Blondie - Against the Odds 1974-1982
by Nick Dent-Robinson
published: 7 / 1 / 2023
Label:
Select Label
Format: N/A
intro
Nick Dent-Robinson examines a new box set from Blondie, which, as well as containing their first six albums, also includes many unreleased tracks.
At the end of each year a formidable number of box sets and deluxe reissues of past albums appear – and the better ones can certainly make ideal gifts for music lovers. One reissue that will thrill many is Blondie's ‘Against The Odds 1974 – 1992’ collection. This provides an extensive dive into the Blondie archives, chronicling the band's first six albums with the addition of unreleased out-takes that have apparently been languishing for decades in guitarist Chris Stein's barn. The group's early progress is charted here - from when they were a cornerstone of New York's quite sophisticated “punk” scene through to becoming a global chart-topping phenomenon. Blondie were always lauded by others in the music world. Madonna called singer Debbie Harry “the coolest chick in the universe”, admiring her delivery of early Blondie numbers as “the epitome of sassy, streetwise style.” Bruce Springfield was another fan as was George Harrison who I recall laughing appreciatively at Debbie Harry's cool delivery of the line “I wanna be a platinum blonde, just like all the sexy stars” on the band's droll ‘Platinum Blonde”’which was one of the first songs Debbie Harry wrote and recorded back in 1975, though it wasn't released until later. George had admiration for Chris Stein's guitar-work and song-writing abilities too. Blondie were never tethered to their punk roots. They wrote big-selling love songs (often fashionably skewed in style), explored hip-hop and in 1978 they even released a single about telepathy, ‘(I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence, Dear/. Blondie's 1978 ‘Parallel Lines’ album - which contained ‘Hanging On The Telephone’, ‘One Way Or Another’, ‘Picture This’, ‘Sunday Girl’ and ‘Heart Of Glass’ could almost have been a greatest hits record in its own right – and the new box set includes some fascinating out-takes which trace the evolution of ‘Heart Of Glass’ from a blunt punk demo rather unoriginally called ‘The Disco Song’ to the Donna Summer-influenced mega hit we all know and love. ‘Against The Odds 1974 – 1982’ is a wonderful collection covering Blondie's platinum years with all the love and care this phenomenal band deserve. It is available in various formats - including as a 3 CD set (at £31), an 8 CD set (£80), a quadruple vinyl collection (£85) and as a “super de luxe edition” as big as a small suitcase – (for £247).
Track Listing:-
Also In ReView
Andreas Dorau (2022)
Andrew Gold (2023)
Anthony Moore (2022)
Bark Psychosis (2018)
Beatles (2023)
Bert Jansch (2020)
Bert Jansch (2019)
Beth Orton (2014)
Big Eyes Family (2021)
Billy Idol (2018)
Bitter Springs (2021)
Blind Mr Jones (2015)
Blue Nile (2014)
Bodines (2023)
Boyracer (2023)
Breathless (2016)
Brinsley Schwarz (2017)
Cardiacs (2014)
Chvrches (2014)
David Bowie (2022)
David Gray (2020)
Death and Vanilla (2016)
Donald Fagen (2021)
Doug Dillard Expedition (2024)
Earthworks (2020)
Flamin Groovies (2015)
Flaming Stars (2024)
Giant Sand (2020)
Giant Sand (2018)
Gomez (2018)
Gong (2015)
Grace Jones (2016)
Grace Jones (2014)
Graham Day and the Forefathers (2019)
Hawks (2021)
Hawkwind (2022)
Hot Pepper (2018)
Ian A. Anderson (2021)
Ian Dury (2021)
Iron Butterfly (2014)
John Cooper Clarke (2016)
Joni Mitchell (2021)
Keith Richards (2022)
Lapre (2020)
Lemonheads (2022)
Loft (2021)
Madness (2014)
McCarthy (2015)
Mercury Rev (2019)
Miscellaneous (2020)
Miscellaneous (2014)
Monochrome Set (2015)
Mothmen (2015)
Motorpsycho (2015)
New Leaf (2022)
New Musik (2023)
One Thousand Violins (2023)
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (2015)
Orchids (2023)
Party Day (2021)
Pele (2017)
Phil Alvin (2015)
Phil Ochs (2016)
Primitives (2015)
Prolapse (2022)
Roger Mcguinn (2018)
Rubik (2021)
Sorrow (2018)
T. Rex (2023)
Television Personalities (2018)
Terry Allen (2016)
Thin Lizzy (2023)
Townes Van Zandt (2015)
Trashmen (2020)
Ty Segall (2022)
UB40 (2015)
Various (2022)
Various (2022)
VIPS (2020)
Wolfhounds (2015)
Zz Top (2018)
Band Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/Blondie/http://www.blondie.net/
https://twitter.com/BlondieOfficial
https://www.youtube.com/user/BlondieVEVO
https://www.instagram.com/blondieofficial/
Play in YouTube:-
Have a Listen:-
Picture Gallery:-
profiles |
Chris Stein - Negative: Me, Blondie and the Advent of Punk, Somerset Hous (2015) |
Adrian Janes enjoys Blondie guitarist Chris Stein's evocative recent exhibition at Somerset House in London, which documents the 70's New York punk/new wave scene and his band's forty year career |
live reviews |
02 Apollo, Manchester, 11/11/2017 |
LIsa Torem watches groundbreaking NYC New Wave act Blondie combine recent and vintage material to dazzling effect at a sold-out show at the Apollo in Manchester. |
(With Garbage and X), Santa Barbara Bowl, Santa Barbara, 7/7/2017 |
O2 Academy, Leicester, 19/8/2014 |
Blondie |
Olympia Theatre, Dublin, 19/7/2011 |
Barrowlands Glasgow November 19th 1998 |
features |
Ten Songs That Made Me Love... (2014) |
In our series, in which our writers write about ten songs that made them love a particular band or artist, Mary O'Meara reflects on her favourite Blondie songs |
soundcloud
reviews |
Vivir En La Habana (2021) |
Excellent new live album recorded in Cuba from Blondie who late in their career continue to push boundaries |
Pollinator (2017) |
No Exit Plus 3 (2001) |
most viewed articles
current edition
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.Dennis Tufano - Copernicus Center, Chicago, 19/7/2024
Elliott Murphy - Interview
Wreckless Eric - Interview
Adrian Gurvitz - Interview
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #16: Living in the Minds of Strangers
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #17: Tom Robinson
Norman Rodger - Interview
Chris Spedding - Interview
Penumbra - Interview
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPIn Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #5 - ‘We all have good intentions/ But all with strings attached’: Music and Mental Health Part 2
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Allan Clarke - Interview
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Madeline Bell - Interview
Sound - Interview with Bi Marshall Part 1
Jimmy Nail - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Groovy Uncle - Making ExcusesBill Wyman - Drive My Car
Hawkestrel - Chaos Rocks
Philip Parfitt - The Dark Light
Deep Purple - =1
Ross Couper Band - The Homeroad
Jules Winchester - The Journey
Popstar - Obscene
John Murry and Michael Timmins - A Little Bit of Grace and Decay
Splashgirl and Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe - More Human
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart