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“I never thought his music would be my bag. But he never plays the same thing twice and your mind is blown”: The Pretenders’ James Walbourne on 

Birthdays : Chrissie Hynde (legend) of The Pretenders

 Happy birthday to Chrissie Hynde, born in Akron, Ohio on this day in 1951. 

Now the reason we're here, every man, every woman, is to love each other, stand by each other.

THE PRETENDERS- MESSAGE OF LOVE

Route

THE PRETENDERS : BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG | Top Hat Crew's "Live Music Archives” : Facebook

A long term favourite and Chrissie is a force to be reckoned with in my book, great writer, great rocker . . .  

So let’s start the week with the same song nearly thirty years apart and yes I bought the ex-jukebox single when it came out some forty two years ago!

Pretenders - Back On The Chain Gang (Live Aid 1985)

Chrissie Hynde - Back On The Chain Gang at Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park 2014

Top Hat Crew's "Live Music Archives"

IT MUST BE CHRISTMAS TIME!

I can hear people singing 
It must be Christmas time

The Pretenders - Run up to Live Aid! 1985 - So Many Roads

 Interesting document set from Chrissie and the boys from So Many Roads and as they note:

1985: When Bob Geldorf organized an effort in late 1984 to recruit an all star cast of rock stars to record a charity single to raise money to address the famine in Ethiopia, he had little idea what idea would eventually transpire. Band Aid's recording of Do They Know Its Christmas would eventually evolve into one of the largest charity initiatives in history, the world wide concert held on July 13, 1985, 26 years ago today, known as Live Aid. Billed as the "global jukebox", Live Aid was held simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, with 72,000 in attendance, and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia,, with a crowd of about 100,000 people. On the same day, concerts inspired by the initiative were also held in other countries, such as Australia and Germany . It was one of the largest satellite link-ups and television broadcasts of all time, as estimated global audience of 1.9 billion, across 150 nations, watched Live Aid. Over 50 different rock artists performed for over 16 hours between the 2 concerts at Wembley and Philadelphia, making it one of the largest and longest single day rock festivals in history. Most importantly, the effort raised over $283 million for famine relief.  The Pretenders were one of the dozens of bands who played the legendary charity concert, taking the stage in Philadelphia.  They warmed up for the big night with a performance, captured in this soundboard recording, the day before, July 12, 1985, 3 dozen years ago today at a small club in Philadelphia called the Chestnut Cabaret!  They actually served as the lead-in for a long forgotten group known as the Vels!

The Pretenders (build up to Live Aid!)1985 - So Many Roads

that's Chestnut Cabaret, 1985!

Time for some more Chrissie!

On this day in music history: January 21, 1984 - “Learning To Crawl”, the third album by The Pretenders is released. Produced by Chris Thomas, it is recorded at AIR Studios in London from July 1982 - October 1983. Following the release of The Pretenders second full length album “Pretenders II”, the band begin to experience problems when lead guitarist James Honeyman-Scott and bassist Pete Farndon are both struggling with substance abuse problems. Things come to a head when Farndon is fired from the band on June 14, 1982. Two days later June 16, 1982, James Honeyman-Scott dies suddenly of a drug overdose. Then ten months later on April 14, 1983, Pete Farndon also succumbs, having overdosed on heroin and drowned in his bathtub after taking the fatal dose. In spite of these tragedies, bandleader and lead vocalist Chrissie Hynde and drummer Martin Chambers continue, with Rockpile guitarist Billy Bremner, Big Country bassist Tony Butler and bassist Andrew Bodnar (Graham Parker & Rumour) filling in until permanent replacements can be found. In the interim, they record the tracks “Back On The Chain Gang” (#5 Pop), “My City Was Gone” (#11 Mainstream Rock), and a cover of The Persuaders soul classic “Thin Line Between Love And Hate” (#83 Pop). The first two tracks are released as a stand alone single in late 1982, with “Chain Gang” also being featured in the Martin Scorsese film “The King Of Comedy”. When recording on the bands’ third album resumes, guitarist Robbie McIntosh and bassist Malcolm Foster are recruited to fill out the line up. The albums’ title is inspired by Hynde’s then infant daughter Natalie who was “learning to crawl” during the recording sessions. It spins off a total of four singles including “Middle Of The Road” (#19 Pop) and “Show Me” (#28 Pop). In 2007, the album is remastered and reissued on CD, featuring seven additional bonus tracks. In 2012, Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab issues the title as a limited edition, individually numbered hybrid SACD and 180 gram LP. In 2015, UK reissue label Edsel Records releases a two CD + DVD Deluxe Edition. The first disc features the original ten track album, with the second including B-sides, live tracks and demos. The DVD features all of the original music videos made for the singles, plus two TV performances of “2000 Miles”. Demon also releases the album as a 180 gram vinyl LP"Learning To Crawl" peaks at number five on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders

'Don't Get Me Wrong'

In the long tradition of songs pleading to not be misunderstood this is classic Chrissie at her songwriting best. I think I was still buying every single of The Pretenders when they came out but may have slipped this from its cover by finding it in the ex-jukebox bins which I did often (I know how much of this reads as if I was made of money and first world problems not being able to buy a single when it came out makes me seem irritatingly middle class but I wasn't made of money and tried every which way to buy the latest sound, bargain bins were something featured heavily in my searches throughout a range of record shops, my local home town having around 6-10 record shops, some 3 on the same main street at one point and the ex-jukebox single was a bargain shop ploy that today we probably don't recall or means less than nothing)

