Learning to Crawl
Encyclopedia
Learning to Crawl is the Pretenders' third album, released in 1984 after a two-year hiatus, during which time James Honeyman-Scott
and Pete Farndon
both died of drug overdose
s.
After Farndon's dismissal from the band and Honeyman-Scott's death, Chrissie Hynde
and Martin Chambers
initially recruited Rockpile
's Billy Bremner
and Big Country
's Tony Butler to fill out a caretaker line-up of the band in 1982. Bremner played guitar and Butler played bass on the band's September 1982 single "Back on the Chain Gang/My City Was Gone", both sides of which were later included on Learning to Crawl. As the album sessions got under way, Bremner, The Rumour's Andrew Bodnar, and Paul Carrack
(formerly of Squeeze, Ace
and Roxy Music
) played guitar, bass and piano respectively for the track "Thin Line Between Love and Hate".
Finally, Robbie McIntosh (guitar) and Malcolm Foster (bass) were recruited to join Hynde and Chambers, and the band was now officially a quartet. It was this line-up that recorded the majority of the tracks featured on Learning to Crawl.
The November 1983 single "2000 Miles
/Fast or Slow (The Law's the Law)" was the newly reconstituted foursome's first release, followed shortly by the full Learning to Crawl album in January 1984.
, except as indicated.
Singles
James Honeyman-Scott
James Honeyman-Scott , commonly referred to as "Jimmy", was an English rock guitarist, songwriter and founding member of the band The Pretenders....
and Pete Farndon
Pete Farndon
Pete Farndon was an English bassist and founding member of the rock band The Pretenders. Farndon attended Hereford Cathedral School in his home town of Hereford, before embarking on his musical legacy with The Pretenders...
both died of drug overdose
Drug overdose
The term drug overdose describes the ingestion or application of a drug or other substance in quantities greater than are recommended or generally practiced...
s.
After Farndon's dismissal from the band and Honeyman-Scott's death, Chrissie Hynde
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
and Martin Chambers
Martin Chambers
Martin Chambers is the drummer in the rock band, The Pretenders. In addition to playing the drums with the group Chambers sings backing vocals and plays percussion...
initially recruited Rockpile
Rockpile
Rockpile were a British rock and roll group of the late 1970s and early 1980s, noted for their strong rockabilly and power pop influences, and as a foundational influence on new wave...
's Billy Bremner
Billy Bremner (musician)
William "Billy" Bremner is a guitarist best known for his work in the band Rockpile and on many of Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds' albums...
and Big Country
Big Country
Big Country are a Scottish rock band formed in Dunfermline, Fife in 1981. They were most popular in the early to mid-1980s, but they still release material for a cult following...
's Tony Butler to fill out a caretaker line-up of the band in 1982. Bremner played guitar and Butler played bass on the band's September 1982 single "Back on the Chain Gang/My City Was Gone", both sides of which were later included on Learning to Crawl. As the album sessions got under way, Bremner, The Rumour's Andrew Bodnar, and Paul Carrack
Paul Carrack
Paul Carrack is an English singer, songwriter and musician. Carrack has been a member of several bands including Ace, Squeeze, Mike + The Mechanics, and Roxy Music, been a session and touring musician for several others including Nick Lowe, and has enjoyed success as a solo artist as well...
(formerly of Squeeze, Ace
Ace (band)
Ace were a British rock music band, who enjoyed moderate success in the 1970s. They are notable for their part in the early career of Paul Carrack, who later became famous as a solo artist, and as a member of several other groups...
and Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
) played guitar, bass and piano respectively for the track "Thin Line Between Love and Hate".
Finally, Robbie McIntosh (guitar) and Malcolm Foster (bass) were recruited to join Hynde and Chambers, and the band was now officially a quartet. It was this line-up that recorded the majority of the tracks featured on Learning to Crawl.
The November 1983 single "2000 Miles
2000 Miles
"2000 Miles" is a song by The Pretenders released in 1983 as the preceding single to their 1984 album, Learning to Crawl. In the US, it was released as both 7 inch 45 as the B-side of the single "Middle of the Road" and a 12 inch remix. It was most popular in the UK, where it charted at #15...
/Fast or Slow (The Law's the Law)" was the newly reconstituted foursome's first release, followed shortly by the full Learning to Crawl album in January 1984.
Trivia
Hynde named the album "Learning to Crawl" because her daughter, Natalie Rae Hynde, was learning to crawl at the time that Chrissie was trying to determine a name for the album.Track listing
All songs written by Chrissie HyndeChrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
, except as indicated.
- "Middle of the RoadMiddle of the Road (song)"Middle of the Road" is a single that appears on The Pretenders' album Learning to Crawl.It is a song that has a 60s-style rhythm, and it peaked at #19 on the US pop singles chart and #2 on the US mainstream rock chart in January 1984, where it stayed for four weeks.The number is at least...
" – 4:08 - "Back on the Chain GangBack on the Chain Gang"Back on the Chain Gang" is a song by the English-American band The Pretenders, released as single by Sire Records in November 1982. The song was also released on The King of Comedy soundtrack album in March 1983 and later included on The Pretenders' next album Learning to Crawl in January 1984...
