10 Most Underrated Pretenders Songs

Feature Photo: 3 song photography / Shutterstock.com

Our 10 Most Underrated Pretenders Songs article presents a band that we think is perfect for a story like this. Chrissie Hynde has put out a large catalog of music over the years that has sometimes gotten lost among music fans because many of her albums were not heavily promoted by the record companies. In the early 1980s, the band was super hot and got a lot of radio play. Over the past twenty years, with shifts in the music industry, rock albums being played less and less on the radio, and fans getting older, there has been some great stuff that has been missed. We hope this article helps tune people into some great music they may have never heard.

# 10 – Let The Sun Come In – Relentless

We open our 10 Most Underrated Pretenders Songs list with the Pretenders’ most recent single, “Let the Sun Come In.” The song is the latest single from the band’s 2023 album, recorded in London. There’s a bit of a ’60s vibe going on throughout this song, but it retains that signature Pretenders sound. Unless you’re a big-time Pretenders fan who purchases every single album, including their latest release, there’s a pretty good chance you may have never heard this sensational song. This songs, as we mentioned in the introduction, is precisely why we put together a list like this.

# 9 – Rebel Rock Me – Last of the Independents

Continuing with our 10 Most Underrated Pretenders Songs list, we go back to the band’s sixth studio album, Last of the Independents. The album was released in 1994 at the height of the grunge scene. “Rebel Rock Me” is aptly titled because it seems to be fueled by a bit of rockabilly, a little bit inspired by The Stray Cats or even Duane Eddy, and, of course, that early ’80s new wave punk sound that resonates throughout the tune. This is a really good rocker that was kind of hidden deep on the album, placed as the 11th track, which was pretty surprising because it’s such a good song. In the end, Last of the Independents is probably one of the most underrated Pretenders albums. It’s a really great record; if you don’t have this one, we strongly recommend that you pick up a copy.

# 8 – Turf Accountant Daddy – Hate for Sale

In the number eight spot on our 10 Most Underrated Pretenders Songs list is a standout track from The Pretenders’ 2020 album, Hate for Sale. If you don’t have this record, I highly recommend you go out and pick up a copy because it’s just phenomenal. The album featured the return of Martin Chambers, who had not been with the band on the previous couple of albums, and also showcased the guitar work of James Walbourne, who is just sensational on this fantastic album.

It’s interesting that five singles were released from the album at a time when most bands had stopped releasing singles. “Turf Accountant Daddy” was the fourth single released from the record. If you’re a fan of their classic work or looking for something new, this track, along with the entire Hate for Sale album, is definitely worth a listen.

# 7 – Lie To Me – Loose Screw

Songs like this are why we make these lists. I love this one, especially the chorus; it’s just so original sounding and captivating to listen to. The Pretenders’ song “Lie to Me” was the opening track on the band’s album Loose Screw. It’s hard to believe that this album was released over 20 years ago. The record was issued in November 2002 and featured Chrissie Hynde on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, Adam Seymour on lead guitar, Andy Hobson on bass, and the phenomenal Martin Chambers on drums. It’s sad that the album only reached the 179th position on the US Billboard 200. I mean, what the heck was going on in rock and roll when an album this great was just completely ignored? Not by us, though.

# 6 – Almost Perfect – Break Up the Concrete

Landing in the number six spot on our 10 Most Underrated Pretenders Songs list is a song in which Chrissie Hynde gets really up close and personal with the listener. It’s not one of those all-out Pretenders rockers but something far different. It sounds like Chrissie is sitting right next to you, bringing you into a deeply poetic moment in an almost trans-like state. The song “Almost Perfect” was released on the album Break Up the Concrete. When you take a look at the album cover, you may sense a parody of the classic Joe Jackson album Look Sharp!

# 5 – Jealous Dogs – The Pretenders II

The original Pretenders lineup, which featured Chrissie Hynde, Martin Chambers, Pete Farndon, and James Honeyman-Scott, only released two studio albums together. After the second album, Pete Farndon was fired from the band, and sadly, James Honeyman-Scott passed away. However, those first two Pretenders albums were just phenomenal records that blew the minds of rock fans all over the world. The second album, Pretenders II, was fueled by the release of five singles, some of which had been released on an EP but were then added to the second record.

There are so many great songs on this album, and in many ways, some of them have been sort of overlooked because of the success of the singles. One of our favorite songs is on side two, placed as the fourth track on the record, called “Jealous Dogs.” We just love the bassline that opens this tune. This is a cranking Pretenders song that needs to be heard again, especially if you don’t remember it or maybe just kind of missed it the first time around.

# 4 – Space Invader – The Pretenders

I am sure that anybody who bought the first Pretenders album, especially when it was initially released, will remember this song. For the most part, it was one of the tracks that caught most people’s attention when they looked at the liner notes, immediately because of the popularity of the game Space Invaders. Nonetheless, for the casual fan who never purchased the album and just heard the hits, they probably missed out on this great rock and roll instrumental. It was unusual for bands in this style of music to release instrumental songs, but the Pretenders issued a great one with “Space Invader.”

The band just sounds so good on this recording. It’s a testament to how special the original lineup was and how great these players were. Pete Farndon’s bass playing is just magical, and James Honeyman-Scott’s guitar sound is striking. It’s a shame what happened to the band after the second album. It would have been interesting to hear these initial four continue onward. This instrumental track serves as a powerful reminder of their collective talent and the unique chemistry they shared.

# 3 – Cuban Slide – Message Of Love EP

Holy smokes, this song is super hot. It’s amazing that this was actually an outtake from the band’s debut album. That’s how good that record was. The song eventually found life on the Message of Love EP, released in 1981. Later on, “Cuban Slide” and “Porcelain,” which were also outtakes from the debut album, were included on the Message of Love EP and subsequently on CD reissues of the debut album.

“Cuban Slide” is a real barn burner written by Chrissie Hynde and James Honeyman-Scott. It features a Bo Diddley beat but brings so much more to it. It’s one of those songs that you need to listen to all the way through because it just gets better and better until it culminates in a phenomenal ending. This is what we mean by truly underrated songs.

# 2 – “What You Gonna Do About It” – Pirate Radio

These picks just keep getting better and better, or at least that’s the way we feel about it. This next song, “What You Gonna Do About It,” was released as a non-album single back in 1981. It’s a cover of a Faces song written by Brian Potter and Ian Samwell. The song was later released many years later on the Pirate Radio box set compilation album. If you don’t have that one, it’s a phenomenal box set that contains so much of the best Pretenders music, along with a lot of rare tracks—this being one of our favorites.

This rock and roll gem features great playing, great singing, great production, and all around just a spectacular recording. Do you know this one? If not, it’s definitely worth a listen.

# 1 – Hollywood Perfume – Last of the Independents

We close out our 10 Most Underrated Pretenders Songs list with the killer track “Hollywood Perfume.” One of the attractions that Chrissie Hynde has always had for her fans is the danger in her lyrics and her “don’t mess with me” persona that is somewhat addicting to many rock fans. This attitude was very apparent on the first couple of albums and is recaptured once again on one of the best Pretenders records ever released and maybe the most underrated one, Last of the Independents.

The pick here is the album’s opening track, “Hollywood Perfume,” which was written by Chrissie Hynde, Billy Steinberg, and Tom Kelly. While it’s not our favorite song on the album—that would definitely go to “Night in My Veins,” which we think is just phenomenal or a hit like “I’ll Stand By You.” Nonetheless, when thinking about the most underrated songs of The Pretenders’ career, we truly believe that “Hollywood Perfume” deserves to be high on the list.