The Pretenders: Middle of the Road (1983)

"Middle of the Road" refers to eastern philosophy and the middle way. At the same time, it compares the difference between being rich and poor as experienced by Chrissy Hynde as a rock star. The song is as close to the perfect rock song as there is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Niz2DuHc5K

The Pretenders: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2005

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/the-pretenders/bio/

Chrissie Hynde moved from Akron, Ohio to London, England in 1973. She helped form The Pretenders in 1978. The band broke in  1980 with “Brass in Pocket.”

Brass in Pocket (1979): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7Hy7uAb_eU

Talk of the Town (1980): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99svrFj-G_g

I Go To Sleep (1981): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIpfsMdf0LQ

Day After Day (1981): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U74kDn1fq5w

Back on the Chain Gang (1982): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK3uf5V0pDA

My City was Gone (1982): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvAYGz6Iwmc

Pete Farndon and James Honeyman-Scott both died of drug overdoses around the same time.

Middle of the Road (1983): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDeHAM93fuc

Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1984): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pCCdclkdLY

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (1987): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWZUFuTtNg8

Rush Limbaugh began using the bass line from “My City Was Gone” to open his show.

I’ll Stand By You (1994): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHbKhEYUccQ

Loving You Is All I Know (1999): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_5lPRAlb7Y

Human (1999): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ofxxUc-BqU

Boots of the Chinese Plastic (2008): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TfRFi9aus8

Seymour Stein: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2005

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/seymour-stein/bio/

Stein helped found Sire Records in 1966. Stein signed a number of important acts over the years including:

The Ramones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nlX7P0nhaI

The Talking Heads: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNnAvTTaJjM

The Pretenders: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YARxccf0Uno

Madonna: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSaC-YbSDpo

He renamed punk music “new wave” to avoid the negative connotations. His wife was murdered in 2007 and Stein has not remarried. He remains president at Sire to this day.

The Kinks: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1990

Their career in links.

Rock Hall Bio:

http://rockhall.com/inductees/the-kinks/bio/

Official Site:

http://www.thekinks.info/

The Kinks formed in 1964 and rode the British Invasion to America.
Their first single covered Little Richard.

Long Tall Sally (1964):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2eC0en8a98

They set the blueprint for garage rock, hard rock and metal with:

You Really Got Me (1964):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTV48ZUrfnI

All Day and All of the Night (1964):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4DV-5d6a5g&feature=related

Tired of Waiting for You (1965):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz64hWng2vM&feature=related

Despite the success, the band fought constantly and violently.

Set Me Free (1965):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaojZhoeE5s&feature=related

They added Indian influences with “See My Friends”

See My Friends (1965):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCSzxkbMri8

Sunny Afternoon (1966):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h1oRP7FfBw

Ray Davies continued to grow as a songwriter. The Kinks entered their peak creative period in 1967.

Waterloo Sunset (1967):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J3gX47rHGg

Death of a Clown (1967):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnqf_UXmHmo

Autumn Almanac (1967):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_u0gn1I8xQ

In 1968, the band retired from touring.

Plastic Man (1969):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f95UCJs2rUA

Lola (1970):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ixqbc7X2NQY

Apeman (1970):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEep67akIn4

20^th Century Man (1971):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrmQB38aT5U

Supersonic Rocket Ship (1972):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XV1WSCgXzM

Celluloid Heroes (1972):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp_QkUVZGPc

In 1973, Davies tried his hand at the rock opera.

Sitting in the Midday Sun (1973):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpxX6tng9jM

In 1977, he scrapped the rock opera…at the same time new acts, like Van Halen and the Pretenders, were covering the Kinks.

Sleepwalker (1977):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-uRq16lai0

Father Christmas (1977):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjaPXihbORk

(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman (1979):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzgIl9Qt7Bg

Better Things (1981):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYSNj9oyT3w

Destroyer (1981):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRpAANsoG8I

Come Dancing (1982):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs2kFrGluKs

Don’t Forget to Dance (1982):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ta118a0crk

Their popularity declined in the mid-80s and they split in 1996. Rumors persist of a possible reunion.