Stop Your Sobbing

song by Davies

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 22, 2026

Quick Summary

"Stop Your Sobbing" is a song originally by The Kinks, written by Ray Davies. It was released in 1979 as a remake by the band The Pretenders, featuring Chrissie Hynde on vocals. This version became a hit and was included on The Pretenders' debut album, which topped the UK charts in 1980. The song is known for Hynde's distinctive vocal style and the band's unique blend of shimmering and raw guitar textures.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

the Pretenders
Formation and early years
…of the Kinks’ single “Stop Your Sobbing,” released in 1979, and Pretenders’ originals “Kid” and “Brass in Pocket,” released the next year—were included in Pretenders, the group’s debut record album. Pretenders became the top-selling album on the U.K. charts in 1980, and “Brass in Pocket” topped the singles charts…
Read More
…of the Kinks’ single “Stop Your Sobbing,” released in 1979, and Pretenders’ originals “Kid” and “Brass in Pocket,” released the next year—were included in Pretenders, the group’s debut record album. Pretenders became the top-selling album on the U.K. charts in 1980, and “Brass in Pocket” topped the singles charts…
Read More