Learning to Crawl
Learning to Crawl is the third studio album by the English-American rock band the Pretenders, released on 20 January 1984 by Sire Records and produced by Chris Thomas.[1][2][3] Following the death of original guitarist James Honeyman-Scott from a cocaine overdose in June 1982 and the dismissal of bassist Pete Farndon (who died from a heroin overdose in April 1983), band leader Chrissie Hynde reformed the group with new members Robbie McIntosh on guitar, Malcolm Foster on bass, and continued with drummer Martin Chambers.[4][5] The album's title draws from Hynde's daughter Yasmin Paris, who was learning to crawl during recording, symbolizing the band's own tentative recovery and rebirth after profound loss.[4][6] Recorded at studios in the Netherlands, New York City, and London, Learning to Crawl blends punk, new wave, pop, and rock elements, featuring Hynde's raw, emotive songwriting on themes of resilience, love, and grief.[7][5][8] Standout tracks include the lead single "Back on the Chain Gang," which reached number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and addressed the band's turmoil, "Middle of the Road" peaking at number 19 in the UK, and the holiday staple "2000 Miles," a poignant tribute to Honeyman-Scott that has become a perennial Christmas favorite.[5][7][4] The album marked a commercial and critical triumph, debuting at number five on the US Billboard 200, number three on the UK Albums Chart, and achieving platinum certification in both countries for sales exceeding one million copies each.[5][6] It solidified the Pretenders' status in the 1980s rock landscape, praised for its emotional depth and Hynde's commanding presence amid adversity, and has since been reissued multiple times, including a 40th-anniversary edition in 2024.[7][2][9]Background
Band transitions
In June 1982, The Pretenders underwent significant turmoil when bassist Pete Farndon was dismissed from the band on June 14 due to his escalating heroin addiction, which had begun to affect rehearsals and group dynamics.[10] Just two days later, on June 16, founding guitarist James Honeyman-Scott was found dead at age 25 from a cocaine-induced heart attack, marking the end of the band's original lineup and plunging the remaining members into grief.[11] This double blow came less than a year after the release of the band's second album, Pretenders II, in August 1981, creating a nearly two-year creative hiatus as the group grappled with the losses.[5] To move forward amid the crisis, frontwoman Chrissie Hynde and drummer Martin Chambers recruited temporary musicians for a pair of 1982 singles: guitarist Billy Bremner and bassist Tony Butler, who contributed to tracks like "Back on the Chain Gang," a tribute to Honeyman-Scott.[10] By early 1983, following Farndon's own death from a heroin overdose on April 14, Hynde solidified a new core lineup for the recording of Learning to Crawl, bringing in guitarist Robbie McIntosh—a friend of Honeyman-Scott who helped preserve elements of the band's signature sound—and bassist Malcolm Foster.[11] These changes marked a transitional phase, with Hynde temporarily handling additional guitar duties to stabilize the group.[5] The deaths devastated band morale, leaving Hynde and Chambers as the only survivors of the original formation and prompting widespread speculation that The Pretenders might disband entirely.[10] However, Hynde asserted her leadership by committing to continue under the Pretenders name, viewing it as a way to honor Honeyman-Scott and Farndon while channeling the emotional weight into new music; she later reflected on the period as a test of resilience, stating that the band became "kind of like a Pretenders tribute band, named The Pretenders."[12] This determination allowed the group to reform and enter the studio by mid-1983, transforming personal and professional tragedy into the foundation for their third album.[11]Personal context
