Parallel Lines
Blondie
1978
Album Summary
Parallel Lines is the third studio album by American rock band Blondie, released on September 23, 1978, by Chrysalis Records to international commercial success. The album reached No. 1 in the United Kingdom in February 1979 and proved to be the band's commercial breakthrough in the United States, where it reached No. 6 in April 1979. In Billboard magazine, Parallel Lines was listed at No. 9 in the top pop albums year-end chart of 1979. The album spawned several successful singles, notably the international hit "Heart of Glass".
WikipediaI came in heavily biased to this one, and really wanted to let loose with a 5. Blondie is a blind spot for me that's always seemed ripe for uncovering some real tasty gems that perhaps even the most elitist music snobs wouldn't fuck with because they were massively successful and led by a woman. I held my hand out with 5 fat stars. It was there for Blondie to take. Hit play. Blondie didn't want the 5. By the middle of the album Blondie reached in for the stars but I quickly pulled my hand back to my hair and said "too slow!" I gave a star away to my neighbor who stopped by for dinner. I put another star on the WalMart grill and cooked it for 45 minutes. Blondie pretended not to care about the leftover stars. I think we're all just ok with how things worked out. B-
Everyone knows all the Blondie staples, most of us don't realise they all lived on one album. This might be one of the best albums ever created. I forget how great this stuff is, it's not until you sit and pay attention that you realise how awesome it is. Not a bad track in the bunch.
What a terrific album. Front to back, every song on here is worth listening to - Debbie Harry's voice is fantastic and oscillates seamlessly between the punk-ier vibes of a song like 'One Way or Another' to the lighter, airy vibes of songs like 'Fade Away and Radiate' or 'Heart of Glass'. The album ends perfectly with the delightfully melodic and catchy 'Just Go Away'. Worth many, many listens.
What I took away from my most recent listen was irrepresible urgency. If you don't answer, she'll ring your phone right off the wall. To get ya, she'll follow your bus downtown (and spy you in the supermarket buying rat food?!). She'll "wait until morning [to] take tomorrow by the hand" because "today can last another million years". She wants you to make it, but if you do "will anything happen?" For these fatefully spirirted youngsters Something. Must. Always. Be. Happening. We're all dying to live, rushing straight ahead in our own parrallel lines. This catalsym of sexual, intellectual and emotional energy is the sound of those lines converging.
Debbie Harry, the legend! Blondie is cited so often as an '80s staple that I didn't realize they began making music in the '70s. This sounds a lot more rock-oriented than I expected, it makes me wish we'd get some other, older Blondie records on the list. Anyway, I dig this one. It's got two classic hits and plenty of excellent album cuts. Long live Debbie Harry. Favorite tracks: Heart of Glass, 11:59, One Way or Another, Sunday Girl, Hanging on the Telephone. Album art: Iconic. It's black and white without being black and white. Debbie front and center AS SHE SHOULD BE. Perfect color contrast, and the red font is great. This could be an all-timer. 4.5/5
Incredible songwriting, brilliant arrangements, combining punk, pop, disco and a bit of prog. The Strokes were taking notes!
My favorite Blondie album and one of Maya's favorite albums as well. It's in constant rotation at my house. Practically plays like a greatest hits album. Listened to non-remastered version and prefer it.
I really like Blondie. Their lyrics straddle that line between playful, serious, and contemporary commentary. I also think it sounds like they're having a lot of fun when they're making their music. This album has no filler and is a great one.
Was going for 4 stars, then Heart of glass came on late. Also liked Fade away and radiate, I know but I don’t know (Iggy Pop?). Diverse genres that rallies all pen types to write
Disco ameno y entretenido. Muy adelantado en su momento, lo que hace que siga sonando fresco a día de hoy. Incluye canciones que probablemente han sonado sin parar desde que se publicó el disco.
"Picture This" Released: August 26, 1978 "I'm Gonna Love You Too" Released: September 1978 "Hanging on the Telephone" Released: October 30, 1978 "Heart of Glass" Released: January 3, 1979 "Sunday Girl" Released: May 1979 "One Way or Another" Released: May 14, 1979
"I'm in the phone booth, it's the one across the hall If you don't answer, I'll just ring it off the wall" (Hanging on the telephone) "All I want is a room with a view A sight worth seeing A vision of you All I want is a room with a view" (Picture this) "Today can last another million years Today could be the end of me It's 11: 59, and I want to stay alive" (11:59) "Don't be cruel Be a thing - sweet thing As a rule" (Just go away) El meme de Gordon Ramsay diciendo "Finally, Some Good Fucking Food".
absolute fire. such a great album, and it had a lot of Blondie's hits on it
El mítico de Blondie. Pop y rock garajero y glamuroso con Debbie Harry en todo su esplendor. Potentísimo y una de las portadas más icónicas.
