Rare Tracks & Hidden Gems Chrissie Hynde & The Pretenders Rock Review
Early Work, Demos, Remasters, Deep Cuts, Concerts, Clubs and Rare, Hidden Gems of The Pretenders Rock History!
- THE PRETENDERS Back On the Chain Gang (Live in London, 1995) [HQ] - Original, Familiar Friend, Forgiveness Thematic.
- Pretenders - Human on the inside - Live Cannes Film Festival 1999 - Very Reflective and Personal Glimpse of Chrissie
- The Pretenders - Thin Line Between Love And Hate - Must see and hear., Hynde Belts Out the Blues, One of the Deepest Cuts of All
- The Pretenders Human - On Letterman - The Intersectionof Dreams and Reality
- The Pretenders - The English Roses - It is metaphorically a woman being put in a mold of the "Perfect English Rose," ergo, a Plastic Flower that looks good from any angle, crushing the woman's identity. Many men seek airbrushed women, idealized and stylized by suffocating restraints. The antithesis of men who are attracted to raw beauty.
- Precious (Regent Park Demo) (2006 Remaster) - Sexy, Revealing, Angst
- Pretenders Blue Sun - Smokey, Sultry Bluesy and Eclectic.
- Brass in Pocket (Demo) - Memories of heading to parties with four nickels in hand.
- If There Was a Man - Love, First Love, I'm Dying So Much Love
- Where Has Every Body Gone (1992 Remaster) - Alienation and Abandonment, Stark.
- You Can't Hurt a Fool - Sultry, Sexy, Smooth and Ear Candy
- Middle of the Road - Sassy, Fun, Laugh at The Bomb
- Pretenders - Up The Neck - Live, Raw Energy.
- Pretenders - Mystery Achievement Live - Ambition and Emotional Vulnerability.
- The Pretenders Tattooed Love Boys Live at Alright Now 1980 - Clubs and Small Venues, Who They Really Are.
- The Pretenders - Live 1981 Full Show (Best Version) - She Can Really Belt Out Lyrics! and Rock!
- The Pretenders - September 8 1980 Chicago, IL (audio) - Want Her to Moan She is the Adultrous Right in my Ear.
- The Pretenders - Stop your Sobbing circa 79 - Breath of Fresh Air & a Hankie
- The Pretenders - Never Do That - Like the Genius she is, this "simple ditty" is complex. An Icon, a Diva signing about being in a rut. People think the lives of geniuses are "easy because they are smart." It is not like that, at all. Life is hard, for most people.
- Lovers of Today (Live) - Rare, Hidden Gem!. Puts ...Tears in Your Eyes
- Mystery Achievement (BBC Live Session) - No Tears in Here, Step on the Gas.
- Pretenders perform "Precious" at the 2005 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - Priceless.
- The Pretenders - Wild Thing / Whatcha Gonna Do About It - Christmas on Your Birthday
- Bold As Love - Jimi Hendrix Cover - Stellar Cover of a Technically Difficult Jimi Hendrix Classic. Sometimes Makes Me Cry.
- May This Be Love (Waterfall) - Masterful, Artistic Rendition of a Timeless Jimi Hendrix Masterpiece
- Love Colors - The Pretenders - Over the Moon Drop Dead Gorgeous with a Chorus
- Pretenders - 2000 Miles (Official Music Video) [HD Remaster] - This is Like John Lennon Christmas, Feminized. A Song to Keep Re-Hearing All Four Seasons, So, So Lovely
- Nothing Breaks Like A Heart (Remastered Version) - Nothing Breaks Like a Heart is Indeed Relatable to Nearly Anyone. Love When it Turns Sorrow and Anguish With a Back Track of Electric Grief.
- The Pretenders - I'll Stand By You (5.1 surround sound mix) - A Heart-Wrenching Ballad About Loyalty and Devotion.
- The Pretenders - Hymn to Her - Hauntingly Gorgeous Song with a Soaring Chorus
- Pretenders - Don't Get Me Wrong (Live in London) - Moody, Ethereal Song With a Hint of Sadness, Explores Human Forgiveness. .
- Back on the Chain Gang - Reflection on Lost Love, Deep Grief and Heartache. Song of Forgiveness, Shows Chrissie Hinds Deep Grace.
- THE PRETENDERS ROOM FULL OF MIRRORS 1984-06-24.Dortmund - Free Form, Improvisational Chaos. Refreshingly Herd-Apart.
