Customer Reviews

Picture This Live

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A bunch of live tracks scraped together by Chrysalis (now owned by EMI/Capitol) before Deborah Harry, Chris Stein, Clement Burke, and Jimmy Destri reunited a couple years back. (It's also available on "Live in Philadelphia '78 and Dallas," for those who want mismatching sets.) Contrary to the subtitle, it's not really "Essential" Blondie (unless you think three of their four #1 hits inessential).

The good news is Harry is at top energy here and gives a full-force vocal performance. For a band that is so visual, their videotaped appearances on VH1 have inevitably been disappointing (Harry generally looks either bored or stoned), so that's a welcome change. As usual, Clem Burke dominates the band -- why he didn't get more recognition for his drumming prowess is beyond me. The mix is generally okay, but the sound quality is better on the Philadelphia tracks -- bassist Nigel Harrison is so inaudible on the Dallas songs he might be backstage having a sandwich for all I know. The only new song is a 15-minute medley of T. Rex's "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" with Iggy Pop's "Funtime," which is about six minutes too long.

Docked a star for some of the worst packaging I've ever seen from a major label. One of the songs is misattributed, all of the photos are from the earlier version of the band featuring Gary Valentine (even though he had long since left by the time these concerts were recorded), and the liner notes were written by someone trying to equate Blondie's feats with his preadolescent shamblings on a year-by-year basis. Couldn't they have gotten somebody from the band to scribble down a few words?

DEBBIE HARRY STILL SOUNDS AS GOOD TODAY AS SHE DID ON THIS CD WICH WAS RECORED IN DALLAS TEXAS 1980 AND PHILADELPHIA IN1978 5 ARE FROM THE PHILADELPHIA SHOW THE OTHER 9 ARE THE DALLAS TEXAS SHOW AND ARE VERY GOOD.

Picture This Live starts energetic with Dreaming: "Hey hello there!! You seen us on TV you read about us in the magazines and you heard about us on the radio but right now you're gonna see and hear: BLONDIE LIVE !"

I think this album represents how Blondie performed live in the days of 1978-1980. I was too young back then to join Blondie concerts so I can't really compare with other live performances from those days. But I went to several Blondie gigs in the ninety's and they sound LIVE a lot better now than on this cd!

Nevertheless this cd deserves the four stars because of the delicious live medley of Iggy Pop's "Bang a gong/Funtime" That song gives me the thrills.

Get it on !! Bang a gong!! get it on!!

Blondie is one of my favorite groups, and for a Blondie fan like me- go buy this CD now! If you're not that familiar w/ Blondie (or these songs) I still highly reccomend it. This is a wonderful "jam" CD, or driving, or relax to, or "i just want to listen to good music" CD. The rhythms are fairly fast and the guitar riffs are great. And being live? It adds to the greatness! But this CD is also wonderful lyrically. One of my favorite songs is Heart of Glass, if you listen to the lyrics its a very sad song and Deborah Harry's voice makes it even more moving. Then there's Hanging on the Telephone is just a fun song. Who can forget "one way or another, i'm gonna find ya...i'm gonna getcha!" from One Way or Another, or D.H. saying "hey, y'know? "Uh, I dunno." from I Know but I Don't Know? I certainly can't. If you are a person who values music for all it's worth, you will truly, absolutly, love this CD. If you don't go for the "live" sound, buy their "parrallel lines" album. Over 1/3 of the songs on this CD are up there.

If you enjoy Blondie's music and have seen them live this is the album for you. Lots of thier hits are here and they hit a high note on "One Way or Another". If you enjoy that 80's punk music this is a good pick-up.

AFTER COMPARING THIS RECORDING TO BLONDIES NEW LIVE CD I MUST SAY THIS A GREAT LIVE ONE .GIVE THIS A LISTEN.

I bought this cd a few weeks ago. I'v heard better, but the cd was ok, overall. If you like their style of music, I would reccommend buying this album. The band is pretty great, but they've put out better cd's than this one.