Pretenders II

Pretenders II
Studio album by The Pretenders
Released	August 15, 1981 (US)
Recorded	1980–81
Genre	New Wave, Alternative rock
Length	46:11
Label	Sire
Producer	Chris Thomas
The Pretenders chronology
Extended Play (1981) Pretenders II (1981) Learning to Crawl (1984)
Singles from Pretenders II
"Talk of the Town" "Message of Love" "Day After Day" "The Adultress" "I Go to Sleep" "Louie, Louie"

Pretenders II is the second studio album by British rock band the Pretenders.

History

The success of the Pretenders' debut album in 1980 created a great demand for more material from the fledgling band; however, a lack of songs precluded the quick release of a followup album. In the UK, the band released two hit singles in 1980 and early 1981, "Message of Love", and "Talk of the Town". In the US, where standalone singles had become rare, these tracks were combined with three others for a stopgap EP release called Extended Play, in March 1981. Their second album, Pretenders II, was released a scant two months later, to mixed critical reception, partly because two of the better songs on the album had been previously released, and partly because many of the songs were viewed as overly-similar (though not quite as groundbreaking) to the band's debut. Nevertheless, several of the album's songs became hits and the album has increased in critical stature with time.

The album is notable for the inclusion of a cover of The Kinks' "I Go to Sleep" (they had covered that band's "Stop Your Sobbing" on their debut album, and band leader Chrissie Hynde would have a personal relationship with Kinks' frontman Ray Davies), as well as the sexually-forward tunes "Bad Boys Get Spanked" and "The Adultress". Perhaps the album's most ambitious track, "Day After Day" spins a common second-album narrative of unaccustomed celebrity, with the band rushing from gig to gig, hotel to hotel, head-spun from the swiftness of it all. The song ends suddenly, mid-guitar-solo, with the sound of a crashing fighter plane. The song "Louie, Louie" is an original composition and not a version of identically titled and often covered song by Richard Berry.

The album would be the final release from the original lineup of the band, as shortly afterwards the band would be fractured by the drug abuse that would take the life of guitarist James Honeyman-Scott, leading to a long recording hiatus.

Twenty years after its release, it was certified gold (500,000 sold) in 2001.

This is the first album to be released while their producer, Chris Thomas, was working with Elton John.

Rhino released a re-mastered edition of Pretenders II in 2006, including with it a second disc of live tracks and outtakes. On disc two, tracks 1-3, 5-6, 8-13, and 15 originally appeared as a Warner Bros. promotional live album, Pretenders Live at the Santa Monica Civic, from 1982. Tracks 4 and 14 appeared as b-sides to the single release of "I Go to Sleep". Tracks 14 and 16-18 are previously unreleased.

Specialist label Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs known as MFSL or MoFi released a re-mastered version in 2010. Using their in-house GAIN II process in the remastering process it is also presented in the Hybrid SACD format but omits any 5.1 option. Packaged in a high quality replica vinyl sleeve, this is for those demanding the absolute best in reproduction. The track listing however reverts to that of the original release i.e no bonus tracks.

The front cover portrait was photographed by Gavin Cochrane.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Robert Christgau	B+ link
The Music Box	link
Rolling Stone	link

Track listing

All tracks by Chrissie Hynde unless otherwise noted.

1. "The Adultress" – 3:55
2. "Bad Boys Get Spanked" – 4:04
3. "Message of Love" – 3:26
4. "I Go to Sleep" (Ray Davies) – 2:55
5. "Birds of Paradise" – 4:14
6. "Talk of the Town" – 2:45
7. "Pack It Up" (Hynde, James Honeyman-Scott) – 3:50
8. "Waste Not Want Not" – 3:43
9. "Day After Day" (Hynde, Honeyman-Scott) – 3:45
10. "Jealous Dogs" – 5:36
11. "The English Roses" – 4:28
12. "Louie Louie" – 3:30

Bonus disc, 2006 remastered edition

Tracks 1-15 were recorded live at the Santa Monica Civic Center, Santa Monica, California, on September 4, 1981.

1. "The Wait" (live) (Hynde, Farndon) – 3:23
2. "The Adultress" (live) – 4:07
3. "Message of Love" (live) – 3:28
4. "Louie Louie" (live) – 3:50
5. "Talk of the Town" (live) – 3:27
6. "Birds of Paradise" (live) – 4:27
7. "The English Roses" (live) – 4:51
8. "Up the Neck" (live) – 6:16
9. "Bad Boys Get Spanked" (live) – 3:19
10. "Stop Your Sobbing" (live) (Ray Davies) – 3:46
11. "Private Life" (live) – 7:04
12. "Kid" (live) – 3:48
13. "Day After Day" (live) (Hynde, Honeyman Scott) – 4:41
14. "Brass in Pocket" (live) (Hynde, Honeyman Scott) – 3:28
15. "Higher and Higher" (live) (Gary Jackson, Raynard Miner, Carl Smith) – 4:24
16. "Talk of the Town" (FreeRange Studio demo, 21 December 1979)
17. "I Go to Sleep" (guitar version) (Ray Davies) – 2:59
18. "Pack It Up" (radio mix) (Hynde, Honeyman Scott) – 3:50

Personnel

• Chrissie Hynde – rhythm guitar, lead vocals
• Pete Farndon – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Martin Chambers – drums, backing vocals
• James Honeyman-Scott – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals

Additional personnel

• Chris Mercer – tenor saxophone
• Henry Lowther – trumpet
• Jim Wilson – trumpet
• Geoff Bryant – French horn
• Chris Thomas - sound effects

Charts

Album

Singles

Certifications