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Blondie — Fade Away And Radiate
Album: Parallel Lines
Avg rating:
6.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1972









Released: 1978
Length: 3:53
Plays (last 30 days): 3
Ooh baby, I hear how you spend night-time
Wrapped like candy in a pure blue neon glow
Fade away and radiate
Fade away and radiate

Ooh baby, watchful lines
Vibrate soft in brainwave time
Silver pictures move so slow
Golden tubes faintly glow

Electric faces seem to merge
Hidden voices mock your words
Fade away and radiate
Fade away and radiate

Beams become my dream
My dream is on the screen
The beams become my dream
My dream is on the screen

Dusty frames that still arrive
Die in nineteen fifty-five
Fade away and radiate
Fade away and radiate

The beam becomes my dream
My dream is on the screen
Fade away and radiate
Fade away and radiate
Fade away and radiate
Fade away and radiate
Comments (226)add comment
 slugore wrote:

I thought I heard Robert Fripp on there! Turns out I was right. 



I learn something new every day.
....again the rhythm brings the words to life. 
Makes you want to read the words again.
Thank you william for playing a blondie deep cut
i just love how her voice can be so delicate and tender then so powerful and full.

what does "fade away and radiate" mean? 
 treatment_bound wrote:
Even Debbie joined "The Flower Children" for a brief moment before discovering the bleach that made her famous.

Debbie Harry 1968.


Great photo! I still miss hippie chicks!
I thought I heard Robert Fripp on there! Turns out I was right. 
 felam wrote:

Blondie gets old...and boring.


Well we all do. And at 77 she still looks pretty good. Parallel Lines was 45 years ago.

Blondie had a lot of fine music, but like so many artists, if you heard them on commercial radio, you heard few songs, and those likely weren't their best music, just what appealed to the masses. Happy to hear Fade Away here!
It amazes me that this song is rated so low. I give it a ten! There are a lot of nice comments  about the song though, I'm not alone. As I have said before, I think a lot of a songs appeal has to do with what was going on in your life when you first heard it. I was 19 when this came out, it was very progressive and life was good for me back then. Good memories! I am also a little put off at people here that snub their nose at bands that have had some commercial success. There is a reason they are popular!
this was played just yesterday...
 BlackBetty wrote:

Debbie has not aged well!



can you see within her ?  she still shines brightly
 BlackBetty wrote:

Debbie has not aged well!



I'm sure you haven't either.
Debbie has not aged well!
Gosh I so feel like I SHOULD like this song and the strong ratings, I've been VERY patient with multiple listenings and it just doesn't land for me for some reason. Feels flat and uninspiring musically for me. ...such is music sometimes. 

ENJOY all you lovers of it! PSD for me
 Steely_D wrote:



Robert Fripp with the Frippertronics setup, for the uninitiated.



The eleven year old me first hearing this had not yet discovered prog rock (two years later I was on a voyage of discovery!), but this was always my favourite song from an exemplary album - the guitar work spoke to me, and I didn't know why.  Now I do :-)
 treatment_bound wrote:

This was actually their 3rd album, but it was the one that broke them commercially in the U.S.

Blondie - Plasticletters.jpg

Yes, thanks.
 On_The_Beach wrote:
What do you do when you leave a nuclear reactor?
 
Leave the Geiger counter on. 
 memoryboxer wrote:
Had totally forgotten this track; overshadowed by radio pop tracks. Quite nice to hear again.
 
One if the many reasons why i gave up on commercial rock radio 
What do you do when you leave a nuclear reactor?
Hey, this is pretty good. A bit of a change up to their more known fare although I admit I heard her do James Brown's "I Feel Good" and wasn't impressed.  I like this one. That's the problem with most radio, they play the better known songs and never dip into the ones that diverge from the artist's better known fares. 
 MrStatenIsle wrote:
Wow, Blondie did progressive rock too!
 
I came here to check whether or not Robert Fripp secretly recorded a Blondie guitar solo...
 felam wrote:
Blondie gets old...and boring.
 

Whereas you become younger and more exciting everyday, I bet.
 lemmoth wrote:

I was a junior in college, hanging out weekends at Max's an CBGB and the Mudd Club ---- and loving Blondie, THeads, Ramones, Patti Smith and 20 other great bands that never made it to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
 
So you have seen Blondie and Talking Heads there in their heydays. Lucky you!
 MrStatenIsle wrote:
Wow, Blondie did progressive rock too!
 
