SotD81 - Blondie

Inspired by our series of articles looking back at music released 30 years ago, Jimmy Hunter takes a step further back in time to give us a Song of the Day 1981. This week, he's in raptures...

Around this time two years ago
(1979), a post punk/new wave group released a single that would be a surprise
smash, aptly timed disco hit. The construction and reconstruction of that
single took weeks. And the group has done it again, in kind of the same way.
This week, dear pop-picker, I’m rapturously listening to ... well... Rapture, by
Blondie [oh stop it – Ed].
 


Like Heart of Glass, Rapture existed on a successful album
released the year before and the album version got attention. When you listen
to the album the single comes from, Autoamerican, as I have done several times
recently, you hear echoes of the group’s punk past, so not quite the same as
Parallel Lines then, yet similar in concept.
 


Again, different mixes were used for the 7” and 12” versions
except that outside of the USA, the 12” was completely remixed with an extra
verse and more overdub in the longer instrumental. The 7” was an edit of this
new mix while the US 7” and 12” releases were from the original album version.
We’ll stick to the UK versions but do listen to the album version for a comparison. No, I don’t know why – ask
Mike Chapman.
 


Every time I’ve sat down to write this and listen to the
record, I end up not writing anything. I started this 5 days ago!! It
captivates me too much so I’ll stop daydreaming and write. From the drum intro
then the synth’d bells, to the bass, oh the lovely hooky bass, carrying us
through verse and chorus to most famous part of this record – the rap. Fab 5
Freddie is actually a visual artist and linked to some very iconic names.
“Flash is fast, flash is cool” is a reference to the famous hip hop artist
Grandmaster Flash: unlike Fab 5 Freddie, Flash didn’t show up for the video
shoot so he’s replaced by none other than Jean-Michel Basquiat (behind the
record decks)!
 


Unlike (or perhaps, like) HoG there is not a crescendo, but
I find it somewhat mesmeric. A great record and a very well constructed and
infectious record. See for yourselves, the official video is here 




 


For those wanting the full 10 minute UK 12” remix
experience, it’s here:




 


And, as an extra treat (because we ALL NEED A TREAT!!!), for
those wanting to, have another boogie to Heart of Glass here. 

 

Image - Amazon