This is just an excellent album. Almost none of the songs are just ok. Iconic!
Excellent first pick. Very catchy, and something I would love if released today. Can see how it influenced some recent indie pop. Stand out track "Heart of Glass".
Didn't realise that this album was from the late 70's, I associated their main singles firmly from the 80's! An all round decent pop/rock album with instantly recognisable classics in "One way or Another" which has been endlessly covered, and "Heart of Glass" which was personally a staple in PlayStation 2's SingStar game. The album takes you on a journey and I think there are no real stinkers on the album which makes for a quintessential pop/rock album. Best: One way or Another; Heart of Glass Worst: no real outliers here!
This is just a really good album. High points include the hits ("One Way or Another" and "Heart of Glass"), and tracks like "Hanging on the Telephone" and "Fade Away and Radiate" (I hear Fripp, I like). I've been listening to it repeatedly for several days now and I keep noticing all kinds of great touches and I'm not remotely getting tired of it. Most albums I rate as a 5 really have some aspect that blows me away and I can't say this album has that, but it's just good start to finish. That's worth a 5 also.
Correct original album link https://open.spotify.com/album/4M6s2jbhKWEcOdXZ8WiHts
The perfect pop rock album. Blondie is mostly seen as the epitome of early New Wave alongside The Talking Heads and Devo, but they were able to blend countless genres in a way that was still consistent and accessible to most audiences. Beyond the synth-heavy New Wave, these tracks are full of power pop, punk, and pure rock. "Sunday Girl" takes inspiration from 60s R&B, while "Heart of Glass" is the perfect disco song despite contemporary resentment, and classic Buddy Holly is covered in the rockabilly "I'm Gonna Love You Too." Blondie would further show later skills in their reggae "The Tide is High" and hip hop "Rapture." One of the best track placements I've ever seen. Starts off with a banger of an intro, which is apparently a cover. It has all punk energy with appropriate synths and catchy lyrics (both chorus and verses). Then it just transitions straight into an even more intense and catchier classic, "One Way or Another" which is more rock and less punk, but matches the first track's strengths in every way. Things tone down slightly in "Picture This." I'm really glad that Debbie Gray is the vocalist of all these songs, she's able to sing to such a range of moods that it keeps the audience looking forward to each track. There is no filler in this album. Sure, there are tracks I'm not a huge fan of, but I still like them all, and in fact, I would listen to the majority on their own casually. That's how great all of them stand out. In case you're curious, the one song I'm indifferent about is "I Know But I Don't Know." I like the wacky vocals and sound that almost reminds me of Devo, but the beginning is a tad bit annoying, and the rock solo is generic, but I really like the last minute. I love how the album ends with two more punk-like tracks, as if there's no need for the full pop facade (excluding the "Just Go Away" rock solo), going back to punk roots. I probably would have swapped these two tracks since the Buddy Holly cover is a slightly better closer. Favorite tracks: One Way or Another, Picture This, Fade Away and Radiate, 11:59, Sunday Girl, Heart of Glass (I had trouble excluding some as my "favorite" cause nearly the entire album would be on here)
Didn't realise so many bangers all came from one album, it's like a greatest hits
This was my fav album in high school and it still slaps. Interesting how so many female vocal led bands still have the same sound.
God, this was good. I'm gonna go through their discography now because of this.
I had forgotten what a good album this is, even beyond the two hits that I know and love, "One Way or Another" and "Heart of Glass". Great guitar work on "Fade Away and Radiate". "I'm Gonna Love you Too" is a short but good song. Great album through and through. Surprised to be giving this a 5, but well there it is...
Had a lot of songs that have appeared in movies and TV shows. Pretty great to know where those soundtracks came from. Partial to hanging on the telephone, one way or another, sunday girl and heart of glass.
I enjoyed this album far more than I expected to. I feel like this album was probably highly influential on 80's pop.
A stonewall certified all-time classic, with one of the best opening tracks in rock 'n' roll history.
