Music Video of the Day: Talk of the Town by The Pretenders (1981, directed by ????)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

On August 1st, 1981, MTV premiered. Over the course of 24 hours, 166 unique music videos were played on MTV. Yes, there was a time when the M actually did stand for music.

The 52nd video to air on MTV was the video for Talk of the Town by The Pretenders.  Unlike some of the other videos that aired on that day, the video for Talk of the Town still looks impressive.  Though it’s been rumored that the song was about Ray Davies, Chrissie Hynde has said that the song was inspired by a fan who used to quietly watch the band during all of their soundchecks.

Enjoy!

The First Videos Shown on MTV:

  1. Video Killed the Radio Star by the Buggles
  2. You Better Run by Pat Benatar
  3. She Won’t Dance With Me by Rod Stewart
  4. You Better You Bet By The Who
  5. Little Suzi’s On The Up by PH.D
  6. We Don’t Talk Anymore by Cliff Richard
  7. Brass in Pocket by Pretenders
  8. Time Heals by Todd Rundgren
  9. Take It On The Run by REO Speedwagon
  10. Rockin’ in Paradise by Styx
  11. When Things Go Wrong by Robin Lane & The Chartbusters
  12. History Never Repeats by Split Enz
  13. Hold On Loosely by .38 Special
  14. Just Between You And Me by April Wine
  15. Sailing by Rod Stewart
  16. Iron Maiden by Iron Maiden
  17. Keep On Loving You by REO Speedwagon
  18. Better Than Blue by Michael Johnson
  19. Message of Love by The Pretenders
  20. Mr. Briefcase by Lee Ritenour
  21. Double Life by The Cars
  22. In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins
  23. Looking for Clues by Robert Palmer
  24. Too Late by Shoes
  25. Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around by Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
  26. Do Ya Think I’m Sexy by Rod Stewart
  27. Surface Tension by Rupert Hine
  28. One Step Ahead by Split Enz
  29. Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty
  30. I’m Gonna Follow You by Pat Benatar
  31. Savannah Nights by Tom Johnston
  32. Lucille by Rockestra
  33. The Best of Times by Styx
  34. Vengeance by Carly Simon
  35. Wrathchild by Iron Maiden
  36. I Wanna Be a Lifeguard by Blotto
  37. Passion by Rod Stewart
  38. Oliver’s Army by Elvis Costello
  39. Don’t Let Me Go by REO Speedwagon
  40. Remote Control and Illegal by The Silencers
  41. Angel of the Morning by Juice Newton
  42. Little Sister by Rockpile with Robert Plant
  43. Hold On To The Night by Bootcamp
  44. Dreamin’ by Cliff Richard
  45. Is It You? by Lee Ritenour 
  46. Tusk by Fleetwood Mac
  47. He Can’t Love You by Michael Stanley Band
  48. Tough Guys by REO Speedwagon
  49. Rapture by Blondie
  50. Don’t Let Go The Coat by The Who
  51. Ain’t Love A Bitch by Rod Stewart

63 responses to “Music Video of the Day: Talk of the Town by The Pretenders (1981, directed by ????)”

  1. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Can’t Happen Here by Rainbow (1981, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  2. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Thank You For Being A Friend by Andrew Gold (1978, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  3. Pingback: Lisa Marie’s Week In Review: 9/13/21 — 9/19/21 | Through the Shattered Lens

  4. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Bring It All Home by Gerry Rafferty (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  5. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Sign of the Gypsy Queen by April Wine (1981, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  6. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: The Man With The Child In His Eyes by Kate Bush (1978, directed by Keith MacMillan) | Through the Shattered Lens

  7. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: All Night Long by Rainbow (1979, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  8. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Boys Keep Swinging by David Bowie (1979, directed by David Mallet) | Through the Shattered Lens

  9. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Rat Race by The Specials (1981, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  10. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Victim by Bootcamp (1981, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  11. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright) by Rod Stewart (1977, directed by Bruce Gowers) | Through the Shattered Lens

