341:
and Mr. Stress both strayed", is the stage name of the
Cleveland blues musician Bill Miller. Hynde briefly became a member of the Mr. Stress Blues Band, but Miller felt that Hynde's interest in original rock music did not fit in with what Miller wanted to do, which was traditional blues. In an
328:
Dozens of women, otherwise amicably engaged with partners, would stop short and mouth along with Hynde's switchblade-sharp delivery of her famous "Fuck off" line. (Predictably, there were men on the same dance floor bemoaning Hynde's "macho" stance, so different from the women they knew.
29:
420:
critic Bryan
Wawzenek rated it one of drummer Martin Chambers' top 10 Pretenders songs, saying that "Chambers’ rampant pounding is as strong as Chrissie Hynde’s will and as sharp as her tongue. His restrained power lays down the perfect foundation for Hynde to jackhammer."
299:
Mason notes that the music of "Precious" maintains some restraint, but still sounds more threatening than other songs which sound angrier. The climax of "Precious" comes when Hynde sings the line "But not me, baby, I'm too precious/I had to fuck off!"
317:
critic Ken Tucker noted that he gets "startled and shivery when Hynde rejects a would-be lothario" with this line. According to Mason, the restraint until that point makes this climax "more explosive." Ariel
Swartley wrote in
415:
critic Matt
Wardlaw rated it the Pretenders 6th greatest song, saying that "Chrissie spits out the lyrics with a sexually venomous feel that brings extra punch to what is one of the Pretenders' best barn-burning rockers."
236:
The song was released as a single in some countries and reached number 28 on the US dance charts as part of a medley. The song has since seen positive critical reception and has been included on compilation albums.
1518:
304:
critic Bud Scoppa noted that Hynde swallowed the words "I had to" during the song's recording, making the phrase somewhat inaudible. Scoppa also notes the "fearlessness" with which Hynde sings this line.
652:
356:. It was the opening track of the album. "Precious" was also released as a single in some countries, such as the Netherlands and Spain. A medley of "Precious" with "
594:
292:, baby babble," and the song as "punk scat, all hiccoughs, vocal tics, gasps and feral growls, weirdly poised between love and hate, oral sensuality and
1513:
1007:
394:. Erlewine stated that this demo version was "nearly as tough" as the officially released version. "Precious" was later included on the 2009
311:
critic
Charles Aaron noted that Hynde's singing this line "over whipsaw guitars" made it clear that Hynde "was more than a bewitching pout."
1523:
1472:
1327:
202:
660:
1199:
929:
896:
574:
1443:
1260:
1383:
863:
1253:
682:
164:
438:
411:
Author Mike
Segretto described "Precious" as being "particularly ferocious." Author Tom Moon called it an "enduring gem."
1508:
1235:
372:
361:
1185:
1000:
624:
342:
interview, Miller claimed that he told Hynde she would "probably have to go to Europe to get anyone to listen to you."
1411:
1467:
470:
1404:
1376:
1369:
602:
735:
1477:
1157:
1100:
993:
835:
687:
529:
320:
273:
1348:
1267:
399:
1503:
1299:
1274:
1178:
226:
1390:
1418:
1067:
277:
250:
968:
386:
considered the live version even better than the original. Mason also praised the live version. A
28:
1498:
1425:
1320:
1122:
352:
230:
136:
52:
921:
811:
759:
1292:
1164:
1136:
925:
892:
570:
566:
560:
395:
68:
61:
452:
1355:
1217:
1085:
808:
739:
383:
784:
1334:
1306:
1077:
1047:
1035:
838:
629:
357:
338:
307:
254:
184:
158:
946:
532:
1450:
1028:
1016:
914:
556:
285:
222:
171:
150:
105:
43:
39:
1492:
1341:
1192:
1129:
1090:
710:
656:
598:
505:
378:
368:
313:
1072:
1059:
387:
246:
131:
1397:
1171:
1105:
1095:
92:
1362:
144:
1143:
289:
288:
described the lyrics as a "strafing stream of syllables" mixing "speed rap,
100:
233:
in late 1979, the song features punk-inspired music and aggressive lyrics.
268:
critic
Stewart Mason described "Precious" as Hynde's "true calling card."
