“Back On The Chain Gang” / “My City Was Gone” (Real ARE 19) September 1982
The Pretenders | Back On The Chain Gang | (Real) 1982 | We’ll end the hits on a high with some fine pop from a fine but unhappy band. Plangent guitar lazes into a relaxed guitar figure that grabs the interest before sleazy Chrissie takes it all away.
It’s smooth as silk undies and easier on the ear than a pecking Nolan Sister, though the chorus is boosted by weird back-up oohing and aahing, like some mass rumping session which’ll make it a must on every pub juke box. A Pretenders revival now would see the year out quite nicely. (Sounds, 25/09/82)
Chrissie’s songs get more personal as her music gets more traditional. “Chain Gang” is a characteristic toe-tapper that laments a love torn asunder by the talk of the town.
Not a new theme but Chrissie still writes a mean ballad and this will put her back in the charts. (Record Mirror, 25/09/82)
The Pretenders create a very slight noise and preface it by stealing Peter Frampton’s ‘Show Me The Way’ intro. (I saw Peter Frampton at Hammersmith last week – I gave him some money but of course refused to take any matches.) In effect, it looks like The Pretenders are going to have a wee hit. (NME, 25/09/82)
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