It's the amazing guitar work from Robert Fripp that gives it that.......
I can only give this a 9 because 10 is godlike and there is no goddesslike :-(
reminds me some tune of Renaissance
Had totally forgotten this track; overshadowed by radio pop tracks. Quite nice to hear again.
 Proclivities wrote:
It's intriguing how we all hear different influences - but Tull?  The only thing in common that I detect is that they were both on Chrysalis Records at the time.  I'm not sure how influenced they were by Kate Bush or The Police either, as this album (their second) came out in 1978 - the same year as the first albums from both of those other artists.  Pink Floyd seems to be regarded as the source of all musical inspiration to some here so it's not surprising anymore to see their name pop up in other song comments.  There are plenty of influences out there though, so even unlikely or unexpected connections can be there.
 
This was actually their 3rd album, but it was the one that broke them commercially in the U.S.

Blondie album cover.jpgBlondie - Plasticletters.jpg
Wow, Blondie did progressive rock too!
Sexiest singer ever.
I love you baby
 bb_matt wrote:
Very odd to hear this now, the sheer amount of influences *in* this song - I hear Floyd, kate bush, Jethro tull, the Police - but then, it's a product of it's time.

Then there's the sheer amount blondie influenced - I hear Natalie Merchant very strongly.

Not the best Blondie song, but good anyway. 

 
It's intriguing how we all hear different influences - but Tull?  The only thing in common that I detect is that they were both on Chrysalis Records at the time.  I'm not sure how influenced they were by Kate Bush or The Police either, as this album (their second) came out in 1978 - the same year as the first albums from both of those other artists.  Pink Floyd seems to be regarded as the source of all musical inspiration to some here so it's not surprising anymore to see their name pop up in other song comments.  There are plenty of influences out there though, so even unlikely or unexpected connections can be there.
any Blondie, any time!
{#Dancingbanana}
 justin4kick wrote:
Only on Radio Paradise. 

 
Yeah.  I'm not sure why of all of the so called "deep cuts" on Parallel Lines RP decided to play this one, BUT IT'S AWESOME, and I'm glad it still gets trotted out almost 40 years after it was released.

Debbie truly was alluring in her vocal delivery on this one.
Only on Radio Paradise. 
 ppopp wrote:
Great tune. No other radio station would dare play this gem.

 
KROQ- FM did.
 kurtster wrote:

Ha !  I was 26 in 78 and digging Blondie verrry much then.  Saw them in concert then as well.  Ms Harry was clearly in charge.  An awesome show in a small hall here in Cleveburg.  Still love the band, the songs and the memories.

 
I was a little younger but I thought they were the bees knees back then.
I was seeking anything that was different than the radio was playing at that time... and this time too!
I don't recall any local stations even playing Blondie back then.
KROQ-FM Pasadena, California was my only source for the Cutting Edge stuff I craved.
 1wolfy wrote:
This band was always for a 'younger crowd'..never liked them. In 78 I was a sophomore in college. The High School kids were listening to this stuff

 
Ha !  I was 26 in 78 and digging Blondie verrry much then.  Saw them in concert then as well.  Ms Harry was clearly in charge.  An awesome show in a small hall here in Cleveburg.  Still love the band, the songs and the memories.
Frippppppp
happy belated b-day chris stein
Have always loved Debbie's voice - so effortless and smooth.
 fedtho wrote:
Parallel Lines was one of the first albums I bought with my own money at the age of 12, and I realize it's burned into my genes, even the lesser-known songs. 
I wasn't really aware of how gorgeous Debbie was to look at, but her voice was plenty enough to raise a crave inside of me. 

One of the albums that opened doors and horizons to me. 
 
Ditto! One of my favorite albums of all time, and it has stood the test of time. Love listening to it now just as much as when it was new. Also, love that Bill is playing this deep track that I've never heard anywhere but my own stereo!
Great tune. No other radio station would dare play this gem.

Wow. I have this album, but not played it for decades. That will change.
blondie lives!


 Proclivities wrote:

that photo is probably from seven or eight years before the formation of Blondie. 
 
