Deep Dive: The Pretenders, THE ISLE OF VIEW

23 years ago today, The Pretenders released a live acoustic album, giving their fans an idea of what the band might’ve sounded like if they’d appeared on MTV Unplugged. (They never did appear on that particular program, however, so if you’ve read otherwise online or elsewhere, please feel free to sound the Fake News alarm.)

Recorded and filmed at Jacob Street Studios in London, THE ISLE OF VIEW found frontwoman Chrissie Hynde backed by the same band members who’d played with her on 1994’s LAST OF THE INDEPENDENTS, which – not coincidentally – was the album The Pretenders were touring behind at the time. But it wasn’t just guitarist Adam Seymour, bassist Andy Hobson, and drummer Martin Chambers playing with Hynde: she was also accompanied on more songs than not by the Duke Quartet, featuring violinists John Metcalfe and Richard Koster, viola player John Metcalfe, and cellist Ivan McCready. She’s even got Damon Albarn of Blur playing piano on a cover of the Ray Davies composition “I Go to Sleep.”

Those looking for a set list covering all of the band’s biggest hits should prepare themselves for disappointment, as the only songs likely to ring a bell with casual fans are “Back on the Chain Gang,” “Brass in Pocket,” and “2,000 Miles.” That said, it’s a crisp, clean recording produced by Stephen Street, so if you’re a major-league fan of Hynde and her crew and you’ve never heard THE ISLE OF VIEW, then it’s time you did.