" – 3:44 - "Time the Avenger" – 4:47
- "Watching the Clothes" – 2:46
- "Show Me" – 4:00
- "Thumbelina" – 3:12
- "My City Was GoneMy City Was Gone"My City Was Gone" is a song by the rock group The Pretenders. The song originally appeared in October 1982 as the B-side to the single release of "Back on the Chain Gang"; the two-sided single was the comeback release for the band following the death of founding bandmember James Honeyman-Scott...
" – 5:14 - "Thin Line Between Love and HateThin Line Between Love and Hate"Thin Line Between Love and Hate" is the title of a 1971 song by the New York City-based R&B vocal group The Persuaders. The song was written and produced by the Poindexter brothers, Robert and Richard, and was also co-written by Jackie Members....
" (Richard Poindexter, Robert Poindexter, Jackie Members) – 3:33 - "I Hurt You" – 4:27
- "2000 Miles2000 Miles"2000 Miles" is a song by The Pretenders released in 1983 as the preceding single to their 1984 album, Learning to Crawl. In the US, it was released as both 7 inch 45 as the B-side of the single "Middle of the Road" and a 12 inch remix. It was most popular in the UK, where it charted at #15...
" – 3:30
Bonus tracks (2007 Re-release)
- "Fast or Slow (The Law's the Law)" (Martin ChambersMartin ChambersMartin Chambers is the drummer in the rock band, The Pretenders. In addition to playing the drums with the group Chambers sings backing vocals and plays percussion...
) – 3:15 - "Tequila" – 3:35
- "I Hurt You" (Denmark StreetDenmark StreetDenmark Street is a short narrow road in central London, notable for its connections with British popular music, and is known as the British Tin Pan Alley. The road connects Charing Cross Road at its western end with St Giles High Street at its eastern end. Denmark Street is in the London Borough...
Demo, August 1982) – 4:06 - "When I Change My Life" (Denmark Street Demo, August 1982) – 4:43
- "Ramblin' Rob" (Denmark Street Demo, August 1982) (Robbie McIntoshRobbie McIntoshRobbie McIntosh is an English guitarist. McIntosh is well known as a session guitarist and member of The Pretenders from 1982 until 1987. In 1988 he began doing session guitar work for Paul McCartney joining his band full time until early 1994...
) – 3:32 - "My City Was Gone" (Live) – 4:53
- "Money (That's What I Want)Money (That's What I Want)"Money " is a 1959 hit single by Barrett Strong for the Tamla label, distributed nationally on Anna Records. The song was written by Tamla founder Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford, and became the first hit record for Gordy's Motown enterprise....
" (Live at US FestivalUS FestivalThe US Festivals were two early 1980s music and culture festivals sponsored by Steve Wozniak, formerly of Apple Computer. The first was held Labor Day weekend in September 1982 and the second was Memorial Day weekend in May 1983...
, May 1983) (Berry Gordy Jr., Janie BradfordJanie BradfordJanie Bradford is an American songwriter, most known for her tenure with Motown. With Berry Gordy, she co-wrote "Money ", originally recorded by Barrett Strong and used by The Beatles on their second album With The Beatles...
) – 4:39
Personnel
- Chrissie HyndeChrissie HyndeChristine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
– rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, lead vocals, harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes... - Martin ChambersMartin ChambersMartin Chambers is the drummer in the rock band, The Pretenders. In addition to playing the drums with the group Chambers sings backing vocals and plays percussion...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, vocals - Robbie McIntoshRobbie McIntoshRobbie McIntosh is an English guitarist. McIntosh is well known as a session guitarist and member of The Pretenders from 1982 until 1987. In 1988 he began doing session guitar work for Paul McCartney joining his band full time until early 1994...
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocals - Malcolm Foster – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals
Additional personnel
- Billy BremnerBilly Bremner (musician)William "Billy" Bremner is a guitarist best known for his work in the band Rockpile and on many of Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds' albums...
– lead guitar on "Back on the Chain Gang" and "My City Was Gone", rhythm guitar and vocals on "Thin Line Between Love and Hate" - Tony ButlerTony Butler (bass player)Anthony Earle Peter "Tony" Butler , is a rock bassist, best known for his lengthy work with the Scottish rock band Big Country...
– bass guitar on "Back on the Chain Gang" and "My City Was Gone" - Andrew Bodnar – bass guitar and vocals on "Thin Line Between Love and Hate"
- Paul CarrackPaul CarrackPaul Carrack is an English singer, songwriter and musician. Carrack has been a member of several bands including Ace, Squeeze, Mike + The Mechanics, and Roxy Music, been a session and touring musician for several others including Nick Lowe, and has enjoyed success as a solo artist as well...
– piano and vocals on "Thin Line Between Love and Hate"
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | The Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... 200 |
5 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | "Back on the Chain Gang" | Billboard Mainstream Rock | 4 |
| 1983 | "Back on the Chain Gang" | Billboard Pop Singles | 5 |
| 1983 | "Middle of the Road" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 19 |
| 1983 | "My City Was Gone" | Billboard Mainstream Rock | 11 |
| 1983 | "Middle of the Road" | Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | 43 |
| 1984 | "Show Me" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 28 |
| 1984 | "Thin Line Between Love and Hate" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 83 |
Certifications
| Organization | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| RIAA – USA | Gold | April 18, 1984 |
| RIAA – USA | Platinum | April 18, 1984 |