|
Hanging On The Telephone...Blondie do it by numbers
This DVD is taken from the US TV series 'Live By Request' where viewers phone or email the show to get their favourite tunes played. It's an interesting concept, the only snag is
that unless you like between-song banter this aspect does become repetitive with each play.
This gig was broadcast in May 2004 a few years after Blondie's career exhumation. As a greatest hits collection, it's perfectly acceptable. The sound quality is fantastic, I doubt if it was this good in
the band's heyday which suggests some post-production tinkering.
With Debbie, Chris Stein and Clem Burke remaining from the original band
you forget that they had two career peaks: one in the late seventies on the back of punk and another in the eighties, where they successfully melded disco-pop. This was summed up
by 'Rapture' which has an irresistibly funky beat, and the more recent 'Good Boys' from the comeback album 'The Curse Of Blondie' pays homage.
As you would expect there are several songs performed from the most recent album but as a career retrospective this TV special takes some beating. And talking of beating, Clem Burke's drumming
is terrific.
****
Review by David Randall
Book review
Album review
|
