Def, Dumb & Blonde

Editorial Reviews
Album Details
Reissue of her 1989 Release Produced by Former Blondie Producer Mike Chapman. Her Finest Solo Effort to Date. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Tracks:

I Want That Man
Lovelight
Kiss It Better
Bike Boy
Get Your Way
Maybe for Sure
I'll Never Fall in Love
Calmarie
Sweet and Low
He Is So
Bugeye
Comic Books
Forced to Live
Brite Side
End of the Run

Customer Reviews:

Lacks the Blondie spark.......2007-07-22

This album offers little of the Blondie magic. There are very few catchy hooks with the pop spark that made the band's songs so special. Most of the tracks are mid tempo ballads but the songs don't really stay with the listener.

Sweet and Low is loosely based on the lyrics of the hymn Swing Low Sweet Chariot, He Is So is a mildly pleasant pop ballad as is Brite Side. Bugeye starts out promising a rock approach but then goes nowhere in its tunelessness.

The long track End Of The Run consists mostly of spoken word parts alternating with some singing. I Want That Man is a welcome exception, a tuneful guitar-driven interlude with some poetic lyrics approaching Blondie at its best whilst Lovelight, another rock number, offers a certain atmospheric charm.

There are some nice instrumental flourishes on Kiss It Better. Besides I Want That Man, my other favorites are Maybe For Sure which has some rousing singing and a good melody and Calmarie with its tribal rhythms. This is not by any means a bad album but I have been spoilt by the power pop of Blondie and therefore expected better.

Rock on Debbie!.......2007-01-27

This is definitely the best Debbie Harry solo album, and it easily earns its five stars! I decided to buy it after I heard "I Want That Man." Besides the singles, it has all different types of music, much like the Blondie albums, and that is what makes it so enjoyable to listen to. There are songs like "Bike Boy," "Comic Books," and "Forced to Live" that sound like they could have come straight from an early Blondie album. Then, there are those that sound more mainstream like "I Want That Man" and "Kiss It Better." "Calmarie" is a bit of an unusual song, but it has a nice sound to it. "Brite Side" and "End of the Run" are slower songs, but they are also pleasant to listen to. Whether you are a fan or Blondie or just Debbie Harry, this album is certainly a must-have!

Like Eat to the Beat ten years later.......2006-11-08

I can still flashback to 17 years ago this week when this release was reaching it's peak position of #123 on the Billboard Album charts. It spent a total of eight weeks on the charts and Debbie was touring the U.S. to promote the album. I had the pleasue of seeing her live in New York City. Harry did an amazing show with all the Blondie classics, but she also thankfully included most of the songs from this wonderful collection. I consider this one to be Debbie's lost masterpiece, and definitely the one that stands out among all her solo efforts. I'm sure Def, Dumb, & Blonde would have garnished more attention had it included the Blondie name because the songs resemble the Blondie sound and capture the roots of diversity that Harry made so acceptable in pop music. Most of these songs are creations of Harry and former Blondie guitarist Chris Stein. Harry even told Rolling Stone in 1989 that one of the songs, "Maybe For Sure," was actually written during the height of Blondie's success. Former Blondie producer Mike Chapman also produced most of these tracks. The songs not produced by Chapman also hold up amazingly well, including "Kiss it Better," a great dance number and one of the two songs that was produced by the Thompson Twins, but rather than go through each song in detail, I encourage all fans of Blondie to invest in this CD and enjoy an era when this blonde bombshell was living a truly progressive period as an artist.

Yeah. The other reviewers are right. This one rocks........2006-02-15

I've had this album since it's original release and I'd have to say it's on my desert island top 5. All these years later it still endures. Something about the writing and production gelled in a way that ended up with a final product that truly deserves attention. How this brilliant little gem slipped under the radar is a mystery. This "solo" effort actually represents the true "Best" of Blondie (given that Debbie & Chris represent the heart of the band). Def, Dumb & Blonde is as solid as Eat To The Beat. For fans of the Blondie sound who haven't heard this yet, you're in for a rare treat.

