The Pretenders
"Back on the Chain Gang"
Live at London's Jacob Street Studios, May 1995
"Back on the Chain Gang" is a song written by Chrissie Hynde and originally recorded by her band the Pretenders, and released as a single by Sire Records in September 1982. The song also was released on The King of Comedy soundtrack album in March 1983 and later was included on the Pretenders' next album, Learning to Crawl, in January 1984.
"Back on the Chain Gang" entered the Billboard charts in early October 1982, then reached No. 5 on the Hot 100, becoming the band's biggest hit in the U.S. It also got as high as No. 4 on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart.
Line-up / Musicians:
Chrissie Hynde - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Adam Seymour - lead guitar, harmonium, backing vocals
Andy Hobson - bass guitar
Martin Chambers - drums, backing vocals
With
The Duke Quartet, whose members at the time were:
John Metcalfe - viola
Louisa Fuller - violin
Richard Koster - violin
Ivan McCready - cello
Mark "Wiff" Smith - percussion