Blondie - Blondie (full album) (VINYL)

Blondie - Blondie
Private Stock Records PS 2023
Released December 1976

1. X Offender 0:08
2. Little Girl Lies 3:22
3. In the Flesh 5:29
4. Look Good in Blue 8:01
5. In the Sun 10:55
6. A Shark in Jets Clothing 13:36
Side Two
7. Man Overboard 17:10
8. Rip Her to Shreds 20:31
9. Rifle Range 23:52
10. Kung Fu Girls 27:31
11. The Attack of the Giant Ants 30:02

The debut album. This is the 1976 release on Private Stock Records . . . after the band left Private Stock, it was re-released on Chrysalis Records the following year.

Blondie gets lumped in with punk or new wave, often, but really they're neither (and their greatest success didn't come until they embraced elements of disco (ugh!)). They are more or less a garden variety rock band . . . Harry's looks and the band's persona have gotten them some more recognition than they might otherwise have gotten.

This record is interesting because it does give one the unvarnished, un-discoed, pre-heroin Blondie. "X Offender" (re-titled from "Sex Offender" after radio stations balked) is a tribute (parody?) of 50s girl groups. "In the Sun" is catchy surf-rock, and would've been a better choice for a single than two of the three songs that were released as singles from this album ("X Offender, and "In the Flesh").

"Rip Her to Shreds," the third song released as a single from this album, is the punkiest song, at least in terms of attitude. This fun song deserved a better fate, commercially. (The same could be said of this entire album -- reportedly the band left Private Stock because they were disappointed with the label's support and promotion. Note the cut-out cover -- this wasn't a big seller.)

"In the Flesh" recalls the 50s again . . .band member Clem Burke described it as "the forerunner to the power ballad." One, that's nothing to be bragging about, and two, I think that designation goes to the Beatles' 'Oh Darling," seven years earlier.

Much is made of Harry's voice . . . for me it's never been particularly outstanding. And that sort of mirrors this album, and Blondie in general . . . too much of it has been just . . . kind of there.

The short, rather bizarre poem of sorts by Ronnie Toast on the back cover inadvertently sums up The Problem With This Blondie.

It reads, in part:

"Blondie hates fun
But they have so much of it
They decided it's time
To unload the real meaning of fun on this LP"

Clearly there's a joke being made about "blondes having more fun," but "Blondie hates fun?" That's the kind of punk-posing that was common in 1976 by non-punk bands whose record companies were trying to put a square peg in the proverbial round hole.

More importantly -- the band really don't seem to be having all that much fun here. Had they been this would've been a far superior record.

Anyway, enjoy . . . this record is where it all began for Blondie. I give it a sold B-minus.

The visuals are pictures of . . . blondes. famous ones, not so famous ones, stunning ones, ordinary ones, platinum ones, honey blonde ones, and pretty much everything in between. All SFW . . .

Made with -- Sansui P-D10 turntable, BBE premap, Audacity, Paint.net, Corel VideoStudio X9 Ultimate, and I always forget to mention my IPhone with which I take the cover and label pictures.