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 1977 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 Sophomore Album Classic (2001 Remaster) in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.
Blondie's Quirky But Fabulous Second Album Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R36JMMBUUWTKDL 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.
Hands down, one of the best pop-punk records of all time This is easily my favorite Blondie album. I first heard the whole record (CD) when I was in college in '91. It quickly grew on me (as did many of the old Blondie records; Ramones, Iggy, X, Misfits, etc.).
It's very raw and pop as well. The feedback-tinged scream at the end of "Cautious Lip" is up there with the psyched-out Iggy in the middle of "TV Eye." (side note: Blondie opened for Iggy on the "The Idiot" tour; Debbie has worked with him a few times since and covered his songs; the song "Detroit 442" is about Iggy - "feel hot to go like Jimmy-O.")
If I'm in a down mood, I can put on this record (or one of the first few Ramones records) to really bring me up. This record represents the band's aggressive side and some of their psychedelic influences ("flight 45," "Cautious Lip" and see "Fade Away and Radiate" a year later for more).
I always thought that Clem Burke's wild drum fills during the 2nd half of "Youth Nabbed As Sniper" were later used on the #1 hit "Call Me." The layered vocals at parts of the album sound great, almost "psychotic-epic." Also, Chris Stein was one of the first guitar players to use an 'EBow' on this record; I think he usually used/uses a thumb pick.
Jimmy Destri's songs are heavily represented hear, and they really stand out. Rumor is that Blondie will do a record in 2008; I sure hope that Jimmy will contribute songs, even if he doesn't tour with them.
The CD was re-relased in 2001 (9/11 incidentally) with bare bones bonuses and short liner notes by Richard Gottehrer. I would love to see a more deserving release (see X's and the Ramones re-relases; even those could be better) with band interviews, the original cover (Debbie in a Stardust motel pillow case wrapped in red gaffer's tape, finally released as a couple of posters, one of which is the cover of the 2006 release "Blondie Greatest Hits"). And of course, the songs that were not included on the album, alt. takes, etc.
Like the Stooges "Funhouse," I think this album will some day see its shining moment. Mostly every song on here, really does it for me. Heck, I even think the cover (well the cover that wound up being relased, the band on the cop car) is one of the best of all-time.
Still Great Listening Blondie broke through in the late middle seventies alongside the punk/new wave movement. Though their early records bear quite a few elements of punk, I'd think a more correct definition would be power-pop.
This, their second, album opens with a typical example of this style, the fine "Fan Mail", written by keyboard-player Jimmy Destri. Most band-members contribute songs to the album, though guitarist often seem to be regarded their main songwriter.
Two songs from the album were top ten hits in Britain, their big American breakthrough first came with their third album "Parallel Lines" "Denis" is an extremely catchy Buddy Holly type song, arranged like Phil Spector might have chosen to do it. "Denis" is the only song not written by a band member. "Presence Dear" is a strong rocker, written by bassist Gary Valentine.
Other tracks that stand out are the melodic pop-ballad "Bermuda Triangle Blues", the power pop tune "I Didn't have the Nerve" and the more experimental "No Imagination".
A few tracks may be a little forgettable, but I feel that the album as a whole has aged quite well, and it's still charming uplifting listening.
One of the most under-rated albums of all time. Blondie would probably never have had a hit without disco. The song "Heart of Glass" topped the charts and moved Blondie in the direction of disco and dance pop, producing other similarly dance-inflected songs such as "Call Me," "Rapture", "Atomic", and others.
But there was a darker side to Blondie. They were actually on the forefront of the CBGB New York style punk rock scene, although Blondie was far more "pop" than most of their contemporaries. Their second album Plastic Letters featured song titles seemingly ripped from tabloid headlines, such as "Youth Nabbed As Sniper", "Love at the Pier", "Bermuda Triangle Blues", "Fan Mail", and others. The songs were dark, short tributes to obsessed fans, child snipers, pop psychics, and other nowhere people, and the album is truly the most difficult and inaccessible record the band ever made. Indeed, its only real "hit", in Europe at least, was a cover of the Randy and the Rainbows single "Denise", changed to the mail gender by turning "Denise" into the French name "Denis".
Still, when the album has time to work its spell, it remains a forgotten classic.
The bottom line: the album may take time to grow on you, but after all these years it has slowly become my favorite of all Blondie albums. Long after I've become overly familiar with other albums in the band's catalog I am still intrigued by the cleverness and (can I say it?) maturity of this album. If you like Blondie strictly to hear sugary pop candy, you may not like Plastic Letters. If you're willing to hear a still-catchy, but more adventurous side of the band--buy it!
not as good as their first one This Album from Blondie was released in 1977, it wasn't my favorite album by them, but it does have it's moments, I like the songs "Detroit 442" and "I'm Alway In Touch By Your Presence dear" Very Nice, even though it's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to their next Fallowing albums.
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