Maps of Music

Plastic Letters (1977)

Where the lyrics of Plastic Letters take you, and where it was really made.

The album was released by Chrysalis, yet Blondie was still signed to Private Stock Records while it was being recorded.

Key places

Where Plastic Letters was recorded (1977)

Recording site Plaza Sound Studios — The album was recorded at Plaza Sound Studio in New York City. Mastering was done at Sterling Sound in the same city. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Plastic Letters: second studio album by American rock band Blondie
• Released February 1978 by Chrysalis Records
• Second and final Blondie album produced by Richard Gottehrer
• Chris Stein also credited with guitar and bass
• 'Denis' was a cover of Randy & the Rainbows' 1963 song 'Denise'
• Pink dress on the cover art designed by Anya Phillips

Background

• During recording, Blondie was still signed to Private Stock Records
• 'Presence, Dear' was written by bassist Gary Valentine shortly before he left for a solo career
• His departure led to hiring Frank Infante on a session basis for bass and rhythm guitar
• An earlier version with a rearranged track listing came out in Japan in late December 1977

Recording

• Recorded at Plaza Sound Studio, New York City
• Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York City
• Produced by Richard Gottehrer as 'An Instant Record'
• Clement Burke: Premier drums, backing vocals
• James Destri: grand piano, Farfisa organ, Polymoog synthesizer, backing vocals
• Frank 'The Freak' Infante credited with bass and rhythm guitar on all issues

Cover

• Debbie Harry's pink dress on the cover designed by Anya Phillips
• Photographs by Phillip Dixon
• Art direction and design by Ramey Communications

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Formed in New York City in 1974 by singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein.
• Originally billed as Angel and the Snake, then Blondie and the Banzai Babies, shortened to Blondie by October 1974.
• The name came from truck drivers who catcalled "Hey, Blondie" to Harry.
• Became regular performers at Max's Kansas City and CBGB, part of the mid-1970s new wave scene.
• Debut album Blondie (1976) was not a commercial success; the band signed with Chrysalis Records in 1977.

Members

• Core members: Debbie Harry (vocals), Chris Stein (guitar), Clem Burke (drums), Jimmy Destri (keyboards).
• Other former members included Gary Valentine, Frank Infante, Nigel Harrison, and Fred Smith.
• Clem Burke died of cancer on April 6, 2025.

Career

• Breakthrough came in Australia and the UK with Plastic Letters (1978) and the hit single "Denis".
• Parallel Lines (1978) became their most successful album, selling about 20 million copies worldwide; "Heart of Glass" topped the UK and US charts.
• Further hits included "Call Me", "The Tide Is High", and "Rapture", the first rap-featuring song to reach US number one.
• The band disbanded in 1982 after The Hunter, reformed in 1997, and had their sixth UK number one with "Maria" in 1999.
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006; has sold over 40 million records worldwide.
• Pollinator (2017) peaked at number four in the UK; a new album, High Noon, is scheduled for February 26, 2027.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• The Globe and Mail wrote that some of Blondie's hardness was made pliable with curious arrangements and an attempt to make the band seem more formidable than it really is.

Records

• 'Denis' was successful across Europe, reaching No. 2 in the UK in March 1978 and No. 19 in Australia
• 'Presence, Dear' was the second single, reaching No. 10 in the UK in May 1978
• The album peaked at No. 10 in the UK
• Certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI)
• First Blondie album to earn Platinum, for 300,000 copies sold in the UK
• Peaked at No. 72 on the Billboard 200 (per French Wikipedia)

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · pt.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Some copies have a sticker on the cover front advertising the track 'Denis'.
• New friend Joan Jett of the Runaways is thanked on the back cover.
• In a 2024 interview, Frank Infante said he played guitar and bass on the album.
• Infante was not yet an official band member at recording time, but is credited on all issues.
• Gary Valentine wrote 'Presence, Dear' shortly before leaving for a solo career.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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