Back in the day my sister got this album and I'd never really heard of them, and to my surprise it was a killer record, maybe my sister was cooler than I'd given her credit for. Still one the great debut albums.
This album was one of a handful that began the '80 in spirit, fashion, attitude and musical theory. Others included The Cars debut album, The Pleasure Principle, Parallel Lines, Empty Glass, Look Sharp, My Aim Is True, Argy Bargy, London Calling, Beauty and the Beat, Outlandous d'Amour, Just Can't Stop It.
December '82, Xmas break from Boston U, visiting favorite female cousin at NYU, tickets to the Pretenders at The Botton Line,.
Snow up to your ass...train late getting in...met up with cousin & decided to go & at least catch last couple of hours of dancing at as it was already 2:00 am. No big deal.
Party in full swing, band hand't come out yet!
3:20 am they took the stage and blared this song for an opener, the place erupted and the moment belonged to my generation...and none other.
I had this album while I was living in Palm Springs, and what I great time in my life! Whenever I hear The Pretenders, I think of all those good times then.
Ah Yes... Summer of 1979 after graduating HS and cooking Pizza for my 1st job. This album and X - Los Angeles totally made me jump off the Hard Rock genre bandwaggon and onto this "new wave bandwaggon. This is one of only 2 or 3 albums that I owned on vinyl, then bought again on cd.
I got to know this one well... waiting for the next song on the album. But it was the perfect thing after that plodding, interminable Space Invader that came before it. Remember when you had to stand up and walk ALLLLLLL the way across the room and lift the needle to change the song? lol No wonder we all ended up liking this whole album so much!
Just way too amazing for words. James Honeyman Scott upstrokes the guitar. Just so ahhhhh. I'm torn about them not getting covered more often and being covered or sampled too often, but they definitely get ripped off in their style more than people recognize. "UH HUGH"!
As a college radio DJ when this album came out, I always faded in on the end of Space Invaders to build anticipation of this song busting out. Just made this song explode!
I bought this fine record way back in '78 & this was one of my fave songs from it,despite not understanding 2/3 of the lyrics (she sings them so fast!). Today, 32 years, later I finally looked up the lyrics, & hey, I like it better than ever!
I was just out camping in the wilderness for a week & this song kept going through my head. Had to hear it again!
@Bobjb999 I've definitely heard one with a slightly different vocal track, and that version also goes right into the riff at the beginning... I'm actually not sure now what its tempo was haha I haven't heard it in a while. If there's a record store near you, judge for yourself!
@Bobjb999 Actually I found it haha upon listening to it again I think it's not much faster but it definitely has a different feel to it. Search "the pretenders the wait nick lowe version" it should be the first video
@bundleHastings What do the lyrics mean? As far as I can glean, it's talking about a troubled young person, kind of in limbo, going through a lot of pain while "waiting" for his future, & trying to figure out himself & his place in life. The message seems to be growing up can be painful. I agree, it can!
@Bobjb999: Album wasn't released until 1980, Jan. 19, 1980, to be exact, but time DOES flies! And I totally understand your sentiment, though -- one of THEE best rock albums of the 1980s. I love this song, Up The Neck, Tattooed Love Boys and Mystery Achievement. Side one of "The Pretenders" rivaled side one of Boston, side two of "Led Zeppelin II" and side one of The Stone's "Some Girls" for best front-to-back lineup of an album side.
Back in the day my sister got this album and I'd never really heard of them, and to my surprise it was a killer record, maybe my sister was cooler than I'd given her credit for. Still one the great debut albums.
Happysundaze 5 days ago
This album was one of a handful that began the '80 in spirit, fashion, attitude and musical theory. Others included The Cars debut album, The Pleasure Principle, Parallel Lines, Empty Glass, Look Sharp, My Aim Is True, Argy Bargy, London Calling, Beauty and the Beat, Outlandous d'Amour, Just Can't Stop It.
arkady714 1 month ago
EVERYONE I knew as a teen had this album. VERY good! Props to ALL the band members!
warfare5150 2 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Reminds me of the laserium show @ Griffith Park in Los Angeles in 1981........Good times!!!!!
gladheater69 2 months ago
Comment removed
gladheater69 2 months ago
man thats hot.
Flunder 3 months ago
check out this version from '79 youtu dot
be/ZQJgQ87bjvQ freakin fast and furious
RuledByMars65 3 months ago
I HAVE THE LP IN THE ENGLISH VERSION1979 .ALEX BELEGRINOS
MrMPELEGALES 4 months ago
this whole album is still amazing today!
oldpunkster 4 months ago
give me some more it hurts my baby bitchhhhhhhhhh
coldsteel41 4 months ago
Chrissie, I know it's late, I have not forgotton, wish it didn't take so long to say how I feel.....
coralreeferman 5 months ago
My fave Chrissy Hynde song. Brings back great memories...
stardogs67 5 months ago in playlist stardogs67's Favorited Videos
Still one of the great punk-pop albums of all time.
eiffler714 5 months ago
December '82, Xmas break from Boston U, visiting favorite female cousin at NYU, tickets to the Pretenders at The Botton Line,.
Snow up to your ass...train late getting in...met up with cousin & decided to go & at least catch last couple of hours of dancing at as it was already 2:00 am. No big deal.
Party in full swing, band hand't come out yet!
3:20 am they took the stage and blared this song for an opener, the place erupted and the moment belonged to my generation...and none other.
arkady714 6 months ago
LOVE this album! Can't decide which song here is my fave....
