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Former 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.
Live Recording
Recorded at Wessex Studios, London, England.
Personnel: James Honeyman-Scott (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Chrissie Hynde (vocals, guitar); Martin Chambers (vocals, drums); Pete Farndon (vocals); Chris Mercer (saxophone); Jim Wilson , Henry Lowther (trumpet); Geoff Bryant (horns); Chris E. Thomas, Chris Thomas (keyboards).
Audio Mixers: Mike Stavrou; Bill Price .
Recording information: AIR Studios; Wessex Studios, London, England.
Photographers: Chalkie Davies; Des Letts; Tom Sheehan.
The Pretenders: James Honeyman Scott (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Chrissie Hynde (vocals, guitar); Pete Farndon (vocals, bass); Martin Chambers (vocals, drums).
Additional personnel: Chris Thomas (keyboards, sound effects); Gerry Mackleduff (drums).
Rolling Stone (10/31/02, p.136) - Ranked # 12 in Rolling Stone's "Women in Rock: The 50 Essential Albums" Rolling Stone - Ranked # 20 in Rolling Stone's "100 Best Albums Of The Eighties" survey (November 1989). Rolling Stone (p.113) - 5 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." Alternative Press (7/01, p.96) - Included in AP's "10 Essential Women's Rock Albums" - "...An absolute classic album...a set of tough, distinctive pop songs..." CMJ (1/5/04, p.6) - Ranked #2 in CMJ's "Top 20 Most-Played Albums of 1980".
Go Chrissie go!!! Wow, right on!! I’ve always loved girlie rock bands and/or bands with chick lead singers/guitar players..ever since the halycon days of Janis Joplin and Suzi Q.!! So when Chrissie Hynde’s Pretenders hit the scene, I nearly fell off my proverbial rocking chair. “Brass in pocket” realy killed me and so did “Precious”. Chrissie sure knows how to make the rockin’ hearts twang and the guys are awesome musicians to boot!!
AWESOME album by a HUGE band!
Submitted by dragstripfreaky (Sydney,NSW,Australia) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Go Chrissie go!!!! I've always been into girlie rock or/and bands with chick singers/guitar players since the halycon days of Janis Joplin and Suzi Q, so when The Pretenders came out with this album and I listened to "Brass in pocket", I nearly fell off my proverbial rockin' chair. "Precious" is another killer song. There's no beating them, Chrissie and the boys brought the rock back into roll!!!!
AWESOME!! Submitted by dragstripfreaky (Sydney, NSW, Australia) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
their best! this album along with the 2nd one are the best they ever did. start with these first if you are new to the band. Submitted by bob (buffalo ny) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Hoffman ruins another "Superstar" mastering engineer Steve Hoffman once again ruins another album. This version of the Pretenders' debut is damaged in two ways. One, unlike the false disclaimer on the bottom left front of the slipcover states, this disc IS compressed and maximized. It is the LOUDEST version released. So much for "dynamic range", it doesn't exisit on this version. Two, Hoffman left off the sound effects at the beginning of tract two "The Phone Call". Was it sloppy work, or does Hoffy think that he knows better how this should sound than the band, and Chris Thomas, the producer. For someone who has hung his hat on "audiophile" mastering, this is a disgrace. Avoid this version and buy the Rhino. It sounds good, is complete, and has a great bonus disc, for the same or less money. Submitted by Richard (Cleveland, OH, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 29 of 32 found this helpful. This review is for a different format.
CONSUMER ALERT: This disc is defective Steve Hoffman, on his website, has admitted to it. The disc is compressed, sounds terrible and some discs have manufacturing defects. Head over to his site to learn more. Submitted by subhertz (Sacramento, CA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 4 of 5 found this helpful. This review is for a different format.
Go Chrissie go!!!!
Hoffman ruins another
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