Tag Archives: The Pretenders

The Pretenders: Get Close

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On October 20, 1986, “Real Records” label released “Get Close”, the fourth Pretenders (The) studio album. It was recorded in 1986, at “AIR” in London, “Power Station”, “Bearsville” and “Right Track Recording” in New York City, “Polar” in Stockholm, and was produced by Bob Clearmountain, Jimmy Lovine and Steve Lillywhite.

Personnel:

  • Chrissie Hynde – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Robbie McIntosh – guitars
  • T. M. Stevens – bass guitar
  • Blair Cunningham – drums, percussion
  • Rupert Black – keyboards
  • Bernie Worrell – organ, synthesizer
  • Bruce Brody – organ
  • Tommy Mandel – synthesizer
  • Paul Wickens – synthesizer, piano
  • Patrick Seymour – synthesizer
  • John McKenzie – bass
  • Chucho Merchán – bass
  • Bruce Thomas – bass
  • Mo Foster – bass
  • Simon Phillips – drums
  • Martin Chambers – drums
  • Mel Gaynor – drums
  • Steve Jordan – drums, percussion
  • Carlos Alomar – percussion
  • L. Shankar – violin
  • Bruce Lampcov – engineer
  • Helen Backhouse – design
  • Richard Haughton – cover photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Chrissie Hynde, except where noted.

  1. My Baby
  2. When I Change My Life
  3. Light of the Moon – Carlos Alomar, Genevieve Gazon, Wayne Ragland
  4. Dance
  5. Tradition of Love
  6. Don’t Get Me Wrong
  7. I Remember You
  8. How Much Did You Get for Your Soul
  9. Chill Factor
  10. Hymn to Her – Meg Keene
  11. Room Full of Mirrors – Kimi Hendrix

The Pretenders: Break Up The Concrete

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On October 7, 2008, “Shangri-La Music” label released “Break Up the Concrete”, the ninth Pretenders (The) studio album. It was recorded in April 2008, at “Sage And Sound Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Chrissie Hynde, James Walbourne, Eric Heywood, Nick Wilkinson and Jim Keltner.

Personnel:

  • Chrissie Hynde – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • James Walbourne – lead guitar, piano, accordion, backing vocals
  • Eric Heywood – pedal steel guitar, backing vocals
  • Nick Wilkinson – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Jim Keltner – drums, backing vocals
  • Don Smith – engineer, mixing
  • Martin Pradler – engineer
  • Alex Pavides – mixing assistant
  • Stephen Marcussen – mastering
  • Jeffrey Kent Ayeroff – art direction
  • Lawrence Azerrad – art direction, design
  • Getty Images – cover and back cover image

Track listing:

All tracks by Chrissie Hynde, except where noted.

  1. Boots of Chinese Plastic
  2. The Nothing Maker
  3. Don’t Lose Faith in Me
  4. Don’t Cut Your Hair
  5. Love’s a Mystery
  6. The Last Ride
  7. Almost Perfect
  8. You Didn’t Have To
  9. Rosalee – Robert Kidney
  10. Breal Up the Concrete
  11. One Thing Never Changed

The Pretenders: Relentless

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On September 15, 2023, “Parlaphone” label released “Relentless”, the twelfth Pretenders (The) studio album. It was recorded in 2023, at “Battery Studios” and “Studio Bruxo” in London, and was produced by David Wrench.

Personnel:

  • Chrissie Hynde – lead and backing vocals, electric guitar, finger snaps
  • James Walbourne – electric guitar, bass, Mellotron, piano, organ, finger snaps, EBow guitar, Rhodes piano, Logan String Melody keyboard, backing vocals
  • Carwyn Ellis – acoustic guitar, organ, Mellotron, Ace Tone
  • Chris Hill – bass, upright bass
  • Dave Page – bass
  • Kris Sonne – drums, tambourine, finger snaps, backing vocals
  • David Wrench – bongos, finger snaps, Moog One synthesizer, Tempest drum machine, Space Echo effects, backing vocals
  • Jonny Greenwood – string arrangements
  • 12 Ensemble – strings
  • Grace Banks – engineer
  • Ed Farrell – engineer assistant
  • Jamie Sprosen – engineer assistant
  • Graeme Stewart – string engineering
  • Omri Katan – string engineering assistant
  • David Wrench – mixing
  • Matt Colton – mastering
  • Stuart Crouch Creative – design, artwork
  • Solus – cover graffiti

Track listing:

All tracks by Chrissie Hynde and James Walbourne.