LoveYourDNA 6 months ago
Fuck yeah!
glam70 6 months ago
I'll never sell the Pretenders albums I have. Thanks:)
louiseduvee 7 months ago
She is from my part of the world and, by far, the greatest rocker to come from my part of the world.
lebarosky 7 months ago
@lebarosky yes, I was born in Cleveland just three weeks before she was born in Akron. I always felt a special kinship with her.
bwanna23 2 weeks ago
Zero dislikes. Now that shows good taste people. Well done.
fosterch 7 months ago 2
I had this album while I was living in Palm Springs, and what I great time in my life! Whenever I hear The Pretenders, I think of all those good times then.
putzdolly 8 months ago
Ah Yes... Summer of 1979 after graduating HS and cooking Pizza for my 1st job. This album and X - Los Angeles totally made me jump off the Hard Rock genre bandwaggon and onto this "new wave bandwaggon. This is one of only 2 or 3 albums that I owned on vinyl, then bought again on cd.
juliet1978ful 8 months ago 2
and if you don't think this song had heavy influence on PUNGENT STENCH's - Molecular Disembowlment, you'd better think again!
POTRADS 10 months ago
Plan and simple ... this just kicks ass. Period.
jflinn210 10 months ago
Comment removed
jflinn210 10 months ago
I remember when I thought Learning to Crawl was their best record. Man, was I wrong.
SPICESMUGGLER71 10 months ago
Every song in this album is perfect.
This little solo at 2'15'' is just enough to blow your mind !
marr21 11 months ago 3
@marr21 I instantly liked every song on 'Pretenders' on first hearing. I wore out the album. Then bought another copy.
Elitist20 9 months ago
A buckeye and some brits made for some timeless rock and roll. Still can remember seeing them play.Easily a top ten LP.
dkopf 11 months ago
Comment removed
SupernalOne 11 months ago
Comment removed
SupernalOne 11 months ago
I want to have Chrissie's baby
1963legion 11 months ago
I got to know this one well... waiting for the next song on the album. But it was the perfect thing after that plodding, interminable Space Invader that came before it. Remember when you had to stand up and walk ALLLLLLL the way across the room and lift the needle to change the song? lol No wonder we all ended up liking this whole album so much!
nauort23 1 year ago
Just way too amazing for words. James Honeyman Scott upstrokes the guitar. Just so ahhhhh. I'm torn about them not getting covered more often and being covered or sampled too often, but they definitely get ripped off in their style more than people recognize. "UH HUGH"!
mcrosswade 1 year ago
Pretenders. Badass.
jflinn210 1 year ago
I don't know what the hell she's saying, and I don't care.. I love it!!!
Gillian708 1 year ago
My brother brought this album home when I was 13 and it blew me away!!! and it STILL DOES!!!!!! no baby not me I'm too precious FUCK OFF!!!!
curvyexpat 1 year ago 17
As a college radio DJ when this album came out, I always faded in on the end of Space Invaders to build anticipation of this song busting out. Just made this song explode!
Glyphone 1 year ago
Finest hard rock track EVER recorded by ANYONE!
bundleHastings 1 year ago
I got to play tattooed love boys on GH2 very cool song.
scottmanduzy 1 year ago
Kick ass album....edgy and angry.....still holds up today!!
triactorpat 1 year ago 25
I bought this fine record way back in '78 & this was one of my fave songs from it,despite not understanding 2/3 of the lyrics (she sings them so fast!). Today, 32 years, later I finally looked up the lyrics, & hey, I like it better than ever!
I was just out camping in the wilderness for a week & this song kept going through my head. Had to hear it again!
Bobjb999 1 year ago 3
@Bobjb999 hahaha I take it then that you have not heard the single version, it's definitely faster than this one, but they're both great.
lifehouse57 1 year ago
@lifehouse57 There's a single that's sung faster?? Is it possible? Any faster & The Pretenders would sound "The Chipmunks", surely!
btw, I think I got my years wrong. The album wasn't first released till '79, & in many countries not till '80, apparently. I probably got it in '80.
It & the 3rd "Learning to Crawl" stand up so well, they're still 2 of my fave albums.
And Chrissie remains one of the all time great rock singers.
Bobjb999 1 year ago
Comment removed
lifehouse57 1 year ago
Comment removed
lifehouse57 1 year ago
@Bobjb999 I've definitely heard one with a slightly different vocal track, and that version also goes right into the riff at the beginning... I'm actually not sure now what its tempo was haha I haven't heard it in a while. If there's a record store near you, judge for yourself!
lifehouse57 1 year ago
@lifehouse57 I have the version you speak of. It's on the compilation album, No Thanks, Punk Rock Hits of the 70's. It's put out by Rhino Records.
martymar1964 1 year ago
Comment removed
lifehouse57 1 year ago
@Bobjb999 Actually I found it haha upon listening to it again I think it's not much faster but it definitely has a different feel to it. Search "the pretenders the wait nick lowe version" it should be the first video
lifehouse57 1 year ago
@Bobjb999 But what do the lyrics MEAN?
bundleHastings 1 year ago
@bundleHastings What do the lyrics mean? As far as I can glean, it's talking about a troubled young person, kind of in limbo, going through a lot of pain while "waiting" for his future, & trying to figure out himself & his place in life. The message seems to be growing up can be painful. I agree, it can!
Bobjb999 1 year ago
@Bobjb999: Album wasn't released until 1980, Jan. 19, 1980, to be exact, but time DOES flies! And I totally understand your sentiment, though -- one of THEE best rock albums of the 1980s. I love this song, Up The Neck, Tattooed Love Boys and Mystery Achievement. Side one of "The Pretenders" rivaled side one of Boston, side two of "Led Zeppelin II" and side one of The Stone's "Some Girls" for best front-to-back lineup of an album side.
jflinn210 1 year ago
¡AHHHH!!!!!....¡LO MÁXIMOOOO!!!!!
centellas07 1 year ago