LAST OF THE INDEPENDENTS

The Pretenders: Chrissie Hynde (vocals, guitar); Adam Seymour (guitar); Andy Hobson (bass); Martin Chambers (drums). Additional personnel: Tom Kelly (guitar, piano, bass); Robbie McIntosh (guitar); Ian Stanley (organ, keyboards); Andy Rourke, David Paton (bass); J.F.T. Hood, Jimmy Copley (drums); London Gospel Community Choir. Producers: Ian Stanley, Stephen Street, Chris Thomas. Recorded at The Woolhall, Bath, England; Sarm Studio West and The Townhouse Studio, London, England. "I'll Stand By You" was nominated for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal in the 37th Annual Grammy Awards. Personnel: Chrissie Hynde (vocals, guitar); Adam Seymour, Robbie McIntosh (guitar); Ian Stanley (organ); David Paton, Andy Rourke, Andy Hobson (bass guitar); J.F.T. Hood, Jim Copley, Martin Chambers (drums). Audio Mixers: Tony Phillips; Bob Clearmountain. Recording information: Sarm Studios, West, London, England; Sarm West Studios, London, England; Townhouse Studios, London, England; Wool Hall, Bath, Somerset, England. LAST OF THE INDEPENDENTS is a transitional album, and as such, is something of a mixed bag. It is here that Hynde began working with guitarist Adam Seymour (who has now been with the band longer than any member save drummer Martin Chambers). The collaboration wouldn't really bear fruit until later however. Hailed in some quarters as a return to form, LAST OF THE INDEPENDENTS, has at least one major clinker -- "I'll Stand By You," the rather trite power ballad that means to be the album's centerpiece. Still, there's much here to admire if not exactly die for, from the out-of-left-field Presley impression Hynde manages on "Rebel Rock Me" to the seems-like-old-times early 80s swagger of "Night in My Veins" to a beautiful cover of Bob Dylan's "Forever Young." And only Hynde could pull off the autobiographical combo of sex and blood that's "I'm a Mother."