  1. Losing My Sense of Taste
  2. A Love
  3. Domestic Silence
  4. The Copa
  5. Promise of Love
  6. Merry Widow
  7. Let the Sun Come In
  8. Look Away
  9. Your House Is on Fire
  10. Kust Let Go
  11. Vainglorious
  12. I Think About You Daily

The Pretenders: ¡Viva El Amor!

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On May 16, 1999, “Warner Bros” label released “¡Viva El Amor!”, the seventh Pretenders (The) studio album. It was recorded 1998 – 1999, at “Townhouse”, “Sarm West”, “RAK” and “Innovation” in London, “Bearsville” in Bearsville, New York, and was produced by Stephen Street and Stephen Hague.

Personnel:

  • Chrissie Hynde – vocals, guitar, harmonica
  • Adam Seymour – guitar, bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Andy Hobson – bass
  • Martin Chambers – drums
  • Jeff Beck – guitar solo
  • Lindsay Edwards – keyboards
  • Stephen Hague – keyboards, accordion
  • Chuck Norman – keyboards, programming
  • Tom Kelly – bass, guitar, backing vocals
  • Andy Duncan – percussion, programming
  • Preston Heyman – percussion
  • David Johansen – backing vocals, ad libs
  • Jules Shear – backing vocals
  • The Duke Quartet:

Louisa Fuller – violin

Richard Koster – violin

Ivan McCready – cello

John Metcalfe – viola, string arrangements

  • Julie Gardner – engineer
  • David Boucher – engineer
  • Doug Wynne – engineer
  • Richard Norris – engineer, mixing
  • Stephen Hague – mixing
  • Bob Clearmountain – mixing
  • Ian Cooper – mastering
  • Tin Tin Out – remix, additional production
  • Michael Nash Associates – artwork
  • Linda McCartney – cover photography
  • Mary McCartney – inner sleeve photos
  • Rob Dickins – executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Chrissie Hynde, except where noted.

  1. Popstar – Chrissie Hynde, Adam Seymour
  2. Human – Shelly Peiken, Mark McEntee
  3. From the Heart Down – Chrissie Hynde, Billy Steinberg, Tom Kelly
  4. Nails in the Road – Chrissie Hynde, Billy Steinberg, Tom Kelly
  5. Who’s Who
  6. Dragway 42
  7. Baby’s Breath – Chrissie Hynde, Billy Steinberg, Tom Kelly
  8. One More Time
  9. Legalise Me
  10. Samurai
  11. Rabo de Nube – Silvio Rodríguez
  12. Biker

The Pretenders: Last Of The Independents

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On May 9, 1994, “Sire” label released “Last of the Independents”, the sixth Pretenders (The) studio album. It was recorded 1993 – 1994, at “Townhouse” and “Sarm West” in London, “The Woll Hall” in Bath, and was produced by Stephen Street, Ian Stanley and Chris Thomas.

Personnel:

  • Chrissie Hynde – vocals, guitar 
  • Adam Seymour – guitar
  • Andy Hobson – bass
  • Martin Chambers – drums
  • Robbie McIntosh – guitar
  • Ian Stanley – organ, keyboards, special effects
  • Andy Rourke – bass guitar
  • Tom Kelly – bass guitar, piano, guitar
  • David Paton – bass guitar
  • J.F.T. Hood – drums, special effects
  • Jim Copley – drums
  • London Community Gospel Choir – choir
  • David Lord – string arrangements
  • Stephen Street – engineer
  • Steve Williams – engineer
  • Jon Jacobs – engineer
  • Richard Lowe – engineer assistant
  • Greig Sangster – engineer assistant
  • Jamie Cullum – engineer assistant
  • Julie Gardener – assistant engineer
  • Bob Clearmountain – mixing
  • Tony Phillips – mixing
  • Stylorouge – artwork
  • Simon Fowler – cover photography

Track listing:

  1. Hollywood Perfume – Chrissie Hynde, Billy Steinberg, Tom Kelly
  2. Night in My Veins – Chrissie Hynde, Billy Steinberg, Tom Kelly
  3. Money Talk – Chrissie Hynde
  4. 977 – Chrissie Hynde, Billy Steinberg, Tom Kelly
  5. Revolution – Chrissie Hynde
  6. All My Dreams – Chrissie Hynde
  7. I’ll Stand by You – Chrissie Hynde, Billy Steinberg, Tom Kelly
  8. I’m a Mother – Chrissie Hynde, J.F.T. Hood
  9. Tequila – Chrissie Hynde
  10. Every Mother’s Son – Chrissie Hynde
  11. Rebel Rock Me – Chrissie Hynde
  12. Love Colours – Chrissie Hynde, Billy Steinberg, Tom Kelly
  13. Forever Young – Bob Dylan

The Pretenders: Hate for Sale

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On July 17, 2020, “BMG Rights Management” label released “Hate for Sale”, the eleventh Pretenders (The) album. It was recorded in 2020, and was produced by Stephen Street.

