Pretenders II (Deluxe Edition 3CD)

Curated by Chrissie Hynde, Pretenders’ second studio album Pretenders II is packaged in a brand-new, striking 3CD deluxe book.

In 1981, Pretenders followed up their massive eponymous debut album with Pretenders II. The last album with Pretenders’ original line-up, the band continued the tremendous form of their debut album.

Curated by Chrissie Hynde, Pretenders II (Deluxe Edition) features the original album remastered by Chris Thomas, alongside demos, rarities, and two live performances. One is from a performance in Central Park, New York City, and the other from an electric performance at The Santa Monica Civic. The package contains a high-quality book, featuring several rare, unseen photos as well as brand-new liner notes from acclaimed music journalist Will Hodgkinson.

Following their debut album, Pretenders released two singles in the UK, Talk Of The Town and Message Of Love before Pretenders II arrived, with the former reaching #8 and the latter #11 in the UK singles charts. The appetite in the US maintained too, with Pretenders releasing an EP in the interim named “Extended Play”, containing five tracks that would later be on the Pretenders II album. With a clamouring for more Pretenders material, Pretenders II was released on 15th August 1981 to great fanfare. The album would end up peaking #7 in the UK, and #10 in the US, being certified Silver and Gold respectively in the process. Further highlights of the album include another cover of The Kinks, in the form of I Go To Sleep.