THIS ALBUM IS TRUELY NOT DEF AND DUMB BUT IS BLONDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2006-01-11

this is Debbie in a fine voice (though her voice has always and is still the Best in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
its not hard to believe she is 45 years old making this album.
(i got Debravation before this album) every song on here is magical! This Country i Call home Made a mistake overlooking this album!!!!!!!!!!
these will eventually run out of stock! so order before they dissappear for ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Average customer rating:

A very good fun album
ONE OF THE GREATEST SOLO ALBUMS BY DEBBIE HARRY!
This cd is far from being Def , dumb and blonde....
Fantastic
ALL ABOUT TEAMWORK

Def, Dumb & Blonde
Deborah Harry
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Rockbird
No Exit
Rockbird
Debravation
Blonde and Beyond

ASIN: B000002LHZ
Release Date: 1989-08-29

Tracks:

I Want That Man
Lovelight
Kiss It Better
Bike Boy
Get Your Way
Maybe For Sure
I'll Never Fall In Love
Calmarie
Sweet And Low
He Is So
Bugeye
Comic Books
Forced To Live
Brite Side
End Of The Run

Album Details

Reissue of her 1989 Release Produced by Former Blondie Producer Mike Chapman. Her Finest Solo Effort to Date.

Customer Reviews:

A very good fun album.......2005-05-30

This cd is the best of all of Deborah Harry's solo cd's. It's fun, bright, and reminds me alot of Blondie, but being different than Blondie."Comc Books" is a fast paced loud song that really cracks!"Brite Side" is a cool ballad. This version is a different version than when Debbie sang it on "WiseGuy" but it is still good."He Is So" is similar to Heart's "There's the Girl" Eqaully as engaging and eaqually addictiveThis cd is worth your $$$

ONE OF THE GREATEST SOLO ALBUMS BY DEBBIE HARRY!.......2004-07-07

I just bought this and it really shows how much different songs are without the band! "I Want That Man" is pure gold and is a number one on my list. "Sweet and Low" is another true gem. Check out her next album "Debravation." It's great and fun and enjoyable!

This cd is far from being Def , dumb and blonde...........2004-04-25

Debbie strikes us again with a "promising" cd, that fails to get the publics attention. It does chart in the US and spawns the dance hit "I want that man." If this cd and all of her solo's were labled as Blondie, they would have been "Mega" cd's. But it didn't happpen that way, so Blondie fans, Check out Debbie's solo's, they are Blondie songs you have never heard and will LOVE. Go Buy "Def, Dumb & Blonde, it is Debbie's finest solo album. Songs that are the "Cream" on the cd.."I want hat man","Brite Side", those are two fav's, but all the rest are dancy and great as ever....Enjoy it...the cd is also moderatly priced, i bought mine at FYE for $6.00!!!!

Fantastic.......2004-02-25

Without a doubt, Debbie's best solo album, and definately a worthy addition to any Blondie lover.

A good mix of pop / rock / punk and ballads.

This cd spawned some strong singles, the pop genius of "I want that man", the gorgeous 'Brite Side', and the brilliant 'Sweet and Low'.
Its filled with great songs, 'Kiss It Better', the beautiful 'maybe for sure' and 'Calmarie', 'He is so' (check out the violins on this pop gem), the sweet jamaican lilt of 'I'll never fall in love again' and the final track 'End of the run', which is one of her strongest moments, and a truly emotional track.

A great album, worthy of a space in any pop collection.

Track listing as follows:

1. I Want That Man
2. Lovelight
3. Kiss It Better
4. Bike Boy (CD only)
5. Get Your Way
6. Maybe For Sure
7. I'll Never Fall In Love (CD only)
8. Calmarie
9. Sweet And Low
10. He Is So
11. Bugeye
12. Comic Books (CD only)
13. Forced To Live (CD only)
14. Brite Side
15. End Of The Run

ALL ABOUT TEAMWORK.......2003-08-15

But that team is Deborah, Chris Stein, and Mike Chapman, which really makes for a winner! It's almost always the case, in fact, that on Debbie's solo albums the songs by her and Chris stand out completely with that special touch of fun (or dark) resonance from the Blondie days. Chris also plays guitar on many tracks. You could compile all these Harry/Stein songs and you'd have a CD or two of an updated Blondie. You'll have to hear Debbie's vocals on "Get Your Way"; they are slightly and smartly accented and fit right w/ the song or some old movie heroine/villainess. And there's a sweet cover (?) of a Spanish/Latino song, as well as a tune all comic book lovers will appreciate. Very fine album.