Plastic Letters

Blondie would probably never have had a hit without disco. The song "Heart of Glass" topped the charts and moved Blondie in the direction of disco and dance pop, producing other similarly dance-inflected songs such as "Call Me," "Rapture", "Atomic", and others. But there was a darker side to Blondie. They were actually on the forefront of the CBGB New York style punk rock scene, although Blondie was far more "pop" than most of their contemporaries. Their second album Plastic Letters featured song titles seemingly ripped from tabloid headlines, such as "Youth Nabbed As Sniper", "Love at the Pier", "Bermuda Triangle Blues", "Fan Mail", and others. The songs were dark, short tributes to obsessed fans, child snipers, pop psychics, and other nowhere people, and the album is truly the most difficult and inaccessible record the band ever made. Indeed, its only real "hit", in Europe at least, was a cover of the Randy and the Rainbows single "Denise", changed to the mail gender by turning "Denise" into the French name "Denis". Still, when the album has time to work its spell, it remains a forgotten classic. The bottom line: the album may take time to grow on you, but after all these years it has slowly become my favorite of all Blondie albums. Long after I've become overly familiar with other albums in the band's catalog I am still intrigued by the cleverness and (can I say it?) maturity of this album. If you like Blondie strictly to hear sugary pop candy, you may not like Plastic Letters. If you're willing to hear a still-catchy, but more adventurous side of the band--buy it!

Blondie's sophomore effort, "Plastic Letters" is sprinkled with high intensity. It's fast-paced and incredibly quirky. "Plastic Letters" is probably the band's most underrated album. It's so unique. At first listen, you might think this record is choppy and disjointed, but once you keep listening to it - you begin to realize "Plastic Letters" is the real deal. The opener, "Fan Mail" is about an overzealous fan. "Fan Mail" is a genius track full of futuristic synths, cryptic lyrics, (keyboardist Jimmy Destri was a brilliant songwriter) and finishes with a sexy growl courtesy of Debbie Harry. It's the BEST and most innovative track. "Denis" is a good cover but not Blondie's best cover. "Denis" is the weakest track. It's the only misstep you will find on "Plastic Letters". The intensity picks up again on the eerie, "Bermuda Triangle Blues (Flight 45)" which is about a tragic plane crash. "Youth Nabbed As Sniper" and "Contact In Red Square" contain dark elements of pop and punk. The tempo slows down a bit on the charming, "(I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence, Dear" written by former bassist, Gary Valentine. Rhythm guitarist, Frank Infante joined the band and he proved what an amazing guitarist he really was (he also plays bass as well). The next 4 tracks are the most energetic and some of my personal favorites, starting with the manic, "I'm On E" and the salty, "No Imagination". Debbie gets to flex her songwriting muscles on the breezy, "Love At The Pier" and the melodic, "I Didn't Have The Nerve To Say No". I like how Debbie can sing any genre of music especially on the bluesy, "Kidnapper". She truly was a force of nature. And I'm sure it wasn't easy being the only female in the band. She was not only beautiful but a charismatic, brave, intelligent, and most importantly, a gifted vocalist. Every guy wanted her, and every girl wanted to be her. "Detroit 442" is a rip-roaring good time and the album closer, the laid-back but unnerving, "Cautious Lip" will leave you feeling slightly jarred and Debbie's scream at the end WILL startle you. This record was produced by Richard Gottehrer who also produced the band's self-titled debut album. He was the band's biggest cheerleader. You can FEEL how much he respected and admired this band through the music he helped shape and bring to life. The genius of Debbie, Chris, Jimmy, Frank, and Clem were evident. Some band's take a while to discover their sound and potential, but it's pretty clear they always had it right from the start. "Plastic Letters" might not be the band's most popular album but it's definitely one-of-a-kind. Enjoy!

This is a precursor to much better albums. I like this band, so I enjoy it. But it is not as catchy as some of their other other stuff.

