For over 40 years the discography of The Pretenders, a London, England-based rock band, reflects worldwide charting of 12 studio albums, four compilation albums, one extended play (EP), four live albums, six video albums and 55 singles.
| The Pretenders discography | |
|---|---|
 Pretenders (original line-up), Dominion Theatre, London, December 1981 | |
| Studio albums | 12 |
| EPs | 1 |
| Live albums | 6 |
| Compilation albums | 4 |
| Singles | 55 |
| Video albums | 6 |
Vocalist/guitarist Chrissie Hynde, guitarist/keyboardist James Honeyman-Scott, bassist Pete Farndon and drummer Martin Chambers formed The Pretenders in 1978. Their chart-topping debut album, Pretenders, is widely regarded as one of the finest debut albums of all time.[1] The Pretenders' hit songs include "Brass in Pocket" (1979), "Talk of the Town" (1980), "Message of Love" (1981), "Back on the Chain Gang" (1982), "Middle of the Road" (1983), "2000 Miles" (1984), "Don't Get Me Wrong" (1986), "My Baby" (1986), and "I'll Stand by You" (1994).
Albums
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [2] |
AUS [3] |
CAN |
GER [4] |
NLD [5] |
NOR [6] |
NZ [7] |
SWE [8] |
SWI [9] |
US [10] | ||||||||||
| Pretenders | 1 | 6 | 5 | — | 14 | 24 | 2 | 2 | — | 9 | |||||||||
| Pretenders II |
|
7 | 18 | 9 | — | 16 | — | 1 | 20 | — | 10 | ||||||||
| Learning to Crawl |
|
11 | 18 | 4 | 38 | 11 | 18 | 19 | 3 | 30 | 5 | ||||||||
| Get Close |
|
6 | 12 | 9 | 33 | 22 | 18 | 13 | 6 | 22 | 25 | ||||||||
| Packed! |
|
19 | 55 | 23 | 48 | 43 | 15 | 31 | 7 | — | 48 |
| |||||||
| Last of the Independents |
|
8 | 22 | 25 | 42 | 50 | 16 | 14 | 6 | 26 | 41 | ||||||||
| ¡Viva El Amor! |
|
32 | — | — | 73 | — | — | — | 36 | — | 158 | ||||||||
| Loose Screw | 55 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 179 | |||||||||
| Break Up the Concrete |
|
35 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 58 | — | 32 |
| |||||||
| Alone |
|
40 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 150 | ||||||||
| Hate for Sale |
|
29 | — | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | ||||||||
| Relentless |
|
25 | — | — | 43 | — | — | — | — | 15 | — | ||||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||||||||||||||||||
Notes;
- Break Up the Concrete was released in Europe only as a double-disc with The Best of Pretenders.
Live albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [2] |
AUS [3] |
BEL [17] |
US [10] | |||
| Live at the Santa Monica Civic |
|
— | — | — | — | |
| Superstar Concert Series |
|
— | — | — | — | |
| The Isle of View |
|
23 | 98 | 46 | 100 |
|
| Loose in L.A. |
|
— | — | — | — | |
| Live in London |
|
— | — | — | — | |
| Live in New York City |
|
— | — | — | — | |
Compilation albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [2] |
AUS [3] |
NZ [7] |
SPA [18] |
SWE [8] |
US [10] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Singles |
|
6 | 19 | 11 | 48 | 50 | 69 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Greatest Hits |
|
21 | 99 | — | — | 23 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pirate Radio |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Best of Pretenders |
|
35 | — | — | 56 | 58 | — |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes;
- The Best of Pretenders was released as a double disc with Break Up the Concrete in Europe and Brazil in June 2009, titled The Best of / Break Up the Concrete.
