Heart), Chrissie completely smashed all the old stereotypes and marked a new era in female singers. She, along with vocalists like Pat Benatar and Patti Smith, made it cool for independent women to make music that was sexy because it wasn't sexual. Remember Pat Benatar's classic quote of "you break my heart and I'll kick your a**"? Chrissie was that to the n'th degree. \n\n"The Pretenders" mixed hard rock and pop sense so flawlessly that the band never again came close to matching it. From the sweet longing of "Brass In Pocket" to the cool dismissiveness of "Up The Neck" ("it was all very...run of the mill"), Chrissie delivered tough and tender in equal doses with full credibility. Having James Honeyman Scott throwing inventive riffs behind almost every song certainly helped, as did the undeniable power of Martin Chambers and Pete Farndon -- listen to his bass work on "The Wait" -- as a rhythm team. (And dammit, why did James and Pete have to OD themselves? When will we ever learn?) \n\nAll the chemistry was in perfect coordination here. Even the one moment when Nick Lowe steps in for producer, a cover of The Kinks' "Stop Your Sobbing," can't break the synergy of this album. It remains a timeless debut, standing tall alongside of first efforts of the period from Tom Petty, Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson and The Cars. \n\nAnd I join in the masses that beg the remaster gods for a decent reissue of this and the rest of The Pretenders' catalog.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nWhen "The Pretenders" were a band, November 11, 2004\nReviewer: J Davis\nWhen looking at "solo albums" from Gwen Stefani, Shirley Manson and Debbie Harry, one might ask, "When will Chrissie Hynde make a solo album?". One might, but not if one were a Pretenders fan. Because, as all Pretenders fans-and unfans-know, all Chrissie Hynde's works since the first two Pretenders albums are, in fact, solo albums: she simply calls whatever bunch of people she's hired "Pretenders". \n\nAt one time, The Pretenders really were a band, no matter what Chrissie says: in her early days she had no money to pay Pete, Jimmy and Martin a salary, so some consensus had to be reached. And the current arrangement seems, to this fan of the original Pretenders, a little disrespectful to Pete and especially the great James Honeyman-Scott, who was _the_ Guitarist Behind The Girl-much more so than the technically competent but vanilla-metal oriented Neil Geraldo or the innovative-thinking but totally chops-bereft Chris Stein. \n\nHere is the Straight Stuff-the raw undiluted Pretenders Band. Chrissie, Pete, Jimmy and Martin, four imperfect but determined scruffs working it hard as they can because this might be their only chance. \n\nEnjoy and learn.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nStill powerful, June 9, 2004\nReviewer: David Bonesteel (Fresno, CA United States)\nOne of the few New Wave records that stand the test of time and can be appreciated today as something more substantial than mere nostalgia. The band rocks hard with some very innovative arrangements on cuts like "Precious" and "Tattooed Love Boys." Then they turn around and deliver some great pop songs like "Kid" and "Stop Your Sobbing." It's a shame that half the band died after recording this music. The Pretenders never attained the same heights again.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nyou can't lose with this record!, January 9, 2004\nReviewer: Erin Wilson "missewon" (San Diego, CA United States)\nWhen i heard this for the first time... it was something of a life-changing event. I had liked some new wave music, but was mostly a Led Zeppelin chick - smoking pot with my friends and pondering Jim Morrison's poetry on Doors albums.\nThen... THIS ALBUM... wow! From the instant "Precious" starts with the drumsticks clicking and then... Chrissie sings... and you're not exactly sure WHAT she's saying, but you just know she is the coolest girl singer in many years. Combining a mix of Shangri-La's tuff-girl with some Dusty Springfield soul, not to mention some bad-ass Keith Richards looks - how could you lose with Chrissie as your lead singer?\n\nThe interesting thing is that even though I was born and raised in the USA, I learned this album's lyrics from copying the sounds she makes and didn't know some of them actually HAD lyrics for years. Who cares? Now that i DO know the lyrics, it seems I'm quoting them ALL the time. "Howard the Duck and Mr Stress both stayed trapped in a world that they never made - But not me baby, i'm too precious i had to f#@% off!" - "I said, Baby, oh, sweetheart" - "It was all very run of the mill" - "I was a good time, yeah, i got pretty good" - "stop snivelin' - you're gonna make some plastic surgeon a rich man!" - "i'm very superficial i hate anything official" - "all of the birds start to sing everytime babies dream" - "you know me - i love pretending"\n\nI think i've bought about 4 copies over the years... don't cheese out and ONLY get the Singles collection! :)\n\nIf you buy this album, you, too, can find out what the Wait is all about.