Artist: BLONDIE
Album: LIVE BY REQUEST (DVD)

Year: 2004
Media type: DVD

Originally performed and broadcast for A&E on May 7, 2004 from Manhattan's John Jay College, Blondie: Live by Request finds New York City's cherished punk-popsters older, rounder, and still in possession--if not always in complete control--of the fire needed for credible performances of classics like "Dreaming," "Rapture," "Call Me," and "Heart of Glass." The 2004 Blondie includes founders Deborah Harry, Chris Stein, and Clem Burke solidly backed by Paul Carbonara (guitar), Kevin Topping (keyboards), and Leigh Foxx (bass). The disc's 17 tracks comprise Blondie's biggest hits, with "Atomic" notably absent and four cuts from 2003's Curse of Blondie (including a touching tribute to Joey Ramone) holding their own against the tried and true. Harry remains her flamboyant self, compensating for a diminishing vocal range with fresh phrasings and boundless pizzazz. Lead guitarist Stein seems lost at times, while drummer Burke plays tighter than ever, cementing the songs with a mix of disco sass and punk fervor. Keep your remote handy: caller requests and the show's vapid emcee get old fast.

DVD sound is timbrally on target but dynamically compressed to within an inch of its life, but the mix breathes better in surround (Dolby or DTS) and it's easier on the ears in DTS.

TRACKLIST DVD:

1."Dreaming"
2."Hanging On The Telephone"
3."Accidents Never Happen"
4."The Tide Is High"
5."Good Boys"
6."Undone" (not included on US & UK audio CD)
7."Rip Her To Shreds"
8."One Way Or Another"
9."Rapture"
10."X Offender"
11."Call Me"
12."Union City Blue"
13."Heart Of Glass"

Bonus Tracks:

1."The Dream's Lost On Me"
2."End To End" (not included on US & UK audio CD)
3."Hello Joe" (not included on US & UK audio CD)
4."(I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence, Dear"

Bonus Features:

1.Photo gallery
2."Good Boys" music video. Directed by Jonas Еkerlund.

LINE-UP:

Deborah Harry - vocals
Chris Stein - guitar
Paul Carbonara - guitar
Kevin Topping - keyboards
Leigh Foxx - bass guitar
Clem Burke - drums
Steve Thompson - audio producer