Rocktrospectiva: The Fairly "Packed" Turns 35

Released on 14 May 1990 "Packed" was the fifth studio album by rock band Pretenders, or at least so, because besides band leader Chrissie Hynde, no other person is pictured anywhere within the album package. At the time the album was recorded, the only other remaining official member from the band's previous album was drummer Blair Cunningham, who plays on all tracks, though he is not credited as part of the band. As all other musicians appearing on the album are session musicians.

 

Due this situation, certain critics called the album as a Hynde solo recording using the Pretenders name to satisfy contractual obligations. However, the lineup that recorded the album has some consistency with past studio lineups of the band: guitarist Billy Bremner, who had previously played with the band as a session musician on their "Back on the Chain Gang"/"My City Was Gone" single, appears on most of the tracks, as does bassist John McKenzie, who had played some bass on the band's previous studio album. The album spawed two singles "Never Do That," & "Sense Of Purpose".

 

Back in the day after the tour "Get Close", the latest version of the Pretenders disintegrated. Although Chrissie Hynde brought along drummer Blair Cunningham from this lineup, this fifth album could really be considered Chrissie Hynde's first solo album, because it was recorded, like "Get Close", with session men.

 

Even thought, the album sounds nothing like "Get Close". Hynde hired a new producer, Mitchell Froom, and he returned to the guitar-centered rock that was the trademark of the group's earliest albums. The sound is very much a piece from beginning to end, and thanks to this, is recording as a real contender between the band's discography.

 

The songwriting is the key here. The album starts off strong with a lovely Byrds-like pop-rocker, "Never Do That". There's also some rockabilly on "Millionaires", and of course Hynde's first successful attempt at reggae  "How Do I Miss You?, some nice ballads  like "Criminal", a great cover of Hendrix's "May There Be Love", and hard rockers tunes like "Downtown", "Hold A Candle to This" and "No Guarantee". And of course powerful tracks such as "Sense of Purpose" and "Let's Make a Pact".

 

It was a fantastic released, despite the mixed critics the album received back then, both critically and commercially, and at that point there were no "Pretenders" to tour and promote it and maybe this is the main reason why many fans rejected it in spite the consistently sound that fans will enjoy. 

 

Packed! Track List: 

 

1. Never Do That

2. Let's Make A Pact

3. Millionaires

4. May This Be Love

5. No Guarantee

6. When Will I See You

7. Sens Of Purpose

8. Downtown (Akron)

9. How Do I Miss You

10. Hold A Candle To This 

11. Criminal