- Pretenders - Rebel Rock Me (Loose in L.A.) Live HD - Who's the Rebel?
- Pretenders - The Homecoming (Live) - The Messiness of Relationships.
- I'll Stand By You - The Pretenders Royal Albert Hall - RAH Bootleg.
- The Pretenders - My City Was Gone - Loose in L.A. Live - There is Never Any Going Back to Childhood Haunts - "Progress" Kills Trees/Historicals/Playgrounds.
- The Pretenders - "I Hurt You" Live - It speaks of the kind of love that reaches out and is there when someone is at their weakest.
- The Pretenders Live in Sydney Full Concert - Energized, Loaded For Bear But So Full of Love.
- Pretenders - Kid (Radio 2 in the Park 2023) - Turn Your Face, Drop My Hand, All My Sorrow, Precious Kid
- Pretenders - Tattooed Love Boys (feat. Johnny Marr & Dave Grohl) (Glastonbury 2023) - Fiercely Independent, A-Type Romance
- 2000 Miles Live - Everyday is Christmas
- The Pretenders - Back on the Chain Gang - 1982
- The Pretenders - Hollywood Perfume (Live 94 BBC TV)
- The Pretenders - Message of Love Live 1981
- Pretenders - 977 (Live on BBC's Later... with Jools Holland - 1994)
- Revolution Live - A Better World than we Now Have is not Communism, Marxism, Capitalism, it is just better than the 1. Plutocracy 2. Tyranny 3. Despotism 4. Authoritarianism 5. Totalitarianism --- that we have Now
- The Pretenders “Day After Day" - Sweet, Sweet Jesus Bass Groove Hook, We Are All Going Gray
- The Pretenders - Creep (Live At London's Jakob Street Studios 1995) - Poor Radiohead, She's Made This Better, Made It Her Own.
- The Pretenders “Time the Avenger" Loose in L.A. - Wise Reincarnated Soul, Sassy Punk and Mortality.
- The Pretenders “Message Of Love” BBC TV Live Glastonbury England 2017 - Pure Unadulterated Love - Absolute Genius
- The Pretenders Austin City Limits 2017 51:29minutes of bliss
- The Pretenders Back Down Pirate Radio - Pure Unadulterated Friend - So Slick Musically and Lyrically
"Standing In The Doorway" (Album) ~ Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan (Covers) --- This is a brilliant work of genius Masterpiece, a Historical Album; two songs in and I knew I'd listen to this the rest of my life. I listened to "Don't Fall Apart on Me Tonight" crying, like when I hear Cash/Carter or "American IV: The Man Comes Around" Studio album by Johnny Cash.
A Catharsis. Relief. Bath. Clearing. Baptism By Fire. Whoa, so beautiful it makes you cry, a lot. I thought I was a Dylan Fan with a fair memory of a few dozen radio loops. I've never, ever heard an album like, "Standing In The Doorway" = Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan ---
"Summertime" and "You're a Big Girl Now" go by so slowly, so quick, quick, play it again. These are songs that, yesteryear, you would have scratched up vinyl lowering the tone arm, over and over. This entire album is a study in rhyme, double-entendre, understated nuance and surprises that go into your subconscious. "Love Minus Zero / No Limit" is both Dylan's and Hynde's fondness of exploring love and the complexities that inhabit this most primal of all desires. Is love spam, does it meet "our community standards of decency?" The whole album catches the secrets of whimsical humans and the hurt they give and get, all the while, lonely for love. This song follows the standards of its peers, love exploration. It is an imbalanced (not his/her song, in real life, here)... equation imbalanced. On one side, the 1 Corinthians 13:1 tinkling bells and banging cymbals of "our community standards of decency"; on the other side is Dylan and Hynde's version of true love. He cannot hold a candle beside these two poetic thunderhouses.
"Standing in the Doorway" is so solemn and sad, so familiar to anyone over 11 years old. "Every Grain of Sand" -- I don't possess the musical turpitude to explain Time Signatures, what is 2/4, 3/5, 4/4 and 5/4? It is beyond me. The songs are all in various meters, gripping at any speed, begging the listener to stop, turn them up and be humanly present. Be here now. "Tomorrow Is a Long Time"... Femininity as an Apparition of Bob Dylan. This is a much larger, more important lost gem that I had never heard of, both in stand-alone songs and in its entirety. The Poetry of Bob Dylan and Chrissie Hynde, Mr. and Mrs. Rock'n Roll ear-lollipops of "Sweetheart Like You."