867:
842:
788:
763:
536:
509:
293:
280:'s "phased, treated guitar" playing for how it supplements the "pounding
269:
265:
1150:
281:
324:
about the cathartic effect of this line for women in dance clubs:
985:
989:
736:"Bluesman Miller's gigs prove stresses won't slow him down"
1519:
Song recordings produced by Chris Thomas (record producer)
350:"Precious" was first released on the band's 1979 album
367:
A live version of "Precious" was included on the 1981
562:
The Sex
Revolts: Gender, Rebellion, and Rock 'n' Roll
360:" and "Mystery Achievement" reached number 28 on the
1460:
1435:
1284:
1245:
1227:
1209:
1114:
170:
156:
142:
130:
114:
91:
83:
75:
59:
49:
38:
21:
913:
864:"The Best of the Pretenders/Break Up the Concrete"
245:"Precious" was the first song that Hynde, bassist
390:version from 1978 was included on the 2006 album
1001:
8:
1008:
994:
986:
499:
497:
495:
493:
491:
27:
18:
969:"Top 10 Martin Chambers Pretenders songs"
830:
828:
337:Mr. Stress, referenced in the line "Now
253:played with the newly-recruited drummer
916:1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die
430:
48:
37:
967:Wawzenek, Bryan (September 4, 2013).
711:"Blues Legend Returns to the Heights"
7:
588:
586:
565:. Harvard University Press. p.
945:Wardlaw, Matt (September 7, 2011).
14:
593:Scoppa, B. (November 11, 2004).
1514:Songs written by Chrissie Hynde
1384:Thin Line Between Love and Hate
229:. First released on the band's
920:. Workman Publishing. p.
1:
651:Tucker, K. (April 17, 1980).
362:Dance Music/Club Play Singles
16:1980 single by The Pretenders
257:at their initial rehearsal.
623:Aaron, C. (February 2002).
1540:
1524:Warner Music Group singles
681:Swartley, A. (June 1982).
225:and performed by her band
1412:Where Has Everybody Gone?
1023:
947:"Top 10 Pretenders songs"
178:
26:
1158:Last of the Independents
683:"Girls! Live! On Stage!"
296:, stabbing aggression."
33:Cover in the Netherlands
971:. Ultimate Classic Rock
949:. Ultimate Classic Rock
625:"The 50 Greatest Bands"
274:Stephen Thomas Erlewine
231:self-titled debut album
221:" is a song written by
1349:Back on the Chain Gang
1275:The Best of Pretenders
453:"New Wave Music Songs"
400:The Best of Pretenders
335:
1179:Break Up the Concrete
887:Segretto, M. (2014).
814:. robertchristgau.com
418:Ultimate Classic Rock
413:Ultimate Classic Rock
326:
1509:The Pretenders songs
1068:James Honeyman-Scott
439:"Pretenders singles"
278:James Honeyman-Scott
251:James Honeyman-Scott
1436:Chrissie Hynde solo
760:"Pretenders awards"
663:on November 7, 2007
605:on February 7, 2008
1391:Don't Get Me Wrong
1370:Middle of the Road
1246:Compilation albums
716:. Heights Observer
174:singles chronology
137:Warner Music Group
1486:
1485:
1419:I'll Stand by You
1293:Stop Your Sobbing
1137:Learning to Crawl
912:Moon, T. (2008).
396:compilation album
215:
214:
211:
210:
69:Stop Your Sobbing
1531:
1461:Related articles
1356:My City Was Gone
1328:Talk of the Town
1218:The Isle of View
1086:Blair Cunningham
1010:
1003:
996:
987:
980:
979:
977:
976:
964:
958:
957:
955:
954:
942:
936:
935:
919:
909:
903:
902:
884:
878:
877:
875:
874:
859:
853:
852:
850:
849:
832:
823:
822:
820:
819:
805:
799:
798:
796:
795:
780:
774:
773:
771:
770:
756:
750:
749:
747:
746:
740:The Plain Dealer
734:Petcovic, John.
