Intro

Welcome to another episode of New Wave Beat. I'm your host, Jason D'Orazio. Today, we're gonna talk about Blondie's🔖✔ second album titled Plastic Letters that came out in 1978. A couple weeks ago we talked about their self-titled debut🔖✔. As mentioned, the album did not sell well and the band changed record labels. They regrouped in early 1978 with the album Plastic Letters. Like the debut, it was produced by early '60s era producer Richard Gotterer. Would this be Blondie's breakthrough album or a sophomore slump? Well, it's definitely not a breakthrough, and was a little less in caliber than their self-titled debut. Nevertheless, Plastic Letters is still an enjoyable early new wave album.

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Singles

Denise

Denise is the first single off Plastic Letters.

"Denise, Denise. Oh, with your eyes so blue. Denise, Denise. I've got a crush on you. Denise, Denise. I'm so in love with you."

It's very much a girl group homage, with doo-wop lyrics, straightforward lyrics about love, short running time, etc. The original version performed by Randy and the Rainbows came right before the Beatles hit it big, and was a top 10 hit in its own right. Debbie Harry's🔖✔ vocal delivery is relatively restrained and smooth, and really recalls early '60s music, including the original version of the song. A slow four-note guitar riff kicks off the song. The at times fast drums and guitars are very good, and add a bit of new wave spice to the fray. The lyrics, as you might have figured, are about the strong love that the narrator has for a guy named Denise. The metaphors are simple, but drive the point home well. For example, "You're my king and I'm in heaven every time I look at you." For what it's worth, there are French lyrics, though they do not make grammatical sense. The promo video has Debbie Harry and the rest of Blondie performing. Harry wears a one-piece bathing suit. She does a little bit of her trademark sneering to remind the viewer that Blondie has punk and new wave roots🔖✔. Denise was a big hit in the UK, almost hitting the top of the charts at number two. Though strangely, it did not chart in the United States, the home of Blondie (and doo-wop music for that matter).

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(I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence Dear

Blondie released a second single, but not in their native United States, in I'm Always Touched By Your Presence Dear.

"I'm always touched by your presence, dear. Floating past the evidence of..."

Debbie Harry keeps an even keel on this song, so it doesn't have the most dynamic vocals, especially for a single. For what it's worth, the delivery is very smooth. The song has a faint clapping track during some of the verses that keeps the rhythm. The early '60s girl group sound is dialed back a bit from Denise, in favor of new wave and later rock and roll. An example is the keyboards. Another is the bridge and choruses that do have some vigorous drumming, and it sounds good.

The lyrics are stronger and more clever than Denise. They have a bit of a sci-fi element to it, as I think it's about telepathy. For instance, the line, "When we play at cards, you use an extra sense. It's not really cheating." References are made to floating in the stratosphere, psychic frequencies, superpowers, and the like. Presence Dear cracked the top 10 in the UK. There was no video for this song, perhaps because it wasn't released in the United States. And it was 1978, so videos were not vital at that point.

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Album Tracks

Okay, now let's talk about the album tracks in Plastic Letters.

Fan Mail

"I sent my hand to writing you. It drifted off the page. I sold my one vision."

The guitar and drum riffs are strong in this one, and sound more new wavish. The chorus has a bit of futuristic sound effects that make it sound interesting. My stab at the song is that it is about an obsessive fan of a musician. The narrator is not taking care of herself as a result of this obsession. For example, she says, "And I haven't slept in days and days and days and days." Harry's emotional singing reflects the desperation of the fan, and I like, especially with the long growl at the end.

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Bermuda Triangle Blues

Next up is Bermuda Triangle Blues. It has a slower tempo than Fan Mail.

"And our friends are at the airport. Cousin Bill says, 'Enjoy the water sports.' As we fly to the mystery..." >p>The song has a bluesy guitar and mostly gentle keyboard playing. They take front stage in this song and sound good if you're into this style of playing. I like Harry's vocals on this one, emphasizing just the right bits. There are not a lot of lyrics because of its short running time, tempo, and long intro. I think the song is, as the title suggests, about flying into and being trapped in the Bermuda Triangle. The lyrics are indeed dark. For instance, "Death was in that poisoned wave, and in its gulf, a fitting grave."

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Youth Napped As Sniper

The fourth track off Plastic Letters is Youth Nabbed As Sniper. Dirty metal in the speed of night. Lights and broken glass. My heart can destroy all I see. The song starts with a strong guitar and drum beat hitting at the same time. The song has more of a punk sound than previous tracks, thanks to the aggressive instrumentation and vocals, along with the fast tempo. The keyboards are more subtle, but round out the song. Also, Harry has great vocal dynamics and emotion on Youth Nabbed As Sniper.The lyrics, like the instrumentation, is ominous. For example, "I would like to kill for love, but I don't know how." And later on, "I died in the evening after school."

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Contact in Red Square

Let's now dive into Contact in Red Square. There's a lot going on in this song musically, despite the only two-minute running time.

"I got my papers in a cyanide pill. A polaroid's a taser in disguise. There's a face on the hill. And the beach, it looks like candy..."

