Scotch Sampler

[scotchandcigar]

But they join a small group of artists whose last charting hit was a #1 song. A smaller group I would think when you exclude the one hit wonders.

This is probably true. Maybe 98 can compile a list.

 

[scotchandcigar]

I almost forgot this classic featuring the Police

 

[scotchandcigar]

Time for the next mega-band! The Pretenders' self-titled premier album had at least 7 hit radio airplay songs, and the band had all the elements - great rhythm, great guitars, and a great, charismatic front-woman with an amazing voice. On top of the hits below, the album also contained Stop Your Sobbing, Kid, and (my least favorite) Brass in Pocket

The Pretenders - Precious (live)



The Pretenders – Tattooed Love Boys (live)



The Pretenders – The Wait (live)



The Pretenders – Mystery Achievement (live)

 

[scotchandcigar]

Pretenders II added Talk of the Town, and this

The Pretenders – Message of Love (live)



Their next release, Learning to Crawl, had hits like Back on the Chain Gang, My City Was Gone and this

The Pretenders – Middle of the Road (live Aid 85)



I feel that in the big picture, they're way underrated as a band.

 

[sadchild]

Pretenders, great subject!

The only song I know from their debut is "Brass". I first heard it on MTV, probably in '83. I've always liked it but not loved it. The guys pointing at the menu and saying 'special' to the waitress appealed to the 12 year old me. Since SXM, I've caught a couple others but being exposed to them so late in the game, they didn't hook me in. I think I woulda had to have heard them back then, but being 9 years old when the album dropped, that may not have worked either.

I don't think I know any songs from their sophomore. I couldn't hum any of them. I'll have to check it out.

My real first big exposure to Pretenders was their third album in '84 (MTV again). I kinda liked three of the singles, but over time I've learned to appreciate them much more. Especially "Chain Gang" and "Middle Of The Road" - which really speak to me now that I've had more life experience, so they create emotion in me whereas before they didn't.

I only know "Don't Get Me Wrong" from their fourth. No idea about anything on the fifth. Anything important I'm missing from not knowing those ones?

The sixth album has "I'll Stand By You" which is on my 500+ list. It's sappy, but the lyrics get me because they aren't superficial, they're heartfelt.

But much cooler than all of that is the back of the promo CD for "Night in My Veins". I bought it JUST for the back panel.

Pretenders

1. I'll Stand By You
2. Back On The Chain Gang
3. Middle Of The Road
4. Holy Commotion
5. Brass In Pocket

Of note: Chrissie Hynde's solo single "Dark Sunglasses"

 

[scotchandcigar]

I highly recommend checking out the songs I posted from the first album. It's really punk rock with a great groove and provocative lyrics.

Dark Sunglasses is a great song.

 

[HecticArt]

The guys pointing at the menu and saying 'special' to the waitress appealed to the [slightly older than] 12 year old me.

I highly recommend checking out the songs I posted from the first album. It's really punk rock with a great groove and provocative lyrics.

I was going to say that. They have their roots in punk. Some of their live stuff is a lot grittier than you hear on FM.

She used to hang out with Billy Idol, Debbie Harry, The Sex Pistols, and a bunch of others.

 

[scotchandcigar]

I was going to say that. They have their roots in punk. Some of their live stuff is a lot grittier than you hear on FM.

Are they Toledo's home band?

 

[HecticArt]

Nah... We had Tom Scholz of Boston Art Tatum, Anita Baker, and Ike Stubblefield ...... That's about it......
I don't think Chrissie slows down the car when she passes through.

 

[sadchild]

Maybe she keeps driving through because her city is gone?

 

[HecticArt]

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

Nah... We had Tom Scholz of Boston Art Tatum, Anita Baker, and Ike Stubblefield ...... That's about it......
I don't think Chrissie slows down the car when she passes through.

She has to. It's a construction zone.

 

[HecticArt]

Then she probably stopped.....several times.

 

[scotchandcigar]

Then she probably stopped.....several times.

... in the middle of the road.

 

[HecticArt]

 

[scotchandcigar]

I present to you, one of my all-time favorite bands - Squeeze! I first discovered them when they released Argybargy, but my "in the know" friends were into Cool for Cats. I became obsessed with them and bought their first 3 albums, and then the next 2 when released. Glenn Tilbrook has one of the most iconic voices in popular music, and the writing team of Difford and Tilbrook are among the best. If any of you are familiar with the Jools Holland music variety show, he is an original member of the band.

Their self-titled debut album (titled U.K. Squeeze outside of the U.K.) contained Take Me I'm Yours, which became a hit after they became more well-known. Cool for Cats had a bunch of great songs, including the title track, and these

Squeeze - Slap and Tickle (live)



They write a lot of story-songs (attention sadchild), like this one

Squeeze – Up the Junction



Here's an alternate rendition of Goodbye Girl performed live



But their big breakout in the US came with Argybargy, which contained a bunch of hits, such as Pulling Mussels from the Shell, and these

Squeeze - Another Nail in my Heart



Squeeze – If I Didn’t Love You

 

[scotchandcigar]

After Argybargy, I went back and bought their first 2 albums, and then when East Side Story was released, I was there on release day to buy it. I listened to the entire album before it hit the radio. I thought the song Tempted was a sappy throwaway, and it was sung by Paul Carrack, who replaced Jools Holland on keyboards. Of course, that's the song that was a big radio hit. But the album had a lot of great songs on it, like this

Squeeze – Is That Love?



I would listen to the album from start to finish, and it got a lot of positive reviews. However, the only lasting hit from it was Tempted. Their next album was not as well received, although (for a fan like me) it had a number of good songs on it. This was the hit from Sweets from a Stranger

Squeeze – Black Coffee in Bed



After that album, they broke up and later reformed. During the breakup, they put out Singles - 45's and Under, which contained a new song, Annie Get Your Gun. That album is their top seller. After they reformed, their album Babylon and On contained their highest ranking Billboard hit

Squeeze – Hourglass (live)

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

This is my only Squeeze song in my library:

 

[scotchandcigar]

This is my only Squeeze song in my library:

Of course it is.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

Of course it is.

I had them down as a one hit wonder.