Product Description

Considered by many to be Blondie's best, their second albumcatches the group poised on the brink of global superstardom. PLASTIC LETTERS' first single, a gender-switched cover ofthe '60s pop hit "Denise" by Randy and the Rainbows, was a massive British hit which went far towards dispelling the band's second-tier status on the New York punk scene.
The rest of the disc improves immensely on their self-titled debut, with sharper songwriting and better production. Jimmy Destri's Farfisa organ is still the band's main musical focal point, but his playing has evolved, along with the melodies, beyond the simple '60s pastiches of the debut. "Youth Nabbedas Sniper" and "Contact in Red Square" continue the band's fascination with trash culture, but the glorious "I'm AlwaysTouched by Your Presence Dear", written by departed bassistGary Valentine, is a genuinely heartfelt, if ironic, love song.

Track Listing

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 (The Disco Song)
15. Scenery
16. Poets Problem
17. Detroit 442
18. Cautious Lip

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2479 in Music
• Released on: 2001-09-10
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered

Customer Reviews

SUPER STYLE
"PLASTIC LETTERS"GREAT VARIATION WITH THIS CD.BLONDIE AND THE BOYS DO LET THE HAIR DOWN WITH THIS COLLECTION.BIT OF A DIFFERENT SHUFFLE.IF YOU LIKE HER VOCALS AND PASSION IN THE SONGS,GOOD ASSORTMENT.

You've Got Ants In Your Pants...
This is one of my favourite Blondie album's although ever since its release it seems to have attracted mixed reviews. Mike Chapman had yet to get his hands on the group so there is a 'rawness' here that was replaced by slick production come Parallel Lines.
The best track here has to be (I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence Dear - by the very talented Gary Valentine - he also wrote the great bonus track 'Scenery' - which didn't make the original recording due to Debbie's 'weak' (according to Mr Valentine) vocal. I kinda like the way she sings it though!
I love 'I didn't have the nerve to say no' - it's up there with 'Kung Fu Girls' for energy. Speaking of which - 'I'm On E' refers to Empty - energy wise, and is a great track. 'Youth Nabbed As Sniper' and 'Fan Mail' are both great tunes and of course 'Detroit 442' is always a popular choice. Their cover of 'Denis' remains as fresh as the day it was recorded whilst 'Contact In Red Square' reminds us this was an album recorded in the 70's.
I would recommend this album to any Blondie newcomer and advise them to buy 'Blondie' at the same time!

Blondie's darkest album : pure new wave !!
Denis and Presence Dear the two British top 10 hits and major hits all over Europe are well known. The rest on Plastic Letters is new wave at it's best !!! However the delicious Bermuda Triangle Blues(Flight 45) is a georgeous ballad,mmmhh I love that song. On the bonus tracks Scenery and Poets Problem are featured, those songs are so good that I never understood why they weren't released on the original album. Plastic Letters was the first album I ever bought and it's one of my favourite !!! If you're new to Blondie and love the heavier stuff then buy Plastic Letters it won't dissapoint you !!!!