The Pretenders - Learning to Crawl / Mobile Fidelity

One of the most famous women in rock music, Chrissie Hynde, on one of her band The Pretenders' most successful albums. Released in 1984, Learning To Crawl sounds like it hasn't aged a day.

Rocky, emotional and powerful. Music from a band that had to deal with personal tragedy, overcome significant change and find new determination in that pain. After the death of guitarist James

Honeyman-Scott, who was so important to the Pretenders' sound, and the dismissal of bassist Peter Fardon, who also died a year later, band founder Hynde regrouped, sought out studio musicians

and released Learning To Crawl, an overwhelming "yes" to the changed situation.

The new Pretenders were more chart-orientated, but without losing their rawness, oscillating between punk and new wave, with soulful ballads and catchy melodies. With 'Back on the chein gang',

the band's most commercially successful single release, Hynde wrote a bittersweet anthem for her two lost bandmates. The Christmassy "2000 Miles" is one of the singer's most beautiful love songs.

The MFSL remastering tapes was done by Krieg Wunderlich and takes away all the annoyance that Hynde's voice can sometimes have on the radio. It sounds penetrating yet clear, moving between

strong determination and serious reflection. The 180g vinyl LP comes in a gatefold sleeve with consecutive serial numbering.

Title

Side 1

1. Middle of the road

2. Back on the chain gang

3. Time the avenger

4. Watching the clothes

5. Show me

Side 2

1. Thumbelina

2. My city was gone

3. Thin line between love and hate

4. I hurt you

5. 2000 miles