Peak
14
Weeks
22
Score
2,641
Chart Year
1980
There is a lot of British slang in the lyrics: "Got Bottle" - Have courage. "Skank" - Move your body side to side. "Reet" - Righteous. "Brass" - a Northern English expression for money, harking back to the days when non-silver coins, or "coppers" were worth something. Lead singer Chrissie Hynde grew up in Akron, Ohio and was a student at Kent State University in 1970 when four students were killed by members of the US National Guard. She left for England in 1973, where she formed the group with three guys from Hereford. "Brass In Pocket" was written by Pretenders lead singer Chrissie Hynde and guitarist James Honeyman-Scott. Hynde rarely explains what her songs are about, but she let on with this one in a 1980 interview with Sounds. "It's very lightweight pop type of song, nothing heavy about it," she said. "It's along the lines of the guy who is feeling very insecure, not about pulling a girl but, say, trying to be accepted by the guys down the pub. It's a front he's putting up. It's like buying a pair of new boots and you feel great but then you get home and see you spots in the mirror. Or take a couple of dexies and you're in gear for the evening but on the train home it's different." She had clearly internalized the British argot. "Pulling a girl" means finding a companion for the evening; "dexies" are Dexedrine pills, which give the user a jolt of energy. At the time, dexy abuse was common in the UK, especially amongst musicians and clubgoers. The band Dexys Midnight Runners took their name from the pill. The song's title came about after The Pretenders first-ever UK gig, when they were in the communal dressing room with The Strangeways, whom they were supporting. Chrissie Hynde wanted to know whose trousers were sprawled over the back of a chair. One of The Strangeways, Ada Wilson, said: "I'll have them if there's any brass in the pockets." Hynde learned that "brass" is a Northern slang term for money. She fell in love with the expression and was inspired to write the song. Many interpret "Brass In Pocket" as a "girl power" song, but Chrissie Hynde sang it from the perspective of a guy, and it's anything but empowering. She told Louder Sound: "When people say that there's this strong female persona driving the song, it drives me f--king crazy! The 'girl' thing seems to be real important for other people but I'm mystified by it." Hynde added that she considers the song very tongue-in-cheek, thus the line, "I'm winking at you." This was the breakout hit from the first Pretenders album, which was a triumph by any measure. In the UK, three singles were released before the album appeared. The first was a cover of The Kinks song "Stop Your Sobbing," which was released in January 1979 and reached #34 in March 1979. "Kid" followed in June, going to #33 in August. In November, "Brass In Pocket" was released; it rose to the top in January 1980, and stayed at #1 for two weeks. The album was also released in January 1980, and went to #1 in the UK. In America, it took a while for the group to get noticed. "Brass In Pocket" was the first single there, going to #14 in May 1980. "Stop Your Sobbing" followed, reaching #65 in July. The album is consistently cited as one of the greatest debuts in rock. Report this ad Chrissie Hynde didn't like this song when it was recorded and came to detest it when it became a huge UK hit. "I hated it!" she told Creem in 1981. "It was a phenomenon that evades me completely. I was honestly very disappointed it was such a big hit – I was embarrassed by it." She explained that it was the group's producer, Chris Thomas, who convinced her to release it, and she put up considerable resistance. Hynde knew fans loved the song, so she held her nose and played it at concerts, and eventually stopped slagging it off in the press. It remained in Pretenders setlists throughout their career. It usually doesn't show up in printed lyrics, but at the end of the song, Hynde coos the line, "Oh and the way you walk." She says that's an important part of the song; it's her telling the insecure peacock that she approves of his offering. In the video, directed by Mark Robinson, Chrissie Hynde plays a waitress, implying that "brass" was the change she got from tips. Hynde worked as a waitress in the US before moving to London. Note in the video when James Honeymoon-Scott points to the "daily special" tag on the cafe menu he is holding just when the lyrics hit "I'm special, so special." Pure corn... but funny. >> The Pretenders came to producer Chris Thomas' attention when he saw them at The Marquee Club in London. He recalls in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh: "I especially liked 'Brass In Pocket.' I went backstage to tell Chrissie. However Chrissie told me she didn't really like it. I insisted it was going to be a hit and if she didn't want to record it she should send it over to the producer Willie Mitchell and it would make her a fortune." This song got a resurgence when MTV went on the air in August, 1981. Most American acts didn't make videos, so they had to lean heavily on imports. The Pretenders were a tasty selection because of Hynde, a female American rock singer with great camera presence. The network jumped on their video for "Message Of Love," which was released a few months earlier but was never a hit in America. That one didn't get much heat, but "Brass In Pocket" did, even though it had been out for over a year. Hynde waiting tables became a defining image from their early era. Thanks in large part to the video, the album got a boost in sales. In August 1982, it was certified Platinum for sales of over 1 million in America. In the 2003 film Lost in Translation, Scarlett Johansson's character (Charlotte) sings this song, seemingly to Bill Murray's character (Bob), in a Japanese karaoke bar. >> Been driving, Detroit leaning No reason, just seems so pleasing Chrissie Hynde told The Guardian: "'Detroit leaning' is an expression I heard that was used to describe the way someone leans back in their car seat with one wrist on the wheel, an affected way of driving."
Got brass in pocket Got bottle, I'm gonna use it Intention, I feel inventive Gonna make you, make you, make you notice Got motion, restrained emotion Been driving, Detroit leaning No reason, just seems so pleasing Gonna make you, make you, make you notice Gonna use my arms Gonna use my legs Gonna use my style Gonna use my sidestep Gonna use my fingers Gonna use my, my, my imagination 'Cause I gonna make you see There's nobody else here No one like me I'm special (special), so special (special) I gotta have some of your attention, give it to me Got rhythm, I can't miss a beat Got new skank, it's so reet Got something, I'm winking at you Gonna make you, make you, make you notice Gonna use my arms Gonna use my legs Gonna use my style Gonna use my sidestep Gonna use my fingers Gonna use my, my, my imagination, oh 'Cause I gonna make you see There's nobody else here No one like me I'm special (special), so special (special) I gotta have some of your attention Give it to me 'Cause I gonna make you see There's nobody else here No one like me I'm special (special), so special (special) I gotta have some of your attention Give it to me Oh And when you walk
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feb 16, 1980 | 92 | 34 |
| 2 | Feb 23, 1980 | 91 | 35 |
| 3 | Mar 1, 1980 | 82 | 44 |
| 4 | Mar 8, 1980 | 73 | 53 |
| 5 | Mar 15, 1980 | 64 | 62 |
| 6 | Mar 22, 1980 | 53 | 73 |
| 7 | Mar 29, 1980 | 46 | 80 |
| 8 | Apr 5, 1980 | 41 | 85 |
| 9 | Apr 12, 1980 | 33 | 93 |
| 10 | Apr 19, 1980 | 29 | 97 |
| 11 | Apr 26, 1980 | 25 | 101 |
| 12 | May 3, 1980 | 22 | 104 |
| 13 | May 10, 1980 | 20 | 106 |
| 14 | May 17, 1980 | 17 | 109 |
| 15 | May 24, 1980 | 16 | 110 |
| 16 | May 31, 1980 | 14 | 112 |
| 17 | Jun 7, 1980 | 14 | 112 |
| 18 | Jun 14, 1980 | 16 | 110 |
| 19 | Jun 21, 1980 | 17 | 109 |
| 20 | Jun 28, 1980 | 22 | 104 |