The Best of Blondie

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The Best of Blondie
Compilation album by Blondie
Released	31 October 1981
Recorded	Compilation
Genre	New Wave
Length	44:13 (USA, Canada) 48:42 (International)
Label	Chrysalis Records
Producer	Mike Chapman
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Robert Christgau (A-) link
Blondie chronology
Autoamerican (1980) The Best of Blondie (1981) The Hunter (1982)
Debbie Harry chronology
Koo Koo (1981) Rockbird (1986)

The Best of Blondie is a compilation album by the band Blondie. It was released in October 1981, and peaked at no.4 in the UK and no.30 in the US.

[edit] History

Mike Chapman remixed four tracks on this album. "Heart of Glass (Special Mix)" is a version that combines elements from the original album version and the instrumental version. The original version of "Heart of Glass" is the one that's used in the video. On the second pressing of "Parallel Lines" it was replaced by the 5:50 disco version. "In the Flesh (Special Mix)" is a Phil Spector-eque mix, with lots of echo. "Sunday Girl (Special Mix)" mixes vocals from the previously released French language version of the song with the original English version. "Rapture (Special Mix)" includes an extra verse that did not appear on the album Autoamerican where the song originally appeared.

A video of the album was released, though it does not contain the exact track listing of the album. The song "Rip Her to Shreds" was removed, and two other videos were added - "X-Offender" and "Detroit 442." The video was interspersed with footage of a New York taxi driver who would see Blondie videos being played on TV screens throughout the city.

The video album was rereleased on DVD in 2002 as Greatest Video Hits to coincide with the release of the CD Greatest Hits. This version added videos for "The Hardest Part" (1979), "Island of Lost Souls" (1982) and the uncensored version of "Maria" (1999).

[edit] Track listing

U.S. and Canadian releases

Side A:

1. "Heart of Glass" (Special Mix) (Harry, Stein) – 4:34
2. "Dreaming" (Harry, Stein) – 3:08
3. "The Tide Is High" (Barrett, Evans, Holt) – 4:39
4. "In the Flesh" (Special Mix) (Harry, Stein) – 2:31
5. "Sunday Girl" (Special Mix) (Stein) – 3:04
6. "Hanging on the Telephone" (Lee) – 2:33

Side B:

1. "Rapture" (Special Mix) (Harry, Stein) – 5:36
2. "One Way or Another" (Harrison, Harry) – 3:36
3. "(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear" (Valentine) – 2:42
4. "Call Me (Theme From American Gigolo)" (Harry, Moroder) – 3:32
5. "Atomic" (Destri, Harry) – 4:42
6. "Rip Her to Shreds" (Harry, Stein) – 3:25

International releases

Side A:

1. "Heart of Glass" (Special Mix) (Harry, Stein) – 4:34
2. "Denis" (Levenson) – 2:17
3. "The Tide Is High" (Barrett, Evans, Holt) – 4:39
4. "In the Flesh" (Special Mix) (Harry, Stein)– 2:31
5. "Sunday Girl" (Special Mix) (Stein) – 3:04
6. "Dreaming" (Harry, Stein) – 3:06
7. "Hanging on the Telephone" (Lee) – 2:22

Side B:

1. "Rapture" (Special Mix) (Harry, Stein) – 5:35
2. "Picture This" (Stein, Harry, Destri) – 2:57
3. "Union City Blue" (Harrison, Harry) – 3:22
4. "(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear" (Valentine) – 2:42
5. "Call Me" (Harry, Moroder) – 3:32
6. "Atomic" (Destri, Harry) – 4:40
7. "Rip Her to Shreds" (Harry, Stein) – 3:21

[edit] Chart positions

[edit] References

1. Allmusic