Blondie – Picture This

Blondie – Picture This / Fade Away And Radiate

This limited edition yellow semi-transparent vinyl 7" captures Blondie at one of the most important moments in their career. Released by Chrysalis Records in 1978, “Picture This” was the first single taken from the band's landmark third album, Parallel Lines, and became a major UK hit, reaching No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart.

Written by Deborah Harry, Chris Stein and Jimmy Destri, “Picture This” perfectly demonstrates the combination that made Blondie so distinctive. Harry's cool, charismatic vocal sits over a bright, melodic arrangement that draws together new wave, punk, power pop and classic girl-group pop, helping establish Blondie's ability to move effortlessly between underground New York cool and mainstream pop success. Produced by Mike Chapman, the single helped introduce the wider British audience to the sound that would make Parallel Lines such an influential album.

The B-side, “Fade Away And Radiate”, provides a fascinating contrast. A more atmospheric and experimental track written by Chris Stein, it features Robert Fripp of King Crimson on guitar, adding an unexpected progressive and art-rock dimension to the record. Fripp's distinctive contribution makes the B-side particularly interesting for collectors and demonstrates how adventurous Blondie's musical palette could be beneath their pop exterior.

Both songs appear on Parallel Lines, the album that would propel Blondie to international stardom. Released in September 1978 and produced by Mike Chapman, the album also introduced some of the band's most enduring songs, including “Hanging On The Telephone”, “One Way Or Another”, “Sunday Girl” and, later, the worldwide smash “Heart Of Glass”.

The single itself is particularly desirable in this yellow semi-transparent limited-edition pressing. The standard UK Chrysalis release was issued as CHS 2242, with the same two tracks, but coloured-vinyl editions such as this add considerable visual and collector appeal. The unusual pressing makes it an attractive addition for fans collecting Blondie vinyl, coloured vinyl, 1970s new wave and classic punk-era singles.

For collectors, this is a great example of Blondie just before their transformation into one of the biggest bands of the late 1970s. With the infectious “Picture This” on the A-side and the atmospheric “Fade Away And Radiate” featuring Robert Fripp on the reverse, it combines pop accessibility with the adventurous spirit of New York's emerging new wave scene.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Picture This – 2:53

Side B

1. Fade Away And Radiate – 3:57