The final chapter of a legendary rock lineup captured in Pretenders II
In short: Released in 1981, Pretenders II marked the end of the band's original formation. While critics initially found the record too similar to their debut, the album has since gained significant stature. It remains a poignant snapshot of a group navigating the sudden, disorienting pressures of rapid international fame.
Following the massive success of their 1979 debut, the Pretenders faced immense pressure to produce new material. A shortage of songs delayed the follow-up, leading the band to issue singles like "Talk of the Town" and "Message of Love" in the UK, while US fans received a stopgap EP in March 1981. When Pretenders II finally arrived in August 1981, it reached number seven on the UK Albums Chart and number ten on the Billboard 200. Despite a mixed initial reception, the record eventually earned gold certification in the United States.
The album captures the band's internal and external tensions. Tracks like "Day After Day" reflect the exhaustion of a group constantly moving between hotels and gigs, struggling to process their newfound celebrity. The record also features "I Go to Sleep," a 1965 composition by Ray Davies of The Kinks; at the time, band leader Chrissie Hynde was in a relationship with Davies, with whom she would later have a daughter, Natalie Rae Hynde, in 1983. Other tracks, such as "The Adultress" and "Bad Boys Get Spanked," showcased the band's bold lyrical style.
Tragically, this album stands as the final studio effort from the original lineup. In 1982, bassist Pete Farndon was dismissed from the group, and guitarist James Honeyman-Scott passed away during the same week. Farndon died the following year in 1983. Over the decades, the album has been revisited through various reissues, including a 2006 remastered version and a 2021 deluxe edition curated by Hynde. In 2000, the record was recognized as one of the top 1000 albums of all time in a major industry ranking by Colin Larkin.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Pretenders II
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