Blondie have announced details of a major new boxset, the first definitive collection devoted to the legendary punk-pop band.
Containing 124 tracks (36 of which are previously unissued), the box include two volumes of liner notes, track by track commentary, illustrated discography, and dozens of previously unpublished photos.
Blondie: Against The Odds 1974-1982 will be released on 26th August via UMC and The Numero Group, and is available to pre-order now. You can watch the unboxing video here.
Remastered from the original analog tapes and cut at Abbey Road Studios, this expansive boxset is available on four formats (Super Deluxe Collectors’ Edition, Deluxe 4LP, Deluxe 8CD and 3CD editions). Housed in a foil-wrapped carton, Against The Odds includes extensive liner notes by Erin Osmon, track by track commentary from Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke, Jimmy Destri, Nigel Harrison, Frank Infante, and Gary Valentine, essays by producers Mike Chapman, Richard Gottehrer, and Ken Shipley, a 120-page illustrated discography, and hundreds of period photographs.
Debbie Harry says: “It really is a treat to see how far we have come when I listen to these early attempts to capture our ideas on relatively primitive equipment. Fortunately the essence of being in a band in the early 70s held some of the anti-social, counter culture energies of the groups that were the influencers of the 60s. I am excited about this special collection. When I listen to these old tracks, it puts me there like I am a time traveller. As bad as it was sometimes, it was also equally as good. No regrets. More music.”
“I am hopeful that this project will provide a glimpse into the ‘process’ and some of the journey that the songs took from idea to final form,” guitarist Chris Stein adds. “Some of this stuff is like early sketches; the old tape machines are like primitive notebooks. The trickiest thing for me was always about getting the melodies out of my head into reality and the changes that would happen along the way.”
“It is amazing that after all this time, and against the odds, our Blondie archival box set will finally be released. It’s been a long time coming and we are all very happy and excited with the final results,” says drummer Clem Burke.
“From the moment I walked into Chris Stein’s barn and saw a wall of tapes I knew we were on the precipice of something extraordinary,” producer Ken Shipley says. “Against The Odds is a treasure chest disguised as a boxset.”
Read more: Top 20 Blondie songs
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