"Learning to Crawl" is the third studio album by British-American rock band The Pretenders. It was released in January 1984 after a hiatus during which time two of the band's founding members, James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon, passed away. The album was titled with respect to these challenging circumstances, symbolizing a 'relearning' process and a rebirth for the band.
Chrissie Hynde, the lead singer and songwriter, reformed the band with new members, Robbie McIntosh and Malcolm Foster, along with remaining original drummer, Martin Chambers. The album signifies the rebirth of the band in the face of adversity and highlights Hynde's growth as both a person and a songwriter.
The album contains hits such as “Back on the Chain Gang”, “Middle of the Road”, and "2000 Miles". These tracks showcase the band's musical versatility – blending pop, punk and rock perfectly. "Back on the Chain Gang" and "Middle of the Road" were successful singles on both sides of the Atlantic, charting in the Top 20 in several countries.
"Learning to Crawl" received critical acclaim and was considered a commercial comeback for the band, peaking at number five on the UK Albums Chart and number eleven on the US Billboard 200. It is still regarded as a standout entry in the Pretenders’ discography by fans and critics alike, demonstrating that the band could continue to produce high-quality work even after tremendous turmoil.
