By: Blondie Average Rating: Binding: Audio CD Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered Label: Capitol Number of Discs: 1 Release Date: September 11, 2001
Album Description: Japanese pressing of the 1976 album has been digitally remastered with 4 bonus tracks and comes packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. Virgin. 2006.
Album Details: Japanese Limited Edition Issue of their Debut Album Classic (2001 Remaster) in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.
One of the best summer albums of all time Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R17ZLXEUJXXGGV My name is Jeremy Gloff. I am a musician and retro music enthusiast. If you enjoyed this review make sure to check out my Amazon user profile to check out my other reviews. I am always up for making new friends and discussing the music I love!!! Blondie is one of one of my favorite bands and Deborah Harry is one of my fave singers/writers.
CBGB Nostalgic This great group from the 70s in an embrionic stage before the hype and fame. A major part of the New Wave along with Talking Heads, this a fun, rude set.
best blondie album crisp, fresh and rockin even 25 years later. most interesting lyrics of any of the early blondie (and who really cares about post-parallel lines blondie?). great guitar and organ. underrated drumming on the solos and breaks. lesbian underthemes (seen later in sunday girl and pretty baby). and that voice, all sex.
debbie harry was a huge pioneer.
Arguably, Blondie's Best This album sounds like 1966--that blissful year in which so many eclectic sounds, from Motown to Go-Go Beat and British Invasion, to early Mod and pre Psychadelic, co-existed on the airwaves. "X Offender", "Little Girl Lies" and "in The Flesh", which open the album, all sound like Phil Spectorish girl-group recordings, albeit with spicier lyrics. On "Look Good In Blue" the band has the good humor to perform a rock song with a tango beat in dead earnest, as well as the memorable line "I could give you some head....and shoulders to lie on". "In The Sun" in my opinion is the most exhilerating Blondie song ever; the simple melodic hook is breathtakingly catchy, and the instrument playing the main riff sounds like something between a foghorn and a vacuum cleaner! (It is probably a synthesizer). Whatever it is, it is emblematic of the inspired innovation apparent throughout this album. "A Shark In Jets Clothing" is Blondie's homage to "West Side Story", and that closes Side 1 (or it did in the days of vinyl anyway).
Side 2 begins with the Latin-flavored "Man Overboard" which again revisits the girl group sound, and boasts background vocals by legendary 60's songstress Ellie Greenwhich herself. Beautiful keyboard solo by Jimmy Destri has a Doors-y feel. Then, "Rip Her To Shreds" reminds the listener that the Blondie of this album was initially a "punk" band from the CBGBs circuit. But unlike most punk rock, the song's aggressiveness is mostly satire--a comic book treatment of viciousness and female backbiting. Debbie is at her vampy best in the spoken parts "Hey! Pss Pss! Here she comes now!....Bye Bye Sugar! And not a minute too soon!" And the arrangement is perfect. "Rifle Range" follows, again with a slightly Doors-y feel. The lyrics are very out-there, in a similar way as Van Dyke Parks/Brian Wilson collaborations. Hauntingly beautiful lead guitar lines highlight this strange and compelling track. "Kung Gu Girls" which follows, is another in the "Rip Her To Shreds" aggressive vein. Again, we are in a comic book, with Debbie hollering "Kung Fu Cindy Sue, Oh I wanna get close to you, you're my Kung Fu Girl!..." Hysterical.
Closing the collection is the conga-line looniness of "Attack of the Giant Ants' complete with a mid-song ant-attack with screams and police sirens! When the song ends suddenly, the fade out features lounge music on a piano and the sound of people talking at a party--very Beatles circa White Album! I really miss the Blondie featured here, they didn't survive this incarnation, and by the time of "Plastic Letters" of the following year, a lof the fun was already gone, dissapating progressively with each album that followed. I would say it died after "Eat to the Beat". But listening to "Blondie" always purifies my world, cleaning it up and making it all seem fun again. And "In the Sun" is a musical anti-depressant garaunteed to lift you up. You've never heard Blondie like this before. CD extras include the 1975 demos--a trifle lackluster but a must for fans, along with the original 7" versions of "X Offender" and "In The Sun" with alternate vocals---inferior to the album mixes but interesting anyway. They show how much Debbie perfected her studio technique in the few short months between the recording of the debut single and the album.
BLONDIE IS PUNK The first album is always the hardest for me to judge. The band has just started out and it looks like it will be great! "In The Flesh" is always a favorite because of its soft spoken words and melody. "X Offender" was originally supposed to be "Sex Offender", but the radio stations would not play it so the title was changed, but that didn't help. "In The Sun" is one of those fun loving beach songs like the further to come "The Tide Is High"! "Rip Her To Shreds" is another classic and will always be. "Kung Fu Girls" is my favorite from the album! Its one of those Kick-Butt songs with great vocals. Overall the debut album did its work and had a few hits that appear on the compilations every now and then.
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