Parallel Lines

Blondie | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: August 30, 2001
• Release Date: September 1, 2004
• Label: CHRYSALIS
• Copyright: (C) 2001 Capitol Records, Inc.
• Total Length: 56:46
• Genres:
• ASIN: B000SX6I64
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (96 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,228 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Landmark In The Pop Music Lexicon; Essential, May 25, 2002

By 

Gary F. Taylor "GFT" (Biloxi, MS USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Parallel Lines (Audio CD)

BLONDIE kicked around for several years and released a couple of albums without developing more than a very localized New York following, where the band was generally considered a sort of punk-pop fusion--and then in the late 1970s came PARALLEL LINES, which vaulted them to a superstardom seldom seen even in the high profile music world. And listening to the recording today it is easy to understand why: absolutely everything about the album is perfect.

As a whole, PARALLEL LINES manages to walk a fine line between several different musical styles. Most of the tracks have a bouncy, almost bubble-gum feel: catchy and memorable with driving rhythms. But the arrangements are anything but bubble-gum: they rely on a mix of synthesizers and traditional drums-bass-guitar in a way that essentially defines the entire "new wave" sound of the late 1970s. And the lyrics, often savage, frequently satircal, and always memorable, are edgy and witty and sharp and about as far from pop as one can get.

All of that would have been enough to make a hit album--but BLONDIE also had the front singer to end all front singers: Debbie Harry, who mixed tough and sexy and pretty and naughty to tremendous effect--and whose full-throated voice actually contrived to SOUND blonde. Whether we're talking about the sleek, disco-like "Heart of Glass" or the punk-edged "Just Go Away" or the new wave "Fade Away and Radiate," the music here suits her unique voice perfectly--and the result is a truly flawless group of recordings that set the standard for the next decade. Blondie would do several more recordings before the band collapsed, and some of them would be very good--but PARALLEL LINES is IT, a landmark in the pop music lexicon. This remastered release, which includes a couple of live recordings for good measure, is an essential in any pop music library. Strongly recommended.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BLONDIE'S FINEST HOUR, February 18, 2003

By 

Ashley Blair - See all my reviews

This review is from: Parallel Lines (Audio CD)

Parallel Lines is nothing less than a Masterpiece. Constantly ranked in the Top 100 best albums of all time, not to mention sellers of all time, some 21 million copies internationally by 2003. Blondie soared to superstar status not only on the music charts 1978-1979 with this album, but forever placed them as POP ICONS. Blondie are truly among rock music's elite. If ever there was a perfect POP/ROCK Album, Parallel Lines is it. In a time where 6 singles off 1 album was unheard of, Blondie did the unthinkable and rode the International charts. Deborah Harry is simply sweet as honey, on songs like "Pretty Baby" and "Sunday Girl" a UK #1 in 79. Although "Sunday Girl" was the 5th biggest sellling single in the UK in 1979, it was never released in the USA, but recieved a fair amount of FM airplay. Parallel Lines is not without it's edgy moments, as evident on songs like "11:59", "One way or another" and "Hanging on the Telephone", we see Deborah Harry singing with frantic release. The world would forever be changed with the release of the Mega Smash "Heart of Glass", without a doubt one of the 50 biggest rock songs of all time. The techno beat of "Heart of Glass" sold millions of copies worldwide, hit #1 in the US/UK/CAN and some 19 other countries. The number #2 song of the year in the UK, Heart of Glass is still as vibrant a song today, as it was in 1979, fresh and still ultra cool. The technobeat of "Heart of Glass" inspires Dance music even today. Parallel lines rode the charts for 2 years and was the #9 USA and #1 UK best selling album of the year in 1979. Parallel Lines was produced by legendary producer "Mike Chapman", who produced 3 other all time classics, all from 1979. Pat Benatar's "In the heat of the Night", The Knack's "Get the Knack" and another 1979 BLONDIE album "Eat to the Beat". Parallel lines is an outstanding album, full of intelligent and catchy lyrics, and great grooves. This album does not have a weak track on it, this is a consumers dream, full of value and rock history. Parallel lines is a Classic album in every sense.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Stars live in the evening, but the very young need the sun", January 5, 2002

By 

KSG "ksgnyc" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Parallel Lines (Audio CD)

Hearing that opening line from Parallel Line's Pretty Baby I'm reminded of why I love Blondie so much: they represent pop music at it's most unique and intelligent. Debbie Harry and Chris Stein were pushing 40 back in the glory days of Parallel Lines. They were old enough to have established points of view and pretty much stuck to them. They were slightly retro, girl group and sci-fi obsessed New Yorkers. Their success came when they teamed up with L.A. based producer Mike Chapman (who also produced most of Pat Benatar's best work). In his new and enlightening liner notes Chapman explains how he tamed Blondie.
This album is full of high energy, hook filled, infectious pop. It includes the now classic Heart of Glass in it's hit version as well as in an earlier less polished version. Other highlights include Fade Away and Radiate, a sci-fi pop dirge (by this time a Blondie staple) with an incredible guitar solo by Robert Fripp and Debbie's James Cagney inspired vocals on One Way Or The Other, where she states that she's "gonna getcha getcha getcha".
My only complaint is that this reissue does not include the lyrics as the original album did. The remastering is brilliant and brings out the wonderful arrangements enabling you to hear the strong contributions by all the band members, especially the keyboard playing of Jimmy Destri.
By the way, the CD's opener is a cover version of The Nails' "Hanging On The Telephone".