Let's give it up for "Wind in the Willows"!!
WIND IN THE WILLOWS - Same (Capitol) USA 1968 LP (Blondie!)
Why not 10?
 treatment_bound wrote:
Even Debbie joined "The Flower Children" for a brief moment before discovering the bleach that made her famous.
The+Wind+in+the+Willows+Debbie+Harry

 
Perhaps for more than a "brief moment", but that photo is probably from seven or eight years before the formation of Blondie.  Nice photo.
Even Debbie joined "The Flower Children" for a brief moment before discovering the bleach that made her famous.

Debbie Harry 1968.
The singer Debbie Harry, best known as the frontwoman of Blondie, will perform at the 25th Annual Tibet House Benefit Concert in March and has an upcoming residency at the Café Carlyle.

https://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/23/debbie-harry-four-decades-of-blondie/?_r=0

still looking great
 bb_matt wrote:
Very odd to hear this now, the sheer amount of influences *in* this song - I hear Floyd, kate bush, Jethro tull, the Police - but then, it's a product of it's time.

Then there's the sheer amount blondie influenced - I hear Natalie Merchant very strongly.

Not the best Blondie song, but good anyway. 

 
I'll happily second everything bb_matt says (perfectly  in sync with you on every reference you name B-) ) - except, of course, the final remark.

Just hearing the intro made me stop in my tracks, because I knew every note before it was coming but couldn't place it at first, which was a very weird feeling... 

Parallel Lines was one of the first albums I bought with my own money at the age of 12, and I realize it's burned into my genes, even the lesser-known songs. 
I wasn't really aware of how gorgeous Debbie was to look at, but her voice was plenty enough to raise a crave inside of me. 

One of the albums that opened doors and horizons to me. 
Wow, I haven't heard this in years.  Yes, among the best from a very good band.  Crank that volume up.
This was one of Blondie's better songs. I'm old enough to know.
 1wolfy wrote:
This band was always for a 'younger crowd'..never liked them. In 78 I was a sophomore in college. The High School kids were listening to this stuff

 
I was a junior in college, hanging out weekends at Max's an CBGB and the Mudd Club ---- and loving Blondie, THeads, Ramones, Patti Smith and 20 other great bands that never made it to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
.... and I never knew before that one of my all-time fave guitarists was guesting on this track, Robert Fripp - explains the excellent lead and solo and the slightly different sound :-)
 Poacher wrote:


  Deserves repeating for those of us who hit puberty late 70s :-)




Like me (who was 14 in 1978)!  I had a painful permanent woody for Debbie Harry in those days! {#Hearteyes}

1wolfy wrote:
This band was always for a 'younger crowd'..never liked them. In 78 I was a sophomore in college. The High School kids were listening to this stuff

 


Very odd to hear this now, the sheer amount of influences *in* this song - I hear Floyd, kate bush, Jethro tull, the Police - but then, it's a product of it's time.

Then there's the sheer amount blondie influenced - I hear Natalie Merchant very strongly.

Not the best Blondie song, but good anyway. 
This band was always for a 'younger crowd'..never liked them. In 78 I was a sophomore in college. The High School kids were listening to this stuff
I never got all the Blondie Hoop La Te Da..
Wow, between the Bad Sneakers and this song, I am 16 again and ......hmmmmm,,,well ,,just hmmmm 
brings back so many memories, hearing the song and seeing the album cover...
Just fade away.....thanks
Has not held up well, like most Blondie songs.
3 - Ho Hum
 Stingray wrote:
First Coke (Black Uhuru)
now Heroin (Blondie)

who plays for Green next...?
 
Today, it's Supergrass.
 calypsus_1 wrote:

Nigel Harrison by bp fallon
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bpfallon/

Former member and bassist of Band Blondie  (1977-1982).

Photography by & © BP Fallon 2010. All rights reserved.

Copyright All rights reserved

.

 
I'm not familiar with the plucking phone method of playing guitar.....

 blotto wrote:
I had a calendar of Debra Harry when I was quite young and it seemed like every picture was better than the last, and jumping from December back to January created a loop.
She had a small role in a film called Spun as a Lesbian, in 2002 and looked quite different than the calendar I so fondly remembered. Wish I would've kept that calendar.
 
Glad to say I still have my Blondie poster from the early '80's.
LOVE IT!!
First Coke (Black Uhuru)
now Heroin (Blondie)

who plays for Green next...?

 apd wrote:
That Robert Fripp solo is blissful.
 
Robert Fripp! So that's why I was thinking that somebody in Blondie had stolen Steve Hacket's effects peddles...