Personnel:

  • Chrissie Hynde – vocals, guitar,
  • James Walbourne – guitar
  • Nick Wilkinson – bass guitar
  • Martin Chambers – drums
  • Duke Quartet
  • Stephen Street – keyboards, mixing
  • John Davis – mastering
  • Stuart Crouch Creative – design, artwork
  • Matt Holyoak – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Chrissie Hynde and James Walbourne.

  1. Hate for Sale
  2. The Buzz
  3. Lightning Man
  4. Turf Accountant Daddy
  5. You Can’t Hurt a Fool
  6. I Didn’t Know When to Stop
  7. Maybe Love Is in NYC
  8. Junkie Walk
  9. Didn’t Want to Be This Lonely
  10. Crying in Public

John McKenzie

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On May 10, 2020, John Michael McKenzie died aged 64. He was musician (bass, guitar, backing vocals), member of the bands Global Village Trucking Company and Man. He recorded and performed with Eurythmics, The Pretenders, Alison Moyet, Lionel Richie, Dr. John, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Annette Peacock, Steve Hillage, Noel McCalla, Bob Young, Shusha Guppy, Wham!, Deke Leonard, Morrissey-Mullen, Claire Hamill, Space Monkey, Jim Diamond, Bob Dylan, Al Corley, Jeffrey Lee Pierce, Microdisney, Five Star, Endgames, John Mizarolli, Gary Moore, Ian Paice, Jaki Graham, Don Airey, Richard Bailey, Peter Auty, Billy Bremner, Terry Stannard, Simon Kirke, Earl Slick, Graham Lyle, Chris Thompson, Patti Austin, Latin Quarter, Phil Manzanera, Matt Bianco, Pete Brown, Helen Watson, Kevin Rowland, Shakira, David Bowie, Tina Turner, Eric Burdon, Kajagoogoo, Johnny Mathis, Everything But The Girl, Todd Sharpville, Branford Marsalis, Rui Veloso, Tim Finn, Ive Mendes, Tom Scott, David Dundas, Danny Tenaglia, The Christians, Phenix Horns, Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor, Jimmy Iovine, Dave Stewart, Wild, Leon Ware, Eternal, James Ingram, Francis Rossi, Karl Jenkins, Albert Lee, Barbara Dickson, Davy Spillane, Charles Aznavour, Raw Stylus, Linda Taylor, Blair Cunningham, Andy Newmark, Teresa Teng, Annabel Lamb, Nadirah X, Bob Clearmountain, Mitchell Froom, Arthur Louis, and Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Pretenders: Loose Screw

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On November 12, 2002, “Artemis” label released “Loose Screw”, the eighth  Pretenders studio album. It was recorded June 2001 – April 2002, and was produced by Jonathan Quarmby and Kevin Bacon.

Personnel:

  • Chrissie Hynde– lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Adam Seymour– lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Andy Hobson – bass
  • Martin Chambers– drums
  • Kevin Bacon– bass
  • Jonathan Quarmby– keyboards
  • Colin Elliot, Mark “Wiff” Smith– percussion
  • Kick Horns – brass
  • The Duke Quartet – strings, brass
  • Priscilla Jones, Tom Kelly, Mark Sheridan – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Adam Seymour and Chrissie Hynde, except where noted.

  1. Lie to Me
  2. Time
  3. You Know Who Your Friends Are
  4. Complex Person
  5. Fools Must Die
  6. Kinda Nice, I Like It
  7. Nothing Breaks Like a Heart – Chrissie Hynde, Billy Steinberg, Tom Kelly
  8. I Should Of
  9. Clean Up Woman
  10. The Losing
  11. Saving Grace – Chrissie Hynde, Billy Steinberg, Tom Kelly
  12. Walk like a Panther – Richard Barratt, Jason Buckle, Jarvis Cocker, Dean Honer