Pretenders: Pretenders II (Japanese Pressing) CD Track Listing

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Pretenders Pretenders II (Japanese Pressing) (1981)
Originally Released August 15, 1981\nCD Edition Released 1987 ??\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: A fitting title, since Pretenders II essentially follows the formula as the band's debut, only with lesser songs. Though a handful of songs could rival cuts from the debut -- "Message of Love," "The Adultress" and "Talk of the Town" in particular -- the songs aren't particularly distinctive, and the band sounds too tired to give them the energy they need to make the music work. It's a sad way for the original lineup of the Pretenders to bow out. -- Stephen Thomas Erlewine\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: The Pretenders' debut album was such a powerful, monumental record that its sequel was bound to be a bit of a disappointment, and Pretenders II is. Essentially, this album is an unabashed sequel, offering more of the same sound, attitude, and swagger, including titles that seem like rips on their predecessors and another Ray Davies cover. This gives the record a bit too much of a pat feeling, especially since the band seems to have a lost a bit of momentum -- they don't rock as hard, Chrissie Hynde's songwriting isn't as consistent, James Honeyman-Scott isn't as inventive or clever. These all are disappointments, yet this first incarnation of the Pretenders was a tremendous band, and even if they offer diminished returns, it's still diminished returns on good material, and much of Pretenders II is quite enjoyable. Yes, it's a little slicker and more stylized than its predecessor, and, yes, there's a little bit of filler, yet any album where rockers as tough as "Message of Love" and "The Adultress" are balanced by a pop tune as lovely as "Talk of the Town" is hard to resist. And when you realize that this fantastic band only recorded two albums, you take that second album, warts and all, because the teaming of Hynde and Honeyman-Scott was one of the great pairs, and it's utterly thrilling to hear them together, even when the material isn't quite up to the high standards they set the first time around. -- Stephen Thomas Erlewine\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nA Stand-Alone Classic, March 1, 2006\nReviewer: James Burke (San Francisco)\nThe issue Pretenders II faces is that it's rarely critiqued on its own merit. This album finds itself in the impossible position of being the bridge between their seminal classic debut and the body of work most fans know, the (IMO) bland, MOR Tom Pettyish "Pretenders" of the mid-80s and 90s. \n\nThe result? Many fans of the first album find this one a bit of a letdown, many fans of the later work don't get it -- it's constantly being compared rather than reviewed. \n\nBut if you could imagine for a moment a world in which this were the only album the Pretenders released, it would almost certainly be a different story. Instead of a letdown, I'm certain this would be regarded as one of the better albums of its era. \n\nThat aside, the fact remains that this is a great Pretenders album for one simple reason: "Message of Love" is the band's best song. If every other song on the album were crap, it would still be worth owning. But they're not. In fact, it's a very strong set; "Talk of the Town" and "Day After Day" are classics in their own right. But even barring THAT, there's still much to love in the rarely heard deep cuts -- could an album that incudes anything as beautiful as "Birds of Paradise" honestly be considered a failure? \n\nSo, viewed as a stand-alone album versus a part their body of work, Pretenders II shines -- it's terrific. In fact, if you don't own any Pretenders albums, I'd strongly suggest buying this first so you can give it an unbiased listen and move on from there. \n\nTo sum, a great album that never got its due.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nTime has been kind., April 22, 2005\nReviewer: Armchair Rambo (MINNEAPOLIS, MN United States)\nThis record sounds very different to me now. Some distance from it's release leaves this one sounding like a companion to the first record. The songwriting is at times tenative, but who cares -- this band can get over on it's playing alone, and some of the songwriting was very fine indeed. \n\nThe second album was greeted as a disappointment by pretty much everyone when it came out. Some of the best songs had already been released and the songwriting was criticized. IMO there was filler on their first album too. \n\nBut it was all pretty damn exciting, filler included. Pretenders played like a band. Then the guitar players flamed out doing stupid drug tricks and everything changed. Not necessarily for good or bad, just different. They've gone on to make great music, but they've never sounded like such a powerful, cohesive unit as on these records. \n\nAs for P2, everything on that first album is here: sex, lust, threats, fears, Chrissie's tremulous low voice (and a couple of choice screams), good-to-great songs, exciting playing. \n\nSome of the highlights: 'Talk of the Town' is as good as anything written by Hynde's hero, Ray Davies; 'Message of Love' another perfect pop single; 'I Go to Sleep', another great Kinks cover; and it kicks off with a couple of ridiculous, funny songs that