One of the first albums I bought was Parallel Lines by Blondie. Debbie Harry, who fronted the band, burst into our lives in the late 1970’s, after the band had formed in 1973. Debbie had attitude and it showed. She was sassy, peroxide blonde and good looking, as well as being THE Lady of Punk. Debbie was involved with Chris Stein, who played guitar in the band and they had formed Blondie together.

Parallel Lines is timeless. The songs still sound as fresh today as they did back in the late 70’s. This was the third album release from Blondie and can be bought for £10.99 from HMV.

The cover of the album shows the band standing against a backdrop of thick black and white lines, hence the title.

BAND
****

VOCALS: Deborah Harry
GUITAR 12 String and E-Bow: Chris Stein
PREMIER DRUMS VOCALS: Clement Burke
ELECTRONIC KEYBOARDS: Jimmy Destri
GUITAR: Frank Infante
BASS: Nigel Harrison

1. Hanging on the Telephone (2:22)

The song begins with the ringing of a telephone, quickly followed by fast and frenetic drums and crashing of cymbals which carries on throughout the song, The end of the song is a lot faster and as Debbie sings “Hang up and run to me” her voice sounds angrier and angrier. The song is about continually ringing a lover who is choosing to avoid you.

“Don't leave me hanging on the telephone
I heard your mother now she's going out the door
Did she go to work or just go to the store?
All those things she said I told you to ignore
Oh why can't we talk again?”

Rating 7/10

2. One way or another (3:35)

This track begins with the guitar, and sounds rather similar to The Undertones, keeping a fast tempo by the guitar and then drums , Debbie comes in, and when she sings “I’ll see you around” she sounds like a witch, Debbie talks through the chorus later in the song, and also provides backing, The chorus has a siren sound effect. The song is about an almost stalker-like obsession.

“And if the lights are all out I'll follow your bus downtown
See who's hangin' out
One way or another, I'm gonna lose ya'
I'm gonna give you the slip
A slip of the lip or another I'm gonna lose ya'
I'm gonna trick ya', I'll trick ya'”

Rating 8/10

3. Picture This (2:56)

Picture This starts with the guitar and drums, before the vocals. It’s a slower song and quite soft, but goes on to get angrier in true punk style. The end of song sees Debbie’s voice rising to a crescendo with the drums.

“I will give you my finest hour
The one I spent watching you shower
I will give you my finest hour oh yeah
All I want is a photo in my wallet
A small remembrance of something more solid
All I want is a picture of you”

Rating 10/10

4. Fade Away and Radiate (4:02)
Fade Away and Radiate begins with a single drum beat and sounds very like the beginning of “Vienna” by Ultravox. Debbie’s voice starts off being very soft, and then a soft guitar comes in, with echoing guitars throughout. By the second verse, Debbie’s voice gets louder, although the instruments do not. A great guitar solo, lots of echo, with drums coming in at end and the song finishes off with the guitar on its own.

“Fade away and radiate
The beams become my dream
My dream is on the screen
Fade away and radiate
Fade away and radiate”

Rating 10/10

5. Pretty Baby (3:18)

Pretty Baby starts off with a fast drumbeat and I have to say is slightly reminiscent of The Bay City Rollers once Debbie’s vocals come in. The drumming again is fast throughout the song with the cymbals being used to their full potential! The song is about love falling in love.

“Pretty baby you look so heavenly
A neo nebula from under the sun
Eyes that tell me "incense and peppermints"
Your looks are larger than life
Long live innocence
Petite ingenue I fell in love with you”

Rating 7/10

6. I know but I don’t know (3:56)

This track begins with the synthesizer first on its own, then fast drumbeat and guitar follow on. Debbie’s vocals begin but on this song she is accompanied by one of the males in the bed and the song is talked rather than sang. As the song progresses, the singing picks up. A great guitar solo in the middle, followed by a drum solo, with the bass kicking in at the end.

“I'm your dog but not your pet
Now I know but I don't care
Then I know but I don't see
Now I see but I don't know
I care but I don't care
I could but I won't be
You can but not with me
It's all a mystery”

Rating 3/10

7. 11:59 (3:20)

The songs begins horrendously fast but in the days of punk this was the done thing! Debbie’s voice is very strong in this track but again there are underlying connotations of The Undertones on this track. Another fast song, not one of the best tracks.

“Today can last another million years
Today could be the end of me
It's 11:59 and I want to stay alive
Hanging on a frequency burning like a fire
Boy you've got the motion down
It's getting late I'm tired and I've lost control”

Rating 6/10

8. Will Anything Happen? (3:00)
An echoing guitar starts this track, followed by a very fast drum beat and accompanying guitar. The vocals then come in. Debbie almost seems to talk and sing at the same time on this track. The end comes with a fading guitar echo. This song is about how people change even though they have said they never will.

“You said you'd be through here again
Please don't forget I'm here waiting
You always said that you would never change
Like the people that you've met and the places that you've been
And if you do will anything happen?”

Rating 7/10

9. Sunday Girl (3:05)

This starts with a very short guitar introduction then the vocals come in. A softer song, with Debbie sounding almost angelic.

“She can't catch up with the working crowd
The weekend mood and she's feeling proud
Live in dreams Sunday girl
"Baby I would like to go out tonight"
"If I go with you my folks'll get uptight"
Stay at home Sunday girl”

Rating 10/10

10. Heart of Glass (5:50)

Who could forget this song and video, which accompanied it which was basically taking the pee out of the disco scene? This was Blondie’s first ever worldwide hit The song begins with a sound like a xylophone, then the guitars and drums come crashing in. Debbie’s voice is great in this one, and there’s quite a few high notes to hit. The ending is great with the men doing “Na na na” bits in the background. I bet they were miffed to have to do that. The song is about love and all the problems it brings.

“Once I had a love and it was divine
Soon found out I was losing my mind
It seemed like the real thing but I was so blind
Much o' mistrust
Love's gone behind”

Rating 10/10

11. I’m gonna love you too (2:06)

The vocals start this song, accompanied by the guitars and the drums. Another very fast song but of course this was what the punk era was all about. The style of this is similar to some of the Showaddywaddy tracks but I’m sure Blondie would not thank me for saying it!

“I'm gonna do my best to hook ya' after all is said and done
I don't care what you told me
You're gonna say you'll hold me and you're gonna say you love me
'Cause I'm gonna love you too”

Rating 9/10

12. Just go away (3:33)

The track begins with the guitars, echoing, and the crashing of drums. I have to say this is not a favourite track on the album as Debbie is talking rather than singing. This is another fast track and has the blokes as backing singers, but they do screech a lot and sound a bit like singers in a “Grease” production.

“If you talk much louder you could get an award
From the federal communications board
Don't be cruel
Be a thing sweet thing as a rule
Don't be sad”

Rating 5/10

Picture this, Hanging on the Telephone, Heart of Glass and Sunday Girl were all released a singles and all were big hits. Blondie went on to make other albums, but none had the success of their third album release, Parallel Lines.

Debbie made a comeback in 1999, when she released the track “Maria” and a new album, although I don’t think she has done anything since.

All lyrics copyright the artist.