Like so many bands from its era, nobody knew what to make of the Pretenders at the top of the '80s. They were already buzzing, thanks to three hit singles in the U.K. and a magnetic frontwoman in Chrissie Hynde , who cast quite an image alongside her equally photogenic bandmates in leather and studs.

A transplanted American working in England with three local musicians, she was part punk, part power-pop and all spitfire. Their self-titled debut album contained muscle, smarts and the effortless ability to move toward and away from expectations from song to song. It signaled the band's future, as you'll see in the list below of Pretenders and Chrissie Hynde Albums Ranked.

They were popular on MTV, favored by critics and successful hitmakers during a time when the distinctions betwee

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