During the early 1980s, Chrissie Hynde navigated profound personal transformations that deeply shaped the introspective tone of Learning to Crawl. Having relocated to London from her native Ohio in 1973 to immerse herself in the burgeoning punk scene, Hynde had by 1980 achieved unexpected commercial success with the Pretenders' self-titled debut and follow-up Pretenders II, both of which topped charts and brought intense scrutiny. This newfound fame exacerbated her sense of isolation in the city's bohemian underbelly, where she frequented pubs and studios amid the pressures of constant media attention and the rock lifestyle's excesses, prompting reflections on vulnerability and reinvention in her work.[13] Hynde's relationship with Ray Davies of the Kinks led to her pregnancy in 1982, culminating in the birth of their daughter, Natalie Rae Hynde, in January 1983. At seven months pregnant, she continued recording sessions for the album, approaching the studio with a altered perspective influenced by impending motherhood; she later recalled feeling self-conscious about her changing body but defiantly asserted, "I was fat, had big tits and people'd be looking at me funny. But I'd tell 'em, 'Well, if I'm doing it, then it's rock 'n' roll.'" This period infused her songwriting with themes of resilience and domesticity, as evidenced by the album's title, inspired by Natalie learning to crawl—a metaphor for Hynde's own tentative steps forward amid personal upheaval.[11][4] The emotional toll of losing two original bandmates compounded these changes. Guitarist James Honeyman-Scott died of a cocaine-induced heart attack in June 1982, just two days after bassist Pete Farndon was fired for drug issues; Farndon himself drowned in a heroin-related incident ten months later. Hynde described the immediate aftermath as a "state of shock... like a bad dream," feeling as though she were "on an island" in grief, which she likened to a "black hole" that tested her endurance. In later interviews, she expressed lingering guilt over the band's drug culture, admitting, "I didn’t discourage the drug-taking and I was part of it," yet channeled this loss into a defiant creative surge, balancing studio commitments with new motherhood by bringing Natalie along, noting the chaotic yet manageable routine: "I’d go to the studio with the baby." These experiences fostered the album's raw emotional depth, highlighting Hynde's ability to confront adversity while embracing life's fragile beginnings.[13][14][15]Production
Recording sessions
The recording sessions for Learning to Crawl began in July 1982 at AIR Studios in central London, shortly after the death of original guitarist James Honeyman-Scott in June 1982 and the dismissal of bassist Pete Farndon earlier that month, with Chrissie Hynde and drummer Martin Chambers joined by new guitarist Robbie McIntosh, additional guitarist Billy Bremner, and bassist Tony Butler to form a revamped lineup.[16][11] The initial track, "Back on the Chain Gang," was captured in a single day using live band tracking on a 24-track setup, with the rhythm section—featuring Chambers on drums and Butler on direct-injected bass—laid down first to establish a solid foundation, followed by immediate overdubs on guitars and Hynde's vocals over the next two days.[16] Following the initial sessions, recording paused in late 1982 and early 1983 due to Hynde's advancing pregnancy and the birth of her daughter Natalie Rae Hynde on January 22, 1983.[17] Recording resumed in mid-1983 at the same studio, where the band addressed integration challenges with the newcomers through collaborative rehearsals and revisions to ensure cohesion amid the lineup changes.[16] The process emphasized a mix of live ensemble takes for core instrumentation—such as Chambers' drum kit, miked with AKG D12 on kick, Sennheiser 421s on toms, and Shure SM57 on snare for a punchy, room-filling sound enhanced by PA monitoring—and subsequent layered overdubs, particularly on guitars, to build density without losing the group's raw energy. Hynde's vocals were recorded in an isolated environment.[16] By late 1983, the sessions wrapped after several months of intermittent work, including further overdubs and bass revisions—shifting at times to Malcolm Foster on bass for select tracks—to refine the album's sound while navigating logistical hurdles like scheduling around Hynde's family commitments and the band's evolving dynamics.[16] This extended timeline allowed for a chronological buildup from basic tracks to polished masters, culminating in the album's completion just before its January 1984 release.[16]Production choices