Yes, lyrics I recognized "Love Minus Zero / No Limit" by the 5th or 6th note, from ages ago. A former tune, from age 14, 22, coming back to inspire me again. 5-string banjo(s), mandolin, harpsichord are my clumsy guesses, the album is like watching Dr. Zhivago. Blind Willie McTell is celebrated for his songs such as "Statesboro Blues" and "Atlanta Blues." His life was marked by struggle and setback, losing his eyesight at a young age. He overcame much adversity, something Americans used to be known for. McTell led a life of both struggle and determination. Blind since a very young age, he still lived a life and made music that would be remembered for generations.
I feel almost ashamed I did not hear this work of Bob Dylan's and Chrissie Hynde's until now. I just read the lyrics, listened to Dylan first then Hynde, this is something to explore for years --- to listen to these two readers of all of our mail. Something like brutal honesty, only more healing. The song, "Sweetheart Like You" ...sigh. Who has not been on one side or the other of this equation, this romantically charged Algebra? From the song "Wasted on the Way," where David Crosby speaks the line about "not wanting to play mumbly-peg with this guy." You don't want to play mumbly peg outdoors with Bob Dylan or Chrissie Hynde, metaphorically. These are some of the sharpest musical geniuses of our era, in nuances, tones, harmonies, musical notes and lyrics. This work is rife with Infatuation, Pining, Unrequited Love, Yearning, and Great Longing. The Pretenses and Coyness are Striped back to the sheer terror of uncontrollable Love.
If you are still on this page, did you have a paradigm shift? Iconic.
Review of The Pretenders
Emotional Coherence
I'd give anything to be able to have tea and biscuits with Chrissie Hynde for at least a long afternoon. She has driven a nail of chords and truth straight through my heart and soul over and over. Have "Every Day is Like Sunday" playing softly in the background.
We would talk about... Whether it is by time, distance, circumstances, or death, we all grieve. When I am submerged deep in my grief, an overwhelming urge to be free from the pain forces its way from a part of me that wants relief. Yet another voice reminds me of the expectations and duties of mourning, imploring me to honor the memory of what I've lost. I find my way in turmoil, striving to find a way to express my sorrow while trying to deal with the conflicting desires within. I feel expressionless, mute, sometimes. But her music somehow transcends the void left in my heart by time.
From "The Night in My Veins" to "Nothing Breaks Like a Heart, she writes and composes everything from Euphoria to Loss of Loved Ones and Lost Love; raw emotion oozes from The Pretenders through incomparable Chrissie Hynde. How did she cope with losing so many people? How do I cope with losing so many people? How do you cope with losing your flesh and blood?
Songs like "Back on the Chain Gang" and "I'll Stand By You" are good examples of Chrissie capturing a vulnerable moment with a powerful focus. She could be a big, tough, jaded, globally famous rockstar, and we could be mere fans and disconnected minions. I feel no such disconnect in my soul, I feel like each song is tea with her half in a room, half on the veranda, song dependent. I completely stopped listening to some 90s gurus, their deepness just became annoying as more of my people died or left.
This deep poignancy transports the listener to introflection upon their "shared" experiences and sustains the momentary escape from the personal anguish of loved ones lost and the still loved missing.
Live Shows for Thinkers and Those With Souls
Reviewing The Pretenders at numerous venues (albeit, online with Bose Headphones), I found that this band's reputation for an electrifying live show has been well-deserved. Songs such as "Tattooed Love Boys" and "Middle of the Road" shoot out fire from a Tesla Coil.
Hynde's peremptory presence and tight-fitting instrumentation make for concert experiences that, if that weren't enough, would further seal their reputation as one of rock's most dynamic acts to this day.
Song Range Diversity
The Pretender's Magic is their diversity in musical range. Mystifying the sultry blues of "Blue Sun" to the punk-infused anthems like "Brass in Pocket," the band slips into these heterogeneous grooves with greased skids. Chrissie's wide-ranging influences pair with The Pretenders, evolving while retaining core elements of its personality. The eclectic portfolio will consistently deliver a "new" live surprise. Sorry, but there is no raucous Lynyrd Skynyrd "Play Free Bird" here. Everybody has a favorite, many favorites. The diversity of the songs makes every new and old fan curious to learn more about one aspect or another of the band's expression.
