One of the great debut albums, "Pretenders" still gives me goose-bumps even after 30 years and repeated listenings.
An ex-journo and bona fide rock chick, Chrissie Hynde had brought together a group of genuinely brilliant musicians, having tried out with a number of early-incarnations of punk bands in the mid to late 70s.
There's no need to specify and describe tracks here as every one is a genuine winner, but up for special mention must go "Precious", a barn-storming barrage of new wave rock guitar and bass, "Tattooed Love Boys", odd-tempoed but astounding and "The Wait", pure rock pop class.
Other special mentions must go to the band's cover of The Kinks' "Stop Your Sobbing" (Hynde later lived with and had a child by Ray Davies), "Private Life", covered later to exemplary effect by Grace Jones and the massive hit single "Brass In Pocket".
The tragedy unfolded shortly after the follow up, Pretenders II, when both guitarist James Honeyman-Scott and bassist Pete Farnden succumbed to drugs overdoses within weeks of each other.
This is a must have album, if not for the fact that it's a genuine classic then for the sheer, unadulterated joy of listening to it and the knowledge that you're hearing genius at work.
Gotta Agree with You 30 Years On& Still Sounds Good I Love The Pretenders Remembe Seein Tem In Lees In Early 80s
ReplyDeleteCheers for commenting, Lil'Bil. It's appreciated.
ReplyDeleteYours looks interesting; any chance of an invite?
Rich