  12. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Cruel to Be Kind by Nick Lowe (1979, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  13. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: A Little In Love by Cliff Richard (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  14. Pingback: Music Video of the day: Wild-Eyed Southern Boys by 38 Special (1981, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  15. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Wuthering Heights (1978, directed by Keith MacMillan) | Through the Shattered Lens

  16. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Celebrate The Bullet by The Selecter (1981, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  17. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: More Than I Can Say by Leo Sayer (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  18. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: A Message To You, Rudy by the Specials (1979, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  19. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Heart of Glass by Blondie (1978, directed by Stanley Dorfman) | Through the Shattered Lens

  20. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Oh God, I Wish I Was Home Tonight by Rod Stewart (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  21. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Kid by The Pretenders (1979, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  22. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Come What May by Lani Hall and Herb Alpert (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  23. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: I Got You by Split Enz (1980, directed by Noel Crombie) | Through the Shattered Lens

  24. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Sister Disco by The Who (1979, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  25. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Fasion by David Bowie (1980, directed by David Mallet) | Through the Shattered Lens

  26. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Love Stinks by J. Geils Band (1980, directed by Chuck Statler) | Through the Shattered Lens

  27. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Johnny and Mary by Robert Palmer (1980, directed by Jean-Pierre Berckmans) | Through the Shattered Lens

  28. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Tomorrow Night by Shoes (1979, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  29. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Prime Time by The Tubes (1979, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  30. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Cruel You by Shoes (1979, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  31. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Calling All Girls by Hilly Michaels (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  32. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: I Was Only Joking by Rod Stewart (1977, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  33. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Let’s Go by The Cars (1979, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  34. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Do You Remember Rock’n’Roll Radio? by The Ramones (1980, directed by Mark Robinson) | Through the Shattered Lens

  35. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Ridin’ The Storm Out by REO Speedwagon (1981, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  36. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: You’re In My Heart by Rod Stewart (1978, directed by Bruce Gowers and Mike Mansfield) | Through the Shattered Lens

  37. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: So Long by Fischer Z (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  38. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: I Don’t Want To Know by Robin Lane and The Chartbusters (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  39. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Go Back Home Again by Andrew Gold (1977, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  40. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Time For Me To Fly by REO Speedwagon (1979, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  41. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Rough Boys by Pete Townshend (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  42. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Dangerous Type by The Cars (1979, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  43. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Turn It On Again by Genesis (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  44. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: We’re So Close by Carly Simon (1979, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  45. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Kid Blue by Louise Goffin (1979, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  46. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Vienna by Ultravox (1980, directed by Russell Mulcahy) | Through the Shattered Lens

  47. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Undertanding by Elvis Costello and the Attractions (1979, directed by Chuck Statler) | Through the Shattered Lens

  48. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: I Won’t Let You Down by Ph.D (1981, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  49. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Holiday by Nazareth (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  50. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: In My Arms Again by Shoes (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  51. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Passing Strangers by Ultavox (1980, directed by Russell Mulcahy) | Through the Shattered Lens

  52. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Roll With The Changes by REO Speedwagon (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  53. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: I Hope I Never by Split Enz (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  54. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Blondes (Have More Fun) by Rod Stewart (1979, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  55. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Never Let Her Slip Away by Andrew Gold (1978, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  56. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Tattooed Love Boys by The Pretenders (1978, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  57. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Peter Gunn Theme and Remote Control by The Silencers (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  58. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Only The Strong Survive by REO Speedwagon (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  59. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Waiting for the Weekend by The Vapors (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  60. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: You’re Insane by Rod Stewart (1977, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  61. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Kiss On My List by Hall & Oates (1981, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

  62. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Living in a Plastic Age by The Buggles (1980, directed by Russell Mulcahy) | Through the Shattered Lens

  63. Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Lonely Boy by Andrew Gold (1977, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens

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