Deborah Harry Album: “Once More into the Bleach”

I'm so in love with Debbie Harry, that if she recorded "The best of Burl Ives," I'd buy it. That said, this isn't the ESSENTIAL Debbie Harry. It's still great. For one thing, it has an all French "Sunday Girl," which I've never heard before, and as far as I'm concerned was worth the price of the CD. It's also got seven minute versions of "Call Me," and "Rapture."

This is a fun CD; a terrific romp through songs that have the stamp of Deborah Harry on them. People who are hearing her for the first time probably don't want to hear seven minutes of "Call Me," but true fans do. This is a CD especially for hardcore fans. As such, it's a joy to have and hold, like that something in "Dreaming." It's a gift, as though she's thinking of us, those of us who have been listening for a long time, and rewind "Atomic" over and over, and want a four and a half minute version.

That's what's new here, the feeling. If you're a fan, this CD will really make you feel good. "Once more into the bleach"-- come on-- you get the joke only if you've been a fan for years and years. If you're a fan, you need this CD.

You're probably going to buy this to hear the all French version of "Sunday Girl." I did. Oh, some of the remixes are fun too. Who would of thought to do a dance mix of "Denis"? Oddly it works! Try to find the British version of this CD though for the Shep Pettibone remix of "Heart Of Glass". Hey, is that really a sample of JFK on the "Rapture" remix? It's oddly odd.

This is a pretty good collection. For the Disco Version of "Heart Of Glass", this album is well worth the money. But there are a lot of other songs on their that are great. The remixes of "Rapture" with the JFK sample, and the 80's new wave sound makes this remix quite fun. And it is great to dance to. I also like the remix of "Call Me". Although, I prefer the longer version which was on the "American Gigolo Soundtrack". It's still good. Then I also like "The Tide Is High", "Sunday Girl", "Denis", and "Atomic". This album rocks!

I happen to love this CD very much as it was the very first CD I had when I got into buying CD's 11 years ago. I just love the all new version of Rapture, but my all time favorite on this CD is Call Me as it is and always has been my favortie song by Blondie. I think Blondie is one very talented group, and Deborah Harry needs to keep up the good work!!!

Some songs just don't need to be remixed -- at least, not in a way that obscures the song itself. And that is the main flaw in "Once More Into the Bleach," a lackluster collection of remixes and Debbie Harry solo songs. Harry is good on her own, but the Blondie remixes miss more often than they hit.

Several of the songs are remixed Blondie hits, and more often than not they don't really add anything to the song: the overmixed "Denis (Dancin' Danny D Remix)," moderately enjoyable "Call Me (Ben Liebrand Remix)," and half-obscured soundmass of "The Tide Is High (Coldcut Remix)." There are some highlights, like an enchanting French version of "Sunday Girl," and the quirky "Backfired (Bruce Forest Remix)."

There are also a number of singles by Debbie Harry in her solo career, such as the slow-burning rocker "The Jam Was Moving," the poppy new-wave "Rush Rush," and the sexy pop tune "French Kissing in the USA." While Harry's solo career never hit the highs of Blondie, she still did an astounding job as a solo pop singer.

This is, first and foremost, a remix album. And people who don't like remix albums will probably only find a few worthwhile tracks on here, probably the ones in Harry's solo career. However, Blondie fans looking for this rare remix or that rare version may well find that this has it.

In many ways, the songs sound quite similar. Not just because of Harry's strong, vibrant vocals, but just the general sound of the music. Her solo songs do tend to a bit poppier and more mainstream, but they share the same new wave tinges with Blondie's best songs. "Rush Rush," as the first single released by Harry after Blondie's breakup, sounds the most like the famed band.

Most of the Blondie remixes are strictly for fans. But the odd good remix, plus Harry's solo tracks, makes this a moderately interesting listen.