Got to love those 70's effects.

Nice to have a different tune get the time of day from this album.
 rdo wrote:
vastly under-rated band
 
VASTLY OVERRATED BAND-Bore me to death

vastly under-rated band
This is a song that deserves to be rated on it's context within the album.  It's not really a "single" in my opinion.
 JaySea wrote:
One should not judge her body of work until one has seen her performance in Videodrome
 
Good tip.  I just "Netflix'ed" it. She's now on my DVD queue.  

I thought I knew this album, but, clearly I don't. This track is bland, verging on dull. Call me shallow, but I prefer Studio 54/Disco Blondie.
 jmsmy wrote:
I listern to PR because Bill will play very deep album tracks like this one.
 
I agree completely.  But somehow although I love the concept and support it wholehartedly, this song doesn't do much for me and I gave it a 6.  Is that wrong?

Nigel Harrison by bp fallon
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bpfallon/

Former member and bassist of Band Blondie  (1977-1982).

Photography by & © BP Fallon 2010. All rights reserved.

Copyright All rights reserved

.

I had a calendar of Debra Harry when I was quite young and it seemed like every picture was better than the last, and jumping from December back to January created a loop.
She had a small role in a film called Spun as a Lesbian, in 2002 and looked quite different than the calendar I so fondly remembered. Wish I would've kept that calendar.

This is not an obscure track but I love the sound of vintage Blondie. Saw them over a year ago in Boston in a duo tour with Pat Benatar. Excellent performers...still.



Dammit, Janet!!

Am I the only one who thinks this sounds like a lost track for Janet from Rocky Horror?
 jmsmy wrote:
I listern to PR because Bill will play very deep album tracks like this one.
 
"Deep Thoughts"  {#Mrgreen}
That Robert Fripp solo is blissful.
I listern to PR because Bill will play very deep album tracks like this one.

{#Cool}  timeless


 Giselle62 wrote:

Found it right away!

I like the one of her with the dolls cuz she looks so much like one; but not in a bad, fake way. Cute.
The woman pictured in the photo with the Stilettoes named Elda Gentile was mentioned a lot in the book I just read about New York music called "All Hopped up and ready to go"—-Tony Fletcher. Check it out.

 
Thanks for the tip—-Nothing but 5 star reviews on Amazon for All Hopped Up.  I'll be checking it out soon.

P.S.-Have you ever heard anything (most-likely "unauthorized") by The Stilettos?  I'm guessing not, but it sure is intriguing to me to hear what looks like a cross between The Ronettes and Labelle dragged through CBGB's.


 treatment_bound wrote:

If it's from the Feb.'99 MOJO mag (which I also have), are you referring to the flaming photo on page 80 of a vintage Debbie cooking in what looks like a crappy NYC apartment "kitchen"?

I've always thought that was an awesome shot as well..

 
Found it right away!

I like the one of her with the dolls cuz she looks so much like one; but not in a bad, fake way. Cute.
The woman pictured in the photo with the Stilettoes named Elda Gentile was mentioned a lot in the book I just read about New York music called "All Hopped up and ready to go"—-Tony Fletcher. Check it out.

 treatment_bound wrote:

If it's from the Feb.'99 MOJO mag (which I also have), are you referring to the flaming photo on page 80 of a vintage Debbie cooking in what looks like a crappy NYC apartment "kitchen"?

I've always thought that was an awesome shot as well..

 
I'll go look and see if I can find that in the next hour —shouldn't be hard to find.

This was always my fave Blondie song.
 Giselle62 wrote:
I don't know, it sounded refreshing hearing her on here—-not a bad song. I have a fantastic photo of her in one of my old Mojo magazines.
 
If it's from the Feb.'99 MOJO mag (which I also have), are you referring to the flaming photo on page 80 of a vintage Debbie cooking in what looks like a crappy NYC apartment "kitchen"?

I've always thought that was an awesome shot as well..

I don't know, it sounded refreshing hearing her on here—-not a bad song. I have a fantastic photo of her in one of my old Mojo magazines.
Deborah Harry still does it for me!
 crockydile wrote:
Bought it when it came out. This is the only good song on it.
 
Come on!  We're all sick of "Heart of Glass" by now, but "11:59", "Hanging on the Telephone", "Pretty Baby" & "Picture This" are all decent songs over 30 years later... 