With this album, Blondie refined its formula for producing perfect pop songs. It is catchy and flows smoothly. Loved the harmonies and textures. Legendary!
This album is a classic, wide variety in the types of songs, witty lyrics and the best non-disco DISCO track of all-time in “Heart of Glass”. This album is in my top-10 all-time.
Well I had her posters on my wall and the grooves of this record were worn. I thought it was me she loved. What a wonderful album. Blondie is a legend and all the female singers who have tried to emulate her haven't even come close.
Really fun album. Every song is pretty great for the most part. Doesn't really sound dated at all. There's a great balance of guitar and synth here and Debbie's voice is just the right amount of pop and punk. Definitely going to come back to this one.
Auf RYM hab ich 4/5 gegeben aber im Kontext diess projekts und im vergleich zu allem was bisher dran war hat das ganz locker 5 verdient. so ein geiles album, es sind wirklich nur hits. Das ist das was das Pretnders album hätte sein können, wenn es sich auf der zweiten hälfte nicht so krass in belanglosen popsongs verloren hätte. plus ich liebe es wenn debbie harry's stimme so bisschen bricht das ist so geil rockig 🤘
One of the best from one of my favourite bands. What more needs to be said?
Probably the band's best album. It's got most of the band's hits, and they're great, but it also shines with its lesser known songs. The album is just a great listen from start to finish. Debbie Harry has a wonderful range, from a little rasp that shines through when she gets louder to the soft whispers in the quieter moments.
Oh dude, I've listened to this album so many times. It's nice to have a reason to listen to it again. Heart of Glass is just so fucking good. The whole album is.
This album is chockablock with hits. It's sound more than stacks up today. It feels surprising that it came out in the late 70s. Debbie Harry is mesmeric and the band do the songs justice. Apparently the recording process was shambolic but you would never know when you listen to it.
5 fantastic singles on this album. The other tracks didn't excite me at all and it's not really my sort of music but undeniably a great album.
pretty good, with lots of good songs. the songs have some really good licks, and they sound really good.
Didn't know they covered "keep me hanging on the telephone" - love the cover. Debbie Harry is just excellent.
I mean ... this album is stellar. Do I have to take notes? I saw it come up and smiled, clicked play and away I went. Unlike Eat to the Beat, this is a straight up all killer no filler album - I often find myself randomly singing bits of tunes off this for no reason; somebody saying it's 59 minutes past the hour is enough to get 11:59 firing off in my head.
Love love love this album. My favourite by Blondie, and every track a winner.
Loved this Album. Debbie Harry has such a powerful voice and she wasn’t afraid to be different in a very tumultuous time for rock and roll, and thus helped to influence a revolution. Add that to Chris Stein’s unique guitar compositions and you have a band that was made to break the mold of rock in the 70s and open up a new era of punk and pop rock music.
Rock-pop perfection! Debbie Harry is a powerful sorceress of song. I was lucky to grab this on NM vinyl for only a few bucks!
I have this album on vinyl - it was one of my very first records. I was obsessed with Blondie from a very early age, and this is still one of my favourite albums today!
I love it! I didn't realize all these amazing songs were on just ONE album.
This was one of the very first albums I bought - actually my brother bought it, I bought ELO's Discovery, the only time he has demonstrated better taste. Only two things to note on one of the easiest 5 star reviews: I never knew that Hanging on the Telephone was a cover until very rcently, and you need to make sure your copy has the 5:50 disco mix of heart of Glass and not the single edit some early pressings of both vinyl and CD use (including my brother's copy I quickly inherited and still have).
I have a soft spot for this album and was delighted to revisit. It has a fairly good breadth of tracks, not all gold, but enough so that it keeps you listening and represents a strong top-to-bottom album. Love the synth and punk and pop and proto new wave vibe.
Was mad into this when I first discovered it (2005?). Not a duff track.
Fantastic album. It starts with a phone ring and then punches straight into Hanging on the telephone. One of the best "intros" of any album. The album continues with a mix of punk and new wave, fast and slow. All in all, a very well put together album.
I'm ashamed to say that I'd never listened to this album in full before. I knew the hits, but I hadn't listened to it the full way through. I regret not doing it earlier. This was fantastic and lots of great stuff has been added into the rotation. Debbie Harry's voice shines throughout and the riffs just hit me in the right way.
