The Pretenders - Pretenders II

The Return of the "original" Pretenders.

When Chrissie Hynde returned in 1981 (following the Pretenders' self-titled debut Pretenders), I believed this hard-rocking woman in her schoolgirl bangs, scary dark eyeliner, and tight jeans, when she told the world, "bad boys get spanked." The Pretenders' second album was the final release from the original band. It was soonafter the release of this album that the "original" Pretenders (1978-1982) (consisting of Chrissie Hynde on vocals and guitar, James Honeyman-Scott on guitar, vocals, and keyboards, Pete Farndon on bass guitar and vocals, and Martin Chambers on percussion and vocals) suffered the death of Honeyman-Scott in 1982 from a cocaine overdose, and the death of Farndon in 1983 from a heroin overdose. This album, like the first, is a seamless mix of hard rock, post-punk and New Wave. It sounds just as good today (particularly in this remastered edition) as it did in the early '80s. Tracks include:

1. The Adultress
2. Bad Boys Get Spanked
3. Message Of Love
4. I Go To Sleep
5. Birds Of Paradise
6. Talk Of The Town
7. Pack It Up
8. Waste Not Want Not
9. Day After Day
10. Jealous Dogs
11. The English Roses
12. Louie Louie

Disc: 2
1. The Wait (live)
2. The Adultress (live)
3. Message of Love (live)
4. Louie Louie (live)
5. Talk Of The Town (live)
6. Birds Of Paradise (live)
7. The English Roses (live)
8. Up The Neck (live)
9. Bad Boys Get Spanked (live)
10. Stop Your Sobbing (live)
11. Private Life (live)
12. Kid (live)
13. Day After Day (live)
14. Brass In Pocket (live)
15. Higher And Higher (live)
16. Talk Of The Town (demo)
17. I Go To Sleep (guitar version--outtake)
18. Pack It Up (radio mix--outtake)

G. Merritt March 16, 2008

You guys are the pits of the world!

So snarled Chrissie Hynde on The Pretenders' second full force album.

I have to admit, I held off on buying this because I never felt it measured up to either the brash originality of the debut or the defiant sense of odds-breaking that propelled Learning to Crawl. But then I bought both of those remastered CD's and just knew I needed this (and Get Close) again. I admit to grievously under-rating "Pretenders II."

While the sting of the debut may have raised expectations for the follow-up to a level I could not accept less than at the time, this sophomore album has all the great things the debut offered. There is Chrissie as the tough/tender woman whose voice could tremble seductively ("Two Birds of Paradise") or snarl dismissively (the aforereferenced "Pack It Up"). The group displays a solid understanding about what being in a rock band is all about, coyly referencing classics like "Louie Louie" or "Day After Day" for titles, and then actually covering a classic (again, turning to The Kinks for "I Go To Sleep"). Sadly, Pete Farndon and James Honeyman-Scott maybe understood it too well; they would both be dead of drug abuse within two years.

There is also Chrissie and The Pretenders' true secret weapon in evidence here, and that is their uncanny early knack to turn catchy, classic singles loose with ease. Both "Talk of the Town" and "Message Of Love," while not US hit singles, have become classics in their own rite. The playfully naughty "The Adultress" ("but I'm convenient, and I make good tea" is one of the best couplets in rock, ever) and "Bad Boys Get Spanked" sound better today than they did 27 years ago. It makes you remember that this classic line-up of The Pretenders only held together for two albums, and it's a packet of music that holds up beautifully. Honeyman-Scott's clever guitar riffs have since received the accolades they deserve, and "Pretenders II" has, as well. "Pits of the world?" Hardly. Maybe I held off on buying this reissue early, but I'm glad I have it now.

Yet there is even more to this; That second full length concert disc. Even with the three superfluous demo/outtakes, the bonus CD could have made its own four star stand-alone offering. This was the classic early line-up playing with gusto to win a Santa Monica live audience over (plus recording the show as a college radio music special - I used to actually have the LP, dangit!) to the new material plus three songs from the debut. It should probably be re-emphasized that those two albums were all the band had to draw from at this stage of the game, and the powerful line-up was a monster, live. When Chrissie cuts loose with a banshee wail on "Bad Boys Get Spanked" and Honeyman-Scott fires off a scorching solo during "Up The Neck," you'll realize just why The Pretenders were one of the great rock and roll hopes of the early 80's. November 9, 2007

One of the great bands of all time!

I just purchased this album and their first album release and both of them are absolutely great. I lean towards this one as one of favs. Message of Love is one of my all time favorite songs. Pete Farndon and James Honeyman-Scott are great guitarists. Its a shame they passed away too soon. Chrissie Hynde in my opinion has one of the best voices there is. I'm glad she is playing and singing to this day. I strongly recommended this even if your not a diehard fan of the Pretenders because once you listen to the full album you will get an even greater appreciation of their music. August 16, 2007

Their best

I agree with those who find this album their best. It is much more mature and well played than the first. The first LP made a hauge splash when it came out due to its punky attitude and first-rate writing and playing but it is on the second one that you could see (or hear) what a great band the Pretenders were. Unfortunately this would be thier last effort since quickly two of the founding members would die. There was also an EP that was quite great around that time. April 11, 2007

Worth the upgrade

Sometimes reissues are worth plunking down money for, and this is one of them. The packaging and sound are great, disc one is the album as originally issued (no extras), and the extras on the generous disc two are good to great (most of it is a vintage live show, with a couple of demos and outtakes at the end of the disc). The live stuff is pretty hot and sealed the deal on my satisfaction with this purchase. To the reviewer who complained about the cardboard album jackets, i often have the same problem: sometimes they scuff the disc or the disc is hard to get out without damaging the sleeve - I think i found the solution. Since the packaging is slightly oversized, if you go get a packet of paper cd sleeves (available from a number of places on the net, like Bags Unlimited), they should fit into the pocket and protect the disc, and allow for easy removal and protection of the disc. i've had to do this with several 'mini-lp' reissues and the Pretenders reissues have jackets big enough to accomodate the sleeves without any trimming. (I also recommend upgrading to the 2CD reissue of the first album, too - Rhino did a bang-up job on these. The Box set (Pirate Radio) is also quite good). March 2, 2007

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