Extended plays
edit| Title | EP details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| US [10] | ||
| Extended Play |
|
27 |
Singles
editThis section needs additional citations for verification. (October 2022) |
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [2] |
AUS [3] |
CAN | NLD [5] |
NZ [7] |
SWE [8] |
US [10] |
US Alt [10] |
US Main [10] |
US Adult [10] | |||||
| 1979 | "Stop Your Sobbing" | 34 | — | — | — | 25 | — | 65 | — | — | — | Pretenders | ||
| "Kid" | 33 | 90 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "Brass in Pocket" | 1 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 14 | — | — | — |
| |||
| 1980 | "Precious" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Talk of the Town" | 8 | 55 | — | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Pretenders II (initially single-only releases) | |||
| 1981 | "Message of Love" | 11 | 15 | — | 33 | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | |||
| "Day After Day" | 45 | 102 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Pretenders II | |||
| "The Adultress" (airplay) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | — | ||||
| "I Go to Sleep" | 7 | — | — | 9 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "Louie Louie" | — | — | — | — | — | — | 110 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1982 | "Back on the Chain Gang" b/w "My City Was Gone" |
17 | 11 | 5 | 31 | 14 | — | 5 | — | 4 11 |
— | Learning to Crawl | ||
| 1983 | "2000 Miles" | 15 | 30 | — | 13 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — |
| ||
| "Middle of the Road" | 81 | 52 | 12 | — | — | — | 19 | — | 2 | — | ||||
| 1984 | "Time the Avenger" (airplay) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | |||
| "Show Me" | — | — | — | — | — | — | 28 | — | 8 | — | ||||
| "Thumbelina" (airplay) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 57 | — | ||||
| "Thin Line Between Love and Hate" | 49 | — | — | 32 | — | — | 83 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1986 | "Don't Get Me Wrong" | 10 | 8 | 14 | 25 | 11 | — | 10 | — | 1 | 28 |
|
Get Close | |
| "Hymn to Her" | 8 | 7 | — | 38 | 46 | 15 | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1987 | "My Baby" | 84 | 56 | — | — | 50 | — | 64 | — | 1 | — | |||
| "Room Full of Mirrors" (promo) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 28 | — | ||||
| "Where Has Everybody Gone?" (promo) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 26 | — | The Living Daylights (soundtrack) | |||
| "If There Was a Man" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "Kid" (Remix) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | The Singles | |||
| 1988 | "Windows of the World" | — | 117 | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | — | — | 1969 (soundtrack) | ||
| 1990 | "Never Do That" | 81 | 107 | 26 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 5 | — | Packed! | ||
| "Hold a Candle to This" (promo) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | — | — | ||||
| "Sense of Purpose" | — | 129 | 72 | — | — | — | — | 23 | — | — | ||||
| 1994 | "I'm Not in Love" | — | — | 74 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Indecent Proposal (soundtrack) | ||
| "I'll Stand by You" | 10 | 8 | 12 | 29 | 20 | 21 | 16 | 21 | — | 21 |
|
Last of the Independents | ||
| "Night in My Veins" | 25 | — | 9 | — | — | — | 71 | 2 | 13 | — | ||||
| "977" | 66 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "Money Talk" (promo) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1995 | "Kid '95" (live) | 73 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | The Isle of View | ||
| "2000 Miles" (live) | 168 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1997 | Fever Pitch The E.P.: "Goin' Back" | 65 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Fever Pitch (soundtrack) | ||
| 1999 | "Loving You Is All I Know" (promo) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | The Other Sister (soundtrack) | ||
| "Human" | 33 | — | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | — | 30 | ¡Viva El Amor! | |||
| "Popstar" | 97 | 59 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 2003 | "You Know Who Your Friends Are" | 84 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Loose Screw | ||
| "Time" (Junior Vasquez Remixes) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "Saving Grace" | 174 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "The Losing" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 2008 | "Boots of Chinese Plastic" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | Break Up the Concrete | ||
| "Love's a Mystery" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | ||||
| "Break Up the Concrete" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 2016 | "Holy Commotion" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | Alone | ||
| 2017 | "Let's Get Lost" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Gotta Wait" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 2020 | "The Buzz"[20] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | Hate for Sale | ||
| "You Can't Hurt a Fool"[20] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "Hate for Sale"[20] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "Didn't Want to Be This Lonely"[20] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 27 | ||||
| 2023 | "Let the Sun Come In"[21] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Relentless | ||
| "I Think About You Daily"[22] (featuring Jonny Greenwood) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "A Love" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | ||||||||||||||
Notes;
- In 1980, "What You Gonna Do About It" (A-side) was released as a single with "Stop Your Sobbing (original demo version)" as the B-side as a special flexipop single in the UK.
- The 1987 "If There Was a Man" UK release was accredited to The Pretenders for 007
- In 1980, "Precious" (A-side) was released as a single in Spain with "Stop Your Sobbing" as the B-side.
- In 1980, "Cuban Slide" (A-side) was released as a single in Japan, backed with "Stop Your Sobbing" as the B-side.
- In 1982 "I Go to Sleep" (A-side) was released in Belgium with "English Roses" (album track) as the B-side.
- In 1987, neither of the two tracks of the promotional single "Kid (Remix) b/w "Stop Your Sobbing (Demo Version)" actually appear on the album in those versions; rather they appear as the original single versions.
- The Pretenders also appear on the UK Singles Chart for their appearance on the 1997 Fever Pitch The EP for which their cover of "Goin' Back" is listed. The EP charted at No. 65 for one week on 10 May 1997.
- The column for US Adult chart positions consists of peak positions from Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart for "Don't Get Me Wrong", "I'll Stand by You" and "Loving You Is All I Know", Billboard's Adult Top 40 chart for "Human" and Adult album alternative (AAA) for "Boots of Chinese Plastic" and "Love's a Mystery". In addition, "I'll Stand by You" also charted on Adult Top 40 chart, but its peak position (#23) was lower than on the Adult Contemporary chart.
