NFT: Debbie Harry is 75; Parallel Lines

But you probably had to live through it to appreciate it.

In fact I liked all the female singers; Harry, Joan Jett, Pretenders, Berlin, Patty Smith, hell even the Go-Go's.

Blondie was one of the originals at CBGB's and in punk/new wave, right there with bands like the Ramones.

Plus she was unbelievably smoking hot.

I hope she looks as good as me :) Loved Blondie

"If I remember right Del Shofner once played with her. (Am I misremembering?)"

You are correct. It would have been early 1975, maybe February. They were just getting started as Blondie. By later that year they were already known, at least in the downtown Manhattan CBGB type scene.

I was between college and law school, living in the Gowanus Canal area in Brooklyn which, believe me, in those days was nothing like it is now. It was great in its way (at least really cheap!). There was a music scene down on Pacific Street where it was common for groups of what you might call hippies to rent an entire house as a group. One of the Pacific Street guys I was jamming with was friendly with one of the guys in Blondie, so we went into Manhattan one day and jammed with Blondie. Debbie Harry came out of wherever she was in the loft halfway through the session looking like the cat dragged her in, but still looking good if you know what I mean. She sang a couple but it was mostly guitars and drums. I was on bass guitar. Never saw any of them again!

Regardless, I agree she was good

I like to think that I'm still a spring chicken, but stuff like this brings me back to reality.

Correct.

She sang on one of Future Island's tracks in 2018 or so.
Future Islands w/ Debbie Harry - ( New Window )

go, "holy shit" was it that long ago?

Was not a big fan, but she had some great songs.

In comment 16568303 section125 said:

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go, "holy shit" was it that long ago?

Yeah, come February or so - it'll have been 50 years since that jam.

For the record, at the time I was 22 and she was 29, so I'm not old like her. :-)

In comment 16568304 Del Shofner said:

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In comment 16568303 section125 said: Quote: go, "holy shit" was it that long ago? Yeah, come February or so - it'll have been 50 years since that jam. For the record, at the time I was 22 and she was 29, so I'm not old like her. :-)

You're not even old like me, but what a cool experience. You weren't raising tomatoes in Bklyn, were you?

But I do like her now.

I just saw Joan Jett this summer and she can still rock.

Went to Hawthorn High School and briefly “dated” her

In comment 16568324 cjac said:

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Went to Hawthorn High School and briefly “dated” her

Or, so he says.

In comment 16568326 Matt M. said:

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In comment 16568324 cjac said: Quote: Went to Hawthorn High School and briefly “dated” her Or, so he says.

I’m not sure what you’re getting at but according to him he was one of many. If you’re defending her honor because he was saying she was a slut then how chivalrous of you.

70's Debbie Harry....great music and she carbonated many a young lad at the time, including myself.



Awesome story Del!

Thanks. By August of '75, as Blondie started to make a name, I was starting law school and trying to follow the Giants in preseason publications (no BBI) as they went on to a crappy 5-9 season under Bill Ansparger, cushioned by the fact that my high school friend Dave Jennings had not only become the Giants punter but pretty much the best player on the Giants.

Those were the days! Single and in my 20s in '70s NYC....

Dave Jennings too! Those were the lean years as a fan, I guess even more oppressive than now as that ineptitude doused the flames of youthful optimism. Given your association with those NY folks, it wouldn't surprise me if you ran into Wellington in spring and late summer at the news stand looking for the latest Street and Smith to assess draft prospects. (grin)

In comment 16568347 OlyWABigBlue said:

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Dave Jennings too! Those were the lean years as a fan, I guess even more oppressive than now as that ineptitude doused the flames of youthful optimism. Given your association with those NY folks, it wouldn't surprise me if you ran into Wellington in spring and late summer at the news stand looking for the latest Street and Smith to assess draft prospects. (grin)

Not Wellington, but I ran into Bill Parcells on the beach in Sea Girt NJ (a wonderful place) in the summer of '86 before camp opened, and that was a really good omen!

The world was smaller then. Hard to put it into words.

Opened for Blondie several shows, two at the famous CBGBs back in the late 70s. They were a fun band to watch back then. But in reality, it was the Ramones, Dead Boys and bands like that, that ruled that scene. What an amazing time in my life. I toured from 1977 to around mid-1988.

In comment 16568353 4xchamps said:

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Opened for Blondie several shows, two at the famous CBGBs back in the late 70s. They were a fun band to watch back then. But in reality, it was the Ramones, Dead Boys and bands like that, that ruled that scene. What an amazing time in my life. I toured from 1977 to around mid-1988.

Nice! Tell us more ...