731:
725:
724:
722:
721:
715:
706:
700:
699:
697:
696:
691:. pp. 25–31
678:
672:
671:
669:
668:
659:. Archived from
648:
642:
641:
639:
638:
620:
614:
613:
611:
610:
601:. Archived from
590:
581:
580:
553:
547:
546:
544:
543:
526:
520:
519:
517:
516:
501:
486:
485:
483:
481:
467:
461:
460:
449:
443:
442:
435:
384:Robert Christgau
284:." Music critic
261:Music and lyrics
249:, and guitarist
203:Talk of the Town
180:
179:
161:
147:
126:
125:
121:
64:
31:
19:
1539:
1538:
1534:
1533:
1532:
1530:
1529:
1528:
1489:
1488:
1487:
1482:
1456:
1431:
1335:Message of Love
1307:Brass in Pocket
1280:
1241:
1223:
1205:
1110:
1078:Robbie McIntosh
1048:James Walbourne
1036:Martin Chambers
1019:
1014:
984:
983:
974:
972:
966:
965:
961:
952:
950:
944:
943:
939:
932:
911:
910:
906:
899:
891:. Hal Leonard.
886:
885:
881:
872:
870:
861:
860:
856:
847:
845:
834:
833:
826:
817:
815:
807:
806:
802:
793:
791:
785:"Extended Play"
782:
781:
777:
768:
766:
758:
757:
753:
744:
742:
733:
732:
728:
719:
717:
713:
708:
707:
703:
694:
692:
680:
679:
675:
666:
664:
650:
649:
645:
636:
634:
622:
621:
617:
608:
606:
592:
591:
584:
577:
555:
554:
550:
541:
539:
528:
527:
523:
514:
512:
503:
502:
489:
479:
477:
469:
468:
464:
451:
450:
446:
437:
436:
432:
427:
409:
358:Brass in Pocket
348:
339:Howard the Duck
263:
255:Martin Chambers
243:
206:
197:
188:
185:Brass in Pocket
157:
143:
123:
119:
118:
110:
60:
50:from the album
34:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1537:
1535:
1527:
1526:
1521:
1516:
1511:
1506:
1501:
1491:
1490:
1484:
1483:
1481:
1480:
1475:
1470:
1464:
1462:
1458:
1457:
1455:
1454:
1451:Valve Bone Woe
1447:
1439:
1437:
1433:
1432:
1430:
1429:
1422:
1415:
1408:
1401:
1394:
1387:
1380:
1373:
1366:
1359:
1352:
1345:
1338:
1331:
1324:
1317:
1310:
1303:
1296:
1288:
1286:
1282:
1281:
1279:
1278:
1271:
1264:
1257:
1249:
1247:
1243:
1242:
1240:
1239:
1231:
1229:
1228:Extended plays
1225:
1224:
1222:
1221:
1213:
1211:
1207:
1206:
1204:
1203:
1196:
1189:
1182:
1175:
1168:
1165:¡Viva El Amor!
1161:
1154:
1147:
1140:
1133:
1126:
1118:
1116:
1112:
1111:
1109:
1108:
1103:
1098:
1093:
1088:
1083:
1082:Malcolm Foster
1080:
1075:
1070:
1064:
1063:
1056:
1051:
1044:
1042:Nick Wilkinson
1039:
1032:
1029:Chrissie Hynde
1024:
1021:
1020:
1017:The Pretenders
1015:
1013:
1012:
1005:
998:
990:
982:
981:
959:
937:
930:
904:
897:
879:
854:
839:"Pirate Radio"
836:Erlewine, S.T.
824:
800:
775:
751:
726:
709:Henke, James.
701:
673:
643:
615:
582:
575:
548:
530:Erlewine, S.T.