\n\nAnd remember - PLAY IT LOUD\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nFirst Great Album of the 80s, April 8, 2003\nReviewer: R. M. Ettinger "rme1963" (Cleveland Heights, OH USA)\nI first heard "Brass in Pocket" right around the beginning of 1980. I thought to myself - 'man, the 80s are gonna be great when it comes to musics'. I immediately went out and bought the Pretenders debut album.\nThe irony became that "Brass in Pocket" is possibly the weakest song on the recording (though I have little use for "Space Invaders").\n\n"Precious" and "Mystery Achievement" are possibly the best opening and closing numbers on a record ever. Sandwiched inbetween are some wonderful, underrated recordings that rarely got played. "Lovers of Today" and "Private Life" are much more subtle than "Tattooed Love Boys", but it works. And the almost pop of "Stop Your Sobbing" and "Kid" really fit in nicely without becoming sell-out material.\n\nEverything else is just as good - though as mentioned, "Brass in Pocket" may have become too overplayed for me, but that's just quibbeling on my part.\n\nThe Pretenders have put out a lot of other good work (their 2nd and 3rd albums), but it does pain me to say - they've never matched the accomplishments of their debut disk.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nThe First & The Best. Possibly The Best Debut Album Ever., November 15, 2002\nReviewer: "nunyuz" (Ridgecrest, CA)\nThe problem with the first Pretenders record was that it was so damn good it set expectations of the band incredibly high, and Scott & Farndon cracked under pressure.\nIn this album, you have the perfect mix of four musicians at a time when it was satori for them to get together. \n\nFirst,Chrissie, who was at here cocky I'm-a-woman-of-the-world-and I'll-kick-your-ass-if-you-abuse-me-again best voice, sounds like a dominatrix with a hidden heart of gold & not the PETA militant we get now (although you can see it coming on this album, but it seems like it would be more). She has the perfect balance of rage AND sensitivity on this album. It's watching oragami fragile idealism wrapped in Kevlar armor with leather & studs over it. It's fascinating as to how the combo got wedded together. She sings tender-but-wary ballads ("Kid") along side of fever sex dreams that show that the mystery of sex still outweighs the mistrust ("Mystery Achievement", "Up The Neck", "The Wait") and tales of survival ("Tatooed Love Boys", "The Phone Call") & confidence ("Brass In Pocket", "Private Life").\n\nSecondly, you have James-Honeyman Scott. Why, oh why, you a**hole did you have to O.D.? Didn't you know you were probably the greatest new wave guitar player this side of Tom Verlaine?\nThis album is rife with extrodinarily economic but blistering riffs. JHS was old enough to rock out melodically like guitarists of yore, but added enough punkish noise to the fuel like Nostradamus's match, predicting the coming of Sonic Youth & Nirvana. The use of the atmospheric harmonic line from "Tatooed Love Boys" is STILL brilliant. And, my god you played like a hot rod drives: foot on the floor to the end of the quarter whether you were going to explode or not. Maybe it's not a wonder that you flamed out...\n\nLastly, you had Farndon & Chambers. It's such a cliche to put the rythm section together, but they really did work as a unit. Like Scott, they mixed the best old school with a brave new edge of the new. Best of all, they were learned in the thump of R&B which kicked the Pretenders to the top of the heap in playing. Having been an O.P. (origional punker) in those days, let me tell you, it wasn't the snottiness or the aggression that made bands bad, it was the fact that they didn't GROOVE. These guys, however, had it in SPADES. Tragically, Petey decided to follow Jimmie & loaded the essence of poppy flower in his veins once too many times. So, after one more album, Chambers sounded lost without his groove mate.\n\nOne of the other reviewers was talking about the philosophy that old school punk was an attitude. This is SOOO true. This album was the first living proof that you could sell an album with it. It just took street smarts.\n\nA classic.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nAttitude and good sound too, July 3, 2002\nReviewer: Taxdawg (New York, NY USA)\nThis debut and its consistently good songs helped steer The Pretenders into becoming the hottest band of the early 1980s. The group is associated with the punk/new wave genre, toward which I have mixed feelings (worse if the slash and the following two words are deleted). Someone once told me that punk is an attitude, it is not the music that is the key, and then described some pre-Sex Pistols groups and on an individual basis, Keith Richards and Jim Morrison. After listening to "Precious," ask yourself whether Chrissie Hynde has an attitude.\nBut even in the rawest songs, such as that remarkable opener and "The Wait," it becomes clear that The Pretenders are a group of solid musicians. Among the earlier songs on the CD, though, my favorites are "Tattooed Love Boys," with its cool signature riff, and "Space Invaders," an instrumental in which the group presents proof positive of its musical abilities with slick rhythm guitar chops and a solid bass line. Some of the later songs show Chryssie and the group can also do the softer stuff well. As to "Brass In Pocket," it still sounds great to me--I do not care how often they play it on the radio. The Pretenders' version of "Stop Your Sobbing" is better than that of The Kinks and has a neat atmosphere. "Kid"--great melody, plus lyrics and vocals from Chryssie. "Mystery Achievement"--another nice one. So as it sinks into me how strong these songs are, this CD gets my fifth star.