Plastic Letters

by Blondie

Plastic Letters cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: February 1978
  • Label: Chrysalis
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 47:53
  • Community rating: 3.61/5 from 5 ratings

Artists on this release: Gary Valentine, Deborah Harry, Ronnie Toast, Jimmy Destri, Frank Infante, Dale Powers, Neil Levenson

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Preceding their massive global breakthrough later that same year, Blondie's sophomore effort captures the band transitioning from gritty CBGB's punk to slickly produced retro-pop. Featuring 'Denis', 'Plastic Letters' is a fiercely energetic, intensely melodic new wave gem that beautifully romanticizes urban nightlife through remarkably playful, 60s-influenced girl-group harmonies.

Genres

Descriptors: melodic, rhythmic, crime, DIY, dance, guitars, vocal, retro, accessible

Tracklist

  1. Fan Mail (2:38)
  2. Denis (2:19)
  3. Bermuda Triangle Blues (2:48)
  4. Youth Nabbed As Sniper (3:03)
  5. Contact In Red Square (2:02)
  6. (I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence, Dear (2:43)
  7. I'm On E (2:18)
  8. I Didn't Have The Nerve To Say No (2:52)
  9. Love At The Pier (2:28)
  10. No Imagination (2:55)
  11. Kidnapper (2:37)
  12. Detroit 442 (2:28)
  13. Cautious Lip (4:32)
  14. Once I Had A Love (AKA The Disco Song) (3:58)
  15. Scenery (3:10)
  16. Poet's Problem (2:20)
  17. Detroit 442 (2:33)

Credits

  • Blondie - primary artist
  • Ramey Communications - art direction, design
  • Dale Powers - backing vocals
  • Frank Infante - bass, rhythm guitar
  • Clem Burke - drums [premier drums], backing vocals
  • Chris Stein - e-bow [guitar], lead guitar, bass, vibraphone [vibes], written-by
  • Rob Freeman - engineer
  • Jimmy Destri - grand piano, organ [farfisa], synthesizer [polymoog], strings, synthesizer [roland], backing vocals, written-by
  • American Entertainment Management - management
  • Peter C. Leeds - management
  • Greg Calbi - mastered by, mastering
  • Phillip Dixon - photography by, photography
  • Richard Gottehrer - producer
  • Toby Mamis - public relations
  • Keith Crabtree - technician
  • Michael Sticca - technician
  • Deborah Harry - vocals, written-by
  • Neil Levenson - written-by
  • Gary Valentine - written-by
  • Ronnie Toast - written-by
  • Cheri Ramey Communications - art direction, design

More from Blondie: full discography