blondie (1977) - blondie: chrysalis records, CHR-1165

When Blondie released their first album they caught the music establishment off-guard.  They didn't seem to really fit in to the established music scene and since they emerged at the same time as the Sex Pistols and the Ramones, it was convenient to put them into the same "punk/new wave" category.  Besides, Debbie Harry's peroxide white/jet black hair was too confusing and frightening for the squares for them to really be anything else.

Of course, Blondie was never punk.  Nor were they really "new wave" (whatever that term means).  Their music, especially on their first album, was a throwback to earlier, simpler rock.  Guitar to drive the sound, drums and bass to keep the beat, and some keyboards to fill it all out.  Nothing complicated, nothing elaborate, nothing too far out. Just good, very tight, no song longer than 3 1/2 minutes, rock.  

And they did that very well.

Side 1: X Offender Little Girl Lies In The Flesh Look Good In Blue In The Sun A Shark In Jets Clothing
Side 2: Man Overboard Rip Her To Shreds Rifle Range Kung Fu Girls The Attack Of The Giant Ants

I've been a huge fan of Blondie since I first heard this album way back in 10th grade.  And even though the music is great (Chris Stein's guitar, Clem Burke's Drums, and Jimmy Destri's keyboards made Blondie flat out rock), the real magic behind Blondie was the fact that Debbie Harry had enormous sexual magnetism.  She just dripped sex.  And so did many of the songs on the album.

X Offender is a song about a gal who just wants to get laid and in turn unleashes her insatiable passion:

I think all the time how I'm going to perpetrate love with you
And when I get out, there's no doubt I'll be sex offensive to you

Look Good In Blue goes for some decidely un-subtle entendre:

I could give you some head ... and shoulders to lie on

A Shark In Jets Clothing retells Westside Story in a more graphic manner:

Of all the girls you've played and you laid / why did this one have to be white?

Complementing Debbie's raw manipulation of the libido was some incredibly versatile music.  The style ranges from retro 50's doo-wop of In The Flesh, to pseudo-surf  of In The Sun, to the nearly experimental of Giant Ants (the ending of which is reminiscent of the end of Zappa's America Drinks And Goes Home).

Interesting side note: even though it isn't a case of a misheard lyric, whenever I listen to Little Girl Lies I always want to hear it as Little Burl Ives.  Weird.

Unfortunately, Blondie suffers from the same malady of a lot of earlier music - it sounds a bit out of place and dated when one listens to it today.  The songs still kick ass, but there is no mistaking the era in which they were recorded.  But that is easily forgiven, especially since Blondie was one of the bands who helped take music back from the suits. At least temporarily.

Up next: A fella from New Jersey makes American rock relevant again