The Isle of View [LIVE]

The Pretenders

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 24, 1995)
• Original Release Date: October 24, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000002N3D
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #147,797 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Sense of Purpose

2. Chill Factor

3. Private Life

4. Back on the Chain Gang

5. Kid

6. I Hurt You

7. Criminal

8. Brass in Pocket

9. 2000 Miles

10. Hymn to Her

11. Lovers of Today

12. Phone Call

13. I Go to Sleep

14. Revolution

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

There are a lot of diehard Pretenders boosters out there who'll warm to this unplugged hits set much faster than Last of the Independents. Hynde's singing has never been finer, and it was a brilliant stroke to incorporate a string quartet into the acoustic soundscape. Everything here is first-rate (notably the little-known "I Hurt You" and "Criminal"), but it's the ultra-fresh versions of "Brass in Pocket," "Private Life," and "2000 Miles" that will bring a lump to the throat of thirtysomething fans. --Jeff Bateman

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A surprisingly good acoustic set, August 2, 2004

By	Tim Brough "author and music buff" (Springfield, PA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This little gem snuck into The Pretenders' discography after Chrissie took a latter day incarnation of The Pretenders on an A&E concert TV special. (That show is available as "The Isle Of View" DVD.) The surprise is just how effective and intimate Chrissie sounds in the "Unplugged" setting. She split the set between obvious songs and crowd pleasers ("Brass In Pocket," "Back On The Chain Gang") a surprise or two (I always thought "Sense Of Purpose," the best song on "Packed," was unjustly ignored -- and here it's the show opener), and some delightful reworks. In particular, the string laden version of "Kid" here takes on a greater sense of maturity some twenty years down the line. While I'd have a hard time recommending "The Isle Of View" as the most potent of Pretenders albums, it remains a personal fave of mine for more relaxing moments. If you're just getting into 80's or The Pretenders' music, start with their debut, "Learning to Crawl" or the updated (and import only, come on Warners) greatest hits. But if you're already a fan and this one slipped under your radar, "The Isle Of View" is a serious contender for your listening dollars.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "The Isle of View" is every Chrissie Hynde fan's dream., March 27, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Columbus, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This album is what I had been desiring for a long time. It features Chrissie with her unique and soothing voice backed by an incredibly talented orchestra. This "Storytellers-esque" live CD allows the listener to feel everything that Chrissie feels when she sings these stripped down Pretenders classics, and what she felt when she first wrote them. "The Isle of View" is a hauntlingly personal trip into the soul of Chrissie Hynde that will leave you breathless and amazed by her talent and passion. Only a brilliant songwriter would know that her hard-hitting, rock and roll songs could be delivered with such grace and dignity in this completely new orchestral genre. I highly reccomend this CD for all fans of truly great music.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cracking great live concert., February 2, 2004

By	A. CAMPBELL "Tony" (Montreal) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Pretenders have produced some real classic songs over time.This is really an acoustic greatest hits concert. Well played, well recorded and well sung. Being mainly acoustic/string orientated the interpretations of some of the classics may take getting used too, but with the basic tune of the song, they cant really make a mistake. For recording it gets 88% and music 92%.