Timely post- right now I am working up the setlist for a Pretenders tribute show next month so I have been immersed in the recordings. We are doing the entire 1st LP in sequence, then an assortment from the next 3. God that 1st one is great! Not a clinker in the bunch. I was working in a record store when it came out and it really hit me hard. After all these years it does not sound dated to me at all. When I heard of Pete's passing I was on the horn to Sire Records to find out about auditions. Seriously. They actually ran an ad in NME! I as too late as it turned out so here's my last chance!!
As for 'ol Pete, hats off to ya mate! Some really strong foundational playing with more than a few odd twists. Classic P bass rock tone too. I have discovered they used to tune down to at least D-check out the chorus of Brass In Pocket or Space Invaders. (Weren't any 5 strings basses back in 79.
) I will use my Sadowsky Original P for the first bunch, switch to my Hamer 8 for some of the songs from the 2nd (Pack it Up, Day After Day, Message of Love and Talk of the Town). He didn't use one but it sounds so right, this batch seems to roar and the 8 sounds like a freakin' freight train.
The later stuff from after his days will be on my Jazz, a lot more modern punch in the sound on those recordings. You Tube vids show his replacement using an Aria Pro.
Anyway, what a blast it will be to rock these live at full volume!
