Plastic Letters

by Blondie

Overview

In artistic terms, Plastic Letters, Blondie's second album, was a classic example of the sophomore slump. If their debut, Blondie, was a precise update of the early-'60s girl group sound, delivered with an ironic '70s sensibility, its follow-up seemed to consist of leftovers, the songwriting never emerging from obscurity and pedestrian musical tracks. The production (again courtesy of Richard Gottehrer) was once again bright and sharp, but in the service of inferior material it alone couldn't save the collection. The two exceptions to the general mediocrity were "Denis," a revival of Randy & the Rainbows' 1963 hit "Denise," for which Deborah Harry sang a verse in French to justify the name and gender change, and "(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear," written by Gary Valentine, who had left Blondie shortly before the recording of the album. Due to these two songs, the album became a commercial success, at least overseas. British-based Chrysalis Records had bought out Private Stock, giving Blondie greater distribution and more of an international marketing focus. The result was that "Denis" broke them in Europe, nearly topping the U.K. charts and followed into the Top Ten by "(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear," with the album also peaking in the Top Ten. In the U.S., Blondie finally charted, making the Top 100. The songwriting problem did not seem to bode well, but they would take a distinctly different approach next time out. (The 2001 reissue added four bonus tracks including an early version of the breakthrough hit "Heart of Glass," here called "Once I Had a Love [AKA The Disco Song]"; "Scenery," another catchy song written by Valentine; "Poets Problem," the non-LP B-side of the single "[I'm Always Touched by Your] Presence, Dear"; and a previously unreleased live version of the rocker "Detroit 442.") ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	04/01/2013
Label:	Chrysalis Records / Capitol
UPC:	0724353359829

Tracks

1. Fan Mail
2. Denis
3. Bermuda Triangle Blues (Flight 45)
4. Youth Nabbed as Sniper
5. Contact in Red Square
6. (I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear
7. I'm on E
8. I Didn't Have the Nerve to Say No
9. Love at the Pier
10. No Imagination
11. Kidnapper
12. Detroit 442
13. Cautious Lip
14. Once I Had a Love (AKA the Disco Song)
15. Scenery
16. Poets Problem
17. Detroit 442

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Blondie   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Rob Freeman   Engineer
Debbie Harry   Composer
Neil Levenson   Composer
Ronnie Toast   Composer
Jimmy Destri   Composer
Gary Valentine   Composer
Chris Stein   Composer