Note to those who think they know all they need to know about Blondie because they own "Parallel Lines", "Eat to the Beat" and a greatest-hits package: Go out and grab "Blondie" and "Plastic Letters" right now if you want to experience the best the group has to offer. Blondie's second album, 1977's "Plastic Letters" possesses a more modern yet darker sound than their 1976 debut. Opening strong with "Fan Mail", awash with futuristic blips-and-bleeps and a terrific growl from Debbie, "Letters" as an album never lags or bores and takes the listener on a series of musical valleys and peaks. From straight-ahead retro pop like "Denis" and "(I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence, Dear" to darker Euro-flavored fare like "Contact In Red Square", and tragic story-songs like "Bermuda Triangle Blues" (the verses are dramatically framed by Jimmy Destri's shrieking keyboards), this album never faulters. The punk spirit explodes on rousing rockers like "Youth Nabbed as Sniper" and "Detroit 442" (Drummer Clem Burke's shining moment here) and there's even the bluesy, finger-snapping "Kidnapper" (which feature's Debbie's grittiest vocals on the album) and torchy "No Imagination" for variety. My favorites include the manic, pogo-inducing "Love at the Pier" (great tempo change at the end) and "I'm On E" (which features an impossibly-fast rap); "I Didn't Have the Nerve to Say No" which features a mid-60s chorus mixed with snarling vocals during the verses; The creepy "Cautious Lip" slithers along like a venomous musical serpent and builds slowly and gradually to a blissfully weird, trippy midsection before the race-to-the-finish ending. One of Blondie's most unusual--and great for it--numbers ever. Be sure to get the version with the Bonus Tracks. It's worth it for the 1975 "Once I Had a Love (The Disco Song). It's a reggae-styled, slower "Heart of Glass" except the song was yet to be called that and the phrase appears nowhere in the lyrics. "Scenery" has that mid-'60s solo Cher vibe going on; and the introspective and forlorn "Poet's Problem" should have made the album itself. Lastly, there's a live version of "Detroit 442" but it's not as good as the studio recording. One of Blondie's best albums, along with their debut and "Parallel Lines". FIVE STARS.

I have always enjoyed the music of Blondie. I remember my mom listening to "Heart of Glass" when I was a kid and loving it. Growing up I discovered "Parallel Lines" and it immediately became one of my favorite albums. I recently restarted working on my vinyl collection and decided to buy a "Parallel Lines" first print, when I stumbled across "Plastic Letters". I had no Idea about the existence of the first two albums. Immediately I listened to the tracks online and I fell in love with Blondie again. For some reason "Plastic Letters" never received the best reviews, and I have no Idea why. It's so full of energy, and it's so much fun to listen to. I feel it embodied what Blondie was at the core before they became mega famous, an in your face let's play what we love attitude. "Fan Mail", "I'm On E", "Contact In Red Square", "Fan Mail", "Detroit 442", and all the rest are all great songs. If you like Blondie and this is missing from your collection, you're missing out. Love this!

A harbinger of greatness just around the corner, this album hints at what's to come next with Parallel Lines.

A very classic Blondie album that was missing from my collection for many years. I decided to finally fill in that hole and appreciate the classic Blondie sound. For me, nostalgic.

Their best LP in spite of what you've read. Pressing quality is outstanding (much better than it was in the 70's).

Superbe album de blondie un des meilleurs à ce jour je trouve pour les fans de cette grande époque .

前作同様、50年代、60年代のポップスを基調としながら、より自分たちの音として深化させた素晴らしい作品。「ファン・メイル」「ノー・イマジネイション」は、ジミー・ディストリ（キーボード）が得意とするアート・ロック調の個性的な曲。「デニスに夢中」や「プレゼンス・ディアー」はオールド・ポップス調のシングル・カット・ナンバー。その他、ハイスピードのロックンロールなど楽しい曲が目白押しだ。 ボーナス・トラックでは、「ワンス・アイ・ハド・ア・ラブ」は「ハート・オブ・グラス」の原曲でシンプルなアレンジだが、これはイマイチ。「シーナリィ」は初代ベーシスト、ゲイリー・バレンタインの素晴らしい曲。「ポエツ・プロブレム」はまたもやジミー・ディストリの知的ポップ。それから、「デトロイト442」はワイルドなライブ。また、ジャケット内の写真も楽しく、カーリー・ヘアでスージー・クァトロ風ジャンプスーツのデビー姉さんや、お馴染みのポンコツ車など。 オリジナル版しか持っていないファンにとっても必携のＣＤ。

This is a must own from Blondie. You can't miss with their first 4-5 albums. I have bought the first three (3) Blondie reissues from both Amazon and an Amazon marketplace seller. All three are flat and very quiet pressings. Sound is great. I'm able to crank them all with a good level of dynamics.

