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
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