Blondie [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Blondie | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 11, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Capitol / Chrysalis
• ASIN: B00005MNP5
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,671 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #88 in Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > American Punk

Editorial Reviews

This is the one that started it all. Blondie's self-titled debut (originally on the independent Private Stock label) laid the foundation of the pop bridge that would lead from punk to new wave. It wasn't a major hit upon its initial 1976 release, however the years have been kind and the now classic 11 original tracks including X Offender; Rip Her to Shreds , and Look Good in Blue have been remastered and are joined by five bonus cuts, two of them being the rare Private Stock single versions of X Offender and In the Sun !

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The sound of the 80's. January 22, 2004

By R Jess

Format:Audio CD

Wow, an 80's album in the middle of the 70's? Strange but true. Deborah Harry was the architypal 80's vocalist, infusing Blondie's songs with a pop sensibility that was missing from her punk pals Patti Smith and Chrissie Hynde. It's not difficult to imagine Cyndi Lauper, Belinda Carlisle or even the early Madonna singing these tunes. In that sense Deborah Harry was without doubt the most influential American female vocalist of the late 70's/early 80's.

On their first album Blondie perfectly mix 60's bubblegum pop with garage rock and it's the keyboard that makes all the difference (another one of their innovations that would become standard in the 80's). If Blondie can be described as punk it was their humour and irreverence that made them so, subverting classic pop styles with black and ironic humour e.g. 'Rip Her To Shreds' and 'Attack Of The Giant Ants'. It's also interesting to hear the reggae influence of the time on a track like 'Man Overboard'. 'Heart Of Glass' was also originally written as a reggae tune, but by the time Blondie was gaining some success, the producers took it and turned it into a disco hit, the reason being apparently that "Americans don't buy reggae". Other notable tracks reflecting their time include 'Kung Fu Girl' (Bruce Lee movies being huge in the 70's).

Respect must also be given to Chris Stein for his foresight and musical knowledge in knowing what would instantly appeal to an audience overdosed on rock pretentiousness.

Blissful!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Begging To Be Rediscovered July 1, 2010

By Kasey G

Format:Audio CD

It took me 30 years to discover that Blondie's self-titled debut album from 1976, along with it's follow-up "Plastic Letters" are arguably as good as their critically-acclaimed "Parallel Lines" which sold 20 million copies.

Thankfully, I took another Amazon reviewer's recommendations seriously and picked both these CDs up and instantly fell in love with them.

Blondie's first album is an amazing mix of '60s girl group pop, new wave, and rock and sounds nothing like what was being played on Top-40 radio in 1976. The material has a built-in retro kitsch factor that doesn't really date it.

Tongue-in-cheek lyrics prove that Blondie, (like another of my favorite bands, The B-52's) never took themselves too seriously and were always in on the joke.

"X-Offender" (the record company was scared of the original title "Sex Offender") is a great opener and has Debbie assuming the role of a hooker being attracted to her arresting police officer. The spoken intro is quite reminiscent of The Angels' "My Boyfriend's Back" with Clem Burke's drumming subsituting for handclaps. Prominent organ and tambourine make this track sound very much like it was recorded for a 1966-67 period piece film.

The girl-group sound continues in the uptempo "Little Girl Lies" (in which handclaps DO make an effective appearance), then in the slow number "In the Flesh".

"Look Good in Blue" has Debbie singing "I could give you some head and shoulders to lie on" and features memorable piano and synth backup.

Debbie shouts "Surf's up!" to open "In the Sun", which could have been at home on any beach-party movie soundtrack (if it had been directed by John Waters maybe). Clem Burke's drumming makes this track one of the better offerings.

"A Shark in Jet's Clothing" conjures up visions of New York gangs or something out of "West Side Story". Again, the synth keyboards make this one memorable (it comes as no surprise Jimmy Destri wrote this).

"Man Overboard" is a somewhat funkier track with great backup vocals and guitar solo.

"Rip Her to Shreds" is another winner. Debbie sounds so sassy on this track, with her cutting remarks and put-downs, and the band really shines as a unit. It has great drums, guitar, keyboards and background vocals.

I detected a slight Jefferson Airplane influence on "Rifle Range", another enjoyable track.

Though not one of the better songs, "Kung Fu Girls" is a rollicking number that showcases Burke's amazing drum skills.

Perhaps the biggest oddity on the album is the closer "Attack of the Giant Ants" which opens with a tribal, conga-like beat before the memorable keyboard riff kicks in (it will stick in your head all day). A fake-out ending and bizarre '50s horror-movie sounds fill the middle section before the song resumes. It strangely ends with random piano-bar music.

Having this gem on CD would be good enough, but there are 5 bonus tracks included here. There are alternate takes of "X Offender" and "In the Sun" as well as demo recordings of "Out In the Streets", "The Thin Line" and "Platinum Blonde" (which is the best of these IMO). None of these are outstanding but it is nice that the studio included some bonus material.

For those less-than-diehard Blondie fans like myself who never paid this release much attention due to the absence of hit singles, I strongly recommend it.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Platinum Blondie! September 18, 2001

By "the-disco-kid"

Format:Audio CD

Oh, this record is absolutely marvellous! Yes, even better than "Parallel Lines" - their usually most celebrated album. Nonetheless, I like "Blondie" better, because the songs aren't as over-familiar as those on "P.L.".

The only beef I have with this reissue is the inclusion of below par extra tracks a la "Platinum Blonde" and "The Thin Line" --- not prima Blondie material that. The cover of the Shangri-Las "Out in the Street" is OK, although they bettered that one on "No Exit".

From the original album I only ever disliked the very silly closing "The Attack of the Giant Ants". The almost-equally-stupidly-titled yet finger-snapping "A Shark in Jets Clothing" is one of the best cuts here/there, though, and deserves a belated and celebrated recognition (retro movie music supervisors out there take note!)

"X Offender", "In the Flesh", "Kung Fu Girls", "In the Sun", "Rifle Range", and ALL the (at least) first 10 songs on this CD are amongst some of the (still) freshest and best pure pop music recorded (as Homer Simpson would say) during those turbulent times that were the 1970's.

Stay in the sun and don't fall overboard --- buy this CD today!