Ottimo album dei Blondie, preludio a quello che sarà il migliore album del gruppo.

Stil, Charme und Lässigkeit – das sind wohl die richtigen Schlagwörter um Blondie prägnant zu umschreiben. Die 1974 in New York City gegründete Band bot all denen eine Alternative, die weder mit epischen Prog-Rock-Klängen noch mit minimalistisch-rotzigen Punk-Akkorden etwas anfangen konnten. Deborah Harry und ihre Mitstreiter erinnerten eher an Bands wie Roxy Music, wirkten zugleich jedoch bodenständiger und weniger artrockig. Die New-Wave, der Blondie heute gerne zugeschrieben wird, schwappte tatsächlich erst ein paar Jahre später so richtig über. Schubladendenker beißen sich wohl heute noch die Zähne aus, wenn sie die Truppe in ein Genre zwängen wollen… Jedenfalls machten die US-Amerikaner dort weiter, wo das 1976 erschienene Debüt begonnen hatte: Eingängige Melodien wurden zu 2-3-Minuten-Songs verarbeitet, die einerseits Größen wie Buddy Holly huldigen und gleichzeitig erfrischend modern klingen. Der Titel „Denis“ (Spieldauer 2:19) ist vielleicht das beste Beispiel für die besondere Aura, die viele Songs heute noch ausstrahlen: Während sich die Band an einer verjüngten (und sehr ansprechenden) Version von „Peggy Sue“ zu versuchen scheint, gibt Debbie Harry den Text in einer flapsig-lustvollen Einzigartigkeit wieder, dass man sich gedanklich die Ramones in faltenfreien 50er-Jahre-Outfits vorstellt, ohne dabei in einen inneren Widerspruch zu geraten. Blondie zeigten, dass man stilsicher und trotzdem keck sein konnte und dass man nicht zwangsläufig mehr als 3 Minuten braucht, um mehrere Ideen nachhaltig in einem Track umzusetzen. „Plastic Letters“ war so etwas wie die Vorhut zum eigentlichen Erfolgssturm, der dann endgültig mit dem nachfolgenden „Parallel Lines“ (1978) losbrechen sollte. Immerhin erreichte die Platte in Großbritannien (wo Blondie interessanterweise stets bessere Platzierungen einfahren konnte) aber die Top Ten und schaffte auch in den USA den Einzug in die Charts. Offenbar hatte man einen Nerv getroffen und die Leute wollten mehr davon. Vorliegende LP gibt noch viel von den Ursprüngen der Band preis, weist zugleich aber auch schon in Richtung New Wave. Oder um’s weniger fachchinesisch auszudrücken: „Plastic Letters“ ist eine knackige Sammlung erstaunlich gut gealterter Rocksongs, die schnell ins Ohr gehen, ohne sich anzubiedern. „Parallel Lines“ oder das großartige „Eat To The Beat“ (1979) sind für sich jeweils vielleicht noch eine Spur stimmiger und ausgereifter. Fans nennen aber oft den Namen hiesiger Scheibe, wenn sie nach ihrem persönlichen Lieblingsalbum gefragt werden. Schon der direkte Einstieg (der Gesang und sämtliche Instrumente beginnen gleichzeitig) beim Opener „Fan Mail“ ist so erquickend, dass man unweigerlich von der Platte mitgerissen wird. Man hat eigentlich gar keine andere Wahl, als sich in dieses frühe Blondie-Meisterwerk zu verlieben. „Plastic Letters“ ist ein durch und durch cooles und lässiges Album. ANSPIELTIPPS: - Fan Mail - Denis (!) - Bermuda Triangle Blues - Contact In Red Square - I Didn’t Have The Nerve To Say No - Detroit 442 (!) - Cautious Lip