I was watching She Hulk Attorney at Law this afternoon, when all of a sudden I felt an enormous ache in my bum. It was a pain I hadnt felt since that cruise I took with Blondie back in the mid 80s. Then, I spent 42 hours straight, chained to the toilet shitting up a turd so powerful it registered on the Richter Scale. Today, it was different, my bowels rumbled and eventually fired out hundreds of spiders. I'm finally a dad.
This was one of three albums that were played at almost every party I went to the year after school finished. The others were Rumours and Rocky Horror. Why Parallel Lines? Because it is full of bangers that force you to dance! It loses a little impetus with Pretty Baby and I Know... then side two roars into life with 11:59. Even the two lesser tracks are better than any power pop because THEY STARTED POWER POP. It's driven by Clem Burke's power which is then topped by layers of instruments which enhance but never get in the way of Debbie's golden vocals. This is unquestionably the best pure pop album of the '70s.
A rough and tumble band creates their finest album that’s two parts punk and one part new wave. What’s not to love?
Pleasant. Upbeat. Perfect for a roadtrip. 7.5/10 F.T : Hanging on the Telephone
You know, this was surprisingly enjoyable. Not what I expected. It rides the edge of punk without ever quite getting there but it's entertaining not the less.
I don't have a lot to say about his album either, but it's just really solid. Just when I start to feel like it's bogging down, they drop Heart of Glass, and it's amazing. This album doesn't really feel that dated either. If I didn't know who it was and you told me it was from the 80s or 90s, I would completely believe it.
Excellent pop/rock record. Fantastic melodies and hooks, and the band is superb - really cool guitar parts set against a super tight rhythm section. A classic that still sounds great today.
Pretty great rock+punk (and slightly new wave) sound. I enjoyed this album quite a bit, but not quite enough to give it 5 stars.
Pretty great album, some great summer tappers on there. Check it out for some songs to play in the sun
The album that bridged power pop and CBGBs for the masses. Had two huge hits on it and was solidly produced. The instrumentation on this album is really good for music of this type. Blondie is always really good to come back to at any time. Favorite song: Heart of Glass Least favorite song: Sunday Girl
Why don't people put Blondie on the same type of pedestal they put Madonna? I'm disappointed this was not the album with Rapture. Heart of Glass is the best of the album.
C'mon, it's Blondie! This is the kind of power pop with emotion, and a very distinct voice that I feel deserves it's place on so many record shelves to this day. Favorite song, Heart of Glass.
I don’t have a ton to say about this one, probably should have paid closer attention to it, but a good listen, wouldn’t mind coming back to it.
Damn, these guitar sounds sound fresh. Love her expressive vocals. "11:59" sounded like a deleted scene from Grease. Largely really liked this - more than enough to make me want to listen to more Blondie. That alternate version of Heart of Glass (Once I Had Love) was freaking dope.
I liked this more than Tracy Chapman, and One Way or Another still goes so hard. Did find one or two I really enjoyed.
This was REALLY good. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Classic pop rock I reckon. I think the hits (and there were many on this album) are the hits for a reason... but other other songs were still fun, but didn't necessarily stick with me
Na endlich mal ein Album, das man auch kennt. "One Way Or Another" oft schon mitgesungen. Auch wenns einige leidige Coverversionen gibt. "I Know, But I Don't Know" gibt mir auch etwas. "Will anything happen" beschreibt oft mein Gefühl für diverse Alben, die hier schon rezensiert werden mussten. Aber es passiert irgendwie nicht so viel. Alles in allem: Würd ich mir wohl schon nochmal anhören, aber haut mich auch nicht von den Socken.
4 - Ein Traum, würd eigtl ne 5 geben, aber 5er sehe ich nur bei Ausnahmealben. Trooootzdem so nice. Auch das One Direction cover geht ins ohr.
I once saw Blondie live, I thought It would be interesting but wasn't expecting to know most of the songs and for it to rock as hard as it did... this is a great and entretaining album that slaps
How do you turn off One Way or Another and a Heart of Glass? Though a lot more of the album just sort of passes me by.
Fun album! A couple of hits along with some new ones that I liked as well. One Way or Another and Heart of Glass are both fantastic classics and I enjoyed Sunday Girl as well. After yesterday, this was a welcome change of pace and I'm digging the album cover as well! A beautiful lady surrounded by many similar looking white men. Look at all the parallel lines!
Delightful Punk pop from one of acts that defined the genre. Starts strong, definitely drops off a little and then picks right back from track 9 onward. 4/5 as the good bits are bloody great.