521:
487:
462:
444:
429:
428:
426:
423:
408:
405:
347:
344:
286:Simon Reynolds
262:
259:
242:
239:
227:the Pretenders
223:Chrissie Hynde
213:
212:
209:
208:
199:
190:
176:
175:
172:The Pretenders
168:
167:
162:
154:
153:
151:Chrissie Hynde
148:
140:
139:
134:
128:
127:
116:
112:
111:
109:
108:
103:
97:
95:
89:
88:
85:
81:
80:
79:July 1980 (EU)
77:
73:
72:
65:
57:
56:
47:
46:
44:The Pretenders
36:
35:
32:
24:
23:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1536:
1525:
1522:
1520:
1517:
1515:
1512:
1510:
1507:
1505:
1502:
1500:
1497:
1496:
1494:
1479:
1478:John McKenzie
1476:
1474:
1471:
1469:
1466:
1465:
1463:
1459:
1453:
1452:
1448:
1446:
1445:
1441:
1440:
1438:
1434:
1427:
1423:
1420:
1416:
1413:
1409:
1406:
1402:
1399:
1395:
1392:
1388:
1385:
1381:
1378:
1374:
1371:
1367:
1364:
1360:
1357:
1353:
1350:
1346:
1343:
1342:I Go to Sleep
1339:
1336:
1332:
1329:
1325:
1322:
1318:
1315:
1311:
1308:
1304:
1301:
1297:
1294:
1290:
1289:
1287:
1283:
1277:
1276:
1272:
1270:
1269:
1265:
1263:
1262:
1261:Greatest Hits
1258:
1256:
1255:
1251:
1250:
1248:
1244:
1238:
1237:
1236:Extended Play
1233:
1232:
1230:
1226:
1220:
1219:
1215:
1214:
1212:
1208:
1202:
1201:
1197:
1195:
1194:
1193:Hate for Sale
1190:
1188:
1187:
1183:
1181:
1180:
1176:
1174:
1173:
1169:
1167:
1166:
1162:
1160:
1159:
1155:
1153:
1152:
1148:
1146:
1145:
1141:
1139:
1138:
1134:
1132:
1131:
1130:Pretenders II
1127:
1125:
1124:
1120:
1119:
1117:
1115:Studio albums
1113:
1107:
1104:
1102:
1099:
1097:
1094:
1092:
1091:T. M. Stevens
1089:
1087:
1084:
1081:
1079:
1076:
1074:
1071:
1069:
1066:
1065:
1062:
1061:
1057:
1055:
1052:
1050:
1049:
1045:
1043:
1040:
1038:
1037:
1033:
1031:
1030:
1026:
1025:
1022:
1018:
1011:
1006:
1004:
999:
997:
992:
991:
988:
970:
963:
960:
948:
941:
938:
933:
931:9780761149415
927:
923:
918:
917:
908:
905:
900:
898:9781480392526
894:
890:
883:
880:
869:
865:
862:Monger, J.C.
858:
855:
844:
840:
837:
831:
829:
825:
813:
810:
809:Christgau, R.
804:
801:
790:
786:
783:Ruhlmann, W.
779:
776:
765:
761:
755:
752:
741:
737:
730:
727:
712:
705:
702:
690:
689:
684:
677:
674:
662:
658:
657:Rolling Stone
654:
647:
644:
632:
631:
626:
619:
616:
604:
600:
599:Rolling Stone
596:
589:
587:
583:
578:
576:9780674802735
572:
568:
564:
563:
558:
552:
549:
538:
534:
531:
525:
522:
511:
507:
500:
498:
496:
494:
492:
488:
476:
472:
471:"Hynde Sight"
466:
463:
458:
454:
448:
445:
440:
434:
431:
424:
422:
419:
414:
406:
404:
402:
401:
397:
393:
389:
385:
381:
380:
379:Village Voice
375:
374:
373:Extended Play
370:
365:
363:
359:
355:
354:
345:
343:
340:
334:
332:
325:
323:
322:
316:
315:
314:Rolling Stone
310:
309:
303:
302:Rolling Stone
297:
295:
291:
287:
283:
279:
275:
271:
267:
260:
258:
256:
252:
248:
240:
238:
234:
232:
228:
224:
220:
204:
200:
195:
191:
186:
182:
181:
177:
173:
169:
166:
163:
160:
155:
152:
149:
146:
145:Songwriter(s)
141:
138:
135:
133:
129:
117:
113:
107:
104:
102:
99:
98:
96:
94:
90:
86:
82:
78:
74:
70:
66:
63:
58:
55:
54:
45:
41:
30:
25:
20:
1504:1980 singles
1449:
1442:
1321:Private Life
1313:
1273:
1268:Pirate Radio
1266:
1259:
1252:
1234:
1216:
1198:
1191:
1184:
1177:
1170:
1163:
1156:
1149:
1142:
1135:
1128:
1121:
1101:Adam Seymour
1073:Pete Farndon
1060:Carwyn Ellis
1058:
1054:Eric Heywood
1053:
1046:
1041:
1034:
1027:
973:. Retrieved
962:
951:. Retrieved
940:
915:
907:
888:
882:
871:. Retrieved
857:
846:. Retrieved
816:. Retrieved
812:"Pretenders"
803:
792:. Retrieved
778:
767:. Retrieved
754:
743:. Retrieved
729:
718:. Retrieved
704:
693:. Retrieved
688:Mother Jones
686:
676:
665:. Retrieved
661:the original
653:"Pretenders"
646:
635:. Retrieved
633:. p. 74
628:
618:
607:. Retrieved
603:the original
595:"Pretenders"
561:
557:Reynolds, S.