show off the band's playing. \n\nThis is not the best Pretenders album. But it is most improved - in hindsight P2 sounds strong. It's *one* of their best. \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nNot as good as the debut, but keep reading..., January 28, 2005\nReviewer: J. H. Hohman "Failed songwriter" (Erie, PA)\nThe debut is one of the greatest albums that any artist ever released, so it would be virtually impossible to top it. \n\nHowever, this album features the two songs that are probably my favorite Pretenders songs: Message of Love and Talk of the Town. \n\nIt is worth it to buy this album just for those two songs. \n\nI am a grown man. I have a wife, I have kids, and I've been around the block a little bit. I have been listening to music my entire life; I have played and written music for most of it. I know that doesn't count for anything, but here it is: when Chrissie sings "I want you, I want you but not as the talk of the town" toward the end of that song, you are listening to the most honest and unaffected singing that anyone has ever committed to tape. This is the kind of emotional depth and bravery that music is supposed to be about; no one sings like this anymore. After more than twenty years and literally hundreds of listenings, I still get the chills when I hear this line. \n\nChrissie, if you ever read this, thank you for making this song.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nLike Brigitte Bardot!, September 5, 2001\nReviewer: Gundy Brain (Orlando, FL USA)\nOK lets get one thing straight. This is a great album--of course it can't compare to the debut, but what can? The original Pretenders were one of those rare bands where all players figure prominently into the final sound. (Listen to how you can hear Pete Farndon's bass in almost every song) Chrissie's songwriting is still great, Martin Chambers and James Honeyman Scott are in fine form. Message of Love is just a flat out great rollicking(that is the word that keeps coming to mind) single, The Adultress and Jealous Dogs keep rockin' right where the first record stopped. Birds of Paradise and The English Roses are beatifully written and performed songs comparable to Kid from the debut. But my favorite song and one of the Pretenders finest tunes has got to be Talk of the Town--gorgeous driving melody and wistful lyrics with that Chrissie Hynde stamp "Oh but its hard to live by the rules, I never could and still never do" \nIn 20 year hindsight there are some weaknesses that I can reluctantly admit--Some critics have rightfully accused Pack It Up as self parody (but it still sounds cool), a second Kinks cover in as many albums, and as one astute reviewer noted, Bad Boys Get Spanked is a re-write of Tattooed Love Boys. (But check out that Clint Eastwood/Dirty Harry sample)\nIn 1982 Pete Farndon was kicked out of the band for being unreliable and two days later James Honeyman Scott died of a coke induced heart attack thus ending the original band. Eight months later Pete Farndon also died. (In his bathtub with a needle in his arm) One of the most tragic wastes in rock history-- There are only two cds featuring this extremely talented and versatile band so kids, chemistry like this doesnt come along very often and this second record is a nice followup to the debut.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nBad Reviews Get Spanked, January 21, 2001\nReviewer: A music fan\nSorry, but anyone who is down on this album is missing out on what was the 2nd half of an amazing group. Though Hynde went on to do much more in the name of the Pretenders, in many ways she was "pretending". This original group had an edge (in the shape of Pete Farndon and James Scott) that stood up to Hynde's lyrical bullying and her tough girl posturing. In a musical sense it pushed back and told her to shut up. It is obvious that this quartet is a group, as opposed to the rent for hire mentality and sound of the later incarnations of the Pretenders. (Clean sound and subservient chords.) It is hard to fully appreciate what Farndon and Scott contribute until you listen to anything following P II. It is missing its seriously edgy/unstable mentality and is wholly without its nasty, big, bad groove. This is a great work . . . .\n\nHalf.com Details \nProducer: Chris Thomas \n\nAlbum Notes\nThe Pretenders: Chrissie Hynde (vocals, guitar); James Honeyman Scott (guitar, vocals); Pete Farndon (bass, vocals); Martin Chambers (drums, \n(vocals).\n\nAdditional personnel: Chris Mercer (tenor saxophone); Henry Lowther, Jim Wilson (trumpet); Geoff Bryant (French horn); Chris Thomas.\n\nRecorded at Wessex Studios, London, England and Pathe Marconi Studios, Paris, France.\n\nThe band look magnificent on the cover as they pose with make-up or heavily retouched faces. They look confident, knowing that their follow-up is almost as good as the debut. Chrissie and Ray Davies were stepping out at this time, hence the opening track, "The Adultress," as Hynde whispers her confession over a furious wall of sound, to be immediately followed by her reminder that "Bad Boys Get Spanked." If only Chrissie, if only. The album drives and dives, pausing for "I Go To Sleep," another old Ray Davies song. There is not a bad track in sight.
This rock cd contains 12 tracks and runs 46min 44sec.
Freedb: ad0af20c
Buy: from Amazon.com

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