Listening through the whole album made favorites of mine such as Heart of Glass and One Way or Another seem even better. Some other good songs too like Sunday Girl and Pretty Baby.
Brilliant! Took me back to the punk era! Not so keen on some of the remixes
Banger after banger. No idea they made the I'm gonna getcha getcha song
Među najboljim opening songs ikad - Hanging on a Telephone. I upravo sad pročitao da je to cover, sheeesh. Playful album sa odličnim vokalom Debbie. Naravno na albumu su jako poznati hitovi kao One Way or Another i Heart of Glass. Preporuka svi koji vole New Wave/Power Pop žanr, fin album.
clásicos... muchas canciones las había escuchado en mi vida pero no sabia de quien eran
Heard most of these songs before. The ones I had not heard we're just ok.
Really good album with a couple of hits. I’ll definitely listen to this again. It had a perfect vibe for driving in the summer.
Several hits are on this album. Other songs I had not heard before and they were also good.
Great album, knew many of the songs but some were a nice surprise. Great start.
Loved all the hits, and I really enjoy the singer's voice. It was more lively than I expected. There were a couple of songs in there that I didn't enjoy as much, which dropped it from a 5.
Great album! I wish we could hear Heart Of Glass the way originally intended it to sound. Clem is one of the best drummers out there.
It grew on me by the end. Definitely will give it more listens. Of course I thought One way or another, and Heart of glass were already bangers.
surprised how many well know 'hits' were on this albulm, refreshing to hear Blondie on some of the lesser known tracks, you could sense some of those post punk influences
The pop rock style of this albums isn't usually really my cup of tea. But Blondie seem to just do it really well and are on top of the game on this very enjoyable album. I knew One Way Or Another and am pretty sure Heart Of Glass sounds familiar to me. But I didn't know it was by Blondie.
This was solid, some great hits and have a soft spot for blondie anyways
As I'm listening I'm realising more and more how fabulous her voice is and how suited to the genre. She is truly inspiring. The album is so catchy with star hits all over it.
I've know the singles off of this album for years and there's no disputing how good they are. This is the first time I've actually given the album a listen. It's a strong pop, new wave album from start to finish. A fun rocker but intelligent with well-written songs. Deborah Harry's voice is really strong from start to finish. Fripp's guitar on "Fade Away and Radiate' does add some nice color to an already interesting ballad although I did find the bass a little too staccato at times on that track. Even "Pretty baby" (which ironically has the least plays off of the album on Spotify) is a great track!.
Blondie is way better than I thought; I've told myself this a few times over the last year as I listened to more of their songs (going down different rabbit holes). Case in point, the lyrics to Heart of Glass are really good but I always thought it was just a fun disco-fused tune. Check out the Toadies version of it (acoustic and all the disco stripped out) and the words really resonate. And while I may dislike a lot of pop and new wave that was inspired by Blondie, this album is great. Nothing remarkable about their musical chops but the arrangements are fun and catchy and well put together. And Debbie Harris is a commanding presence on vocals of course (cliche maybe but she is just amazing on One Way or Another). They kind of ran out of gas on the last track (Just Go Away). All in all the album still holds up.
About half of this album Is on the Best of Blondie CD I have, and it’s easy to see why. A lot of great tunes here. So I was familiar with the majority of the album. I knew Robert Fripp’s had played on a track, and it wasn’t even a “hit.” Really good stuff, but the filler is indeed filler…
Oh I know some Blondie. Oh, I know lots of Blondie. Oh, actually they are REALLY good. What an album. Would give 4.5. Listened through twice, will listen again many times. This is what albums are for. Could also be a Best Of album!
Surprised me in a good way. Very few swinging strikes, lots of doubles in the gap and homers. Best track: One Way or Another
Fun pop-rock! Still feels good 40+ years later! Several hits I knew but didn't totally realize were Blondie before.
8/10. I forgot how much I liked "Heart of Glass" which is definitely a standout in this otherwise pretty solid album. Stand-out among the tracks I hadn't heard was "Just Go Away"
8/10. Great pop rock with iconic vocals. The main thing that keeps this from a higher rating is quite a few of the hooks fall flat- they don't catch in the way that the singles do and they don't stick in my head the way I want a pop song to.
Great album - full of their classics, but also some new songs I hadn't heard before - the Buddy Holly cover towards the end is great!