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nChrissy Hynde, Visionary, November 13, 2001\nReviewer: Kingkitsch@aol.com (Las Vegas, NV USA)\nJust wanted to add my two cents worth about this flat-out, bone-chrushing, ball-busting, worth-every-penny-of-its-cost CD of the Pretenders' debut.\nI bought this album at the time of it's original vinyl release in 1980. I proceeded to wear out two copies of it in a few months by playing it repeatedly. To say that Chrissy Hynde stood alone in a male-dominated rock arena, and gave back as good as she got is undisputable. "Precious" may well be the title-holder of all time for feminist anthems, hearing Ms. Hynde spit out the "F" word pretty much sums up how she was prepared to deal with anyone who stood in her way. While others have covered the gamut of praise about this album, I would like to say that "Mystery Achievement" still has the power to thrill me like no other song in the pantheon of rock. I saw the band do this number as their closing song on their first American tour and glimpsed Heaven. Chrissy, the visionary. She makes me glad I'm from Ohio.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nStop Snivelin', September 2, 2001\nReviewer: Gundy Brain (Orlando, FL USA)\nThis is an absolute stunner of a debut album with an incredible band that meshes together in an amazing chemistry rarely found in rock. Bassist Pete Farndon, unsung drum hero Martin Chambers, and especially guitar wizard James Honeyman Scott provide the perfect vehicle for Chrissie Hynde to get her point across. (I find it just amazing that what with all the great bands coming out of England in the late 70's that these guys were not already in another band.)\nThe album starts with the barely under control thrash of Precious, truly a legendary song. Chrissie wonders if she is pregnant, says a couple of naughty words, and in the end decides so what lets rock. Musician magazine once speculated that this is the greatest use of the f-word in rock history. Hard to believe now, but this attitude from the women's point of view was considered so shocking at the time--1980. (I just remember that I was nearly kicked off my college radio station for playing this song in 1982)\nThe rest of the first side has some more great thrash punk songs in The Wait and Up the Neck, but the centerpiece of the first half is definitely Tattooed Love Boys. Check out James Honeyman-Scott's short but inventive solo and especially Martin Chamber's drum part--this track has got to have the greatest drumming of any punk/new wave song ever recorded. (as a previous reviewer noted, it is not 4/4 time but some weird 7/5 time that is virtually impossible to play) \nThe 2nd half features the tender side of Chrissie's songwriting with Kid (the sequel to Precious?) and the hit Brass In Pocket. The beauty of the 2nd side is in sharp contrast to the 1rst side. \nThis version of the band would only last for one more album before ending tragically so I strongly suggest if you are any kind of a fan of post punk to give this record a listen. The importance of Chrissie Hynde cannot be understated--she virtually alone proved that chicks can rock (intelligently and it is OK for a guy to listen)\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nClassic debut is a must!, May 4, 2001\nReviewer: Rich "drrichm" (Reisterstown, MD USA)\nWhat are the greatest debut albums in the punk / new wave genre? Well, Pretenders ranks right up there with "The Clash" and Elvis Costello's "My Aim Is True." Why? Simply put, Chrissie Hynde has balls!! That may be an odd way to describe a woman, but one spin through this album and you will agree. From the opening track "Precious," where Chrissie worries about being pregnant to the backdrop of killer crunching guitar, spitting out her disgust for whatever gets in her way, through the beauty and tenderness of "Kid" (a perfect pop song if there ever was one) to the classic cover of "Stop Your Sobbing" - this album just never lets up. Chrissie snarls and sneers with the best of them, but somehow never loses her sense of melody. James Honeyman-Scott's guitar is groundbreaking, and Martin Chambers pounds along like there is no tommorrow. They put out lots of great stuff after this one, but after a debut like this, it's just impossible to go anywhere but downhill. It's a true masterpiece that has inspired so many others, and a bonafide five star album.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nHigh Energy, Passion, Attitude- A Pop Music Masterpiece, October 4, 2000\nReviewer: "its1more" (Kentucky)\nThis album even oozed attitude and rebellion in the liner notes.\nThe original LP sleeve contains the following instruction: "This LP has a longer running time than most average LP's therefore to achieve maximum effect PLAY THIS ALBUM LOUD".\nQuite simply, this is as good as it gets in the rock genre. Sensational debut. Chrissie's vision of assertion and desire expressed through song was fully realized by a crack band.