BLONDIE

Heart of Glass

Bought this when it came out and have the 12" single version of this and most Blondie singles of the period but this may well have been the last . . . . . . . . . 

On this day in music history: April 28, 1979 - “Heart Of Glass” by Blondie hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 1 week. Written by Deborah Harry and Chris Stein, it is the first chart topping single for the New York City based new wave/rock band fronted by lead singer Debbie Harry. Debbie and Chris originally write the song in late 1974 - early 1975 as “Once I Had A Love” with a reggae flavored arrangement. It continues to evolve as they retool the sound of the song, giving it a slow “four on the floor” disco beat, then re-titling it “The Disco Song”. Producer Mike Chapman along with the band give it a dramatic makeover employing the use of synthesizers (Moog Polymoog, Roland SH-1000, the latter being triggered off the CR-78), and the Roland CR-78 drum machine which gives the song its signature “ticking” pulse. Released as the second single from the bands third album “Parallel Lines” on January 3, 1979, “Heart Of Glass” creates an immediate sensation on the dance floor that quickly spreads to radio. The band film a music video, directed by Stanley Dorfman of “Top Of The Pops” fame. Contrary to popular belief, the video is not shot at Studio 54, but at a smaller club in New York City. The single version is trimmed down to 3:22, also excising the verse with the line “pain in the ass” from the song. “Heart Of Glass” is also remixed and released as an extended 12" single, running nearly six minutes long. This longer version is eventually added to copies of the “Parallel Lines” album, replacing the original album mix. Entering the Hot 100 at #84 on February 17, 1979, it climbs to the top of the chart ten weeks later. The huge success of “Heart Of Glass” is a double edged sword for Blondie as they are accused of “selling out” by their fellow musicians on the New York punk and new wave scene for having made “a disco song”. Regarded as one of the definitive 70’s songs, “Glass” is inducted into the 

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