The production of Learning to Crawl was led by Chris Thomas, who returned to helm the project after producing the Pretenders' self-titled debut in 1979 and Pretenders II in 1981, infusing the album with his signature polished new wave rock aesthetic that emphasized clarity and dynamic energy.[16][18] Chrissie Hynde, as band leader, took a more active role in shaping the overall sound, collaborating closely with Thomas to balance the raw emotional intensity of her vocals and lyrics with refined studio techniques, ensuring the album captured personal vulnerability without overproduction.[5] Key technical decisions focused on preserving authenticity while enhancing listenability, such as minimal processing on Hynde's vocals to maintain their direct, unfiltered power and prominent guitar tones achieved through layering—for instance, Thomas suggested stacking six guitars on tracks like "Middle of the Road" to create a thick, muscular rock texture that contrasted with the album's more intimate moments.[6] Session musicians played crucial roles in this approach, with Billy Bremner contributing rhythm guitar and vocals on select tracks, adding a gritty edge drawn from his Rockpile experience, while engineer Steve Churchyard handled the recording at AIR Studios in London, meticulously capturing the live-room setup to mimic a gig atmosphere for natural band interplay.[19][6] The labels provided substantial support, with Real Records handling the UK release and Sire Records (under Warner Bros. in the US) backing the project financially and promotionally, influencing mixing choices to prioritize radio-friendly dynamics that highlighted the album's commercial potential without compromising its artistic core.[3]Composition
Songwriting origins
The songwriting for Learning to Crawl was predominantly the work of Chrissie Hynde, who drew from personal turmoil following the deaths of bandmates James Honeyman-Scott in June 1982 and Pete Farndon in April 1983. Key tracks originated during this period of upheaval, with several songs initially drafted amid Hynde's evolving relationships and travels before being revised in the wake of tragedy. For instance, "Back on the Chain Gang," written in 1982, began as a reflection on Hynde's on-again, off-again romance with Ray Davies of the Kinks—specifically inspired by finding a photo of him in her wallet—but transformed into a tribute to Honeyman-Scott after his overdose death.[20][6] "My City Was Gone" emerged from Hynde's 1982 return to her hometown of Akron, Ohio, where she confronted the environmental degradation and urban sprawl that had replaced the gritty industrial landscape of her youth with oversized malls and segregated developments. The song captures her dismay at the loss of natural and communal spaces, as Hynde later described: "Everything’s just huge masses of granite blocks, and everything’s outsized. It might look good on a drawing, but it doesn’t seem to apply to human life." This track, like others on the album, was shaped by Hynde's broader experiences, including a 1975 road trip with friends that informed "Thumbelina" and reflections on past grief from a 1979 flatmate's death that influenced "Watching the Clothes."[21][6] While Hynde handled the core songwriting solo, the album incorporated limited collaborative input, such as Ray Davies' indirect influence through their personal relationship—during which Hynde became pregnant with their daughter Yasmin in 1983, inspiring themes of motherhood in tracks like "Show Me"—though no formal co-writing credits appear. The timeline reflects a mix of pre- and post-loss composition: songs like "2000 Miles," written late in 1983 as a tribute to Honeyman-Scott and evoking longing for someone far away, were among the final additions, while earlier drafts were reworked to process the band's devastation. Overarching motifs of loss and recovery permeate the material, from elegies for departed comrades like "2000 Miles" to resilient anthems of rebuilding, intertwined with urban alienation as seen in Akron's transformation.[11][6][22]Musical elements
Learning to Crawl showcases a blend of new wave, rock, and punk influences, characterized by jangly guitars and driving rhythms that mark a shift toward a more mature sound compared to the band's earlier, more abrasive work.[23] The album's style incorporates elements of garage rock, funk, and soul, with less dissonant and tricky rhythms than the debut, favoring identifiable genres like country-rock and soul while retaining punk energy.[24][7] The instrumentation centers on Robbie McIntosh's melodic guitar lines, which provide warm, sustained tones and indelible riffs, complemented by Malcolm Foster's bass grooves that underpin the tracks with dynamic propulsion.[24][5] Chrissie Hynde's raw vocals—ranging from sultry alto to yowling intensity—drive the melodies, often prioritizing vocal hooks over the guitar leads prominent in prior albums.