551:
540:. Retrieved
533:"Pretenders"
524:
513:. Retrieved
478:. Retrieved
474:
465:
456:
447:
433:
417:
412:
410:
398:
392:Pirate Radio
391:
377:
371:
366:
351:
349:
336:
330:
327:
321:Mother Jones
319:
312:
306:
301:
298:
264:
247:Pete Farndon
244:
235:
218:
216:
193:
165:Chris Thomas
51:
1468:Discography
1398:Hymn to Her
1254:The Singles
1210:Live albums
1172:Loose Screw
1106:Andy Rourke
1096:Johnny Marr
889:The Who FAQ
159:Producer(s)
1499:1980 songs
1493:Categories
1363:2000 Miles
1200:Relentless
1123:Pretenders
975:2022-12-28
953:2022-12-28
873:2014-06-11
848:2014-06-11
818:2014-06-11
794:2014-06-11
769:2014-06-11
745:2014-08-21
720:2014-08-21
695:2014-06-11
667:2014-06-11
637:2014-06-11
609:2014-06-11
542:2014-06-11
515:2014-06-11
506:"Precious"
504:Mason, S.
480:2 February
425:References
353:Pretenders
241:Background
53:Pretenders
22:"Precious"
1444:Stockholm
1144:Get Close
407:Reception
290:jive talk
101:Punk rock
1314:Precious
868:Allmusic
843:Allmusic
789:Allmusic
764:Allmusic
559:(1996).
537:Allmusic
510:Allmusic
457:AllMusic
294:staccato
276:praised
270:Allmusic
266:AllMusic
219:Precious
194:Precious
106:new wave
84:Recorded
76:Released
1473:Members
1405:My Baby
1377:Show Me
1151:Packed!
382:critic
364:chart.
346:Release
272:critic
207:(1980)
198:(1980)
189:(1979)
928:
895:
573:
282:rhythm
115:Length
62:B-side
40:Single
1426:Human
1285:Songs
1186:Alone
714:(PDF)
132:Label
93:Genre
926:ISBN
893:ISBN
630:Spin
571:ISBN
482:2024
475:Spin
388:demo
331:Hmmm
308:Spin
87:1979
1300:Kid
922:611
567:239
376:.
42:by
1495::
924:.
866:.
841:.
827:^
787:.
762:.
738:.
685:.
655:.
627:.
597:.
585:^
569:.
535:.
508:.
490:^
473:.
455:.
403:.
369:EP
333:.)
205:"
196:"
187:"
124:36
1428:"
1424:"
1421:"
1417:"
1414:"
1410:"
1407:"
1403:"
1400:"
1396:"
1393:"
1389:"
1386:"
1382:"
1379:"
1375:"
1372:"
1368:"
1365:"
1361:"
1358:"
1354:"
1351:"
1347:"
1344:"
1340:"
1337:"
1333:"
1330:"
1326:"
1323:"
1319:"
1316:"
1312:"
1309:"
1305:"
1302:"
1298:"
1295:"
1291:"
1009:e
1002:t
995:v
978:.
956:.
934:.
901:.
876:.
851:.
821:.
797:.
772:.
748:.
723:.
698:.
670:.
640:.
612:.
579:.
545:.
518:.
484:.
459:.
441:.
217:"
201:"
192:"
183:"
122::
120:3
71:"
67:"
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