\n\nRinging clear and fresh more than two decades later, this is nearly perfect from start to stop. Listening to this (as I am right now), I cannot help wonder when or if another women with this amount of talent and musical vision will hit one out of the park like this again. Ferociously good music.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nAmazing Album, May 5, 2000\nReviewer: Ivana Dulestah (Maine)\nI can still remember putting the needle down onto the vinyl when I brought this record home. I was 16 years old and this was sometime in 1980. Back then when I bought a new record I would manually "skip" through all the songs by lifting the needle up and putting it down at the begining of each track and listening to the first few seconds of the song. That way I'd filter through and find the 2-3 good songs on an album. Well, every song on the first side was GREAT. Then I turned it over and skipped my way through every song and they where all GREAT, by the time I got to "Mystery Achievement" I knew this was a special record. I then must have listened to the whole album 2-3 times in a row. I can not put into words what this album meant to my when I was in high school. Rough and loud as Led Zepplin and then soft and hypnotic as Pink Floyd, but always sounding all their own. I've heard the word "fresh" many times apllied to this record. It was such a breath of fresh air when it came out. Few bands rocked at that time that sounded original. I remember being sadder when James Honeyman-Scott died than when John Lennon died because I knew that would be the end of a special band. At least we still have this and Pretenders II to remember. When CD's came out this and Dark Side of the Moon where the only two album I upgraded from vinyl.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nFlawless Debut; One of the Greatest Albums of All Time, April 25, 2000\nReviewer: punkreform (south carolina)\nThe Pretender's first LP is one of the single greatest debut albums ever. Chrissie Hynde snarls when she wants to and doesn't feel the need to paint herself into a struggling female, instead a strong human. The Pretenders don't paint within the lines, instead coloring their first album with a range of influences from ballsy punk ("Precious") to vampy R&B ("Brass In Pocket"). Few albums make punk rock this accessible and immediately appealing. One of the greatest of all time and a massive entry in the rock and roll history books. Best tracks: "Precious," "Kid," "Stop Your Sobbing," "Brass In Pocket" Rating: 10/10\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nChrissy Hynde sets the standard, December 8, 1999\nReviewer: James McDonnell (NJ)\nTo think that this jewel of an album was released almost twenty years ago during the dark days of disco/Styx/Foreigner/Journey. A macho, guy band fronted by a woman, no less. This release heralded a renaissance of clean, honest, straight ahead rock, without the vulgarity of punk. This album features Chrissy's signature vocal styling, Honeyman-Scott's melodic and uniquely inventive guitar work (he will re-incarnate as a Beach Boy), great songwriting, a pulsating bass/backbeat, with the occasional whiff of a wired Bo Diddely. Martin Chambers' energy & drive on this and future Pretenders' albums is exceptional. There is not a dead moment on this album as it is one of the few releases of the time to which you can both sing and dance. Special mention - "Stop your sobbing" sounds as if it were produced by Phil Spector, "Mystery Achievement" - minimalist brilliance, "Kid" - accessible pop. Magnificent accomplishment by a band, whose members paid a steep price for their success, in two instances, the ultimate price.\n\nHalf.com Details \nProducer: Chris Thomas, Nick Lowe \n\nAlbum Notes\nThe Pretenders: James Honeyman Scott (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Chrissie Hynde (vocals, guitar); Pete Farndon (vocals, bass); Martin Chambers (vocals, drums).\nAdditional personnel: Chris Thomas (keyboards, sound effects); Gerry Mackleduff (drums).\n\nRecorded at Wessex Studios, London, England.\n\nFormer rock critic Chrissie Hynde launched the Pretenders with an engaging, yet passive, version of the Kinks' "Stop Your Sobbing." She unveiled her own persona fully on The Pretenders, which contains a series of excellent compositions marked by her sensual vocals and brilliant sense of dynamics. An understanding of pop's structures allowed Hynde to exploit them to her own ends while sympathetic support, particularly that of guitarist James Honeyman-Scott, used the excitement of rock without reference to its cliches. Tough and opinionated, Chrissie Hynde's first declaration of independence established the formula she proceeded to follow.\n\nIndustry Reviews\nIncluded in AP's 10 Essential Women's Rock Albums - ...An absolute classic album...a set of tough, distinctive pop songs...\nAlternative Press (07/01/2001)\n\nRanked # 12 in Rolling Stone's Women in Rock: The 50 Essential Albums\nRolling Stone (10/31/2002)\n\nRanked #2 in CMJ's Top 20 Most-Played Albums of 1980.\nCMJ (01/05/2004)\n\n5 stars out of 5 - PRETENDERS stands as a stunning confluence of hooks, sonics and substance - it's one of those rare albums on which every move turns out to be the right one.
This rock cd contains 12 tracks and runs 47min 3sec.
Freedb: 8e0b050c
Buy: from Amazon.com

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