I Go to Sleep

Recorded in 1981 at Wessex Sound Studios in London during the Pretenders II sessions, with Chris Thomas producing and the band’s classic line-up of Chrissie Hynde, James Honeyman-Scott, Pete Farndon, and Martin Chambers. It was cut as the Pretenders’ version of Ray Davies’s song. Released in 1981 as a single from Pretenders II, the track turned a Kinks deep cut into one of the Pretenders’ most elegant pop recordings. It reached the UK Top 10 and reinforced the group’s range beyond their tougher post-punk material. The song remains one of the Pretenders’ best-known cover versions and a durable showcase for Chrissie Hynde’s vocal style. It has stayed in circulation through compilations, reissues, and live performances, keeping the band’s Ray Davies connection prominent in their catalog.