[24] Martin Chambers' drumming contributes to the album's churning, growling energy, with sparse use of keyboards adding subtle texture in select tracks.[5] Song structures vary between mid-tempo anthems and ballads, blending punk urgency with pop accessibility; for instance, the garage rock-driven "Middle of the Road" features a brutal riff and strutting rhythms, while the soulful "Back on the Chain Gang" employs Byrds-like jangle and 12-string chords for its melodic arc.[7] "My City Was Gone" highlights funk-infused grooves with a Booker T. & the M.G.’s-worthy bass hook, and the reggae-adjacent "I Hurt You" incorporates experimental multi-vocal lines.[7][24] This evolution reflects the new lineup's cohesion, yielding a less abrasive yet resilient sound that deepens the band's emotional and musical range.[7][24]Release
Album launch
Learning to Crawl was released on January 13, 1984, in the United States by Sire Records, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Records, and in the United Kingdom by Real Records.[23][3] The initial pressings were available on vinyl LP and cassette formats, reflecting the dominant physical media of the era for rock albums.[25][26] The album's cover art, conceived and designed by frontwoman Chrissie Hynde, features a close-up photograph of a baby's hand and knee imprint in wet sand, evoking the theme of tentative first steps and directly tying into the title's inspiration from Hynde's infant daughter, Yasmin Paris, who was learning to crawl during the recording period.[27][28] This imagery symbolized rebirth and persistence, aligning with the album's overarching narrative. Initial marketing efforts centered on Hynde's personal resilience and the band's reformation following the cocaine overdose of guitarist James Honeyman-Scott in 1982 and heroin overdose of bassist Pete Farndon in 1983, positioning the release as a triumphant comeback story in press materials and interviews.[29][4] Promotional kits highlighted Hynde's determination to revive the Pretenders with new members Robbie McIntosh on guitar and Malcolm Foster on bass, alongside drummer Martin Chambers, emphasizing themes of survival and renewal amid adversity.[5] To support the launch, the Pretenders announced a worldwide tour commencing in early 1984, beginning with UK dates in January at venues such as the Gaumont Theatre in Ipswich and De Montfort Hall in Leicester, before shifting to North America in March with arena performances including the Universal Amphitheatre in [Los Angeles](/page/Los Angeles) and Radio City Music Hall in New York.[30][31] This rollout underscored the album's momentum, with the tour serving as a key component of the promotional strategy.Singles and promotion
The first single from the album, "Back on the Chain Gang," was released in September 1982, preceding the full album by over a year, and it peaked at number 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1983.[32][33] The track was issued in multiple formats, including 7-inch and 12-inch vinyl singles, with the latter featuring extended mixes and the B-side "My City Was Gone."[34] "2000 Miles" followed as a single on November 18, 1983, in the US (and later in the UK), available in 7-inch and 12-inch formats with B-side "Fast or Slow (The Law's the Law)," a non-album track written by drummer Martin Chambers; it peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart in 1984.[35][36] Following the album's January 1984 release, "Middle of the Road" was issued as the lead post-album single in November 1983 in the US and February 1984 in the UK, reaching number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[37] It appeared in 7-inch and 12-inch formats, with B-sides varying by region, including non-album tracks like "Money Talk" on some pressings. "My City Was Gone," originally the B-side to "Back on the Chain Gang," was included on the album and reissued in promotional formats emphasizing its environmental themes. Subsequent singles included "Thin Line Between Love and Hate," a cover of the Persuaders' 1971 R&B hit, released in May 1984 primarily in the UK, where it peaked at number 49 on the Official Singles Chart.[38] The single came in 7-inch and 12-inch formats, backed by the album track "Time the Avenger" and featuring extended mixes on the 12-inch edition. "Show Me" followed in March 1984 in the US, issued on 7-inch vinyl with the unique B-side "Fast or Slow (The Law's the Law)," a non-album song written by drummer Martin Chambers.[36] Promotion for the singles centered on music videos for "Back on the Chain Gang" and "My City Was Gone," both directed to highlight Chrissie Hynde's commanding presence and the band's raw energy; these videos received heavy rotation on MTV, boosting visibility in the US market.[39][40] Radio campaigns emphasized Hynde's distinctive, emotive vocals to drive airplay, positioning the tracks as anthems of resilience amid personal turmoil.[41] Hynde promoted the singles through interviews on BBC Radio and US outlets like MTV, where she discussed the songs' ties to themes of loss and recovery from the album.[42][43]Reception
