Greatest Hits (CD+DVD)

Blondie

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 7, 2006)
• Original Release Date: March 7, 2006
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B000E6UK32
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #25,287 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Blondie defies definition. The legendary band is a little bit punk, a little bit reggae, a little bit rock, a little bit new wave, a little bit pop, a little bit hip-hop and a lot of downtown attitude. Already gold in Europe, Blondie: Greatest Hits--Sound & Vision was released March 7 by Capitol/EMI, one week before the band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. The new CD/DVD package contains 20 audio tracks and 16 video clips, including the band's biggest hits and previously unreleased remixes. "Rapture Riders"--a mash-up of the band's "Rapture" with the Doors' "Riders on the Storm"--and its accompanying UK music video make their release debut on the new collection.

Blondie's influence on today's artists is undeniable. Debbie Harry and Blondie have been a major influence on superstars like Madonna, Garbage's Shirley Manson, and R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe, among many others. They were one of the first groups to emerge from New York's new wave/punk renaissance with an album (1976's Blondie); the first to chart a #1 single, a revolutionaryblend of punk and disco ("Heart of Glass"); and the first to top the charts with both a rap song (1981's "Rapture") and a reggae tune ("The Tide Is High"). And now Blondie have added to their legacy by being selected for induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with Black Sabbath, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Sex Pistols, and Miles Davis, as one of two first-time nominees (Davis is the other).

"This is a tremendous honor for us," said the band's lead vocalist Deborah Harry, who is celebrating Blondie's 30th anniversary this year. "We're proud to take our place alongside some of our own idols."

CD/DVD with 20 audio tracks and 16 videos, including Blondie classics: "Heart of Glass," "Atomic," "Call Me," "Rapture," "Maria"; previously unreleased remixes of "In the Flesh" and "Good Boys"; and special bonus audio and video tracks: "Rapture Riders"--Blondie vs. the Doors (debut release of the new mash-up of the band's 1980 hit "Rapture" and the Doors' "Riders on the Storm").

DVD includes 13 music videos spanning 1977 to 1982, including groundbreaking conceptual clips for "Denis" and "The Tide Is High," as well as their most recent productions for "Maria" and "Good Boys," plus the new music video for the "Rapture Riders" mash-up.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars US release of Greatest Hits and DVD-- edited a bit!!, March 7, 2006

By	K. Eisenberger "dance music freak!" (Defiance, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I will always give anything Debbie Harry and Blondie does the highest rating even when the label decides to subtract tracks and DVDs off of the collections. I got the German version of the Sound & Vision :Greatest Hits collection for Christmas from my friend Roland in Holland and I actually bought a region free dvd player from my brother who works at Best Buy for Christmas so I could watch the DVD ahead of the US release. But now as Blondie becomes the first Chrysalis and who knows how long Capitol act to go into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame comes this collection. The original cd from Europe had 22 tracks and ran 79 minutes and the dvd had 17 Videos and ran around 57 minutes. The US version from Capitol removes for what unknown reason the SONGS and VIDEOS to "X Offender" and the classic "I'm Always Touched By Your Presence Dear" from the package. I am upset about this because when Capitol issued the Kylie Minogue Ultimate Kylie cd/dvd collection or the Best Shots release from Pat Benatar -- nothing was taken off either cd or DVD. So why Blondie when it was issued as a release to go with their induction of them into the Hall Of Fame. This makes me angry that these 2 songs and videos were removed. If you have the chance to buy the European dvd version you would see the beginning of "X Offender" with Debbie talking at the beginning of the video and for "Presence Dear" video instead of the car scene from The Best Of Blondie collection you get the shot of the Double Clems that begin the video. I do not see why they were removed.

Now onto the actual US collection. This Greatest Hits is different than the 2002 Hits collection. This one uses only single mixes for the cd-- for the hits and longer tracks. NO full lp mixes for "Atomic" or "The Tide Is High". They-- like the European version put the UK and US number one tracks out front at tracks 1-7 and in order as well. "Heart Of Glass " from 1979 to "Maria" in 1999. All 7 number one tracks. Plus you also get the classics like "Dreaming" "One Way Or Another" and "Island Of Lost Souls" that were US top 40 singles. Plus for the first time on a US cd the FULL promo only before now 12" (6:06) Blow Up Mix that Sanctuary issued for "Good Boys". This is the rarest track here because it was a Promo only to Dj's mix that is now on the cd. PLUS you get a brand new version of the classic first huge hit from 1976 "In The Flesh" done electro style by Super Buddha that has worked with Scissor Sisters. PLUS the reason this cd did well in the UK-- the mash up for "Rapture Riders" that is out on UK vinyl 12". Done by Mark Vidler it uses the music and beat from the original 1981 "Rapture" while mostly using the vocals to The Doors trippy "Riders On The Storm". Listen to Jim Morrison sound so incredible and at ease under the dance beat and then listen for the FULL rap of Debbie's from "Rapture". The original single mix found on the European version of this cd is only 3:46 while on the US version it is 4:04. A tiny bit longer but still not as long as the FULL VERSION (which is 5:43) on 12" and promo cd single.

