Vinyl Hour!

Learning to Crawl - Sire Records, 1984

"Hush, little baby, don't you cry
When we get to Tucson, you'll see why
We left the snowstorms and the thunder and rain
For the desert sun, we're gonna be born again"
—from Thumbelina, lyrics by Chrissie Hynde

Today I’m spending time with another of my favourite female vocalists: Chrissie Hynde. Life is good.

On Learning to Crawl, the Pretenders blend punk energy, new wave cool, and classic rock grit, anchored by Chrissie’s tough, soulful voice, a lively rhythm section, and guitars that snap with bite and melody.

This was the first Pretenders album after the deaths of original members James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon. Rather than crumble, Chrissie Hynde rebuilt the band, crafting an album that bridges punk roots with radio-ready pop, balancing sharp edges, melody, and emotional clarity.

While the album rocks, it also highlights Chrissie’s breathtaking vocals on the tribute Back on the Chain Gang—which reached #5 on the US Billboard Hot 100—and the haunting, wintry ballad 2000 Miles, now a beloved Christmas staple. I also love Thumbelina, for its quiet, bittersweet beauty, and Middle of the Road, which crackles with raw, unstoppable energy.

Looking back, I think the first Pretenders song I ever heard—and the one that drew me in—was the earlier single Stop Your Sobbing. A huge Kinks fan, I was captivated by Chrissie’s version of Ray Davies’ classic: playful, wistful, gorgeous, and quietly vulnerable. It was such a delight when they later got together, if only for a few years.

As a young man, it was fascinating to hear songs like Thin Line Between Love and Hate—a sharp take on love and boundaries from a woman’s perspective—and Thumbelina, a tender, intimate reflection on longing. Both showcase a strong female point of view with music that rocks with ferocity.

Chrissie Hynde defined a new kind of rock frontwoman—confident, cool, and uncompromising—her toughness, emotional honesty, and melodic instinct quietly paving the way for artists like PJ Harvey, The Breeders, Sleater-Kinney, and Hole.

Who’s making music now with the same mix of toughness and emotional honesty that Chrissie Hynde brought to Learning to Crawl?

If this sparked a memory or brought a smile, subscribe and join me Monday through Friday as I rediscover the vinyl that shaped my life.