I own several CD collections that collect a band’s singles so I decided to listen to a couple of them last week. The Pretenders: The Singles (1987) includes the singles released before the mid-1980s. “Brass in Pocket,” “Talk of the Town,” and “Back On the Chain Gang” still sound great. Surprisingly, I had not heard the version of “I Got You Babe” with Chrissie Hynde and UB40. Chrissie Hynde sparkles in the Official Music Video on Youtube!
The Police: Every Breath You Take: The Singles (1986) includes the hit singles that made The Police an international rock band. “Roxanne,” “Message in a Bottle,” “Don’t Stand So Close to Me,” “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,” “Every Breath You Take,” and “Wrapped Around Your Finger” dominated the early part of the 1980s.
The Police’s final studio album, Synchronicity (1983), was No. 1 in the UK, Canada, Australia, Italy and the US, selling over 8 million copies in the US. Its lead single, “Every Breath You Take”, became their fifth UK Number One hit, and their only US Number One. Of course, Sting had a dozen Top 40 hits as a solo artist. Sting, with the assistance of Bryan Adams and Rod Stewart, hit Number One with 1994’s “All for Love” from the movie The Three Musketeers. Do you remember these singles? Any favorites? GRADE: A (for both)
TRACK LIST:
| The Pretenders | Stop Your Sobbing | ||
| The Pretenders– | Kid | ||
| The Pretenders– | Brass In Pocket | ||
| The Pretenders– | Talk Of The Town | ||
| The Pretenders– | I Go To Sleep | ||
| The Pretenders– | Day After Day | ||
| The Pretenders– | Message Of Love | ||
| The Pretenders– | Back On The Chain Gang | ||
| The Pretenders– | Middle Of The Road | ||
| The Pretenders– | 2000 Miles | ||
| The Pretenders– | Show Me | ||
| The Pretenders– | Thin Line Between Love And Hate | ||
| The Pretenders– | Don’t Get Me Wrong | ||
| The Pretenders– | Hymn To Her | ||
| The Pretenders– | My Baby | ||
| UB40 With Chrissie Hynde– | I Got You Babe |
TRACK LIST:
| Roxanne | 3:10 | ||
| Can’t Stand Losing You | 2:47 | ||
| Message In A Bottle | 4:49 | ||
| Walking On The Moon | 5:01 | ||
| Don’t Stand So Close To Me ’86 | 4:48 | ||
| De Do Do Do De Da Da Da | 4:07 | ||
| Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic | 4:20 | ||
| Invisible Sun | 3:43 | ||
| Spirits In The Material World | 2:57 | ||
| Every Breath You Take | 4:12 | ||
| King Of Pain | 4:57 | ||
| Wrapped Around Your Finger | 5:13 |
I like both of these bands. Probably my favorite Pretenders song is “My City Was Gone” which is not on this collection. My favorite on the album is “Back on the Chain Gang”. “Stop Your Sobbing” was written by Ray Davies of the Kinks. He & Chrissy Hynde had a relationship in the early 1980s and had a child. Their break-up was acrimonious, and neither has had a good word to say about the other for close to 40 years.
I like the Police (and Sting as a solo artist). My favorite song on this collection is “Walking on the Moon”—I love that kind of dreamy quality the song has.
Deb, thanks for the Davies-Hynde background. “My City Was Gone” originally appeared in October 1982 as the B-side to the single release of “Back on the Chain Gang.” I don’t know why it wasn’t included on this CD.
And she was involved with the Simple Minds lead singer, as well. When one gets down to it a Hynde/Davies union was only going to lead to eventual vituperation…not the least tempestuous geniuses in the history of rock.
Todd, as you point out, celebrity relationships tend to be fraught with trouble.
Well, depends on the “celebs” involved. They tend to be sensitive (in all the connotations) and under a variety of pressures atop the usual. But even by Celebrity Standards, Hynde and Davies are brawlers.
Yes, I like both of these groups as well. Again it was due to my kids listening to them as very young teenagers more than music I found on my own.
Patti, I enjoyed listening to these songs from the Past.
Single favorites on each album: “Spirits in the Material World” and “Middle of the Road”, but there’s much I love on both. As with Patti’s kids, this was some of the best Very popular music of my teen years.
Least favorite aspects would run to “Every Breath” and its stalking self-indulgence and “Chain Gang” and its apparent shirking of responsibility on Hynde’s part for getting more help for her ex and bandmate, as opposed to what “they’ve” done to him…
Todd, I don’t analyze songs in detail much. I just enjoy the music.
I can’t miss the implications of the lyrics. Particularly when they are (not literally, though sometimes) shouting at us.
Todd, these songs still sound great to me!
I always hated “Roxanne” for some unknwon reason. Love “Back on the Chain Gang” too. Frankly, not a follower or big fan of either, though I always liked Chrissie.
Jeff, Chrissie looks great on the Official Music Video of “I Got You Babe.”
Well, the lyrics can be seen as condescending, and the delivery is a bit braying…I still like the song OK, but it’s not their best.
In re: “Roxanne”…
I’m a big fan of The Pretenders. I have their box set which includes a lot of covers like Thin Line Between Love and Hate and Creep. The Police I am kind of in the middle on. I find that I tire pretty fast of their songs.
The Pretenders’ LEARNING TO CRAWL album is still their best by me…with the title taking on at least three connotations, and including:
All songs written by Chrissie Hynde, except where noted.
“Middle of the Road” – 4:08
“Back on the Chain Gang” – 3:44
“Time the Avenger” – 4:47
“Watching the Clothes” – 2:46
“Show Me” – 4:00
“Thumbelina” – 3:12
“My City Was Gone” – 5:14
“Thin Line Between Love and Hate” (Richard Poindexter, Robert Poindexter, Jackie Members) – 3:33
“I Hurt You” – 4:27
“2000 Miles” – 3:30
2007 re-release adds:
“Fast or Slow (The Law’s the Law)” (Martin Chambers) – 3:15
“Tequila” – 3:35
“I Hurt You” (Denmark Street demo, August 1982) – 4:06
“When I Change My Life” (Denmark Street demo, August 1982) – 4:43
“Ramblin’ Rob” (Denmark Street demo, August 1982) (Robbie McIntosh) – 3:32
“My City Was Gone” (Live) – 4:53
“Money (That’s What I Want)” (Live at US Festival, May 1983) (Berry Gordy Jr., Janie Bradford) – 4:39
Todd, I think I have the 2007 re-release of LEARNING TO CRAWL around here somewhere.
Steve, The Pretenders lasted a lot longer than The Police did.
But, of course, half the original recording Pretenders died before the third album was assembled…less-good way to go…