The song starts with a Mission Impossible style guitar, which makes sense given the possible spy theme. Also, there's a triumphant sounding keyboard rift throughout the song. Harry sings fast and with good inflection. There are some good aggressive gang vocals in the chorus and such. I think the song is a Cold War tune🔖✔ about being a Russian spy. For example, references are made to the CIA and KGB. Also, lines like "Hid the microfilm in the lining of my shoe" suggests surreptitiousness.

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I'm On E

Rounding out side A of Plastic Letters is a two-plus minute tune, I'm On E.

"I'm on E, I'm on E. I gave my car to a guy named Vinnie. I feel like casting my feet. They total..."

It's similar to Youth Nabbed As Sniper in terms of the fast tempo and aggression, though a little less so. The repetitive words recall the new wave and punk styles. The guitar sounds kind of surf. It's ironic because many surf songs talk about cars, and this one might be about being car-less. Indeed, Harry says, "I used to have a car of my own," and she complains about walking her feet to the bone. Originally, I thought the song was about ecstasy. Harry's vocals sound a little like the Ramones🔖✔, which is not a bad thing at all.

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I Didn't Have the Nerve to Say No

I Didn't Have The Nerve To Say No kicks off side B of Plastic Letters, and does so with lots of energy.

"I didn't have the nerve to say no. No, no, no, no. I didn't have the nerve to say no. No, no, no, no."

The intro and verses have strong single guitar hits punctuating the song. The instrumentation has good punk new wave energy to it. Harry's vocals are full of energy and emotion. The verses are sung fast, much like the album in general. While the chorus is triumphantly sung, I think the song is about the narrator giving into a sexually aggressive courter. Indeed, according to the lyrics, he has ants in his pants and eventually the narrator's will resigned.

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Love At the Pier

Love At The Pier continues the new wave and punk energy of side B.

"... sentimental slob. But don't think I'm queer. Got something, baby. And it ain't just my fear."

This song contains a couple of tempo changes, which grab one's attention. Harry sounds like she's really having fun with this track. It's full of enthusiasm and humor. The instrumentation has a sort of surf vibe to it, which is somewhat appropriate considering the aquatic song title. The lyrics are kind of racy and funny at the same time. For example, "No more love splinters in my rear end." It's a story of lust, but the couple don't work out outside of their encounter at the pier.

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No Imagination

No Imagination has a little bit of a slower tempo.

"See me in the morning. Losing my direction. Deep inside my overcoat. Looking for the door"

The keyboards are spot on. In the intro, they're pounding and during the verses, add a good dramatic melody to the song. The guitars add punch in the right spots, especially in the outro. Debbie Harry reins in the raw energy from the last two songs and sings in a tense but melodic way which fits the song well. I think the song is about a one-night stand that did not end in romance. The narrator tells her lover that he has no imagination, and she even says, "Take a walk, kid."

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Kidnapper

Kidnapper changes it up a bit with a harmonica driven melody.

"Your daddy's whiskey Sam. He got bloodshot eyes like Ray Lanlan. Playing solitaire."

Harry's singing on Kidnapper is sort of a new wave blues hybrid. Her vocal inflections are pretty good, giving the song some emotion and grit. The guitars, keyboard, and drums follow suit, making Kidnapper a simple but catchy song. The chorus consists solely of the song title. I believe the song is about a crazed kidnapper of a teenager. Kinda disturbing, I know. Harry tells the kidnapper, "So you took that girl and put the saddle on her." But then again, what do you expect from a guy who's got an unnerving face and twitching eyes like Norman Bates? https://open.spotify.com/track/1sEG0kcqs9BpJEnehnNUie?si=ae83b2ce13b44fb5

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Detroit 442

Detroit 442 is named after a muscle car.

"Well, I ain't a danger. Any stranger is all right. Feel hot to go, like Jimmy O. Dodging fawning objects at the show."

In the lyrics, Harry mentions that she wants to ride with a bad guy in a Detroit 442. Jimmy O. is a reference to Iggy Pop's real name. It's also interesting that Iggy Pop grew up near Detroit. As far as the music goes, in my opinion, Detroit 442 is the most punk sounding song on the album. Indeed, Harry's voice is full of raw vigor and the melody goes full throttle. It may be a little too punk for me, as I like my new wave a little bit more melodic.

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Cautious Lip

Blondie's Plastic Letters concludes with Cautious Lip. It's a slower number for sure, clocking in at over a minute longer than any of the other tracks on the album.

"I see you skip that cautious lip."

It reminds me of the the Cars'🔖✔ Moving in Stereo🔖✔, which also came out in 1978. Harry's vocals are menacing, and she even ends the song with a cathartic scream. The guitar and keyboard are kinda trippy sounding. Lyrics wise, there isn't too much to Cautious Lip, as the title is repeated a lot throughout the song. I'm unsure of what Cautious Lip is about, but I'm spitballing that it might be about a guy who skips kissing the narrator and goes straight for sex. I would love to get your interpretation of the song.

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Outro

Now, Blondie fared better commercially with Plastic Letters. It did hit the top 100 in the United States, but did even better in the UK with a top 10 showing. Blondie didn't rest on their laurels, however, and followed up later in 1978 with smash hit album Parallel Lines. But more on that in a couple of weeks. And that's our episode for this week. Thanks so much for listening. This is Jason D'Orazio from New Wave Beat wishing you a great day, and take care.

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