Critical reviews
Upon its release in January 1984, Learning to Crawl was met with strong critical praise for transforming personal tragedy into artistic strength, marking a resilient evolution for the Pretenders. Robert Christgau of The Village Voice assigned it an A- grade, describing it as the band's strongest album to date and commending Chrissie Hynde's mature lyricism, exemplified by lines like "I'm not the kind I used to be/I've got a kid, I'm thirty-three," which blend rock-and-roll edge with grown-up reflection.[44] The album placed seventh in the 1984 Pazz & Jop critics' poll, underscoring its broad approval among music writers for recapturing the Pretenders' raw energy amid lineup changes.[45] Contemporary reviewers frequently highlighted the album's emotional depth and Hynde's refined songcraft, praising how it balanced vulnerability with defiant power through taut guitar riffs and dynamic arrangements. Critics lauded tracks like "Back on the Chain Gang" and "Middle of the Road" for their poignant storytelling and sonic punch, viewing the record as a testament to Hynde's growth as a songwriter.[44] While most celebrated this maturity, a minority pointed to occasional over-polish in production, suggesting it occasionally softened the band's earlier punk bite.[5] In retrospective assessments, Learning to Crawl has been hailed as an essential new wave cornerstone, with AllMusic awarding it a perfect five-star rating for its enduring blend of pop accessibility and rock intensity.[23] Pitchfork's 2025 reappraisal gave it an 8.7 out of 10, emphasizing its feminist undertones—such as critiques of misogyny in "Middle of the Road"—and Hynde's songwriting as a high-water mark that established her as a pioneering female archetype in rock.[7] The review noted Hynde's voice as "tougher than steel wool and fragile as stained glass," influencing generations of women in rock by modeling unapologetic emotional resilience.[7]Commercial success
Learning to Crawl achieved significant commercial success upon its release, marking a strong comeback for the Pretenders following personal and band challenges. The album debuted on the US Billboard 200 at number 25 in early February 1984 and climbed to its peak position of number 5 by late February, where it held for four weeks while spending a total of 42 weeks on the chart.[46] In the United Kingdom, it entered the Official Albums Chart at number 11 and remained in the top 100 for 16 weeks.[47] Key singles from the album contributed to its chart momentum, with "Back on the Chain Gang" reaching number 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1982 after its initial release as a standalone single. The album's enduring popularity was reflected in its year-end performance, ranking number 30 on the Billboard 200 for 1984, bolstered by sustained radio airplay that extended its longevity beyond initial sales peaks.[48] Sales figures underscored the album's market impact, with over 1 million copies sold in the United States, earning a platinum certification from the RIAA on February 13, 1984.[49] It received gold certification in Canada (50,000 units) and gold status in the UK from the BPI (100,000 units), supported by strong international showings such as a number 3 peak on the Canadian RPM Top Albums chart and number 8 on the Australian Kent Music Report.Legacy
Cultural impact
