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07/31/08 Storsjoyran Festival Östersund
Discography
08/01/08 Storas Festival Trondheim 08/02/08 Rockerfeller Oslo
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This was a very painless article for me to write, because I am, as you have probably guessed, I am a Blondie fan. I already had several of their albums, some greatest hits/compilations, and was especially looking forward to check out the 30th Anniversary Edition of Parallel Lines. I already had the original 1978 album (which I bought when they reissued it with some bonus tracks), so I already knew all the songs on the Anniversary Edition.
For those that don't have Parallel Lines and their biggest hit, possibly best-known song, "Heart of Glass" is on this album. Other big hits for them includes, "Hanging on the Telephone" - which I previously mentioned was a cover of The Beat.
Revisiting the album, I realized just how good "Picture This" is:All I want is a room with a view/A sight worth seeing, a vision of you/I will give you my finest hour, the one I spent watching you shower. Although I think this is a great song, it never made it on singles format in the US (although it was the leading single in the UK).
I suppose, it's to be expected because the US was still really into disco (which would explain why "Heart of Glass" did so well), but the UK was more progressive in their music taste (which would explain why they love the Carribean-beat song of "Sunday Girl").
The album ends with "Just Go Away", with its hard-to-get lyrics: "Don't go away sad/Don't go pre-fab/Don't go be bad/Don't go away mad, just go away. JUST GO AWAY!"
That's just the perfect album! The special extra bonus are four songs: "Heart of Glass (7" single version)", "Sunday Girl (French Version"), "Hanging on the Telephone [Nosebleed Handbag Remix]" and "Fade Away and Radiate [108 BPM Remix]".
Between the four song, I especially liked the French version of "Sunday Girl", a song that sounds refreshingly new because I have never heard this particular version. Apparently the song appeared as either an A-Side or B-Side on the "Sunday Girl" 7" that was released in the UK.
The other extra songs, I am guessing is rare. I didn't really care so much for them, as the 7" version of "Heart of Glass" sounds pretty much like the album mix.... while the techno/trance version of "Fade Away and Radiate" sounds nothing like the album version. Talk about extreme end of the spectrum.
There is also a bonus DVD that comes with Parallel Lines: 30th Anniversary Edition. The videos are for promo videos for "Picture This", "Hanging On The Telephone", and "Heart Of Glass", with one previously unreleased Top of the Pops performance of "Sunday Girl". Debbie Harry looked incredibly cool on TOTP, despite badly lip-syncing. I love all the videos, particularly the disco video for "Heart of Glass". My only complaint is that it's only four videos, you'll go through them in no time. Still, it is a nice bonus.
You can pick up Blondie's Parallel Lines: 30th Anniversary Edition at any retail location. If you have never own this album, the 30th Anniversary version is definitely the superior version to get. If you already have the LP, why not upgrade?
They are currently wrapping up their tour dates for promotion of this album... and I hope they come back touring, as I think the last time they were on tour was in 2003 for "The Curse of Blondie".
Links: blondie.net myspace.com/blondie
