In 1979, I heard a catchy song on the car radio, and really liked the voice of the female singer. I went to a record shop and bought the single, discovering that the band was called The Pretenders, and the vocalist was an American named Chrissie Hynde. The other members of the band were British.
They went on to be hugely successful in the UK, and are still touring today. The video was shot in London, and looks rather dated now. But it reminds me of my twenties.
Brass in Pocket
Song by The Pretenders
I got brass in a pocket
I got bottle, I’m gonna use it
Intention, I feel inventive
Gonna make you, make you, make you notice
Got motion, restrained emotion
Been driving, Detroit leaning
No reason, just seems so pleasing
Gonna make you, make you, make you notice
Gonna use my arms, gonna use my legs
Gonna use my style, gonna use my sidestep
Gonna use my fingers, gonna use my, my, my
Imagination
‘Cause I gonna make you see
There’s nobody else here, no one like me
I’m special (special)
So special (special)
I gotta have some of your attention, give it to me
I got rhythm, I can’t miss a beat
I got a new skank, so reet
Got something, I’m winking at you
Gonna make you, make you, make you notice
Gonna use my arms, gonna use my legs
Gonna use my style, gonna use my sidestep
Gonna use my fingers, gonna use my, my, my
Imagination
‘Cause I gonna make you see
There’s nobody else here, no one like me
I’m special (special)
So special (special)
I gotta have some of your attention, give it to me
‘Cause I gonna make you see
There’s nobody else here, no one like me
I’m special (special)
So special (special)
I gotta have some of your attention, give it to me
Oh-oh-oh
Anyway you want
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: James Scott / Chrissie Hynde
Brass in Pocket lyrics © Emi Music Publishing, Music Of Big Deal, Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited
beetleypete 
I liked this one too.
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Hooray!
Best wishes, Pete. x
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A beautiful song, also “Don’t get me wrong”! 🙂 xx Michael
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Yes, that’s another good one.
Best wishes, Pete.
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It took me a bit to come around to their style, but I grew to like The Pretenders. I agree with Pete’s comment above. Though I like this one, I prefer Don’t Get Me Wrong.
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‘Don’t get me wrong’ is a great song, but I featured this one as it was the first time I heard them and bought one of their records.
Best wishes, Pete.
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(1) I noticed a pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes in the video.
(2) I think the waitress is smokin’ hot.
(3) Nice car!
(4) Nice music!
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Lucky Strike was the brand I smoked until I gave up cigarettes in 2012.
Best wishes, Pete.
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CAn’t go wrong with 80s girl fronted bands. Cool thing now is the new batch of girl singers have all girl bands!
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Chrissie still sounds good, and the band is still very popular here.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Another good one Pete.
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Glad you liked it, Carolyn.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yes, I like many of the Pretenders’ songs, especially ‘2000 Miles’.
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Their songs still sound really good today, the sign of a classic band.
Best wishes, Pete.
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A big part of the soundtrack of my youth!
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I was 27 at the time, so relatively ‘youthful’. 😊
Best wishes, Pete.
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🙂
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Bright, upbeat and fun…and what a catchy hook! Now it’s tuck in my head for the day Pete and that is just fine with me!
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It’s a good one to have stuck in your head, the same has happened to me today.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Great Choice!
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Many thanks, Annette.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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A good one. Love Chrissie Hynde!
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And she is still going strong 45 years later, Darlene.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Chrissie does have an amazing voice….she was my favorite back in the day….good choice. chuq
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She still sounds great 45 years later.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Indeed she does chuq
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always loved the pretenders
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Me too. I continued to buy their records.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Good one! Phil’s band do this so I hear it live a lot!
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It really endures, never feels old-fashioned.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I always thought it was ‘I’m gonna use my sassy’ not ‘sidestep’. I think my way is better actually
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Until today, me too. It still sounds like ‘Sassy’ to me, and I agree that’s a better lyric.
Best wishes, Pete.
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catchy song indeed
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After 45 years, it still sounds great!
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yes, great song, Pete, and always worth hearing again. Cheers, Jon.
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I continued to like them, especially ‘Don’t Get Me Wrong’.
Best wishes, Pete.
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