Other appearances
edit| Year | Song | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | "Talk of the Town" | Times Square soundtrack |
| 1981 | "The Wait", "Tattooed Love Boys", "Precious" | Concert for Kampuchea soundtrack |
| 1982 | "Back on the Chain Gang" | The King of Comedy soundtrack |
| 1982 | "In the Sticks" | Attack of the Killer B's compilation album |
| 1984 | "Money" (live) (Beatles cover) | Revenge of the Killer B's compilation album |
| 1984 | "Show Me" (live) | Greenpeace compilation album |
| 1986 | "Don't Get Me Wrong" | Peter's Friends soundtrack |
| 1987 | "If There Was a Man", "Where Has Everybody Gone" | The Living Daylights soundtrack |
| 1988 | "Windows of the World", "1969" (Bacharach/Osterberg covers) | 1969 soundtrack |
| 1991 | "Born for a Purpose" (Alimantado cover) | Tame Yourself compilation |
| 1993 | "Bold as Love" (Hendrix cover) | Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix |
| 1994 | "Forever Young" (Dylan cover) | With Honors soundtrack |
| 1995 | "Everyday Is Like Sunday" (Morrissey cover) | Boys on the Side soundtrack |
| 1995 | "Forever Young" (Dylan cover) | Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home soundtrack |
| 1997 | "Goodbye" (Earle cover), "The Homecoming" | G.I. Jane soundtrack |
| 1999 | "I Wish You Love" (cover) | Eye of the Beholder soundtrack |
| 1999 | "Message of Love" and various tracks as backing band | Here, There and Everywhere: A Concert for Linda memorial concert |
| 1999 | "Loving You Is All I Know" (Diane Warren cover) | The Other Sister soundtrack |
| 2002 | "Get Out of London" (Interferon cover) | The Wild Thornberrys soundtrack |
| 2002 | "Bless You" (Lennon cover) | Uncut Presents: Instant Karma 2002; a Tribute to John Lennon[23] |
| 2005 | "Stop Your Sobbing", "Back on the Chain Gang", "Middle of the Road" | Live Aid Anniversary Box Set. "Time the Avenger" and "Message of Love" also performed but not included. |
DVDs
editReferences
edit- ^ "100 Best Debut Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. 13 October 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Pretenders | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
- ^ a b c d Peaks in Australia:
- Top 100 (Kent Music Report) peaks to 19 June 1988: Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 238. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 19 June 1988.
- Top 50 (ARIA Chart) peaks from 26 June 1988: "australian-charts.com > The Pretenders in Australian Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- Top 100 (ARIA Chart) peaks from January 1990 to December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 224.
- "Windows of the World" (ARIA Chart) peak: "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 2 May 2017". Imgur.com. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- "Day After Day" and "Never Do That" (ARIA Chart) peaks both referenced: "bubbling Down Under Week commencing 18 June 1990". www.bubblingdownunder.com. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
- "Sense of Purpose" (ARIA Chart) peak: "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 14 November 2016". Imgur.com. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- ^ "Discographie von Pretenders". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ a b "Dutch Album Chart". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
- ^ "Norwegian Album Chart". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
- ^ a b c "Discography The Pretenders". charts.nz. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
- ^ a b c "Discography The Pretenders". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
- ^ "Swiss Album Chart". Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Artist Chart History – The Pretenders". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "British certifications – Pretenders". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 3 December 2022. Type Pretenders in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "Kent Music Report No 341 – 5 January 1981 > Platinum and Gold Albums 1980". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 12 November 2021 – via Imgur.com.
- ^ "NVPI Certifications". NVPI. Archived from the original on 10 September 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f "RIAA Certifications". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
- ^ "BPI".
- ^ "BPI".
- ^ "Belgian album Chart". ultratop.be. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
- ^ "Spanish Album Chart". spanishcharts.com. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d Reilly, Nick (17 March 2020). "The Pretenders announce new album 'Hate for Sale' and share first track". NME. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ Dunworth, Liberty (11 May 2023). "Pretenders share nostalgic new single, ' Let The Sun Come In'". NME. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (16 June 2023). "The Pretenders – "I Think About You Daily" (Feat. Jonny Greenwood)". Stereogum. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ "Uncut Presents: Instant Karma 2002; a Tribute to John Lennon: Various Artists". Amazon. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
- ^ Discogs – the Isle of View (3 versions and tracklist) Archived 9 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Discogs – Loose in L.A. (5 versions and tracklist)
- ^ Discogs – 20 Years Ago Today – Live Aid (tracklist, credits, and notes)
- ^ Discogs – Live in London (3 versions and tracklist)
