Pretenders* – Pretenders

Pretenders - “Pretenders” (Sire 1980)

Released exactly 40 years ago this week was the incredible debut album by a band that’s had an enormous impact on me musically and often emotionally. There are just some albums that take over your mood and conscious and transport you to a higher level and that’s what this album, my all time #1 favourite record ever, does to me! From the first second you can hear Chrissie Hynde sneering about something to her band as they kick into “Precious”, one of the toughest “fuck-off!” songs ever recorded! As a then 15 year old, this song and the remaining 11 killer tracks struck to my inner core! Her ‘take no prisoners’ and ‘no bullshit’ alpha stance showcases much of side 1 with the enormous help from her ultimate band combo with Martin Chambers on drums, Pete Farndon on bass and the irreplaceable James Honeyman-Scott on lead guitar. Side 1 certainly showcases some blistering and bruising performances with killer tracks like “The Phone Call”, “Up the Neck”, “Tattooed Love Boys”, “The Wait” and even the Grammy nominated rock instrumental “Space Invader” before closing with the tender Ray Davies penned “Stop Your Sobbing” which Chrissie unmistakeable owns. Side 2 is Chrissie showing she can let up and be feminine while still showing she has balls of steel on the scathing “Private Life” which was recorded decades before social media and gives some good advice many should take heed of. Of course there is the radio gold of “Brass In Pocket” and “Kid” which are timeless hits and then there is “Lovers Of Today” which has to be one of the most beautiful heart wrenching songs recorded with an ascending guitar solo so emotionally charged it cuts deep into the soul. The band exits the album like it entered with the bass and drums driven snarl of “Mystery Achievement” that practically exalts every last bit of energy at full throttle right to the final seconds as it collapses in spent exhaustion of a job well done. There are few albums in the world that are this perfect and any serious collection could be rendered “insipid” without it! A huge thank-you and Happy 40th Birthday to my most favourite record in the world! Rest In Peace Jimmy and Pete and Rock On Chrissie and Martin! ♥️🎸

Original Canadian pressing still sounds excellent after all these years! One strange anomaly is that on Side 2 the ‘band’ space for track #5 “Mystery Achievement” starts at the last minute or so of the #4 track “Lovers Of Today”.

I have two copies of this Canadian Pressing, one which lists "Cuban Slide" as either A8 or B1, but it isn't actually on the record, or label, just the back cover.