The video included in the box set is worth the price of the CD. The remastering of the tracks is well done. The original CD release always sounded so flat and lifeless. The only complaint is the use of a crummy demo version of "Precious" my favorite song.
February 9, 2008 |  | Compilation with little that is rare. |  |
I was hoping for rarities, but it mostly has all the songs from the original tracks. The DVD is the most worthwhile part, in my opinion.
May 22, 2007 | | TOO PRECIOUS! one of the best box sets | |
Chrissie Hynde is fierce. Listening to this collection it's refreshing to realize this music never sounds dated nor were they ever 'punk' - The Pretenders are pure rock and roll. I don't think there is a female singer who can match Chrissie's attitude, delivery and snarl. She is the unchallenged queen of rock and roll!
This box set is very comprehensive and beautifully compiled. Chronologically laid out it is an aural pleasure to listen consecutively to one disc after the other - which is becoming rarer and rarer with these erratic box set releases. The main pleasure is getting to hear her later releases in this context. As a hardcore Chrissie fan I have purchased all her music and I disagree with one of the reviewers who felt her later output was not as dynamic as the earlier releases. I feel she truly found her vocal style and sly delivery the older she has grown.
The set includes great alternate takes and thankfully the non-album soundtrack cuts, most notably her remarkable covers of Dionne Warwick's "Windows Of The World" and Morrisey's "Everyday Is Like Sunday" (listen to the chord similarity to 'Back On The Chain Gang' !)
This is a must own box set and also would make a great gift seeing as it so NEVER sucks! And no one has ever made the phrase F*** off sound so sexy! Thank you Chrissie and the boys.
May 21, 2006 | | KILLER COLLECTION, EVEN WITHOUT "GOODBYE" | |
As a lifelong Pretenders fan (yep - I still have all the original vinyl, bought @ Tower Records way back when Lp's were $5.99) I waspsyched to finally see a quality representation of the band's output available - not just Chrissie, mind you, but the BAND as well. Don't mistake - she's a phenomenal writer/performer/musician - it's just that I like to see credit given where deserved - and in Ms. Hynde's case, she couldn't have done better than to be backed-up by her excellent compadres, namely Pete Farndon (RIP), Martin Chambers & James Honeyman-Scott (again, RIP). One caveat though - since so much of this collection features Chrissie & Co. in her post-partum period (i.e. still spry but definitely more mellow) I *DO* wish they'd had the sense to include my personal favorite track from the period, namely "Goodbye" from the GI Jane soundtrack... the public missed the boat by not making this a #1 chart hit as it so clearly deserved. If you missedthis one, by all means do yourselfa huge favor and pick-up the film's soundtrack, featuring TWO excellent Pretenders songs and some other great musical choices, including a killer track from Exene Cervenka's Auntie Christ outfit & much, much more!
May 21, 2006I got this as a birthday gift, and what a great gift it was. I love the Pretenders, one of my favorite bands of all time. Since I only have two of their albums on CD this was a real treat. I have most of their stuff on vinyl. It's great having all the good songs in one place. I have been listening to this set for the last two weeks, every day. Some of the photos in the booklet are a nice touch. A nice bonus are the previously unreleased covers of "Angel of the Morning" and Warren Zevon's "Reconsider Me", both are great. The sound quality is fantastic, someone put a lot of work into this set, and it shows. A great box set from one of the greatest bands ever.
May 19, 2006More reviews at Amazon.com ...
(15 reviews)