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From the Vault...
09/28/2003
#857 |
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info
Blondie
"The Platinum Collection"
© EMI Chrysalis Records
Rating:
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track listing
Disc One:
X Offender
In The Flesh
Man Overboard
Rip Her To Shreds
Denis
Contact In Red Square
Kung Fu Girls
I'm On E
(I'm Always
Touched By Your)
Presence Dear
Poets Problem
Detroit 442
Picture This
Fade Away And
Radiate
I'm Gonna Love
You Too
Just Go Away
Hanging On
The Telephone
Will Anything Happen
Heart Of Glass
Rifle Range
11:59
Sunday Girl
I Know But
I Don't Know
One Way Or Another
Dreaming
Sound-A-Sleep
Living In The
Real World
Disc Two:
Union City Blue
The Hardest Part
Atomic
Die Young Stay Pretty
Slow Motion
Call Me
The Tide Is High
Susie And Jeffrey
Rapture
Walk Like Me
Island Of Lost Souls
Dragonfly
War Child
Little Caesar
Out In The Streets
Platinum Blonde
The Thin Line
Puerto Rico
Once I Had A Love
Atomic (Diddy Remix)
Rature (K-klass Remix)
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Blondie
"The Platinum Collection"
Blondie's The Platinum Collection is a compilation of their
well-known hits, album cuts, and unreleased recordings. Blondie
was on the rise as an up and coming New Wave/Punk band in the late 1970s,
when the latest new sound was becoming popular. Blondie, featuring a lead
vocalist blonde (obviously) turned heads to the male-dominated rock world,
but towards the end of the 1970s, female acts were becoming (if not more)
popular than their male rock allies.
Starting with their self-titled debut, songs such as "X Offender,"
"Man Overboard," and the popular "Rip Her To Shreds" was proving
to the rock world that not only a new sound was forming, but a new band was
also on the rise, in trying to become popular. "In The Flesh" shows
an "innocent sound" for Blondie, as these tracks from their debut would have
a more new wave sound, than the traditional punk style.
Yet, the traditional fast-paced punk style was the main sound for tracks
from their second album, Plastic Letters on this compilation:
"Contact In Red Square," "Kung Fu Girls," "I'm On E," and
"Detroit 442." Other new wave sounders include their hit
"Denis," and "(I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence, Dear."
In looking at the liner notes, the pleasant "Poets Problem" was
not listed as a song from a Blondie album, nor was it discussed from short
interviews about each song. So, we figure this song is a non-album track,
unreleased.
Blondie's next album, Parallel Lines became their breakthrough
album, which would feature their first #1 hit record, "Heart Of Glass."
Other album tracks from this album included "Picture This," a new wave
rocker, which proved that by each album made, Blondie was becoming better,
and tighter as a band. "Fade Away And Radiate" has a mysterious
atmosphere, being a different style than the traditional new wave/punk style.
Returning back to the new wave/punk "head bopping fast, from left-to-right,"
is "I'm Gonna Love You Too." "Just Go Away" is another good
rocker, as we can easily see how the Parallel Lines release became
a major popular album for Blondie. The rocking "Hanging On The Telephone"
is another good song, and "Will Anything Happen" happens to be a
fast-paced, in-your-face punk styled rocker.
"Rifle Range" returns back to Blondie's debut album, as once again,
it has a traditional (and very well-done) new wave/rock style. "11:59"
(returning to Parallel Lines), was the flip-side of the 45 rpm single
of "Heart Of Glass" I used to have -- another good new wave styled song.
"Sunday Girl" has an "innocent sound" again, and has a somewhat 1960s
girl-group style to it. "I Know But I Don't Know" has a rough and
gritty punk/rock sound, having one the male members of Blondie on vocals.
This one is very different than the standard Deborah Harry vocal songs we're
familiar with. And of course, any Blondie collection would not be complete
without "One Way Or Another," another 45 rpm record (and personal
favorite Blondie tune of mine...) I used to have.
Eat To The Beat, Blondie's third album, begins with "Dreaming,"
another personal Blondie favorite of mine, and another popular hit for the band.
"Sound-A-Sleep" is a ballad, and wow.. it's a beautiful song! Completely
different than the typical new wavers or punk-styler tunes, this song was
probably overlooked -- a great album cut. "Living In The Real World"
returns with the punkish rock style, where "Union City Blue" is a
rock/new wave styled song. "The Hardest Part" is definitely Rock than
that of either New Wave or Punk. New Wave (with some James Bondish guitars)
best describes "Atomic," "Die Young Stay Pretty" has a reggae
rock sound (which would be in prepration for songs from their next album,
Autoamerican); "Slow Motion" has a dance-rock approach, and some
may think that this song could easily be one of Madonna's songs, from her
early years.
Blondies' second #1 hit record was a soundtrack hit, from the movie
American Gigolo, which starred an unknown Richard Gere, and popular
actress Lauren Hutton. A huge hit, it would be #1 for many weeks. Blondie's
next album would feature their third #1 hit, the reggae-tinged "The Tide Is
High" from Autoamerican. "Susie And Jeffrey" is considered
a non-album track, as the liner notes did not reference what album this song
came from, but I believe it was the flip-side of either "Call Me" or
"One Way Or Another," having both 45 rpm singles. It's sound would be
common of 1980s females, which would later surface in the decade.
Autoamerican would also include Blondie's fourth #1 hit, "Rapture."
Deborah Harry would recite lyrics that would later generate a new sound, which
was actually introduced in the 1970s, as Rap music. "Just Like Me"
has the new wave/punk style as heard in later groups such as The Runaways/Joan
Jett.
The carribbean sounds can be heard on "Island Of Lost Souls," a song
from their next album, The Hunter. This song also has a 1980s dance rock
feel, similar to that of Samantha Fox, likewise the next song "Dragonfly."
This song may not be as enjoyable as the previous 3 albums, and it was obvious
to see that Blondie's once raging popularity was beginning to decline. "War
Child" proves this, likewise "Little Caesar" -- where adjusting to
the 1980s dance style (for "War Child") and the reggae rock style
("Little Caesar") -- it seems that the spark in trying to adjust to a new
musical direction just didn't appeal to many as when they bursted on the New
Wave/Punk scene. After the release of The Hunter, Blondie disbanded.
The remaining tracks on The Platinum Collection are unreleased
recordings. "Out In The Streets" (1975) has the "innocent sound," and
this new wave tune could easily have appeared on Blondie's debut album.
"Platinum Blonde" (also from 1975), has a typical old-fashioned rock
style, yet mixed with New Wave, it could have fitted with either of their
first two albums. "The Thin Line" (1975) has a more Punk style, and
could easily have been included on Plastic Letters. "Puerto Rico"
is another song from 1975, and it just have been a "lost track" as it was a
bit different than the songs heard on the first albums. "Once I Had A Love"
(1975) is really "Heart Of Glass" in a much slower rock style. Remixes
of "Atomic (Diddy Remix)" features heavy synthesizers, and the remix
of "Rapture (K-klass Remix)" can be easily compared to the dance club
mixes of Madonna's "Fever" and/or "Vogue."
For the music fan just being introduced to Blondie's music, The Platinum
Collection is an excellent choice in hearing a young band trying to make
a name for themselves in the New Wave/Punk scene. They would accomplish
themselves as one of the most popular bands from this type of music, and
become part of music history, being a well-known popular band with a female
singer who not only performed well, but looked extremely pretty as well.
© WSVNRadio.net. All rights reserved.
Review or any portion may not be reproduced
without written permission. Cover art is the
intellectual property of
EMI Chrysalis Records
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