In comment 16568329 cjac said:

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In comment 16568326 Matt M. said: Quote: In comment 16568324 cjac said: Quote: Went to Hawthorn High School and briefly “dated” her Or, so he says. I’m not sure what you’re getting at but according to him he was one of many. If you’re defending her honor because he was saying she was a slut then how chivalrous of you.

I'm not defending her honor. I have no doubt there were many. I'm saying, even knowing that, he could still be full of shit. It was just a joke anyway.

In comment 16568353 4xchamps said:

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Opened for Blondie several shows, two at the famous CBGBs back in the late 70s. They were a fun band to watch back then. But in reality, it was the Ramones, Dead Boys and bands like that, that ruled that scene. What an amazing time in my life. I toured from 1977 to around mid-1988.

If you don’t mind me asking, what was the name of your band?

CBGB in the late 70’s
She is aging beautifully

and being an early fan of Ska, which is sort of a precursor to Reggae, I used to play "The Tide is High" by The Pargons, a song written by John Holt from Kingston, Jamaica.

By the late 70s / early 80s I was living in Manhattan when I first heard the cover by Blondie and imagine my surprise when I found out the front man was a white girl backed by a bunch of Punk white guys. Blown away.

Below is the original and I gotta say that as much as I loved this 1967 version, I feel Blondie's version is just more musical and perhaps a half beat faster.

The Paragons - - ( New Window )

I was friendly with DD Ramone when he made his solo album under the name DD King.
It is a terrible album but my name is on the cover so I think it is cool.
Debbie Harry came into the recording studio to do some background vocals and she busted his chops pretty good.
She had everyone laughing pretty good..even DD.

a lot of great songs, some great riffs, One Way or Another was my favorite.

In comment 16568329 cjac said:

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In comment 16568326 Matt M. said: Quote: In comment 16568324 cjac said: Quote: Went to Hawthorn High School and briefly “dated” her Or, so he says. I’m not sure what you’re getting at but according to him he was one of many. If you’re defending her honor because he was saying she was a slut then how chivalrous of you.

I think he is just making fun of high school kids lying about girls, and older guys lying about their high school years, not anything about Deborah Harry.

In comment 16568353 4xchamps said:

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Opened for Blondie several shows, two at the famous CBGBs back in the late 70s. They were a fun band to watch back then. But in reality, it was the Ramones, Dead Boys and bands like that, that ruled that scene. What an amazing time in my life. I toured from 1977 to around mid-1988.

Are you Sting from The Police?

In comment 16568368 Matt M. said:

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In comment 16568329 cjac said: Quote: In comment 16568326 Matt M. said: Quote: In comment 16568324 cjac said: Quote: Went to Hawthorn High School and briefly “dated” her Or, so he says. I’m not sure what you’re getting at but according to him he was one of many. If you’re defending her honor because he was saying she was a slut then how chivalrous of you. I'm not defending her honor. I have no doubt there were many. I'm saying, even knowing that, he could still be full of shit. It was just a joke anyway.

Ok I won’t tell the story about the guy I know who banged a First Lady.

In comment 16568470 PatersonPlank said:

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In comment 16568329 cjac said: Quote: In comment 16568326 Matt M. said: Quote: In comment 16568324 cjac said: Quote: Went to Hawthorn High School and briefly “dated” her Or, so he says. I’m not sure what you’re getting at but according to him he was one of many. If you’re defending her honor because he was saying she was a slut then how chivalrous of you. I think he is just making fun of high school kids lying about girls, and older guys lying about their high school years, not anything about Deborah Harry.

Exactly.

In comment 16568261 DaveW2 said:

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But you probably had to live through it to appreciate it.

Parallel Lines was recorded and released in 1978.
By comparison, the '80s mostly sucked.
Can't think of an '80's equivalent to Exile On Main Street.
And Mike Chapman contributed immensely to Blondie's success in the studio.

Deborah Harry is great as is the drummer, Clem Burke.

This live version is 1999 but it shows so well how great Harry and Burke are and also captures the late 70s / early 80s excitement of new wave. When the young kids run up to the stage - priceless.
Shayla/Union City Blues - ( New Window )

For me Blondie goes 4 albums deep, meaning that I love their first four albums.
Besides the awesome songwriting, incredible vocals and drums,and punk aspect, Blondie songs kicked ass.
And Clem Burke was the man.
Clem Burke bringing it - ( New Window )

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This live version is 1999 but it shows so well how great Harry and Burke are and also captures the late 70s / early 80s excitement of new wave. When the young kids run up to the stage - priceless.

I have many of the views in this one…so good.

Union City Blue - ( New Window )