"The sweetest woman in the world/may be the meanest woman in the world/if you make her that way." The Persuaders sang those words nearly 15 years before the Pretenders, but they strongly describe that resilient group and its charismatic lead singer, Chrissie Hynde.

"The Singles" is ultimately a compelling, although incomplete, survivor's story. In Hynde the group had one of music's most eloquent, expressive voices, as sharp and sarcastic in aiming at social ills (she was among the first to chide early MTV for excluding black artist videos, then ridiculed those same black artists for transforming the videos into commercials) as she was tender and vulnerable describing the longing of "I Go To Sleep" or the sexy, tentative swagger of "Brass In Pocket." (Credit should also go to members Robbie McIntosh and Martin Chambers, who provided the group its ew wave backbeat punch.)

New Wave got assimilated. Band members enjoyed the rock and roll high life, paying the ultimate cost themselves and exacting a high cost on survivors. Causes arose that had to be addressed, but the Pretenders music survived. "Back On The Chain Gang," and "Middle Of The Road" (from 1983's top-selling "Learning To Crawl") are defiant statements of purpose, band members rocking ever harder as Hynde shouts, "I'm going home, I'm tired as hell/I'm not the kind I used to be/I've got a kid, I'm 33." It may not have been the first time a working mom expressed her frustration in song, but it was among the most powerful.

The early hits are all here: their first single "Stop Your Sobbing," the gorgeous Christmas ballad "2000 Miles", a fun remake of "I Got You Babe" with UB40. The sound would become more generic after this release, with guest backup more constant. But albums like "Last Of The Independents" and "Viva El Amor" are the latest proof that the the Pretenders and Hynde are in for the long haul. This essential hits set proved it first.

"One of the greatest pop singers that has ever lived" is how Elvis Costello has desribed Pretenders' leader Chrissie Hynde. I'm not going to argue with that, for all that her output has actually been quite small for the length of time she's been in the business. The best of the Pretenders is here, pretty much - they were, in all their various incarnations, one of the best singles bands of the early 1980s. Punk attitude meets the melody of the early sixties - with a touch of the ringing guitar from Abbey Road era Beatles. The best known songs will be 'Back on the Chain Gang', with its atmosphere of loss made more poignant by the recent deaths of two original band members; and the sassy 'Brass in Pocket'. My own favourite though is 'Talk of the Town' - a single off the band's second album, it is one of Hynde's most subtle vocal performances, one which moves through many moods in a three minute single. Opening sounding cool, she moves through tough, seductive, vulnerable and longing. It's a stunning, though underplayed, effort, and its sensual edge is complemented by the way the guitars strum and surge into the chorus. Unlike some other reviewers I don't miss 'My City Was Gone' although I'd have preferred it to the duet with UB40, one of the most annoying bands of the era. That, and the poor packaging, loses this a fifth star.

This album is nothing more than a compilation of hits that were popular in the 80's. Chrissie Hynde is a very versatile artist, giving us authority in her vocals ("Brass In Pocket" and "Don't Get Me Wrong"). Chrissie also gives us a sweet dose of metaphoric pleasure on "Back On The Chain Gang" and "Thin Line Between Love And Hate". Let's not forget to rock out with the toughness of "Middle of the Road", either. A good effort.

If you have only heard "I'll Stand by You," then you know the sound of the Pretenders, but what you don't know YET is that this band has produced some of the greatest music I've ever heard. I love their sound -- the mark of a great group is that you can listen to a song you've never heard before and say, "That's the Pretenders." And yet, all of the songs are so different, exploring some interesting and thought-provoking themes to powerful, outstanding melodies.

This CD is full of awesome songs, and it's a CD you can play all the way through without skipping a single song. My favorites include "Hymn to Her," the haunting song, "I Go to Sleep," and "Thin Line Between Love and Hate" (listen to the piano music at the beginning of this song -- I love it!).

But who am I kidding? Each and every one of these songs is hum-worthy. And that's the Pretenders.

What a delicious dish of melodic rock and pop! From the opening number Stop Your Sobbing to their lovely interpretation of I Got You Babe that closes the album, this is a non-stop feast for the ears.

Chrissie Hynde is an expert vocalist, perfectly capturing the mood of every song with her nuanced vocals, whilst the rest of the band moves in perfect synth. The guitar playing is amongst the best you'll find in any rock music from the 1980s. Almost all of the songs are masterpieces, but my special favorites include Stop Your Sobbing, Kid, Brass In Pocket, Talk Of The Town, Message Of Love, Don't Get Me Wrong and I Got You Babe.

The music is tender and sensual at times, raucous and ebullient at others. Those who enjoy The Pretenders might also like their contemporaries Pat Benatar, The Cars or Joan Jet. This album should however appeal to a wide spectrum of people who appreciate tuneful and intelligent rock music that is still in touch with its roots.