Love the narrow ties. And the song.

 JaySea wrote:
One should not judge her body of work until one has seen her performance in Videodrome
  Wicked film.


One should not judge her body of work until one has seen her performance in Videodrome
unclehud wrote:
rickf wrote:
Thirty years ago there was much lust radiating for Debrorah Harry, I guess it has faded away. Sigh... Tempus Fugit.
She used to be smokin hot & with a great voice.
That being said 30 years or so is a long time & that song has held up better than most of that era :-)

"Back in the day" the only thing I liked about this band was looking at Debbie Harry. So hot! (Yeah, I'm shallow. Your point?) She was in a few movies recently, and I think she's still pretty hot for a 65-year-old woman.

Let's all pause for a moment and give thanks for modern cosmetic surgery. (<——- sarcasm.)



Mmmmm Joan Rivers...or how about that one in the bath in "The Shining"....

 rickf wrote:
Thirty years ago there was much lust radiating for Debrorah Harry, I guess it has faded away. Sigh... Tempus Fugit.
She used to be smokin hot & with a great voice.
That being said 30 years or so is a long time & that song has held up better than most of that era :-)

"Back in the day" the only thing I liked about this band was looking at Debbie Harry.  So hot!  (Yeah, I'm shallow. Your point?)  She was in a few movies recently, and I think she's still pretty hot for a 65-year-old woman. 

Let's all pause for a moment and give thanks for modern cosmetic surgery.  (<——- sarcasm.)


This one's best left in it's box
 WayUpNorth wrote:

I especially liked Hanging on the Telphone — her intensity and intonation are great on that one.

 
I'm such as smartass. I should have said it was the only song that left a lasting impression upon me. Thanks for realigning my senses.{#Clap}
Ode to a micro black hole succumbing to hawking radiation.
 Darlington wrote:
That's Chris Stein, who I am pretty sure at one time was Deborah Harry's boyfriend. He got really sick at one time and the band was on hiatus while she took care of them (not sure what he had but he nearly died)...
  
 Deadwing wrote:
I'm pretty sure it was heroinitis...
 
From answers.com ... (edited)

"It was right around this time (1982) that Stein developed a rare skin disease, Pemphigus, which caused the guitarist to break out in blisters all over his body ... Stein was treated for an elongated period in a NYC hospital (he would eventually recover fully) ..."

 crockydile wrote:
Bought it when it came out. This is the only good song on it.
 
I especially liked Hanging on the Telphone — her intensity and intonation are great on that one.

 ptooey wrote:
6.4? Really?
Hmm...
Nothing earthshattering, granted, but I always thought this to be a pretty decent bit of pop tunesmithery. I'll go in for 8.
^ this

Bought it when it came out. This is the only good song on it.
 Baby_M wrote:
"The beans become my dreams"???
 
Beams. BEAMS!

Thirty years ago there was much lust radiating for Debrorah Harry, I guess it has faded away. Sigh... Tempus Fugit.
She used to be smokin hot & with a great voice.
That being said 30 years or so is a long time & that song has held up better than most of that era :-)



 Sloggydog wrote:
First time i'm hearing this track.  I love her voice but am not so sure about the wierd eighties sci fi sound effects that come and go randomly.  At one point i thought i heard the theme from the hitchhikers guide tv series??
 
That odd sound is Robert Fripp   Don't worry too much   you'll most likely recover...

 Sloggydog wrote:
First time i'm hearing this track.  I love her voice but am not so sure about the wierd eighties sci fi sound effects that come and go randomly.  At one point i thought i heard the theme from the hitchhikers guide tv series??
 
WRONG DECADE...

Studio album by Blondie
ReleasedSeptember 1978 (1978-09)
RecordedJune-July 1978 at Record Plant, New York
GenreNew Wave
Length38:11
LabelChrysalis (CHR 1192)
ProducerMike Chapman


I think Blondie was ahead of their time—this sounds like some of the good stuff that lots of the indie-girls are cranking out right now.
The song started out ok..but then faded away..{#Tongue-out}
First time i'm hearing this track.  I love her voice but am not so sure about the wierd eighties sci fi sound effects that come and go randomly.  At one point i thought i heard the theme from the hitchhikers guide tv series??
DH was terrific on The Muppets.
Wow — still sounds so fresh, I thought it was a remake at first!