Themes of a Personal and Reflective Nature
Most Pretenders songs orbit around introspective alienation and longing—loss, love, sadness, devotion, accountability, loyalty, , melancholy, betrayal and friendship - the messiness of live, so unlike Black & White TV. The latter does not understand blind rage at injustice and insurmountable anger the the monopoly game thrust upon billions of us. We all know, in her Mother Hindu Way, she feels and thinks symbiotically with us. Songs like "Human" and "Where Has Everybody Gone" are unusually contemplative about personal struggles; thus, listeners can relate to such music. She composes lyrics and chords you cannot find in canned laughter sitcoms. People don't need them, but everyone wishes to feel connected to life, love, and humanity. In Unix or AI, programmers use "echo." In Chrissie Hynde's The Pretenders, they echo back what was already in your heart, what is in Chrissie's heart. She has symbiosis and coevolution with the listeners. Even when they are alone in their cars, listening.
Cover Songs and Interpretations
The Pretenders, for instance, Jimi Hendrix's "Bold As Love" is One Genius Paying Homage to The Genius of Another. When we all go to Heaven, perhaps Chrissie will be up there playing the entire Hendrix catalog. Such covers Baptize new Spirit into these classic standards by revealing The Pretender's craftsmanship and respect for the original yet still providing interpretation.
Historical Context
From their punk roots to the later, Captivating and Gracious sound, The Pretenders have negotiated with a constantly shifting musical landscape. The sound went from raw energy into polished and mature, retaining its peculiar character.
With Chrissie Hynde as the Front Woman, the band has undulated for three and a half decades, packing an extensive portfolio that original and new fans alike cannot remember. The Pretender's many-hued palette of sound is mesmerizing. Try to get a grip on them musically; it is so tough and delicious. Their live shows continue to torment their fan base. This longtime fan wishes to switch bucket list priorities and hear "May This Be Love" live by The Pretenders. The song "The Message of Love" is a Litmus test for the mind, body, and soul. Read it and weep, sing it, throw your hands over your head, and dance. This classic/punk electro-pop has a much deeper meaning than everyone else.
She looks upon the complexity in life and channels the nuances into her music with brutal honesty to embrace pain or joy. The authenticity and resilience she inspires remind one that to live and love fully is to love fiercely and create boldly. Her steadfast spirit beckons us to savor every drop of honey in a transient world.Back On the Chain Gang
I found a picture of you, o-o-oh, o-o-oh
Well it hijacked my world at night
To a place in the past we've been cast out of, o-o-oh, o-o-oh
Now we're back in the fight
We're back on the train, yeah (ho-ah)
O-oh, back on the chain gang (ho-ah)
Circumstance beyond our control, o-o-oh, o-o-oh
The phone, the TV and the news of the world
Got in the house like a pigeon from Hell, o-o-oh, o-o-oh
Threw sand in our eyes and descended like flies
And put us back on the train, yeah (ho-ah)
O-oh, (ho-ah) back on the chain gang
The powers that be
That force us to live like we do
Bring me to my knees
When I see what they've done to you
Well, I'll die as I stand here today
Knowing that deep in my heart
They'll fall to ruin one day
For making us part
I found a picture of you, o-o-oh, o-o-oh
Those were the happiest days of my life
Like a break in the battle was your part, o-o-oh, o-o-oh
In the wretched life of a lonely heart
Now I'm back on the train, yeah(ho-ah)
O-oh, back on the chain gang(ho-ah)
She often sings of the irony of a big, tender, lovingly-spiritual heart existing in our plastic monopoly-money poisoned war for profit planet. Writers, poets, musicians and philosophers exist so the planet does not entirely implode.
Chrissie Hynde, with her '60s-rooted values, is a bridge to a past culture that resists the fear-driven compliance pushed by the military-industrial-tech complex and the NSA. Her music and persona challenge conformity, reflecting a more profound resistance.
She walks in a relatively quiet humility through life, unspoiled by pride, and her excellent nature speaks louder than words in an often greedy and envious world. Her grace, wisdom, intelligence, creativity, and beauty are boundless and timeless.Awards & Accolades
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2005).
Two Grammy Awards: Best New Artist (1980), Best Female Rock Vocal (1995).
Multiple Grammy nominations across various categories.
UK Music Hall of Fame inductee (2005).
Received the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection (2014).
Gold and Platinum certifications for several albums.
Platinum: "Pretenders" (1980), "Learning to Crawl" (1984).
Gold: "Get Close" (1986), "Last of the Independents" (1994).
Voted one of the "100 Greatest Singers" by Rolling Stone.
Honored by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP).
Recognized for contributions to music and culture internationally.