Learning to Crawl played a pivotal role in establishing Chrissie Hynde as a pioneering force in female-fronted rock, inspiring subsequent artists with its blend of punk energy, emotional depth, and Hynde's commanding presence as a guitarist and vocalist. Courtney Love has acknowledged the Pretenders as a major early influence, discovering their music as a teenager and drawing from Hynde's unyielding attitude in her own work with Hole.[50] Similarly, PJ Harvey has been linked to the Pretenders' legacy through shared themes of raw intensity and gender defiance in rock, contributing to a lineage of women challenging male-dominated genres.[51] The track "Back on the Chain Gang" emerged as an anthem of empowerment and resilience, capturing Hynde's grief over the deaths of bandmates James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon while affirming survival and solidarity amid adversity. Written in the wake of personal and band turmoil, the song's lyrics and delivery resonated as a feminist statement on reclaiming strength in the face of loss.[20] Its broader legacy extends to cultural touchstones, with songs from the album appearing in various films and soundtracks, amplifying the Pretenders' reach beyond rock audiences.[52] "My City Was Gone" addressed environmental degradation and urban sprawl in Hynde's hometown of Akron, Ohio, sparking discussions on activism and the human impact on landscapes; the song's vivid portrayal of ecological loss influenced conversations around conservation in popular music.[53] Hynde's evolving role as an environmental advocate was underscored by this track, blending personal nostalgia with broader social critique.[54] For Hynde's career, Learning to Crawl represented a triumphant milestone, marking the Pretenders' commercial zenith and showcasing her transformation into rock's enduring solo figurehead after profound lineup changes and personal challenges. The album's success reaffirmed her leadership, allowing her to navigate the band's tragedies while solidifying her icon status.[10] The album has received lasting academic and cultural recognition, including its placement at #113 on NPR's 2018 list of the 150 Greatest Albums Made by Women, highlighting its significance in women's musical contributions.[51] This acclaim underscores Learning to Crawl's enduring impact on new wave and rock history.Reissues and remasters
In 1990, Sire Records released a CD reissue of Learning to Crawl, marking one of the early digital formats for the album following its original vinyl and cassette editions.[55] Rhino Records issued an expanded and remastered edition in 2007, adding seven bonus tracks to the original 10-song lineup, including B-sides and alternate mixes such as "Fast or Slow (The Law's The Law)," "Tequila," "I Hurt You," "When I Change My Life," "Ramblin' Klansman," a live version of "Money Talk," and a live rendition of "I'm a Man." This version was supervised by Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde, who oversaw the selection of additional material to provide deeper insight into the album's recording era.[56][57] To commemorate the album's 30th anniversary, Edsel Records released a deluxe edition in 2015 (announced in 2014), featuring remastered audio from the original tapes across two CDs, with the second disc containing 17 bonus tracks comprising B-sides, rarities, and live recordings from the band's 1980s tours, including "Money Talk (Live)," "Back on the Chain Gang (Live)," and selections from a 1987 Royal Albert Hall performance. The set also included a DVD with promotional videos for singles like "Back on the Chain Gang," "Middle of the Road," "Show Me," "My City Was Gone," and "Thin Line Between Love and Hate," along with additional live footage. This edition was again supervised by Hynde, emphasizing archival enhancements to the album's punk-infused rock sound.[58][59][60] In the 2020s, the album saw further updates for modern formats, including a 2018 remaster by original producer Chris Thomas that improved clarity and dynamics from the source tapes, later applied to streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, where expanded editions with bonus tracks are available. For the 40th anniversary in 2024, Rhino reissued the album on vinyl for the first time using this remaster, offered in standard black and crystal clear variants to highlight the enhanced audio fidelity and original artwork.[9][61][62]Album details
Track listing
All tracks on Learning to Crawl were written by Chrissie Hynde, except "Thin Line Between Love and Hate", a cover of the song originally by The Persuaders.[3]- "Middle of the Road" (Hynde) – 4:08
- "Back on the Chain Gang" (Hynde) – 3:44
- "Time the Avenger" (Hynde) – 4:47
- "Watching the Clothes" (Hynde) – 2:46
- "Show Me" (Hynde) – 4:00
- "Thumbelina" (Hynde) – 3:12
- "My City Was Gone" (Hynde) – 5:14
- "Thin Line Between Love and Hate" (Jackie Members, Richard Poindexter, Robert Poindexter) – 3:33
- "I Hurt You" (Hynde) – 4:27
- "2000 Miles" (Hynde) – 3:30[3]