On this day in music history: November 4, 1986 - “Get Close”, the fourth album by The Pretenders is released. Produced by Bob Clearmountain, Steve Lillywhite and Jimmy Iovine, it is recorded at AIR Studios in London, The Power Station and Right Track Recording Studios in New York City, Bearsville Studios in Bearsville, NY and Polar Studios in Stockholm, Sweden from Spring - Fall 1986. Following the Platinum selling “Learning To Crawl”, original drummer Martin Chambers is fired from The Pretenders when leader Chrissie Hynde feels that his playing abilities are no longer up to snuff. In the wake of this, bassist Malcolm Foster also quits the band. Hynde replaces them  with Blair Cunningham (drums) and T.M. Stevens (bass). The sessions are also augmented with other outside musicians including Bernie Worrell, Carlos Alomar, Mel Gaynor, Simon Phillips, Steve Jordan, Bruce Thomas, on various tracks. It spins off three singles including “Don’t Get Me Wrong” (#10 Pop) and “My Baby” (#64 Pop). The music video for “Don’t Get Me Wrong” pays tribute to the 60’s TV series “The Avengers”, with Hynde playing the role of Emma Peel, originated by actress Diana Rigg. This line up of the band only lasts for this one album as Cunningham and Stevens clash with Chrissie Hynde over musical differences, and depart following the tour in support of the album. “Close” is remastered and reissued on CD in 2007 with six additional bonus tracks added. It is remastered and reissued again in 2015 as a two CD + DVD deluxe edition. Disc one contains the original eleven song album, with the second disc featuring sixteen additional bonus tracks. The DVD featuring three music videos and two television appearances from 1986. The album is also reissued as a 180 gram vinyl LP in 2015.  "Get Close" peaks at number twenty five on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

thanks to Jeff Harris' Behind The Grooves 

Round and round it goes . . . . . . .  and the music comes out here . . . . . great song and just what we needed on a damp day in rural Oxfordshire is some Chrissie Hynde . . .check the sound on the guitars here . . . . . wonderful stuff

On this day in music history: August 15, 1981 - “Pretenders II”, the second album by The Pretenders is released. Produced by Chris Thomas, it is recorded at Wessex Studios in London and EMI Pathe Marconi Studios in Paris, France from Late 1980 - Mid 1981. With the major success of their self-titled debut album, The Pretenders feel palpable pressure from their record label to quickly follow it up with another album. But the band are unable to comply due to the lack of having new songs written. Work begins on their sophomore effort in late 1980, with much of the material being written while the band is touring in support of the previous album, recording during breaks in their busy schedule. The twenty month gap between albums is filled by the release of the stand alone singles “Message of Love” and “Talk of the Town” in the UK, which are also both included on a five track EP titled “Extended Play” in the US (released in March 1981). The album is reissued in 2006 as two CD edition with a remastered version of the original album on disc one, with the second disc containing live versions of several songs, demos and alternate takes. The album is remastered and reissued by Rhino Records in 2006 as a double CD set, with the second disc containing a live concert recorded at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on September 4, 1981. Audiophile label Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab also releases the album as a hybrid SACD in 2010. Out of print on vinyl since the late 80’s, it is remastered and reissued as a 180 gram LP by Demon Records in 2015. “Pretenders II” peaks at number ten on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

"we are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."

Singles bought when they came out . . . . 

On this day in music history: January 19, 1980 - “The Pretenders”, the debut album by The Pretenders is released (UK release is on December 27, 1979). Produced by Chris Thomas and Nick Lowe, it is recorded at Wessex Studios and AIR Studios in London from Mid - Late 1979. Initially, recording is begun with Nick Lowe (Elvis Costello & The Attractions) who produces the bands’ UK debut single, a cover of The Kinks “Stop Your Sobbing”, but bows out of working on their first full length release, feeling that the band “wasn’t going anywhere”. Producer Chris Thomas (The Sex Pistols, The Beatles) steps in and takes over the production duties. The albums’ bold mixture of new wave, pop, and punk attitude topped by lead singer and guitarist Chrissie Hynde’s vocals immediately finds favor with rock fans, becoming a critical and commercial success upon its release. The album spins off four singles including “Brass In Pocket” (#1 UK, #14 US Pop). First remastered and reissued by Rhino Records in 2006, it is released as a two disc deluxe edition with the second CD featuring demo versions of several songs, single only B-sides, and five additional live recordings. The album is also issued as a hybrid SACD by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab in 2014. “The Pretenders” hits number one on the UK album chart, peaking at number nine on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

thanks to the most excellent Jeff Harris' blog 'Behind The Grooves

THE PRETENDERS

and another peach from Big O this morning is the set from the Pretenders at the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival ten days ago and taken from the HDTV webcast so any quality issues are as broadcast


The Pretenders - Belladrum Scotland 2017

Suffice to say Chrissie is on fire again lately and this is a fine fine if (again) somewhat short set revisiting her (their!) greatest hits [seven songs in a half hour set]

seminal moments in music history  . . . . . .

THE PRETENDERS - BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG

Chrissie was on TV last week and seemed comfortable, relaxed and funny on a hokey One Show setting she might have cause to be uncomfortable it seemed but she was delightful and the band proved they were just still rocking and on fire in terms of being able to set up and just play live in front of BBC studio outside.

I sometimes forget or take for granted how brilliant Chrissie is and consider her one of the finest songwriters and voices of the era, she is a rock chick with poetic sensibilities and great writing skills . . . . . . check this out if you don't believe me. I think this is as close to perfection as modern 'pop' songs have ever become. This arrangement with the bass, drums and fine fine guitar augmented by Chrissie on rhythm and a pedal steel is down right wonderful. TURN IT UP!