The Videos-- well from 1976 to 1982 Blondie issued 23 videos from each of their albums. So this is just a primer to when Capitol or EMI finally issue the full release of the 12 tracks of videos from Eat To The Beat. But the plus side (even though they deleated 2 of the best know Blondie videos) is that you get them without the stupid skits from The Best Of Blondie collection. Full and complete videos (although I still think that "Rapture " is from The Best Of Blondie with the beginning) BUT you do get the video that was not on the European issued DVD for "Rapture Riders" so that is a plus. Plus the "The Tide Is High" video is the US VH1 Classic version and not the original 1981 version.

So if you haven't bought the European version of this collection then it is fine to buy the US version because you will get the chance to see the videos completely but remember that Capitol cut 2 of the best videos and songs from this collection and I still have no clue as to why. A++++ again for just the fact that it is Debbie Harry and Blondie and the fact they are finally going into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame - a thing that should have happened four years ago. BUY it still.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Too Short, but sounds good., March 14, 2006

By	Dexbet "dexbet" (Colchester, Vermont United States) - See all my reviews

Most of the songs are the shortened/edited single versions. Not the album versions. Too bad. However, within the CD/DVD packaging, there is advertising for all the albums (even Hunter) stating there are bonus tracs. I guess this CD is a come-on to buy all the original albums. Almost no liner notes--no who's who or timeline history or anything. Again, too bad. Sounds good.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PERFECTION, November 9, 2006

By	Ashley B. Reichmann "ASHLEY BLAIR" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There is no other way to describe BLONDIE or the musical legacy, other than PERFECT POP. Their crossovers into Punk, Funk, Reggae, Calypso, Disco and New Wave are legendary. THERE WERE AND ARE NO OTHER ROCK ARTISTS AS DIVERSE OR AS SUCCESSFUL........as BLONDIE was in this amazing era of rock. From 1978-1982, and their amazing resurgence in 1999, Blondie have racked up hit after hit after hit. In which time created some of rock music's all time best classics, Call Me, One way or Another, Heart of Glass and Rapture to mention but a few.

The most successful of all New Wave and Punk bands, Blondie helped define a generation and opened the door for the likes of Madonna, Gwen Stefani, Cyndi Lauper, Amee Mann, Berlin, etc.

Here on this compilation you get 4 American Certified #1 million selling singles, Heart of glass, Call Me, Rapture, and The Tide is High. You get an additional 3 British #1 Singles, Sunday Girl, Atomic and Maria.

Rapture released in November 1980, was the first Rap song the vast majority of people ever heard, in fact it wasn't even called Rap then, it was just known as Street Rapping in the Ghettos of NYC, but it took the then #1 Band in the world to break this musical format wide open. Rapture from the 1980 album Autoamerican also produced another #1 Chart topping first, The Tide is High, was a reggae influenced smash, again a music format that millions never heard until Blondie broke it wide open. GROUNDBREAKING, Blondie scored 3 straight #1 singles in 1980 in USA, Canada and the UK.

Materpiece rock songs like One Way or Another, Dreaming, Call Me and Atomic are simply delicious and infectious songs, you can listen to them over and over. Never dated.

Included on this album, was the European Mash Up Smash that reached European top 20 charts in feb 2006 with Rapture Riders and also hit #10 US Billboard Dance charts in 2006. The mash up uses the #1 Blondie Classic with The Doors "Riders on the storm" track, and poof, you have literally one of the best rated Mashups ever produced.

Heart of Glass & Call Me were the definitive songs that influenced and open the doors for the UK Invasion of Electro Pop of the early 80's. The very fact that Heart of Glass and Call Me were the #1 International selling songs of 1979 and 1980 respectively is now a matter of music history fact. Blondie's music still in 2006, is FRESH and still CREATIVE, and nothing coming out today can compete with the their diversity, songwriting, edgy cool, or depth.

No rock music fan should be without this album, and the added DVD doesn't hurt either. Blondie were in fact the first rock band in history to release an full length video album for 1979's classic album "Eat to the Beat", which was grammy nominated, so the videos are cool and mega sexy with Goddess Deborah Harry, the original Madonna.

Blondie Fun Facts

......Call Me #1-6wks in the Usa #1 Song of 1980 and #42 charted song all time

......Heart of Glass 6 Million copies sold Internationally

......Rapture has gone Top Ten in 3 decades, with 3 different Blondie versions in the USA Billboard Dance Charts (80/90/00's)

.......Maria debuted at #1 19years after Blondie's last UK #1 IN 1999, making DEBORAH HARRY the oldest female then at 55 years to have a #1 record.